What is a Photo Safari?
Photo Safari: What Does it Mean?
What is a photography safari? In its simplest terms, a photo safari is a guided wildlife photography trip or holiday to capture images of animals in their natural habitat. However, a photo safari can mean many different things to different people. For some, it’s a chance to start taking a hobby more seriously, improve their photography skills under the guidance of an experienced professional photographer, and even add more creativity and a different approach to your professional portfolio. For others, it’s a chance to photograph a specific species.
In truth, ‘photography safari’ is quite a broad overall term, and working out exactly what is the meaning of photo safari takes some thought. If you’re interested in learning more about the different types of safaris out there for photographers, then read on. I’ll also include a brief word on what makes my photo safaris unique.
What Makes Photo Safaris Different from Traditional Safaris?
Photo safaris differ from traditional safaris in that their primary focus is capturing images of wildlife and nature through photography. Traditional safaris are simply about wildlife viewing. Some traditional safaris can be rushed “tick box” type trips and traditional safaris you will likely share a vehicle with other people that you don’t know and therefore it can be tough to make the most of the endless photo opportunities. Photo safaris are designed to find the best opportunities and provide the most optimal conditions and light for photography. This leads to a few key distinctions:
Optimum photography conditions
Efforts are made to ensure the best conditions for photography on a photo safari, meaning photographers get the best lighting, angles, and opportunities to capture remarkable wildlife images. Locations have been carefully selected, visits timed to provide optimal lighting, and observation periods lengthened to maximize photography opportunities. All of these points are key to coming home with a varied and stunning portfolio of images. My Samburu Photo Safari runs during in April and May which is the rainy season. It is an optimum time to photograph Samburu as the reserve goes green and you have so many great opportunities with Elephants and the big cats, you have every chance to capture some stunning images in an unbelievable setting with some beautiful light.
Unique photography opportunities
A photo safari will give you better conditions for photography, and better opportunities, too. Photo tours are devised and planned specifically around providing you with the best, most spectacular subjects for your photography. You’ll find different types of safaris to see species that can’t be found anywhere else in the world like my Red Panda or Fishing Cat Photo Safaris, or to see specific events like the Great Migration.
For example, my Great Migration Safari we stay 10 minutes away from all of the main crossing points, this gives you the best opportunity to capture River Crossing Images without lots of vehicle disturbance. We also stay in the reserve in one of the best locations for all of the big cats, giving you the chance to capture shots of lions, cheetah and leopard at sunrise and sunset
Expert guidance and mentorship
What is a photographic safari for if not to help you with your photography and give you the opportunity to learn and improve your images? The best photo tours will have experienced professional photographers offering guidance throughout the trip. Not photographers that are there just to take their own images.
You’ll be taken to the best locations and provided with the best photo opportunities, and then you’ll get in field advice from a pro. All of my photo safaris also include lectures on specific aspects of photography: composition, exposure, post processing, ethical considerations, etc. Photo safaris tend to be quite full on and sometimes free time is hard to find and it is important to pace yourself so any additional activities and tutorials are always driven by whether my group wants to take part and if it is of interest.
All of my tours are guided by myself. I have 25 years of experience guiding photo tours worldwide. I am a qualified Kenya Safari Guide too and have been guiding clients to Kenya on safari for 22 years. All of my tours are operated either with small companies or local photographers, most of these companies and individuals I have worked with for many years and I use the same guides and people year after year, this means that I have a great working relationship and these people know exactly what I expect and want to achieve on a photo safari for my clients. All of my new location photo tours are offered to clients at a reduced price with the expectation that I will be on hand to help them with capturing a varied portfolio of images whilst also learning the location myself. An example of this is my Sri Lanka trip running for the first time in 2025. I am working with a very good local photographer who has come highly recommended but as it is a new destination for me this is reflected in the price. I only ever take small groups on my photo tours usually up to 6 people and for safaris these 6 people are split between 2 vehicles, this gives me plenty of opportunity to spend time training and helping everyone on the technicalities of photography and expanding their creativity if required. I can offer creative guidance, camera set up, advice on interpreting subject behaviour, new techniques, mastering angles of light and much more. What’s more, with small group sizes, tuition can be tailored to cater to individual interests and requirements
Different Types of Safaris for Photography
From traditional safaris in Africa’s iconic savannahs to specialized species specific excursions in remote locations, there are various types of photo safaris catering to all kinds of interests. Knowing the options out there is essential if you want to find the best trip for you
Photo tours
What is a photo tour? While a photo safari typically emphasizes capturing wildlife and nature in their natural habitats, a photo tour can encompass a broader range of subjects. This might include landscape, cultural, and more different locations, depending on the tour’s theme and location.
My Uganda Photo Tour is a good example of this. This trip takes you on a tour into the swamps looking for Shoebills in a small dugout canoe with local fisherman, then gives you the safari experience at Queen Elizabeth NP and the opportunity of boat trips for birds and Chimpanzee trekking (2 treks). The Tour then finishes at Bwindi NP where we do 2 gorilla treks for the most amazing wildlife experience when you come face to face with the Mountain Gorillas. We are always stopping at locations for wildlife photography, landscape photography, and cultural immersion experiences.
