The photo tour Cats of the Kalahari takes you to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park at the border triangle of South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. The unique Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is still considered a destination off the beaten track and lies in the middle of the Kalahari Desert, the largest sandy area in the world. The animals benefit from a larger area in this transnational park and have been able to use old migration routes again since the merger of the two former parks in the 38,000 square kilometres area.
The animals have adapted to the dry environment and with a bit of luck you will be able to take great photos of everything from majestic oryx antelopes to cute meerkats. However, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is particularly famous for its high density of cats. On this photo tour, you have a good chance of getting the legendary Kalahari lions with their black manes in front of your lens. You might also photograph a cheetah or even a leopard.
You will certainly not only take great photos of animals, but also of the marvellous landscape. The semi-desert awaits you with golden grasses, red sand dunes and a unique endless vastness. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park offers a magical and fascinating backdrop that you will capture in your photos and that will certainly leave a deep impression on you.
This photo safari is organised in a small group of a maximum of only 4 people. You will be accompanied on this trip by Hannes Lochner. The renowned and multi-award-winning professional photographer lived in the park for five years and knows it like no other. All the pictures in this tour description are taken by Hannes.
January: CHF 6’250.- August: CHF 6’590.- | Price per person sharing (double occupancy) |
January: CHF 6’850.- August: CHF 7’340.- | Price per person in a single room |
This photo safari is deliberately scheduled for the rainy season, when the otherwise dry Kalahari often awakens to a unique green paradise after the rain. The animal sightings are particularly spectacular at this time of year and the play of colors of red dunes, green acacias, endless blue skies and towers of clouds in the sky is unforgettable. Fantastic lighting moods make every photographer’s heart beat faster.
During our photo trip in the South African winter, it is often very chilly in the morning. This means that lions and other cats are out and about for longer, increasing the chances of great photos.
The careful selection of locations/lodges and the extremely knowledgeable and professional local guide made the trip through parts of Botswana a real highlight. The photographer James Clifford knows the places and positions where the animals can be put in the right light and imparts a lot of interesting information about the nature and behaviour of the animals in this unique environment. I returned home with many great pictures and numerous unique impressions.
The Zambia trip in June 2023 was marked by many great animal encounters and beautiful scenery. I especially remember a pair of leopards, about one year old, who were playing with each other and I even managed to take a picture of the female sailing over the male. Wonderful! Equally impressive, however, were the beautiful morning scenes. Antelopes and even lions presented themselves in the ground fog at sunrise! Once again, Thomas and Hannes took excellent care of us, and the local guides also did a good job. This makes us want to do more!
The photo tour ‘Botswana up close’ exceeded all my expectations. I was able to experience and photograph countless unforgettable moments. Hannes' professional guidance was brilliant. Everything ‘around’ with a super lodge, extremely good safari guides and the cosy group made this trip the perfect experience. Thank you. Can only recommend this to everyone.
It was my first photo trip to Africa. The diverse - and, thanks to the driving skills of the guides, close-up - encounters in the private game reserve were impressive: leopards, cheetahs, lions, hyenas, jackals, elephants, giraffes, antelopes, zebras, monkeys, bee-eaters, eagles, vultures and much more. We also had an excellent photo guide with us in Hannes Lochner, who was able to share a lot of his experiences with us. That makes you want more!
I was able to travel to the south of Botswana with Amazing Views in October 2021. The game reserve in the Tuli Block surprised us with unique sightings. In addition to lions, elephants and a wild cat with its cub, we were able to enjoy several leopard sightings. Playful in the flowering Raintree, having fun with a feather, sneaking up on a prey - nothing was missing. Not forgetting the exciting ‘sessions’ in the Hide. Thank you Thomas and Hannes, it was a pure pleasure to be able to share these experiences with you.
After the arrival of our recommended flight connection in Upington you will be transferred to our charming lodge. The transfer will take about 2.5 to 3 hours. Alternatively you can drive individually to our accommodation in a rental car. On request, we are also pleased to book accommodation for you in Upington the night before and after the photography tour.
We arrive at Kgalagadi Lodge in the late afternoon. This is located a few kilometres from the park entrance. After a relaxed introduction to the programme, you will have time to photograph the first sunset in the Kalahari and later, if possible, the starry sky.
After your breakfast you will be transferred to the park entrance. The guides are already waiting for us and we will start our journey through the park.
Our first camp is located in the southern part of the park. This region is especially well known for its large herds of lions and regular sightings of cheetahs.
