SOUTH AFRICA & BOTSWANA: THE ULTIMATE PHOTOSAFARI – Up Close and Personal encounters with Pangolins, Aardvarks, Meerkats and The Big 5

SOUTH AFRICA & BOTSWANA: THE ULTIMATE PHOTOSAFARI WITH WILD IMAGES

There are few places more beguiling for wildlife photography than southern Africa.  This celebrated region is renowned for some of the best “Big 5” viewing in Africa. These famous five—Lion, Leopard, Rhinoceros, African Elephant and African (or Cape) Buffalo—were once favourite hunting targets, and while many were hunted nearly to extinction, some reserves have made inspiring strides in bringing them back and making them fantastic photographic subjects.

Offering more than just the regular safari wildlife photography subjects, this tour, and its extension, takes you to places where you can photograph highly desired species including African Wild Dog, Aardvark, Ground Pangolins and Meerkats!

Mashatu

Located in the Northern Tuli Game Reserve of Botswana, which is situated between the Tuli Safari Area, a national park in Zimbabwe and the Mapungubwe National Park (a World Heritage Site) in South Africa, Mashatu shares unfenced borders with both the South African and Zimbabwean national parks in the south and north respectively. This vast area forms part of a cross-border wildlife conservation area protecting the substantial biodiversity of the fauna and flora in this region.

Mashatu, ‘Land of Giants’, takes its name from the locally sacrosanct Mashatu or Nyala berry tree (Xanthrocercis zambesiaca) and the giants that roam its terrain. These magnificent dark green trees, which are found along the rivers in the reserve, provide refuge, shade and food to a myriad of wildlife. Mashatu, which is one of the largest privately owned game reserves in southern Africa, provides a sanctuary for the largest herds of elephant on privately owned land on the continent.

In addition to that, the world’s tallest mammal, the Giraffe, the world’s largest antelope, the Common Eland, the world’s largest bird, the Ostrich, and the world’s heaviest flying bird, the Kori Bustard are all part of the game drive experience at Mashatu. Add the king of the beasts, the Lion and the iconic baobab tree…and you have Africa’s big seven land based giants.

Due to the exceptional diversity of landscapes in the reserve, Mashatu enjoys an ecological biodiversity uncommon in other game reserves. Three members of the Big Five, namely the Leopard, the Lion and the African Elephant, are complimented by some lesser well-known, but interesting species, including Aardwolf, Bat-eared fox, African Wild Cat, Honey Badger, Spotted Hyena and Black-backed Jackal.  For visitors who are interested in birdlife and bird photography, Mashatu is home to more than 350 bird species, including the enchanting Lilac-breasted roller.

During our time at Mashatu we will explore the wilderness area during morning and afternoon wildlife photography drives in open safari vehicles.

Eye-Level with Elephants

At Mashatu, the Matabole hide has been sunk into the ground in prime elephant habitat. Inside, you are seated so that your head, and camera, is at ground level, resulting in fantastic low angle images!  There is nothing quite like photographing wild African Elephants from a hide.  On many occasions they are completely unaware of your presence and you are sometimes forced to swap your prime or telephoto lens out for a wide angle when they get really close!

We will spend two morning sessions in the underground Matabole photographic hide, which is a unique and thrilling experience for wildlife photographers or indeed any lovers of wildlife.

Mala Mala

Internationally renowned for the quality of its game viewing, Mala Mala adjoins the Kruger National Park with an unfenced border of some 7.5 kilometres (about 4.5 miles), and is the largest private reserve to do so. This celebrated region is renowned for some of the best “Big 5” viewing in Africa.

The Mala Mala reserve is especially famous for its fantastic Leopard viewing, and night drives are a highlight, with an array of nocturnal species that include big cats (Lions and Leopards), Spotted Hyenas, Side-striped Jackals, African Civet, Large-spotted Genets and various owl species.

During our time at Mala Mala we will be exploring this magnificent wilderness area twice a day during early morning and afternoon/evening during wildlife photography drives in open 4-wheel drive vehicles. The 4×4 vehicles enable the guides to leave the road and provide us with close-up game viewing and fantastic photo opportunities. We will be visiting Mala Mala during the colder winter months, so the savanna bushveld will be dry and more open to spot and photograph the wildlife. The beautiful Sand River flowing through Mala Mala from north to south is a big draw card for thirsty animals, especially at the end of winter.

