rory baker photography
BIG TUSKER & WETLANDS PHOTO SAFARI
TEMBE ELEPHANT PARK - 5 NIGHTS. / iSIMANGALISO WETLANDS PARK - 4 NIGHTS
Expect to do a lot of photography in diverse lighting conditions—open plains, deep forests, thick bush, and on water, all guided by a professional photography guide. At Tembe, we will also be accompanied by a local guide who has extensive knowledge of the animals, birds. At iSimangaliso, we will be joined on our birding sessions by a professional birding guide who has intimate knowledge of the birds in that area. On most days, we will have time to download and review images in group sessions, where we can discuss and critique, with editing tips and guidelines.
Photo Safari Overveiw
Safari Duration and Dates:#
9 nights / 10 days
All year round - recommended March to October.
Price, Payment & Cancellation:#
EUR 4,870.00 per guest per group of 4 guests.
Less or more than 4 guests price on request.
This photo safari will take minimum 2 and maximum 6 guests.
Payment, Cancellation & Refund:
- Booking Confirmation Fee: 30%.
- Final Payment: due 46 calendar days prior to the commencement date.
- Cancellation of a photo safari must be in writing.
- Cancellation 91 calendar days or more: Refund of already paid, less 13% of the total safari amount.
- Cancellation 90 and 46 calendar days: Refund will be less 50% of the total safari amount.
- Cancellations 45 or less calendar days: No refund.
- No-show for a photo safari: No refund.
See full terms and conditions - click here.
Two Destinations & Accommodation:#
Tembe Elephant Park - Northern Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal South Africa.
Luxury tented Camp
iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, Northern Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal South Africa
South Africa’s first World Heritage Site (UNESCO) - 1999.
4 Star guest house/hotel accommodation
Included in the Price:#
- Transfers from Durban King Shaka airport to destinations and return.
- All-inclusive, accommodation and all meals.
- Alcoholic beverages (local beers and wine) and refreshments at the destinations.
- All community, gate and entry fees.
- All activities (game drives, boats, walks etc.) as mentioned in the itinerary.
- Gratuities
- WiFi
Not included in the Price:#
Personal purchases and in-room services at destinations.
Travel and medical insurance.
Recommended Photography Gear:#
A DSLR or mirrorless camera is recommended, with a telephoto lens of 300 mm or longer, plus a wide-angle lens for closer sightings and scenic shots. Other mid-range or prime lenses can be helpful, especially if you have two bodies to avoid constant lens changes in the field.
Also, a lightweight monopod goes a long way to help with stability on game drives, boat excursions, and walks in the field. Remember to bring enough memory cards, spare batteries, and a portable hard drive to download your images.
You will receive a detailed checklist in the weeks prior to your tour that will provide a checklist and a comprehensive list of what to bring.
Highlights:#
This is an ALL-INCLUSIVE photo safari - from the time you are collected at the point of departure to the time you return - all expenses are covered as per the itinerary, including gratuities but excluding personal purchases.
- Tembe offers encounters with some of the largest elephants in Africa, including Big Tuskers, an elephant whose tusks exceed 100 lb. (approximately 45.4 kg). Eight of Africa’s remaining 30 “big tuskers” live in South Africa’s Tembe Elephant Park. There is always a good chance you will encounter one of these giants.
- Tembe is also a Big Five reserve and although there are several Rhino they are often elusive in the thick bush. There are many antelope species, including the shy Suni, Africa’s smallest antelope at only 35 centimeters high.
- There are more than 340 species of birds been seen at Tembe.
- The iSimangaliso Wetland Park was listed as South Africa’s first World Heritage Site (UNESCO) in December 1999 in recognition of its superlative natural beauty and unique global values. This Wetland Park covers an incredible 332,000 hectares. iSimangaliso means a place of wonder, miracles, and wildlife.
- The largest estuarine system in Africa (St Lucia Estuary) has 526 bird species and many hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, leopards, and much more.
- You will be guided on each activity by a professional photography guide plus a local guide at the destination who knows the local wildlife and birds.
- On most days, we will have time to download and review images in a group session, where we can also discuss and critique photos. You will also receive editing tips on lightroom and photoshop.
Daily Itinerary Overview
Day 1:
Starting at Durban King Shaka International Airport (or a nearby hotel), we head north to Tembe, arriving around 12:00 pm. After settling in, we will meet at the main lodge to discuss the days ahead and what to expect. This will be followed by lunch, and then our first game drive session, which will include a sundowner before we head back to the lodge for dinner.
