African Photographic Safari Destinations

Africa’s golden light sets it apart from many photographic destinations – from the silvery light of dawn to the dramatic hues of sunset, this is a continent where photographers have every advantage. We have gathered together the destinations where specialist photographic tours are offered as well as a list of photo-friendly lodges.

Botswana’s Chobe River has a well-deserved reputation as a wildlife mecca. Home to Africa’s greatest concentration of elephant, it is no surprise that a Chobe photo safari is richly rewarding for wildlife enthusiasts. Alternating between game drives and boat trips, photographers have the chance to capture the moment as hundreds of thirsty elephants rumble down to the river to drink. Hippo wallow and crocodile bask in the sun, fish eagles soar and riverbanks teem with buffalo, gazelle and the predators that hunt them.

Kenya is another country with a stellar range of experiences: the Masai Mara’s Great Migration is one of nature’s most dramatic spectacles.  Iconic imagery greets you at every turn of the road – whether it is tartan-robed Masai warriors, snow-capped Kilimanjaro or big cats stalking their prey in the rolling savannah grasslands.

South Africa is the world’s third most bio-diverse country and the opportunities for photography are legendary. The Kruger National Park and its private reserves are famous for documentary-level sightings of the Big 5 (especially of elusive leopard) while malaria-free Madikwe offers beautiful Kalahari landscapes and plenty of game. Since Johannesburg is a main hub for international travellers coming to Africa, it is useful to undertake a pre-safari photography workshop in South Africa’s City of Gold. A workshop helps you adapt your shooting style and technical settings to safari conditions so that you are ready to capture your best ever images when they unfold in front of you.

Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe offer wonderful imagery for photographers. Namibia is famous for its rolling plains of apricot-coloured sand dunes and breathtaking desert scenery: there are abandoned towns slowly disappearing into the stark beauty of the Skeleton Coast and vast salt plains with desert-adapted species in Etosha National Park. Zambia and Zimbabwe are home to game-packed reserves that provide photographers with primal scenes of predator and prey. These destinations feature safari lodges that welcome photographers with facilities such as media rooms, private vehicles with specialist photo-guides, and battery recharging stations.