Photo Safaris Information

Originally termed by big game hunters, "The Big Five" refers to Africa's iconic wildlife quintet: lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhinoceroses, which are now top sights for safari enthusiasts and symbolic of African wildlife.

Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe is an iconic destination for many wildlife photographers, and for good reason. This parks breathtaking landscapes and awe-inspiring wildlife encounters makes it one for the books. This blog explores everything you need to know about a Mana Pools safari.

Discover the Okavango Delta in Botswana, a haven for wildlife photographers. Its unmatched beauty and diverse wildlife make it a prime spot for capturing iconic shots for any portfolio.

The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, epitomises the African wilderness. A haven for photographers, its vast landscapes, diverse ecosystems, and rich wildlife provide unparalleled opportunities for capturing stunning images, making it a sought-after destination.

Nestled in South Africa's vast wilderness, Madikwe Game Reserve stands as the fifth-largest game sanctuary, beckoning photographers with its sprawling 75,000-hectare landscape, frequented by the iconic Big Five and numerous other species.

Nestled in Tanzania's lush highlands, the Ngorongoro Crater is a wildlife photographer's dream, boasting unparalleled natural beauty and an astonishing range of wildlife. This blog provides essential tips to maximise your photographic journey in this ancient, expansive sanctuary

The Masai Mara is a dream destination for wildlife photographers, offering unparalleled natural beauty and diverse wildlife. This blog shares everything you need to know to make the most of your visit to this incredible haven for wildlife photography.

Amboseli National Park is a hot spot for many wildlife photographers and for good reason. This blog shares camera gear advice from Pangolin Photo Host William Steel, photographs and inside tips from Janine Krayer and everything you need about this iconic park in Kenya.

Samburu National Reserve is one of our favourite hidden gems for both wildlife and landscape photography. This blog shares facts, ideas and photographic highlights of visiting the area and includes photos from Pangolin Photo Hosts, Janine Krayer and Guts Swanepoel.

South Luangwa National Park is a must-visit national park for all wildlife photographers and safari enthusiasts! This blog shares facts, ideas and photographic highlights of visiting the area and includes photos from Pangolin Photo Host, Sabine Stols.

The Ndutu Conservation Area is a must visit destination for wildlife photography, especially during calving season. This blog shares facts, ideas and photographic highlights of visiting the area and includes photos from Pangolin Photo Host, Janine Krayer.

Nxai Pan National Park is a photographic oasis for wildlife photography. This blog shares facts, ideas and photographic highlights of visiting the park and includes photographs from our Pangolin Photo Hosts.

In this post, we give you all the information you need about the three main airports in Botswana. We will also detail some important information and flight options if you want to use Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) or Livingstone (Zambia) too.

Learn more about our home and wildlife photography paradise, the Chobe National Park.

Photography Safaris for Beginners How to choose the right African photo safaris for your skill level. When there are so many photography safaris to chose from it's sometimes difficult to choose the right photo safari that matches your skill level. In this article, we will detail what you should be looking for when choosing an African photo safari if you are a beginner wildlife photographer. At Pangolin Photo Safaris we welcome photographers of all levels of experience from complete novices to seasoned professional wildlife photographers. Everybody started as a novice and there is no better classroom to [...]

Botswana Seasons Explained Is there a best time for Botswana safari? When you choose Botswana as a safari destination you need to think carefully about the different Botswana seasons and what time to travel as there are so many factors to consider. For example, you need to ask yourself questions like these: What is my budget for a safari? How long am I wanting to be on safari? What wildlife viewing and photography do I want on safari? Which animals and birds am I particularly wanting to see? What will the weather in Botswana be like throughout [...]

The Chobe National Park, Botswana The Chobe National Park The Chobe National Park was Botswana's first National park and is certainly one of its most ecologically diverse. The park shares its northern boundary with Namibia with the Chobe River and acts as a natural border between the two countries. The game reserve is 11,700 km2 (4500 sq miles) in size and home to Africa's largest elephant populations. There are also healthy populations of hippo, buffalo, multiple antelopes as well as lions, wild dogs, leopard and hyena. The birdlife on The Chobe River is plentiful, especially in [...]

Green Season in Botswana Could Green Season in Botswana be THE BEST time of year for wildlife photography? The problem with marketing people (and I speak to you as one of them) is that once in a while they come up with an interesting idea that gains traction and suddenly becomes part of the public consciousness for better - or for worse! This is especially the case when someone mentions green season in Botswana Take for example the concept of “The Big Five”. Hunters devised this to measure their success when they were able to shoot them [...]

Flights to Botswana Some interesting new routes are opening up for flights to Botswana. Figuring out which are the easiest and quickest flights to Botswana and the start of your safari can be a troublesome question. Which Airline? Which Route? What if I miss my connection? Where is the nearest airport to the Chobe National Park? The list goes on. Traditionally the majority of our clients travelling to us in The Chobe, fly into Johannesburg and then turn straight back around again and fly north, along the same route they have just flown, to [...]

What is a Photo Safari? Traditionally there are two types of safari…hunting and photographic….and we at Pangolin Photo Safaris would rather “shoot to thrill” than shoot to kill! Before digital photography came along wildlife photography was always considered to be niche and out of reach to your average safari-goer. It was an activity designed for the hardcore enthusiast and limited to owning specialist gear. But when digital cameras became mainstream and more affordable, all of that changed. Today, the majority of clients that arrive on safari do so armed with just their cell phones or [...]

Gear for wildlife photography on safari in Africa. Bags and carry on weights The topic of hand luggage allowances when it comes to camera bags has filled plenty of forums and we’re afraid to say that the answer as to what is the protocol or allowance (as well as leniency) varies from airline to airline. The prospect of checking very expensive gear for wildlife photography into the hold of a commercial airline is not very enticing so here are a few tips from us on how to ensure that you travel with your [...]