Day 2-5:
In the mornings there will be a light breakfast (cereals, yogurt, and fruit) and coffee available before we go out on the sunrise photography session. Along the way we will also stop for coffee and rusks. Each morning our destination may differ based on weather and/or the guides’ local knowledge of sightings anticipated. Your photography guide will be on every game drive to assist with your photography. On return we will have a full breakfast at the main lodge.
After breakfast we have about 2-2.5 hours where we can gather in the meeting area and download images. This is an ideal time to brush up on technical issues, critique photos, and have discussions about composition and storytelling in photography. After a short rest to freshen up, we will have lunch at the main lodge, then head out on the afternoon sunset photography session, which will include a sundowner before we head back to the lodge for our evening dinner. After dinner, your photography guide will be available to assist with any photographic queries.
Day 6:
We start the day with a light breakfast (cereals, yogurt, and fruit) before we go out on the sunrise photography game drive. On return we will have a full breakfast followed by a wrap-up discussion, then get ready and check out to start the next leg of our photo safari. Our transport will arrive for the transfer to iSimangaliso Wetlands Park. We will stop along the way for lunch and a tour of a crocodile sanctuary before continuing to our guesthouse/hotel at St Lucia for arrival in the afternoon where we will have time to check in and rest. We will have an early dinner at a restaurant in the village before returning to a good night’s rest.
Day 7-9:
If we start the mornings with a sunrise boat excursion a breakfast will be packed, otherwise the morning will start off with breakfast at the guest house/hotel followed by the morning activity. Activities include sunrise boat excursions, guided birding walks, or a game drive along the eastern shores.
After the morning activity we will have lunch in the village followed by the afternoon activity which may include a sunset boat cruise on the estuary, a bird walks along the estuary and beach, or a game drive along the eastern shores. Each evening, we will have dinner at a local restaurant in the village.
Day 10:
Our final day will start with a sunrise boat cruise or a bird walk before we check out of the guest house/hotel. This will be followed by a final light lunch at a local restaurant in the village before we head back to King Shaka Airport to arrive at the latest 5:00 pm.
Additional / Optional Activites
These activities can be dove-tailed into the current program by eliminating one or more of the current activities. If you are a group it would be easy to make the change, if you are individual then everyone will need to agree. Indicate on your booking form and it will be addressed with the whole group.
Turtle Tour:
Between mid-November and mid-January only.
Experience the miracle of the reproduction of Leatherback turtles and Loggerhead turtles on the beaches north of St. Lucia in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
Along the northern KwaZulu-Natal coastline, two sea turtle species—Leatherbacks (Dermochelys coriacea) and Loggerheads (Caretta caretta)—make an important but fragile presence. Leatherbacks, the largest sea turtles, roam offshore waters and occasionally haul ashore to nest on dune-backed beaches during the warmer months, while loggerheads, smaller but locally notable nesters, use the sandy shores of protected stretches in the region. Both species face common threats here, including bycatch in nets, coastal development, plastic pollution, and habitat disturbance on nesting beaches. Conservation areas like iSimangaliso Wetland Park help safeguard critical nesting habitats, and ongoing monitoring and community awareness efforts are essential to support these endangered and vulnerable creatures along Northern KwaZulu-Natal’s coastline.
Night Safari Excursion:
This 3 hour nocturnal affair takes you along the 4x4 tracks in the Eastern Shores Reserve. Chameleons abound, and the endemic Sitara’s Dwarf chameleon is a rare treat. You will be in an open safari vehicle with spotlights, where you may encounter various local nocturnal residents. Sightings often include hippo, buffalo, spotted eagle owls, nightjars, kudu, waterbuck, crocodile and even side-striped jackal, python and leopard.
Tembe Walking Safari:
Step into the wild and experience Tembe Elephant Park with a guided walking trail - slow down, connect deeply with nature, and explore the wilderness on foot. Led by experienced, armed trails guides, these walks offer an intimate encounter with Tembe’s extraordinary landscapes, iconic elephant herds, and the smaller details often missed on game drives — from animal tracks and bird-life to medicinal plants and ancient stories of the land.
Step into the wild and experience Tembe Elephant Park with a guided walking trail - slow down, connect deeply with nature, and explore the wilderness on foot. Led by experienced, armed trails guides, these walks offer an intimate encounter with Tembe’s extraordinary landscapes, iconic elephant herds, and the smaller details often missed on game drives — from animal tracks and bird-life to medicinal plants and ancient stories of the land.
