We propose one of those experiences that you will remember all your life. This is a trip to the heart of Africa, in the best conditions for wildlife photography
Zimanga is a 70 km2 nature reserve in the state of Mkuzi (South Africa) devoted exclusively to nature photography. In an 8-day stay you will combine the best hides in Africa, designed by the prestigious Bence Maté, with safari from vehicles. A great combination that will satisfy both, hide photographers and those who like to take photos in safari mode. Yes, there is everything you are thinking about and more: lions, elephants, giraffes, warthogs, cheetahs, leopards, rhinos … and more than 400 species of birds.
For how many days is this trip?
We will leave everyone oringin airport as late on October 6th, for getting johannesburg on the 7th, then spend a night in a hotel in the city, have some resting time and leave early on October 8th to Zimanga to take photos and that very afternoon. On the 16th we return in the afternoon, so there is still a session in the morning. There are seven full days plus two half photography days.
The PHOTO LOGISTICS guide will depart from Barcelona airport, accompanying participants who depart from the same airport. You can join the group from any airport in the world, you just have to coordinate your arrival. Tell us from where do you wish to leave and we will help you with the coordination so that we all meet in Johannesburg on time.
Program:
11/11/2024. Arrival, we leave our luggage in the logde and we begin with a first session in the afternoon. We don’t want to waste a minute!
From 12/11/2024 to 17/11/2024 the sessions in the different hides are scheduled on the same day (see the description of the hides below) alternated with vehicle safaris and a night out to photograph lions and more wildlife lite by lamps. The specific program is designed on site to ensure that everyone goes through all the hides and takes all the vehicle safaris.
The day will begin at 5:30 with a breakfast and then the different activities are distributed in three-hour slots. From 6:00 to 9:00 safari or hide, then we take a snack and free time. At 1:00 p.m. lunch and from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. second round of hides or safari. There are six sessions of hide in total and two nights in the night hides, one in each hide (from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. the next morning). Plus the lions night.
18/11/2024 Departure day. Session until 9:00 am and then departure to Johannesburg airport.
Hides
If Bence Maté is famous for something, it’s because of the skills he has shown when designing hides. All the hides of the trip are equipped with spy glasses of high quality and well maintained, tripods for swivel type Arca Swiss and air conditioning. In some hides the level of comfort is comparable to that of many lodgings.
- HIDE THEATER.
It is a hide for water birds built below the water level. The point of view is equivalent to that of a hide at water level, but with all the comfort of sitting in chairs with wheels. This hide is reached through a long tunnel so as not to disturb the animals and once inside you will find a 6 meter long glass, air conditioning, electricity to charge batteries and privileged views opens the lagoon.
- HIDE DRINKERS MKHMBE AND BHEJANE.
They are hides with drinking troughs where you can control the water level from inside. They have crystals 3 meters long.
- HIDES RAPTORS.
Hides with three meters of glass where different species of raptors feed.
- MOBILE HIDE FOR WHITE FRONT BEE-EATERS
Hide located in front of a colony of bee-eaters.
- OVERNIGHT HIDES.
They are concrete structures under the ground level, which provides a spectacular view on the drinking fountain. Very long sessions are held from the afternoon, when many birds come to drink and spend all night there, to photograph mammals such as buffalo, rhinos, elephants, lions, hyenas, leopards, pheasant … this hide has a large crystal and all the comforts you can imagine for spending the night: four beds, kitchen, reading corner, microwave, refrigerator and (attention) an alarm system that alerts with sound when an animal comes, in case everyone sleeps. A wide angle lens could be needed in this hide.
The safaris: The guides specialized in photography of the reserve will drive us with every day to look for animals in the savannah. Each photographer will have a row of seats for him / her alone to be able to shoot right or left without problems. Three photographers will be placed in each vehicle. It can be agreed which species are sought by the guides.
The accommodation (Zimanga Private Lodge & Doornhoek Homestead) is a fantastic new lodge and perfectly equipped with all the details or you can rest after very intense days. Not all the rooms are individual. From the balcony of your bungalow you will see giraffes and other animals. Take the swimsuit, there is a pool with views of the African savannah.
Guides: you will have a guide in origin from Barcelona (if you leave from another airport we can find you in Durban), another European guide with whom we will share group in the reserve and of course the guides of Zimanga.
Group. The group in total will be fourteen people, seven from PHOTO LOGISTICS and seven from other European companies. If we get the required number of photographers (14) in this group the lodge and the facilities will be of exclusive use for us.
Equipment: You will not need a tripod, but it will be good for you to have a bean-bag. You need a tripod shoe type Arca Swiss, the hides are provided with tripods with this kind of head. The lenses can range from a wide angle to 600 mm, but in the hides the animals will be very close. For those safaris excursions you will need a lens of at least 300 or 400 mm.
In the cars you can carry your backpack with all the objectives you consider necessary. You have a row just for you and your gear.
This trip is suitable for all the of photographic skill level.
PRICE: 4.950€
Dates: 29th October to 6th November 2026
What is included? Hides, guides, full board accommodation with breakfast, lunch and dinner. Water and hot drinks (tea or coffee) are included.
What is not included? soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are paid separately. You can pay everything by card, but it is convenient to bring something in cash because the country’s tradition includes the tipping that can be paid in euros or in local currency. Flight ticket are not included. From PHOTO LOGISTICS we can coordinate the purchase of the ticket.
Hides and Accomodations
Zimanga’s Wildlife