Tswalu  Extension

On Foot with wild Aardvark, Pangolins and Meerkats

Late one afternoon we sat there. Quiet. Patient. Waiting. Then it appeared – a shy glimpse of one of Africa’s most sought after animals to see and photograph – an Aardvark emerged from its burrow.

This Aardvark is close to our lodge and it knows people, yet it is still extremely shy.  As a creature that is generally only active during the night, at our lodge it sometimes emerges at dusk, allowing us a privileged glimpse into its world.

On the edge of the Kalahari, in the breath-taking reserve of Tswalu, Aardvark isn’t the only incredible creature you may see.  Guests may also encounter one of the most poached and endangered animals in all of Africa, wild Ground Pangolins.  Amongst the other specialoities are Aardwolf, Bat-eared Fox and African Wild Cat.

When we are not searching for these rare creatures, we may join one of two families of Meerkats that researchers at Tswalu have come to know as they gently work with these animals to habituate them without interfering in their wild behaviour.

Tswalu Kalahari is South Africa’s largest privately owned game reserve. The owners are now protecting over 110,000 hectares of spectacular grasslands and mountains. South Africa’s section of the Kalahari Desert is a semi-arid grassland which is characterised by its diversity of habitats and wide open savannas. What makes the Tswalu reserve unique is the combination of the Kalahari dunes, savannas and the scenic beauty of the Korannaberg Mountains. The diverse climate and habitats in this region of the country translates into an incredibly unique and diverse animal population. It is here that more than 240 bird species can be found and an astonishing 80 species of mammals! The open, rolling hills make for excellent game viewing and photographic opportunities.

Tswalu has a fairly regular pack of Wild Dogs living in the reserve and our tour is timed to coincide with pups emerging from their den. While we can never guarantee sightings of pups, the site we will visit has seen many observations and great photographic opportunities.

The desert-adapted antelope species include Springbok, Gemsbok (Southern Oryx) and Red Hartebeest to name but a few, but we also stand a chance to admire some rare species such as roan and sable antelope, Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra and, of course, the desert adapted Black Rhino.

Larger predators in Tswalu reserve include Lion, Leopard, African Wild Dogs and Cheetahs, while Spotted Hyenas do not occur in the area, the very interesting and rarely seen Brown Hyena is reasonably standard.

Tswalu’s smaller mammals offer perhaps the most special and unique sightings of all. Meerkat viewing is fantastic here; dedicated researchers have gently habituated two colonies into accepting our presence, without distorting their natural behaviour.

The photographic opportunities of this tour are unparalleled.  Not only do we get close to these delightful creatures, but being on foot we also get to photograph their uninhibited behaviour from unique angles.

This extraordinary tour will provide an opportunity to photograph the Big 5 and so much more!

Accommodation and Road Transport

Accommodation on the tour will be in truly luxury grade lodges throughout, with costs to match. Access to the private reserves will be by small charter flights. Open safari style 4×4 vehicles will be used for all game drives.

Walking

Most of the walking is on flat ground or on hard surface grasslands. The only reserve where walking is permitted is Tswalu.

Climate

During the winter months in the northern parts of South Africa and southern South Africa most days will be warm, dry and sunny, but the early mornings can be very cold, especially on the open safari vehicles.

Photographic Equipment

If you use a DSLR for photography you should bring telephotos (and converters) that will (with a full-frame body) cover the range 200-500mm or 600mm or more. You will also find a wide angle lens good for landscapes. There will be only limited opportunities to use a macro lens.

If you bring a good quality bridge camera it will be best if it has an optical zoom of 18-20x or more, combined with a reasonable wide-angle at the other end of the zoom range.

We will have power at all our safari camps, but would recommend having at least on spare battery per camera. Dust is ever-present in Africa, so cleaning your photography equipment is important. A monopod can be helpful if you use a heavy telephoto, as the vehicle sides are low and so often unsuitable for resting on. A beanbag can also be very useful for wildlife photography. If you do not have one yourself, let us know as our lodges can usually provide one. Don’t forget a flash for night-drives.

If you have questions about what equipment you ought to bring, please contact our office.

Other Wild Images wildlife photosafaris in Africa:

Botswana & The Okavango

Ethiopia’s Extraordinary Wildlife

Kenya: Mara Migration & Laikipia Exclusive Photosafari

Namibia & South Africa

Tanzania: Serengeti Spectacular