KUGER NATIONAL PARK

The Kruger Park is a massive wilderness region approximately the size of Israel, driving at park speed will take 2 days to get from top to bottom. It is justly considered one of Africa’s top wildlife destinations because of its incredible biodiversity: There are 147 mammal species included an estimated 1500 lion, 17 000 elephant, 48 000 buffalo and a 1000 leopard. 

Birds are in abundance with over 500 recorded species, plus 118 different reptiles,  35 amphibians, 53 fish species and 336 different types of trees.  In short there is something special for all nature lovers and this photo tour gives you a full week to explore. You can choose how to spread it out, 3 nights in 2 different locations or 2 nights in 3 different locations or all 6 nights at one. If you’re a keen bird lover, the northern part of Kruger has a number of bird specials not found elsewhere in the Park. Over the years birds in the Kruger’s accommodation and picnic areas have become relatively tame allowing for great close up photography.

CAPE TOWN

Cape Town is one of the world’s most beautifully located cities. We were the first company to offer dedicated photo tours in and around Cape Town and over the past decade have found many secret spots. We can tailor the Cape Town segment of this tour to your photographic interests be it birds, wildlife or travel photography.

We have scheduled 3 nights for Cape Town but this is completely flexible, you can add additional days to the tour or you can substitute some of the Kruger days for Cape Town days.  

BEST  TIME TO VISIT

As each season offers something unique to photograph this tour is available year round, please visit these pages for more detail.
Best time to Visit: https://www.photographytours.co.za/information/best-time-to-visit/
Rain Season Advantage: https://www.photographytours.co.za/information/advantages-rain-season/

Kruger National Park & Zululand
Dry season is May-Oct. The ‘Green Season’ (when the rains start) is Nov to March. This is in general as it can rain anytime of year and Nov and March can be dry months. The main advantage of summer (Dec-March) is that all migrant birds are back, birds are in full breeding plumage and there are baby mammals everywhere. However it is also very hot and humid and the vegetation can be dense. The hot weather starts in September and reaches its peak in Jan/Feb. Autumn (May/June) are the most pleasant weather months for travel. July-October is safari high season with high season rates to match (July holidays, Xmas & Easter are considered peak, peak season, times)

Cape Town
Cape Town offers year round birding; the best months are April through Nov, with winter/spring being peak season (June – Oct). This applies particularly for marine wildlife like whales, sharks and pelagic birds. Summer (Dec-March) can be very windy so birds tend to less abundant however the African Penguins at Boulders Beach and Kirstenbosch Gardens are year round photo destinations.

Mountains and Grasslands
For keen birders, visiting Nov – March we highly recommend adding extra days or substituting days for the mountain and grassland regions of South Africa, these open habitats offer sensational summer bird photography! Especially if you wish to photography Widow birds in peak breeding plumage with their long flowing tails. 

PHOTO TOUR DETAILED ITINERARY

JOHANNESBURG (1 Night)

Just 30mins from Johannesburg Airport lies Rietvlei Nature Reserve, one of the world’s largest urban nature reserves (4000hectares/10 000 acres). It is home to cheetah, rhino, buffalo and an abundance of antelope, including species only found in the Highveld like Black Wildebeest and Blesbok. For birders this relatively small reserve has spectacular birding because of its diverse habitats with over 300 species recorded and the open grasslands create fantastic photographic opportunity.

It is recommended to overnight flight into Johannesburg, where we collect you for early check-in. There will be time to relax before lunch before departing for Rietvlei Nature Reserve. Your safari experience begins  with a short safari photography workshop, followed by a drive around this beautiful reserve, practising techniques learnt and photographing on until sunset.    

Accommodation: Comfortable Johannesburg Guest House  (includes Lunch and Dinner)

 
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK (6 Nights)
Approximately 5 hours drive from Johannesburg lies the Kruger Park. It is justly considered one of Africa’s top wildlife destinations because of it’s abundant wildlife: 147 mammal species and 500+ birds. Birds like Hornbills, Starlings, Rollers, Bee-eaters and Shrikes are typical. In the camps and picnic sites many species have become relatively tame allowing for close up photography.

You will have 6 nights to explore the Kruger Park, we recommend spending 2 nights in different areas but if you wish to spend all 6 nights in one place or 6 nights all in a different place, we can do that based on accommodation availability. Depending on groups with either use a SUV vehicle or minivan, so each passenger has their own window seat.  

Accommodation: Safari Rest Camps/Lodges in the Kruger Park (B, L, D) 

CAPE TOWN (3 Nights)
Cape Town is one of the most beautifully located cities in the world and offers opportunities to photograph in areas of great scenic beauty. We can tailor this tour to your preference be in birds/wildlife, landscapes or travel photography. 

Look here for landscape or travel tours: https://www.photographytours.co.za/cape-town-photo-tours/info/

For birds the Cape has some beautiful species that found nowhere else on the planet like the Cape Sugarbird, Cape Rock jumper,  Orange breasted Sunbird and Protea Seedeater and all 3 mousebirds, which are a family of birds endemic to Africa. And of course, the African Penguin colony at Boulders is sensational, as is Kirstenbosch Gardens, one of the most beautiful botanical gardens on earth.

No birding trip to Cape Town would be complete without a visit to the Cape Point where we’ll look for; Cape Sugar birds, Cape Bulbul, Cape Canaries, Cape Cormorant, Black Oyster-catchers, White backed Mousebirds and the endemic bontebok (antelope).

Where Cape Town really shines for wildlife photographers is out at sea, with some of the best shark, whale, seal and bird photography anywhere so close to the mainland! A Half Day boat trip can sometimes produce thousands of birds.  Numbers and diversity of species is seasonal though with June – Sept having the highest bird densities but all through the year there is always something to photograph. 

Cape Destinations
Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope Reserve. Penguins Boulders Beach. Boat Trip, Milnerton Lagoon, Table Mountain Sunset. Kirstenbosch Gardens. 

The order of destinations can change depending on weather conditions, especially for the boat trip as large swell can cancel trips. If this happens, there are many alternatives such as the Rietvlei and Strandfontein sewage works, Intaka Island and the picturesque Cape winelands. Cape Town and surroundings has so much beauty that there is enough to keep photographers busy for weeks!

If tour is (mid-august to mid-sept) it is recommended to add an extra day for the West Coast National Park during the wild flower display which attracts an abundance of birds.

Accommodation: Comfortable Guest House (B. L, D)