FAQ

Question 1

How much is an African photo safari?

Accepted Answer

This very much depends on a number of factors. One thing to remember though is that generally photographic safaris are not as expensive as most luxury safaris enjoyed by honeymooners for example!

At Pangolin we understand that our guests want to forego frivolous luxuries in exchange for more wildlife photographic opportunities – and that generally means more time on your African safari.

Generally, the figure you should bear in mind will be anywhere between $500 and $1,000 per person per day on safari. This price variation is due to seasonal demand which we will cover below.

Question 2

When is the best time for African Photo Safaris?

Accepted Answer

Like most safari destinations African photo safaris also have a seasonality but you need to know that one season is not necessarily any better or worse than another for a photographic safari. In Southern Africa (and indeed East Africa), the seasons are reversed from the Northern Hemisphere. This means that Summer is from October to March and winter from April to September.

During the winter months, it is colder but unlike the Northern hemisphere, it is drier. the rains come in the Summer months in Africa.

The Summer is also known as the green season as the rains bring with them plenty of new plant growth and actually, this can be a far better time of year for wildlife photography than winter. With all the greenery in the background photographing wildlife with lovely green bokeh can make for some great shots!

In addition to that bird photography is at its peak in the summer months when the migratory bird species are in residence.

Other African photo safari operators will tell you that you should only come in the winter when the grass is lower and the game viewing is less challenging but you can end up paying around double for your African Photo safari and spend less time actually on your photo safari.

Question 3

What are the top destinations for photographic safaris in Africa?

Accepted Answer

1. The Chobe National Park – yes we are maybe a little bit biased but we firmly believe that The Chobe River is the best year-round wildlife photography destination in Africa.
2. The Okavango Delta – A Unesco World Heritage Site and still one of the most glorious, unspoilt and sparsely visited African photographic safari destinations
3. The Central Kalahari – One of the lesser-visited areas of Botswana but certainly not without its charms. Home to the San Bushman and black-maned lions as well as taking photos from hides.
4. Madikwe Game Reserve – One of our favourite reserves in South Africa other than the Kruger national park and its surroundings. Great opportunities to see white and black Rhinos as well as regular wild dogs and big cats. Also home to the fabulous Jaci’s Lodges.
5. The Masai Mara – Every year we journey north to East Africa for the wildebeest migration for a Kenyan safari to enjoy wildlife photography on a huge scale. This is a real bucket list African photo safari and one you can only enjoy to the maximum with destination experts and wildlife photographer assistants such as ourselves.
6. The Serengeti National Park – This photographic safari hotspot dwarfs the Masai Mara in size, especially when you add Ndutu and the Ngorongoro crater. There are still chances to see the crossings of the wildebeest migration but less concentrated than the Masai Mara in the Serengeti National Park.
7. Parc des Volcans, Rwanda – Africa Photo Safari Tours to see the endangered Mountain Gorillas are possible in Rwanda, Uganda and also The Democratic Republic of Congo. Gorilla trekking to see the mountain gorillas in Rwanda are probably the most accessible and easily added to a photographic safari in East Africa
8. Cape Town – People overlook Cape Town as a wildlife photography destination but where else can you see penguins in the morning and have lunch in an award-winning vineyard after?
9. Namibia – The whole of Namibia is a wildlife photography gem and probably best enjoyed as a self-drive photo safari. Wildlife photography in the Etosha pans of the north is very productive.
10. Victoria falls – Most southern photo safaris will start or end in Victoria Falls and they are certainly not to be missed. They are at their fullest towards the end of the green season.

Question 4

Which wildlife photography safaris are best for beginners?

Accepted Answer

We were all beginners once and at Pangolin Photo safaris we love nothing more than sharing and teaching photographic skills to people starting on the wildlife photography journey. Below are some suggested photo safari tours for beginners:

Best of Chobe – This seven-day photo safari is led by a professional photographer – we call them Photo Hosts – and is a small group photographic safari for up to eight guests. You will spend the first three nights on the Namibian side of river on our houseboat – the Pangolin Voyager. Here you will learn new skills and the basic technical aspects of wildlife photography. You will be taught about Aperture, shutter speed and their relationship for great images. All your activities will be on the photo boats taking pictures of the wild animals gather along the river banks.

