Some highlights
- One of Africas’ finest National Parks, many big cats in desert environments
- Lions among sand dunes
- The most wildlife-rich part of the Kalahari desert
- Good chances to photograph Caracal, Cheetah and African Wild cat
- Oryx in fantastic environment
- The best area to see and photograph the rare Brown Hyena
- Wildlife concentrated around action-filled water-holes
- Abundant birdlife, with many birds of prey
- Night photography of the star-lit desert sky
- Plenty of time for photography and many game-drives** at every site
- Tour leaders that give you lots of creative photo ideas
- The tour leader will show you their best spots and provide photographic advice to a small group that share the same interests
- We contribute to ”Project Wild Dog”
KGALAGADI TRANSFRONTIER NATIONAL PARK
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is one of the wildest most wildlife-rich wilderness areas on the planet. The National Park is larger than many countries and is situated in both South Africa and Botswana. Several different desert ecosystems host a rich wildlife with desert Lions among sand dunes, Cheetahs and Leopards hunting Oryx and other antelopes. The birdlife is varied, with Africas’ largest and smallest raptors. The area attracts professional wildlife photographers time and time again because of it’s beautiful settings, the many animals and amazing desert light.
WILDLIFE IN KGALAGADI
The landscape is dominated by red and yellow sand dunes, saline lakes, steppe and forest savannah. The wildlife is incredibly rich with large abundance of species like Springbok, Oryx, Ostrich, Gnu, Giraffe and Hartebeest. There are also plenty of smaller animals, such as Jackals, African Wildcats, Honey Badgers, Meerkats, Desert Foxes, Mongooses as well as the speciality – the whistling Gerbil. However, it is big cats and the chance to see them in action that has given the park its cult status amongst wildlife photographers. Africas large black-maned Lions, Cheetahs, Leopards, Caracals, Spotted and Brown Hyenas all hunt in the National Park, and the chances of exciting photography is good.
The birdlife is unique, with the largest eagle – the Martial Eagle, and the smallest bird of prey in Africa – the Pygmy Falcon. The Lanner Falcon is common, as are various Weever Birds, Bulbuls, Doves, Bustards, Sandgrouse, owls, finches and a large number of birds of prey.
During the tour we will stay at several interesting lodges and ”rest-camps” where you can explore on your own, photographing smaller animals. Some even have their own small hides, where you can see predators up close.
Itinerary
Travel day (26/11)
Flight to Upington, South Africa.
Arrival at Upington International Airport. Wild Nature Photo Adventures tour leader will meet you at the airport for transfer to the lodge in Upington for dinner and an introduction to the tour.
Day 2 (28/11) (Breakfast – Lunch/lunch parcel – Dinner)
After an early breakfast we drive 290 km to Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park. Once inside we go on our first game-drive ont he way to our first lodge, which is in Botswana. We will pas the invisible border many times and will spend three nights at this lodge.
During these days we will rise before dawn in order to be at the water-holes when the light appears. We photograph here and along the roadsides until the heat arrives and the light gets too harsh. Then we eat breakfast, rest, have lunch and workshop at the lodge before we head out again in the afternoon until it gets dark. Then we have dinner and do night photography by the lodges own water-hole.
After an early morning game-drive and breakfast we leave the lodge and head north towards the central parts of the park. We check-in at a rest-camp where we spend two nights. We will go on an afternoon game-drive until the sun sets.
We rise before the sun does in order to get to the water-hole before the light arrives. We photograph here and along the roadsides until the heat and light get too strong. Then we have breakfast, rest, lunch and a workshop at the rest-camp before we head out again in the afternoon until dark. Then there will be dinner and night photography at the rest-camps own water-hole.
After an early morning game-drive and breakfast we leave the rest-camp and head for the northern parts of the park. We check-in at a lodge where we spend three nights. We will go on an afternoon game-drive until the sun sets.
During these days we are up before sunrise in order to be at the water-holes before the light arrives. We photograph here and along the roadsides until the heat and light get too strong. Then we have breakfast, rest, lunch and a workshop at the rest-camp before we head out again in the afternoon until dark. Then there will be dinner and night photography at the lodges own water-hole.
After an early morning game-drive and breakfast we leave the lodge and head south towards the southernmost parts of the park. We check-in at the largest rest-camp where we spend one night. Farewell dinner in the evening.
Day 11 (7/12) (Breakfast)
After an early breakfast we head 290 km to Upington Airport and the flight home to Scandinavia.
More information
Jan Pedersen, born in 1957, is a photographer, writer and world traveller. He has more than 33 years of experience leading nature tours and nature photography tours all over the World – in biomes ranging from deserts to rain-forests. He has led tours in 55 different countries and has worked for several major Swedish tour operators. Jan is highly appreciated as a tour leader, guide and nature photography guide. He has produced tours and trained many new tour guides. Jan carries the idea of ecotourism close to his heart. He has been a member of the Swedish Nature Photographers Association (Naturfotograferna/N) since 2014 and is an internationally awarded photographer. In 2015 he was the overall winner in the international photo competition Asferico. He is also a very experienced teacher of photography and nature photography, arranging annual courses for societies and open colleges since 2001. He also teaches media training programmes.
Jan is one of Swedens most well-published nature book authors. His first book ”I Arabiens öknar” was awarded WWF Sweden’s Panda Book of the Year for children’s books in 2000. His singing book ”Fågelsång” is the all-time top-selling nature book in Sweden. It has sold a total of half a million copies in Sweden, Finland and Norway, as well as having been issued in eight other languages. The sequel ”Vilda djur” was also a success, and was published in Norway and Finland, and in four other European languages. He has also authored popular books such as ”Fågelresor”, ”Mitt I Naturen”, ”Fågelsång runt knuten”, ”Lyssna på djuren”, ”Djur i Världen”, ”Sveriges Fåglar – en fälthandbok för alla”, and ”Fåglar I Sverige och Norden”.
Jan has written numerous articles for newspapers and magazines about wildlife and nature. He is also often engaged as a lecturer for a broad audience. Jan has also worked as a warden and a guide in Swedish nature reserves.
Johan Siggesson, born in 1977, is a freelancing nature photographer from Älvängen, north of Gothenburg, but lives on Malta.
Johan has degree in informatics, leads nature photography courses on Malta and is frequently engaged by local nature organisations for image shows and lectures. Johan also leads private workshops on Malta, mainly focusing on local chameleons and endemic freshwater crabs.
The fairly limited wildlife of Malta has inspired him to look for other destinations. Scotland has a special place in Johan’s heart, and he regularly photographs on the Shetlands and in the Scottish Highlands.
Johan has won awards in many of the major nature photography competitions in Europe and USA. His subtle imagery focuses on close subjects. In 2014 he became Nature Photographer of the Year in Scotland.
Normally we want to do game-drives ** early morning before sunrise until it gets hot in the morning. After that, the animals become inactive due to the heat and for us breakfast, rest, lunch and photo workshop await in the camp before it is time for the afternoon game-drive ** which ends when it gets dark. Some days we want to drive all day, for example if there is a lot to photograph and exciting animals to look for and also when we have to move between the lodges. On these occasions, we may have breakfast and / or lunch with us.
Sneakers and sandals are the best choice for the feet. Sun protection for the head is very important.
The tour guide meets and leaves the group here.
If you are a citizen of any other country please check with the nearest South African Embassy if you need visa or not.
The tour guides on our trips speak Swedish and English.
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