Cats of the Kalahari
CHF 5'150
per person
Available
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.
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
Price
18 – 25 May 2024
03 – 10 August 2024
CHF 6‘150.- | PP sharing
CHF 6‘450.- | PP single occupancy
Included in the price
Not included in the price
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
- Destination
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Departure
07.08.23
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Return Time
14.08.23
From our gallery
The most beautiful impressions Kalahari
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
