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Fotoreise Katzen der Kalahari

Cats of the Kalahari

Kalahari Photo Tour

Cats of the Kalahari

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Kalahari Photo Tour

This Kalahari Photo Tour takes you to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park at the border triangle of South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. This unique park awaits you with all of the Kalahari desert’s creatures, from majestic oryx antelopes to cute little meerkats. Famous for its high concentration of predators, this park offers you amazing opportunities to see the legendary Kalahari lions with their black manes. With a little luck you will also see cheetahs or even a leopard and not to forget about the smaller cats like the African wildcat and the caracal.

The park also beguiles you with its majestic landscape, casting a spell with its red, shimmering dunes. Spread under a never-ending, expansive sky, the Kgalagadi is a real haven of tranquillity. To experience the Kalahari is indeed balm for the soul. In winter (May – September), the tempratures in the mornings are nice and cool. This means, that the lions and other cats are more active during the day.

During this trip, you will be accompanied by Hannes Lochner. Hannes, a renowned and multiple award-winning professional photographer, lived in the park for 5 years and knows it better than anyone else.

All images on this tour description webpage are from Hannes Lochner.

18 - 25 May 2024

3 - 10 August 2024 (only 1 spot left)

8 days / 7 nights

max. 4 guests

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

English speaking photo guide

This Kalahari Photo Tour offers extraordinary highlights!

  • The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park provides great opportunities to photograph the big cats such as black-maned lions, cheetahs and leopards as well as the smaller cats like the African wildcat and with a bit of luck the caracal.
  • The trip offers you countless photographic scenes featuring the creatures of the Kalahari desert. In addition to the big cats, you will have excellent opportunities to photograph meerkats, large herds of antelopes, birds of prey, owls, African wild cats and many other animals.
  • The red sand dunes form a spectacular background for photos of wildlife.
  • Sunrise and sunsets in the Kalahari are incomparable and immerse the photographic subject in a magical light.
  • The imposing star-spangled sky in the Kalahari is a very inspiring photographic subject and ideal for time-exposure photography.
  • Photographic support and tour guiding from Hannes Lochner. Hardly anyone knows the region better than Hannes Lochner. He lived in the park for five years and, among other things, published two absolutely riveting illustrated books on the Kalahari.
  • You will spend the night in two beautiful, comfortable lodges whose surroundings are also ideal for hunting for photographic subjects.
  • Small groups with a maximum of 4 participants

Photo Guide

Hannes Lochner

Hannes Lochner

Local Photo Guide

Price

18 – 25 May 2024
03 – 10 August 2024

CHF 6‘150.- / USD 7’010.- | PP sharing

CHF 6‘450.- / USD 7’350.- | PP single occupancy

Included in the price

Photographic support from Hannes Lochner and Noa Köfler

2 game drives a day

1 night accommodation just outside the park gates

6 nights accommodation inside the park in charming lodges

Full board

Soft drinks during game drives

Entrance fee to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Not included in the price

Journey to and from Twee Rivieren / Kgalagadi Park

Drinks at the lodges inside the park

Personal expenses

Tips/gratuities

Travel insurance/cancellation cover

Any visa application fees

Book today!

Any questions left?

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Combine this Photo Tour

The photo tours “Cats of the Kalahari”, “Botswana upclose” (October)” or “Zimanga in Focus” (September) are coordinated so that they can be optimally combined with one extra. The two trips together give an incomparable insight into the animal world in southern Africa. In just over two weeks, you will travel through two very different areas in terms of landscape and wildlife. A highlight for every animal lover and photographer!

When booking both trips, you benefit from a combination discount of CHF 250.- per person.

Learn more about the Botswana upclose tour

Learn more about the Zimanga in focus tour

What our clients say

Mathias

As always, excellently organized trip to the Kalahari with the guidance of Hannes Lochner. His knowledge of the Kalahari and photography gives even experienced wildlife photographers a final tip for a very special photo. Glad to travel at any time again with Hannes and Amazing Views.

