WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP - TEMBE
WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
TEMBE: 30 AUGUST TO 3 SEPTEMBER 2026
ELEVATE YOUR WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AT TEMBE ELEPHANT PARK.
Photograph legendary Big Tuskers, improve your wildlife photography skills, and learn directly in the field with hands-on coaching every day. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced photographer, this workshop is built to grow your confidence and creativity.
We’re now offering an exclusive Optional Day before the workshop begins. Spend two practical hands-on sessions mastering your camera menus, buttons, auto-focus settings, and wildlife setup configurations while refreshing the core fundamentals of photography. By the time the main workshop starts, you’ll feel more confident, more prepared, and ready to focus on creating stronger wildlife and bird photographs — not struggling with camera settings in the field.
ABOUT TEMBE ELEPHANT PARK
Tembe Elephant Park is one of South Africa’s most unique and unspoiled wilderness reserves, situated in the heart of Maputaland near the Mozambique border. Famous for its legendary Big Tusker elephants, rare sand forests, rich birdlife, and diverse ecosystems, Tembe offers an authentic safari experience far from busy tourist routes. The reserve is also a remarkable community conservation success story, owned and co-managed by the Tembe people, combining wildlife conservation, cultural heritage, and unforgettable African wilderness experiences.
WORKSHOP OVERVIEW
MAIN WORKSHOP
Sunday 13 - Thursday 17 September 2026
4 nights / 5 days.
PHOTOGRAPHER: R13,290 pp sharing
Single supplement R500 pppn - subject to availability on request.
NON-PHOTOGRAPHER: R2,760 pp sharing per night.
Non-photographers are welcome subject to availability on a first come basis.
Note that Non-photographers will do their game viewing from a general guest vehicle and not with the photographers.
Non-photographers will not participate in classroom sessions.
PAYMENT:
30% non-refundable booking confirmation. Balance to be paid in full by latest 12 August 2026
TECHNICAL DAY - OPTIONAL
Saturday 12 September 2026
Day before main workshop.
PHOTOGRAPHER & NON-PHOTOGRAPHER:
R1,500.00 pp sharing.
INCLUDED
- All-inclusive accommodation and all meals.
- Community levy.
- All game drives and activities as per the itinerary.
- WiFi for the Workshop.
- Gratuities
NOT-INCLUDED
- Travel to and from the venue.
- Gate & Conservation fees.
- Beverages and drinks.
- Personal purchases and in-room services.
- Travel and medical insurance.
DAILY ITINERARY
TECHNICAL DAY - OPTIONAL
Guests should arrive at Tembe Elephant Park by 12:00 pm. After settling we will have a short pre-lunch briefing. After lunch we will not do a game drive but will spend the afternoon at the workshop area to specifically look at camera setups.
WORKSHOP DAY 1
The guests who do not attend the Optional Day should arrive at Tembe Elephant Park by 12:00 pm. Upon arrival and settling in, there will be a short pre-lunch briefing to introduce the itinerary for the upcoming days. After lunch at the main dining area, guests will embark on their first photography game drive. A sundowner experience in the bush will follow before returning to the lodge for dinner and a peaceful night's rest.
WORKSHOP DAY 2-4
Each morning, an early light breakfast is provided for guests followed by the morning sunrise photography sessions on a game viewer. During the session, guests can enjoy coffee and rusks. Upon returning to camp, a full breakfast will be served, followed by a 2-2.5 hour photography classroom session. There is time for relaxation, freshening up, and optional self-booked massages before lunch at 2:00 pm. The afternoon sunset photo sessions begin at about 3:00 pm, with a sundowner stop included. After returning to the camp, guests can freshen up and prepare for dinner at 7:00 pm. In the evening, after dinner, your photography host will be available for image downloading, editing sessions, and a Q&A.
WORKSHOP DAY 5
An early start awaits us for the last morning game drive. Upon our return, a hearty breakfast will be served, followed by a final discussion on photography. The itinerary concludes around 12:00 pm for departure.
Note:
Game drive departure times may vary depending what our goal is for the session.
WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS
- Exclusive game viewer vehicles for photographers.
- Two exclusive game drive photography sessions each full day except.
- Optional Day for going over menus, dials and settings and exposure fundamentals.
- Professional photography coaching every day in the field and classroom.
- Big-5 including big Tusker photography opportunities. Professional editing, retouching and workflow tips.
- Photo Critique and much more......
WHO IS THE WORKSHOP FOR?
- Ideal for beginner photographers wanting to understand wildlife and bird photography properly.
- For all photographers looking to improve their wildlife fundamental photography basics.
- Nature lovers wanting to learn how to capture more meaningful wildlife photographs.
- Photographers who struggle with camera settings in fast-moving wildlife situations.
- Photographers who enjoy hands-on learning experiences.
COVERED DURING THE WORKSHOP
- Understanding Wildlife Photography Fundamentals: Learn the key principles that separate snapshots from intentional wildlife images.
- Camera Setup for Wildlife Photography: Master menus, auto-focus settings, drive modes, exposure settings, and button customization for fast-moving subjects.
- Exposure for Wildlife & Bird Photography: Understand how to control aperture, shutter speed, and ISO in constantly changing outdoor conditions.
- Bird Photography Techniques: Learn how to photograph perched birds, birds in flight, behavior, and interaction moments more effectively.
- Auto-focus & Tracking Techniques: Improve subject tracking, focusing accuracy, and sharpness with moving wildlife and birds.
- Using Natural Light Effectively: Learn how to work with early morning, golden hour, harsh midday light, and backlighting situations.
- Composition & Storytelling: Create stronger, more engaging wildlife photographs through framing, timing, perspective, and visual storytelling.
- Approaching Wildlife and Birds: Understand animal behavior, field awareness, and respectful wildlife photography practices.
- Practical In-Field Coaching: Receive real-time guidance during game drives and photography sessions to improve technique immediately.
- Wildlife Photography Workflow: Learn how to manage, organize, select, and process your wildlife images efficiently.
- Editing for Wildlife Images: Improve detail, color, contrast, sharpness, masking, and overall image impact using Lightroom Classic.
- Understanding Histograms & Noise: Learn how to work these efficiently and more accurately and retain detail in difficult conditions.
- Creative Wildlife Photography Techniques .....and more
PHOTOGRAPHY MASTERY BEGINS WITH THE BASICS!
If you’re not yet fully confident with the fundamentals of photography, we strongly recommend joining the Optional Workshop Day before the main workshop begins. This dedicated session includes a full afternoon and following morning focused on refreshing the essential basics—helping you better understand your camera, exposure, focus, and key photographic principles. It’s designed to build your confidence so you can fully engage with the main workshop and get far greater value from the entire experience.
TESTIMONIALS
REAL STORIES FROM REAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
“Thanks for a great experience! I enjoyed every minute of the workshop. The theoretical tuition added to the enjoyment. All said a superbly planned photography workshop” - MD
“I attended a Wildlife Photography Workshop with Rory Baker Photography and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Rory explains photography in a simple and practical way that makes it easy to understand and apply in the field. The workshop was hands-on, relaxed, and very informative, which helped build my confidence with both my camera and photography skills. I would highly recommend the workshop to anyone wanting to improve their photography and enjoy learning in a supportive environment.” BB
Enjoyable, nice people & enlightening. I enjoyed most the hide and hearing different ways of approaching editing. GF
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