On this evening and the following day you will discover the highlights of the southern Kgalagadi on game drives. You will meet the animals of the park and take great photos of your animal encounters.
Today you make your way to the north of the park. You will be exploring the Nossob valley and have amazing encounters with animals that you observe and take great pictures of. During this game drive you will have a picnic lunch in the park.
In the late afternoon we will arrive at our lodge located in the northern part of the park.
On the following days we will go on game drives in the early morning and late afternoon. You will have plenty of time for photography. Hannes will support you with tips and tricks.
In the afternoons, Hannes gives short tutorials on topics of your choice as required and is available for 1:1 supervision. Or you can take time to enjoy the beautiful lodge or take an extended siesta.
After dinner Hannes will introduce you to the secrets of night photography if you wish. The starry sky in the Kalahari is simply breathtaking.
Accommodation in the northern part of the park.
Today you will enjoy a long game drive. Our journey takes us back to the south of the park. This region is especially well known for its large herds of lions and regular sightings of cheetahs. On the way, you have plenty of time to take great pictures of unforgettable animal encounters.
In the late afternoon we will arrive at our lodge located in the south. Last night in the park.
After a last game drive in the early morning and a hearty breakfast you will be driven back to Upington for our recommended flight connection. Here your photo journey ends and you continue your individual journey home or to your next destination.
Alternatively you continue your individual journey with your own rental car.
On this photo tour, you will spend the first day directly outside the park gates and then stay in lodges with full board inside the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
On your first day you will stay in a charming lodge only a five minutes drive from the park entrance. The lodge offers a small restaurant, a pool and cozy bungalows. The lodge is situated on a red Kalahari sand dune. The perfect setting to get a first impression of the magical Kalahari desert.
This simple and close to nature lodge is located in the park, only about 25km from the park entrance. The area is particularly known for regular sightings of lions. The lodge contains 9 chalets built on wooden platforms. Each chalet consists of a double bed or a twin bed, a sitting area, a bathroom, an outdoor shower and a large veranda. The main building offers a lounge, a bar, the dining room and a reading area.
In the north of the park, you will also spend the night in an accommodation close to nature. It is located in the Nossob Valley, which is home to a large number of predators. The camp is nestled between trees and overlooks a waterhole. The accommodation consists of 8 tented rooms, which are built on wooden platforms and have their own terrace. Each tent consists of a sleeping area with a work table and a bathroom. From the bed you can watch the animals at the waterhole and enjoy the starry sky from the outdoor shower. The main building is beautifully furnished and consists of a spacious lounge, a bar, a dining room, a boma and a reading corner.
The rainy season brings fantastic, colourful skies as well as thunderstorms and magical light conditions. The otherwise dry Kalahari is usually transformed by the rain into a unique green paradise.
In Winter, the temperatures are nice and cool. This means, that the lions and other cats are more active during the day.
There is very limited Wifi/Internet or mobile phone reception in the park (no reception at all in Polentswa).
Single travellers can book half of a double room. If there is no other guest who wants to share the room, the single room surcharge will apply.
We strongly advise you to purchase insurance for cancellation and return journey costs, which will be needed in the event of a secluded region being evacuated, a local hospital stay or return travel costs to your home country.
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) regularly publishes information on countries where there are potential security or other risks. The FDFA’s travel advice is based on its own sources of information that are considered to be trustworthy. This travel advice can be found on the FDFA website: www.eda.admin.ch
TCs of Amazing Views Adventure Tours apply, as well as all other conditions which are listed in the descriptions for the respective trips.
We reserve the right to change prices (especially due to exchange rate fluctuations).
Please fill in the form below with the requested details and return it to Amazing Views Photo & Adventure Tours. We will send you a trip confirmation and an invoice for the deposit. Bookings are held as provisional until the required deposit is received.
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Melde Dich hier für den kostenlosen Download des eBooks an. Etwa einmal pro Monat erhältst Du weitere Tipps und Informationen rund die Reisefotografie in unserem Newsletter. Deine E-Mail-Adresse wird nicht an Dritte weitergegeben.
Melde Dich hier für den kostenlosen Download des eBooks an. Etwa einmal pro Monat erhältst Du weitere Tipps und Informationen rund die Reisefotografie in unserem Newsletter. Deine E-Mail-Adresse wird nicht an Dritte weitergegeben.
Melde Dich hier für den kostenlosen Download des eBooks an. Etwa einmal pro Monat erhältst Du weitere Tipps und Informationen rund die Reisefotografie in unserem Newsletter. Deine E-Mail-Adresse wird nicht an Dritte weitergegeben.