The next three nights will be back on the Botswana side of the Chobe River at the Pangolin Chobe Hotel. This will give you a chance to visit the Chobe national parks various areas on our custom-built safari vehicle. Each safari vehicle is fitted with bean bag mounts.

By the end of this Best of Chobe safari adventure, you will be taking images of the African wilderness with complete confidence. Please remember that if you don’t have a camera of your own that we will supply you with one, free of charge on selected Chobe photographic safaris like this one.

The Pangolin Chobe Hotel – The majority of our photographic safaris pass through the hotel and it’s a great place to get to grips with wildlife photography[hy if you haven’t tried before. Most of the photographic safari activities happen on the river and the pangolin photo boats are a great place to be taught the basics of wildlife photography. We also offer game drives on customer vehicles.

You will be taken care of by a professional photographer throughout who will teach you everything you need to know even if this is your first safari. You will be supplied with a camera and telephoto lens for you to use free of charge throughout your stay and as many memory cards as you can fill. Staying at The hotel also contributes $5 per person per night to the conservation efforts we undertake through our non-profit Pangolin.Africa.

Wildlife photograph[hers of all skill levels meet at the hotel and it’s a wonderful collective learning experience for all – and certainly more than you can learn from just watching National Geographic!

Chobe and Delta Private Safari – If you are looking for a photographic safari for a family or group of wildlife photographer friends then this is the African safari for you. Combining the exclusive safari experience of your own houseboat on the river as well as a private camp in the Okavango Delta this is a dream trip for small groups. We can add on a professional photographer to guide you throughout and supply you with cameras and lenses should you need them. These two destinations will serve up so many animals for wildlife viewing and photographs that you will have plenty of amazing images and memories with your friends and loved ones to treasure. Small group photographic safaris don’t get better than this.

Question 5

Which photographic safaris are best for intermediate and advanced wildlife photographers.

Accepted Answer

Our signature Chobe, Delta and Kalahari safari start on set departure date throughout the year and as the name suggests spends three nights in each of these iconic Southern Africa destinations. You will be escorted by a Pangolin Photo Host throughout and be travelling with like-minded wildlife photography enthusiasts.

These three top destinations will serve up some exceptional and varied wildlife viewing. From the herds of elephants in The Chobe to the big cats and wild dogs of the Okavango Delta followed by some hide photography in the Kalahari, you will struggle to find other Botswana photographic safaris to compare to this African safari.

Unlike other photographic safaris on offer, we can also supply you with a state of the art DSLR camera and telephoto lens to use as your primary set-up or as a second body and lens – free of charge.

Addons to these set photographic safaris include time in Madikwe and also Cape Town Photo Tours, in South Africa as detailed above.

Accompanying non-photographers will still very much enjoy the game viewing and other wildlife as this is after all a first class wildlife experience full of wild animals in an unhurried and relaxed format.

African photographic safaris always bring together like-minded people and these small group trips are always a huge success and we find that these strangers often travel together again on other photo safari tours and African safaris.

Question 6

How do I start planning my African photo safari?

Accepted Answer

At Pangolin we have a team of photo safari planners who are all destination experts. Starting the planning process is really where the fun begins and we invite you to browse through these African photo safari packages and then set up a call with one of our planners.

This call can be on the telephone or online using Skype to Zoom and is definitely the best way for us to get a feel for what you want to get out of your photo safari experience.

To set up a call you can visit this page and select a time that suits you.

Our Featured African Photo Safari Packages

The Best of The Chobe

The Best of The Chobe

Best of Botswana Photo Safari

Best of Botswana Photo Safari

Chobe, Delta & Kalahari Photo Safari

Chobe, Delta & Kalahari Photo Safari

The Great Migration Photo Safari

The Great Migration Photo Safari

Chobe + Delta Private Group Safari

Chobe + Delta Private Group Safari

Mauritius Catamaran Charter

Mauritius Catamaran Charter

4 Night Pangolin Chobe Hotel Package

4 Night Pangolin Chobe Hotel Package