South Africa Photo Safari
Come join us in South Africa for a once in a lifetime wildlife photo safari to the incredible Greater Kruger National Park region. Nowhere else on Earth can you find such a large concentration of the Big Five (Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Buffalo and Rhino). December is a great time to visit this region as we are on the cusp of the dry and wet seasons, which gives us the possibility to photograph this region with the first rains hitting the ground. When this happens, everything comes to life! Instead of dry and dusty backgrounds, you can get lush green backdrops for your wildlife images. Throughout our time on the ground in South Africa, you will have 10 game drives that our group will take part in.
Trip Dates
December 6th – 11th, 2019
Tuition Costs
$6000
Group Size
6
Difficulty Level
Easy
Throughout our time in the Great Kruger National Park region, we will spend our time split between two amazing Private Game Reserves. Kapama is a privately owned natural reserve that covers a 13,000-hectare area. Here you can find large prides of lions, elephants, rhino, monkeys, buffalo and of course and an impressive assortment of birdlife. We also spend a couple of nights in Sabi Sands, another incredible reserve that covers a 65,000-hectare space. This is one of the best places on the planet to see and photograph leopards, as well as wild dogs, lions, rhino and occasionally cheetahs. The accommodations in both locations are Luxury offerings that are full board, covering all of your costs on the ground.
What is Included?
- All Ground Transportation
- All Accommodations
- All Local Guides & Permits
- All Main Meals & Local Beers/Wine
What is Not Included?
- All Flights
- Visas to Enter South Africa
- Snacks & High End Alcohol
- All Tips for Local Guides & Drivers
With two photo instructors present for the duration of the workshop, you will have plenty of opportunity for one on one instruction to further the skills that you feel you need to work on. If the workshop is full and you wanted to be added to the waiting list, click HERE.
* please read the workshop F.A.Q. section on this page to learn more about visiting South Africa and check out our cancellation policies if you have any questions.
South Africa Photo Workshop
Areas to Explore
- Hoedspruit
- Kapama
- Sabi Sands
- and much more...
Join the Workshop Waitlist to learn more about any upcoming adventures...
Join the Workshop Waitlist to learn more about any upcoming adventures...
F.A.Q
The workshop starts on December 6th in Hoedspruit, South Africa. You might want to arrive a day early into Johannesburg to help you get over any jetlag. The workshop officially starts with our afternoon game drive on the 6th.
The workshop ends on December 11th. If you can get a flight that leaves in the afternoon on that day, you will be fine.
You fly into & out of the Hoedspruit Airport (HDS) in South Africa.
Not likely, but please consult your closest South African Embassy to make sure. If you are a US citizen, you can get a tourist visa on entry that covers a 90-day stay.
We will be staying at two amazing luxury lodges while on this workshop. The Kapama River Lodge and the Arathusa Safari Lodge in Sabi Sands. All meals, local brand drinks, teas/coffees, and optional bush walks are included in the price of your tuition. All accommodation is based on shared rooms (separate beds unless requested differently in advanced).
At each of the private game reserves we are visiting, we will have our own private game vehicle for just our group, giving everyone a window spot for each game drive. Inbetween reserves, we have organized a private charter van for our group to take us two each of the reserves and back to the airport.
While our main focus will be photographing the “Big Five” you will have plenty of opportunities to see a variety of wildlife. Leopards, lions, buffalo, rhino, giraffe, elephant, waterbuck, gazelles, cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas and much more.
Because this workshop focuses on wildlife, you will want to bring some long lenses. I highly recommend bringing a 100-400 equivalent lens or longer if possible, such as the new Sony 200-600. If you have a faster super-telephoto prime lens, that could work as well. You can get away with a 70-200 at times, but you will have to crop in some on your images.
Meet Your Instructors & Guides
Colby Brown
Owner/Photographer/Author
Colby Brown is a photographer, photo educator and author based out of Eastern Pennsylvania. Specializing in landscape, travel and humanitarian photography, his photographic portfolio spans the four corners of the globe and all 7 continents. Not too long after picking up his first digital camera in 2006, Colby was leading workshops for National Geographic in South America, further spurring his love for both travel and photo education. In 2011, he founded The Giving Lens, an organization that blends photo education with support for various non-governmental organizations (NGO) and causes around the world, such as child education, clean drinking water projects, and women’s rights.
Testimonials
Gorilla trekking in Uganda was one of the most amazing and unforgettable lifetime experiences. The trip was well organized, flexible where needed, and a lot of fun. Tim, our driver navigated through muddy and rough terrain with ease as we travelled from Entebbe to the lush Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. He educated us on his country and the culture. The accommodations Colby chose allowed us to easily(...)
I came into this workshop having shot lots of landscape, but without much experience with macro or flash. Colby brought instruction to my level and helped me get started with this equipment. The trip was well organized, and the local guides were great. Every day, the workshop tour brought us to places with plenty of opportunities for unique wildlife photos.
The Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flat in the world, is breathtaking. Just standing in the middle of its 2,496,000 acres, with the vast expanse of Andean Dark Sky and millions of stars suspended over you, is well worth the price of admission. But of course, this is a Colby Brown workshop so there is so much more! Based on Colby's extensive travel in South America, you are skillfully guided to some of the(...)
Other Workshops Worth Checking Out!
Norway Photo Workshop – Lofoten Islands
Join us this February as we explore this impressive series of Islands located above the Arctic Circle. While we will work hard to get you in the right spot for both sunrise and sunset, with over half the day steeped in darkness, we will make sure to chase any and all Aurora activity that presents itself throughout our time in the Lofoten Islands.
Iceland Winter Photo Workshop – Ice Caves & Auroras
Winter in Iceland is one of those unique experiences that everyone should have at least once in their life. With this workshop, we will focus our time on the South of Iceland, focusing our time on Ice Caves, Northern Lights, and glaciers, but we will also photograph a number of waterfalls such as Gullfoss, Bruarfoss, Seljalandsfoss, Skogarfoss and more.
Patagonia Photography Workshop Adventure
Patagonia is one of the most wild, beautiful & dramatic mountain ranges on the planet. We split our time between the incredible Torres del Paine National Park in Southern Chile and Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina, home to both Cerro Torre and Mt. Fitz Roy.
Discover Cuba
With this adventure, our focus will be on capturing the beauty of the Cuban people, culture, and architecture throughout the Island of Cuba. From the classic cars and ocean side highways in Havana to the cobblestone streets of Trinidad and everything in between. With so much uncertainty in the US/Cuban relationship, NOW is the time to go!
Myanmar Photo Workshop Adventure
Myanmar is one of the few mysterious and exotic locations left on the planet. After opening up its boarders a little over six years ago, it has quickly become a hot spot for travelers and photographers alike. Join us as we visit Bagan, Yangon, Inle Lake and more as we explore this incredible Buddhist country and all it has to offer.
Iceland Summer Photography Workshop
Visiting Iceland in the Summer is one of the best times to explore this amazing country. Not only are lupines in bloom and waterfalls at peak flow, but the midnight sun provides endless hours of soft beautiful light as sunset and sunrise converge, often providing up to 6 hrs of golden light each evening!
Cancellation & Refund Policy
No one wants to miss out on a trip of a life time…but things do happen. In those situations, the following applies…
All cancellations are subject to a minimum of a $150 service charge. In addition, if you cancel and your spot is otherwise filled, you will be refunded the full amount you have paid (minus the $150 service charge). However if you cancel and your spot is not filled, the following fee schedule applies:
- 90 days or more: full refund minus $150 fee
- 60 days or more: 50% refund
- Less than 60 days: no refund