Cats of the Kalahari, February 2020

Ute

This was our first trip with Amazing Views and I can only say that it was very well organized. Hannes Lochner is a great photographer and an extremely likeable person. He showed us "his Kalahari", which is so different from the usual safari destinations. Many thanks to Hannes and the Amazing Views team.

Photo tour Cats of the Kalahari, August 2019

Rena

An excellently organised trip to the Kalahari with on-site support by the nature and wildlife photographer Hannes Lochner, who left no question unanswered and gave valuable tips on the respective camera model, the settings and the composition of the pictures. Pleasant accommodation, delicious food and time spent together rounded off the whole photo safari positively. Recommended for beginners as well as advanced photographers. Anytime again with Hannes Lochner and Amazing Views.

Cats of the Kalahari, August 2019
  • Destination
  • Departure
    07.08.23
  • Return Time
    14.08.23
1

Day 1 – Arrival in the Kalahari

We will meet in late afternoon at a charming lodge, only a few kilometres from the gates of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. After an introduction we will have time to capture the first images of a Kalahari sunset and the starry sky.
Travelling to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
You have two options for travelling to the park:
  • An individual journey to Twee Rivieren in your own hire car.
  • An organised transfer from Upington (early in the morning on 3rd November).
  • On request, we would be pleased to book accommodation for you in Upington the night before and after the photography tour.
2

Days 2 to 3 – Driving into the Park and game drives

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. 
Fotoreise Katzen der Kalahari
3

Day 4 – On the way to the north

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. 
Fotoreise Katzen der Kalahari
4

Days 5 to 6 – Finding animals and take great pictures

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 will give short tutorials on topics of your choice as required and will be available for 1:1 tuitition. Or you can take your time to enjoy the beautiful lodge or take an extended siesta.
With a bit of luck you can catch the wild animals in fantastic light conditions in the early morning and late afternoon. 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.
Fotoreise Katzen der Kalahari
5

Day 7 - Game drive back south

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 for your last night in the park. 
Fotoreise grüne Kalahari
6

Day 8 - End of the photo tour

After a last game drive in the early morning and a hearty breakfast you will drive back to the park entrance. Here your photo journey ends.
You continue your individual journey with your own rental car or start the return journey to Upington with the organized transfer.

Accommodation

Charming lodge just outside the gates of the 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.

Lodge in the south of the park

This comfortable 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 contains a double bed or a twin bed, a seating 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. 

Beautiful lodge in the north of the park

This Lodge is a classic tented camp capturing the romance of a nostalgic bygone era. The camp comprises of six classic safari tents, one family unit and one luxury desert suite/honeymoon suite, all built on raised wooden platforms and under huge canvas roofs that also encompass a private veranda. Each tent has a sleeping area, a desk, en-suite bathroom, and a surprising yet exhilarating outside shower open to the desert and to the stars. A private concession area allows for exclusive game drives with sundowners although most game is found along the Nossob valley.

Visiting the Kalahari in Winter (May - October)

In Winter, the tempratures are nice and cool. This means, that the lions and other cats are more active during the day.

Internet / Phone Reception

There is no (Polentswa) or only limited (Twee Rivieren / Rooiputs) wi-fi/internet or mobile phone reception in the park.

Double room

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.

Insurance

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.

Travel information FDFA

The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA regularly publishes information on countries in which there may be security policy or other risks. The FDFA's travel advice is based on its own trustworthy sources of information. These travel tips can be found on the FDFA's website: www.eda.admin.ch

The Terms and Conditions

T&Cs of Amazing Views & Adventure Tours apply, as well as all other conditions which are listed in the descriptions for the respective trips.

Prices

We reserve the right to change prices (especially due to exchange rate fluctuations)

Photo Tour Registration

Cats of the Kalahari

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.

Photo Tour Details

When choosing option "Single" a single supplement might apply (please see respective tour itinerary)

Personal Details - Guest 1

Personal Details - Guest 2

If accommodation option "double" has been selected

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