Arrive into Kasane International Airport you will be met and briefed by your dedicated photo host who will be escorting you throughout your time with us then make the short transfer across the river (to the Namibian side) to board our floating Lodge – The Pangolin Voyager
The order of the day is very relaxed. We get up early and have a coffee and a snack before heading out on the 8-seater photo boat which is moored alongside the houseboat. Everyone has their own seat which rotates 360 degrees and has a camera mount built into the chair. To watch a video about how the boats look like you can click here. The boats are very wide and stable and this allows the photo host to interact with every client to help them with their photography. Whether you are just getting started in wildlife photography or are more accomplished the photo host is able to tailor his or her tuition to suit your requirements.
After the morning cruise looking for subjects along the river, we return to the houseboat for a well-earned brunch as we set sail for our next destination along the river. We encourage our clients to keep their cameras ready and accessible as we often come across photo opportunities during these cruises.
After brunch, you are free to relax in your cabin, the lounge, the sun deck or join the photo host at the dining table for an image review of the pictured you have taken so far. these sessions are less about post-production and editing and more about analyzing your images and seeing how we can help you improve on your techniques. We do not have computers or laptops for you to use so please bring your own to join in these sessions.
A couple of hours before sunset we head out again from our new mooring pint to see what we can find to photograph leading up to the “golden hour” at the end of the day. On all our cruises we take refreshments with us to keep you well hydrated – especially for Sundowners!
The dinner is a three-course meal taken around the dining table lovingly prepared by the galley staff from fresh local ingredients.
after the morning activity and a quick bite to eat, we will transfer you back to Kasane Airport to meet your charter flight into The Okavango Delta.
Upon arrival, you will have time to settle into your en suite tent and unpack before a high tea and then your first game drive. We have a policy of no more than four guests per vehicle in the Delta. Hopefully, after four days of shooting in The Chobe, you will be shooting with confidence and understanding of your camera and its settings. All the vehicles have beanbag mounts rather than gimbals. The two vehicles are in radio contact to help with locating sightings…..and here is the main reason why we love Bushman Plains so much!
The camp is a good old fashioned, down to earth, honest bush camp. There are no frills but everything you need for a very comfortable stay. What is does have, however, is some of the best trackers in the business in one of the best safari destinations in Africa and if you are like us that’s what really counts!
The guides AND trackers on each vehicle have called this area home for generations and are some of the most enthusiastic and passionate safari guides we have encountered. They love nothing more than finding great subjects such as lions, leopard, cheetah, and especially wild dogs and also encourage our guests to get out of the vehicle (when its appropriate to do so) to look at the tracks and signs to fully understand the tracking process. It’s safari as it should be without the unnecessary frivolity that is pervasive on so many standard safaris these days. It’s all about the wildlife here!
In between drives, there is an opportunity for some downtime to enjoy being in this pristine part of the world or you can pop into the editing tent and get cracking on some post-production.
Game Drives
Night Game Drives
Walking Safaris
Mokoro (dugout canoe) excursions
Bushman Culture
Hot Air Ballooning - Optional Activity at Added Cost
Chopper to Creation: Visit to Tsodilo Hills UNESCO World Heritage Site - Optional Activity at Added Cost
After one week of early starts and over-excitement, The Kalahari by its very nature tends to be a slightly more relaxed environment and the perfect third destination for this safari. As a desert, the animals tend to congregate more around the waterholes which makes it the perfect location for some hide photography. Dinaka, the camp that we have chosen to partner with, has an excellent waterhole hide with more in the planning phase.
As a camp, Dinaka is very flexible with their timings and earlier starts or later finishes to game activities are all accommodated for to make the most of your time there. One activity not to be missed is a walk through the bush with the resident bushman guides where you will learn about their traditional subsistence way of life from what at first sight appears to be such a stark environment, culminating in a demonstration of traditional fire making techniques and some storytelling as the sunsets.
Again during the day, there will be the opportunity to have some downtime by the pool or on a snooze with a good book on the deck…..with your camera close at hand in case something appears at the camp’s waterhole of course!
After the morning activity & breakfast, you will be transferred by light aircraft to Maun Airport for your departure