Traditional Photo Safari
A traditional photo safari is a photography expedition to areas with particular wildlife viewing opportunities, emphasizing capturing a wide range of wildlife in different environments.
This is the most common of the different types of African safaris. These safaris provide photographers with a variety of subjects and settings, giving them the chance to create a diverse and creative portfolio of photos to take home.
Those interested in these kinds of experiences should consider my Great Migration Safari or my Samburu Photo Safari in Kenya or My Tiger Photo Safari in Bandhavgarh in India which includes 2 Full Day Permits giving you the best opportunity to photograph Tigers without the usual distractions of lots of vehicles.
Species-specific Photo Safaris
What is a photo safari designed around viewing a specific species? A species-specific photo safari is a specialized wildlife photography expedition designed to focus exclusively on one particular species of animal or bird.
These safaris are meticulously planned to provide participants with the best viewing opportunities for the chosen species. Guides and photographers leading the expedition possess in-depth knowledge of the target species, including its behaviour, habits, and preferred locations.
My Nepal Red Panda Tour is a great example of this. On this trip, you’ll enjoy some of the best opportunities in the world to photograph the rare and elusive Red Panda. Another example is My Finland Wildlife in Summer Tour. The focus of this photo tour is the Brown Bear and we visit several carefully selected hides which provide us with an amazing opportunity to capture a full portfolio of bears in different environments, we also hope to witness various different types of behaviour and see young bear cubs.
Location-specific Photo Safaris
Alternatively, some photo safaris are designed around a specific location or area of significance.
A location-specific photo safari is a photography expedition tailored to a particular site or ecosystem known for its unique wildlife and landscapes. It is designed to capture the distinct characteristics that make the area exceptional.
These safaris are planned with the intent of aligning with the seasonal patterns, wildlife migrations, and environmental conditions of the chosen site. For example, my Pantanal Jaguar Photo Tour is designed to provide you with all the best photo opportunities that the Pantanal has to offer with target species of Giant Otter, Ocelot and of course the Jaguar. All in a very unique ecosystem. Another example is my Chile Patagonia Puma Photo Tour which takes place in August when we hope to capture images of the Pumas with snow in the most incredible of landscapes.
Conservation Photography Safari
What is a photography safari where your photography can help a good cause? A conservation photography safari is a specialized photography expedition with a primary focus on capturing images that raise awareness about wildlife conservation and environmental issues.
These experiences place photographers alongside conservationists to document threatened species and promote the work being done to protect them. On these trips, your images could help raise support for the protection of endangered wildlife and ecosystems.
If this sounds like your kind of thing, have a look at my Fishing Cat Tour in India. It runs straight after the Red Panda tour and gives you an incredible opportunity to photograph another rare and elusive species in the Fishing Cat, but all sightings and individual cats are recorded and the money from your stay will go back in to conserving this amazing cat and helping maintain the relationship between the Fishing Cats and the Local People. This trip gives you the chance to contribute to valuable conservation work in India.
How to Find the Best Photo Safaris
What exactly does it mean to book and participate in a Photo Safari or tour. Well, it isn’t a safari experience you take a camera on. These are different types of safaris that are specifically designed for photographers. They provide you with wildlife encounters, expert guidance, and perfect photography conditions.
How much does a Photo Safari Cost
This all depends on who you book with and what is included. Photo Safaris tend to be more expensive than a traditional wildlife viewing safari. A lot of this is due to the lower vehicle or group numbers, the focus of the trip is purely on photography and led by a professional photographer, so you are paying a premium for their time and experience. But by doing this you will get more opportunities to capture the images that you want to get and you will have someone to guide, support and help you all throughout your trip. I have met so many people that have attended workshops that have been on a safari and have been disappointed with their images, when you consider everything, it is better to pay the extra for a photo tour or safari if that is what your main focus is than be disappointed and have to return to the location again.
The most important thing is to do some research on vehicle and group numbers, who the professional photographer is – do you like their portfolio of images? Do you think they are someone that will teach and inspire you to capture the images that you want.
All of my tours and safaris are small groups. They are competitively priced because I work only with small local companies and photographers. I always ensure that I have plenty of opportunities to work one to one with clients as well as part of the group.
How do you find the best photo safaris?
Book with me!
I have a wealth of experience and am dedicated to finding the best photography trips available and I have long-standing partnerships across the globe – specializing in a range of different types of African safaris. Whether you’re an experienced photographer looking to expand your portfolio or a passionate beginner eager to expand your skills and improve your technique, I am sure I have the perfect Photo Tour or Safari for you. Photographing wildlife in their natural habitats is an experience like no other and is often a trip of a lifetime so why not experience it with other like-minded people under the guidance of someone who is passionate about teaching photography and helping people capture the best images they have ever taken. Over the years I have guided, mentored, taught or trained over 1000 photographers and many of those people choose to join me over and over again on UK based workshops or overseas tours. I am also fully insured to operate tours and workshops across the UK and Worldwide (This is not as a replacement for personal Travel Insurance)
If you’re ready to embark on your own photographic safari and immerse yourself in the thrill and excitement of wildlife photography, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Contact me today and let me advice you on which of my tours or safaris is right for you. Or if you know what you want to do and have any specific questions then please get in touch.