Join me and six other photographers on an epic safari adventure in the wilds of Zambia. This is a private wildlife workshop created specifically for photography. The “private” aspect simply means we will be the only people in the vehicles when we go on our game drives, and we will have one of the camps entirely to ourselves.
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Why Zambia – Lower Zambezi – South Luangwa?
Zambia has an amazing array of wildlife sprinkled through varied ecosystems but with far less tourism than other countries. Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa, and the camps we will be visiting, are deep inside Zambia, and as a result, most of the tourists never make it to the areas we will be exploring. This is extremely important because in the high-traffic tourist areas, it can actually be difficult to enjoy the wildlife with dozens of safari vehicles in the same location.
The Wildlife
Zambia has an incredibly rich and diverse amount of wildlife. Lions, hyenas, wild dogs, leopards, hippos, elephants, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, baboons, buffaloes, crocodiles, honey badgers, kudu, and many animals you have most likely never even seen before are all known to frequent the area. Because we will be using highly trained local guides who can literally read tracks in the sand to determine where and when these animals are on the move, our daily adventures will be dynamic and always full of surprises.
Our guides also actively communicate with other guides in the area to learn what’s happening, where it is happening, and when we are most likely to find something special to photograph.
Being that this is a private tour, we can position the vehicles however we want in order to get the best shots of the action, which is oftentimes very close.
The Game Drive Vehicles
The vehicles we will be using are safe, reliable, and comfortable. They are geared more towards photography and have no windows or doors. This makes it easy to get lower-angle clear shots. There are two seats in the front. One for the driver and one for our guard who will be with us on evening drives.
There are 3 rows of seats behind the driver. Each row can comfortably fit 3 people, but because this safari is small, we won’t have to do that. We will have 2 vehicles at our disposal, which means there will be plenty of room in each vehicle for everyone to not only ride in comfort but also shoot comfortably as well and stash their gear in a seat next to them.
Gear Recommendations
Zoom lenses will give you the best versatility. There are many instances where the wildlife is very close, and being able to change your focal length quickly is very handy. The following choices are great for the close-up action: 70-200, 100-300, 100-400, 200-500, or 200-600. You might want a wide-angle too. I typically use my iPhone and highly recommend keeping a phone handy while we are shooting.
Prime lenses are great too. A 300 2.8 or 400 2.8 are ideal. A 600F4 is as well, but it will be too much lens at times. I bring two bodies and have a 70-200 on one of them, and then a prime on the other. Teleconverters are super handy too.
Tripods are acceptable, but they don’t really work well in safari vehicles. I suggest a monopod instead.
The Camps
We will be staying at two camps. This gives us the chance to see several different environments.
Our first destination is Anabezi, and it is right on the bank of the Zambezi River with breathtaking views.
We chose this camp because of its close proximity to the Winterthorn Forest. The forest is an amazing setting for photography. Photographing animals in and around all of the large trees is simply incredible. The towering trees help set the perfect stage for some great photo opportunities.
At Anabezi, we have the opportunity for day and night game drives, walking safaris, water safaris, fishing, and more.
The second camp is Mwamba Camp. This is the camp we will have all to ourselves, and it is home to some amazing photography hides. The first hide is the Last Watering Hole Hide. I spent many hours in this hide and had some of the most amazing wildlife experiences of my life. It is an unbelievable experience to sit undetected in a hide while hundreds of animals come to drink and bathe.
This hide is large and has many levels, with one right on the water line. There isn’t a bad view in the hide, and there are no words to accurately describe this experience. Again, one of the best wildlife experiences I have ever had the pleasure of being part of. Buffalo, birds, antelope, baboons, elephants, zebra, wildebeest, and lions all came to the watering hole while I was in the hide, and it was unbelievable to sit so close to them.
There is also a Carmine Bee Eater hide, which was equally magical. Spending an afternoon surrounded by hundreds of these birds as they flew in and out of their nesting cavities was simply unreal. The sights and sounds were breathtaking. I can’t wait to see your reactions to these amazing places!
The Tents
Calling our accommodations “tents” is not really accurate. They are anything but a tent. They are comfortable in every way. Comfy beds, hot showers, running water; all the creature comforts and then some.
Food & Water
There will be plenty of excellent food and water. You definitely won’t go hungry. The meals are amazing and rival 5-star restaurants. The camps will provide us with plenty of safe drinking water, sodas, juice, etc.
The Cost
The safari cost is $13,500 per person and is based on double occupancy, with each tent having two beds. You will be responsible for international airfare, travel insurance, and tips. Everything else is included.
The Dates
August 23rd – September 1
Your international flight needs to arrive before noon on August 23rd. Your outbound flight should be after noon if possible on September 1st.
Use the form below to start the sign up process.
Clothing Recommendations
Each camp has laundry services at no extra cost. You will not need to pack tons of clothing!
We will be traveling to Zambia at the tail end of their Spring. Temps can fluctuate quite dramatically either way. I suggest lightweight long pants to shield you from sun and insects and lightweight long sleeve shirts as well. With my recent bout of skin cancer, I’m all for covering up!
Close toed shoes are best and I also suggest a hat! Some of the safari vehicles have roofs and others do not.
I would also pack a lightweight jacket or some fleece in case it gets cool. It’s alway best to dress with layers that can be removed or added as needed.
Possible temps at night can be 40 degrees Fahrenheit and possible temps during the day can reach the 90s. It varies wildly from year to year.
Sample Itinerary
This is merely a sample itinerary and is subject to change at any time. The wildlife in Zambia is always on the move!
Wake up around 5:30 – Enjoy tea, coffee and a light breakfast. We want to get moving quickly so we can make the most of the early morning light.
We will head out on our morning game drive and be back at camp around 10 – 10:30 where we will enjoy a delicious brunch.
Midday is the perfect time to relax, soak up some scenery and wildlife in and around camp and get ready for the afternoon.
Tea and snacks are usually ready at 3 – 3:30 and then we head out for our evening game drive. We can search for epic silhouettes in that famous fiery African light or we can shoot what we find bathed in rich color. Being that this is a private trip, we can do whatever the majority wants.
The evening game drives usually end with a sundowner in a scenic location that is often filled with wildlife.
We typically head back to camp right as it gets dark and some of the nocturnal animals often cross our paths. Our guides will be constantly looking for anything that might appear after dark.
On one of our trips back our guide heard a baboon making an alarm call. He looked at us and said, “There are lions nearby!” He was right. We witnessed five lions stalking prey under the cover of night and it was one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen. They were successful in their hunt too. It was an unbelievable experience and a testament to just how dynamic this experience can be.
Back at camp you can expect a full dinner while we discuss the day’s adventures and plan for an incredible tomorrow.
When we are at the second camp we will have specific days where we can spend time in the watering hole hide and the bee eater hide. I found the watering hole hide to be quite addictive and many times chose to stay right there instead of going on a game drive. You can do the same. The hide has plenty of space for the entire group and getting up close and personal to these animals is alway unbelievable!
So excited to share this adventure with you!
Mark Smith