You will be met on arrival at Upington Airport by your photo guide and a transfer representative, and transported to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. The drive will take approximately 2.5 hours to the entrance of the park gates.
Accommodation during your photo safari will be in the traditional rest camps in the park, either Twee Rivieren or Mata-Mata, or a combination of both. Accommodation will be in 1 or 2 bedroom chalets, 2 beds per room, with a shared bathroom and kitchen/recreation area.
Twee Rivieren has a reception area, shop, fuel, restaurant, information centre and swimming pool. This is the only camp with 24-hour electricity and cell phone reception. Activities and facilities are diverse, as are the animals and plants found both within the camp and in the surrounding areas.
Mata-Mata camp is situated on the banks of the Auob River on the western boundary of the Park. The camp borders Namibia and is surrounded by thorny Kalahari dune bushveld. Giraffe, typically adapted to these arid conditions are a favourite sighting around Mata-Mata. The camp has a reception area, swimming pool, shop and fuel facilities. A generator provides electricity for 16.5 hours per day and there is no telephone or cell phone reception. Mata-Mata is 3.5 hours drive from Twee Rivieren.
After arriving in Twee Rivieren and getting settled, you will enjoy a lunch. Prepare for your first afternoon game drive around this area, or get your camera gear ready for the drive up to Mata-Mata.
What to bring:
Camera DSLR/Mirrorless
Lenses 300 mm or longer
Lens for landscape 16-35mm (preferably f2.8) - lenses need lens hoods
Cover for dust and rain
Tripod
4x Memory cards (32 GB or more)
Ideally also bring a laptop with Lightroom and/or Photoshop
Card reader
Lens cleaning kit
Note block and pen
Also important to consider:
Binoculars
Sunblock factor 30 or higher
Cap/Sunhat
Light walking shoes
Shorts
Swimming costume
Rain jacket
Warm jacket (fleece) - sitting on an open safari vehicle at sunrise can be chilly!
If travelling during winter (April-October), also bring a windproof jacket and scarf. It can be very cold in the early morning and evening on an open safari vehicle!
It is essential that you travel with adequate medical travel insurance, which should also include special medical evacuation cover.
The Kgalagadi Transfrontier park lies in the large sand-filled basin in the west of the Southern African sub-continent, known as the Kalahari. It covers almost one third of the area and forms what may be the largest sandveld area in the world. It stretches from 1 degree South in Zaire to 29 degrees in South Africa and from 14 degrees East in Angola to 28 degrees East in Zimbabwe. The term Kalahari was derived from the Kgalagadi word for 'the land which dried up', 'the dry land' or 'the thirstland'.
This National Park is a place where the arid sands and scrub fade into infinity. It’s a vast wildlife preserve in the Kalahari Desert region of Botswana and South Africa, bordering Namibia to the west. Characterized by its red dunes and dry rivers, the park has abundant, varied wildlife. It is home to predators such as lion, cheetah, leopard and hyena. Migratory herds of large herbivores such as wildebeest, springbok, eland and gemsbok roam the desert areas. Jackal search for titbits left by bigger predators, and the smaller creatures – meerkat, squirrel, mongoose and others ensure that there is always something to admire. More than 200 species of birds can be found in the park, including vultures, eagles and secretary birds.
Two rivers provide the lifeline for wildlife in the Kgalagadi. Both rivers are predominantly dry and only flow for short periods after abnormally high rainfall. Both the Nossob (meaning dark clay) and the Auob (meaning bitter water) rivers have their sources in the Anas Mountains near Windhoek, Namibia. The Auob last flowed in 1973 and 1974, the Nossob in 1964. Below these dry riverbeds are pockets of water, in some locations animals dig hollows which slowly fill with water, and which in other areas, is pumped into wells for the wildlife.
Each day at your safari lodge, and depending on the rest camp, will more or less follow this programme (excluding arrival and departure day):
A photo safari morning starts a little before sunrise. For many, this is a big challenge but nevertheless imperative in order to take full advantage of the golden morning light, which embellishes most wildlife and nature images. This is also the time of day when most animals are active, so the mornings should give you some great opportunities for capturing striking images. Remember, there is more to wildlife photography than lions; e.g. The little things!
An early wake-up call is usually made approximately 30 minutes ahead of departure. This allows for a quick wash and a hot beverage just to get those creative juices flowing…
After a pre-check and briefing by your photo guide (including some suggestions for camera settings and a brief overview of what to expect on the drive), we set off as soon as the camp gates open. Your guide is always available on the vehicle to provide constructive suggestions and individual help during the actual drive.
About midway through the morning drive, we take a comfort/coffee break in a safe area to allow guests to stretch their legs and enjoy a hot beverage and some biscuits/rusks etc.
Your photo guide will help you with the camera settings for each specific situation and condition. You need to understand basic photography terms such as aperture, shutter speed, ISO, metering, drive modes and focus selection points, etc. It is also important to know where and when you should change these settings. (With wildlife photography, you may miss the special shot if you are unfamiliar with your camera and looking for which button to adjust).
Topics of Importance for Wildlife Photography:
- Knowing your subject (the more you know about your subject, i.e. animal, the more likely you will be able to predict its whereabouts and actions)
- Getting the shot perfect in the field, without heavy editing in Photoshop afterwards
- Using RAW for maximum results
- How and when to use autofocus/manual focus
- Controlling Depth of field
- Settings for night (low light) photography
- Focusing on the eyes
- Know what you want the image to say. Have the images got a special feeling? Do they tell a story?
- Composition: Rule of thirds
- Use of flash: During the day and night
- Mastering birds in flight
- Importance of supporting your camera
We will either return to camp for brunch, or enjoy a packed meal if we have ventured further afield. If we returned to camp for a late breakfast, photo safari guests may then assess the morning results. There will be free time or optional lectures on editing (Photoshop/Lightroom) as well as photography tips and tricks, depending on the group and their preferences. Edit images for the presentation of your best 3 images (which will be held after dinner).
What else? How about reading a book, sleep or just sit still and listen to the sounds of raw nature?
We set off again in the early afternoon for another game drive (minimum of 3 hours). Similar to the previous drive, we try to find our subjects to photograph. The photo guide will help you with some tips and tricks for sunset and night photography, and using flash and lights to enhance your shot. We return to camp just as the sun sets and the camp gates close for the night.
Time for a quick freshen up before we meet for dinner. Dinner will be served outside and will most likely be a traditional African “Braai” (Barbeque), whilst enjoying sitting and chatting around an open fire place under the stars.
After dinner, we meet for a maximum of 1 hour. We will discuss and evaluate the 3 chosen images per photographer from the last 2 game drives. These images are displayed for the group to see, with each image being discussed and critiqued by your photo guide. It is NOT a competition, but an opportunity to learn by gaining an understanding of what constitutes a good image.
Bed time: A well-deserved rest after an exciting day in the desert. Remember, an early start tomorrow!
A full day's photo safari programme similar to the previous days, but maybe with a very special sighting? The Kgalagadi is full of unexpected surprises.
Bid farewell to the desert on your last early morning game drive. This will be followed by breakfast before the transfer back to Upington. Here we will say goodbye, and you continue the journey to your next destination.
