Wildlife photography & conservation volunteering in south Africa










Our only combined photography and volunteering vacation. Spend four weeks in South Africa, honing your camera skills with expert tuition and contributing to conservation projects too.
Photography and conservation volunteering combined Game drives for wildlife and landscape photography expert tuition daily game drives edit images and build an impressive portfolio over four weeks participate in conservation work based in Greater Kruger Area all game drives, tuition, accommodation and meals included
Price
£2595 excluding flights
More info
The price includes accommodation at our bush lodge, photography workshops, all transport on the ground, conservation volunteer activities, game drives, all meals, and airport transfers.
It does not include flights and travel insurance.
It does not include flights and travel insurance.
Description of Wildlife photography & conservation volunteering in south Africa
Price information
Check dates
2023: 24 Dec
2024: 21 Jan, 18 Feb, 17 Mar, 14 Apr, 12 May, 9 Jun, 7 Jul, 4 Aug, 1 Sep, 29 Sep, 27 Oct, 24 Nov, 22 Dec
2024: 21 Jan, 18 Feb, 17 Mar, 14 Apr, 12 May, 9 Jun, 7 Jul, 4 Aug, 1 Sep, 29 Sep, 27 Oct, 24 Nov, 22 Dec
Travel guides
Away from affluent areas, out of sight of Stellenbosch, and past the protected perimeters of private game reserves, there’s a side to South Africa tha...
Reviews
2 Reviews of Wildlife photography & conservation volunteering in south Africa
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on 17 May 2023 by Bruce Marshall
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Being with a group of like minded people who were keen to learn photography and share ideas and experiences.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Be open minded, be flexible and be ready!
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Removing invasive cacti and wire from defunct fencing helped the wildlife. Staying at the accommodation, using laundry and bar services helped keep local people in employment.
Sharing photos on line Joelle to raise awareness.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Overall a great trip. Plenty of drives, friendly and knowledgeable staff and clean accommodation.
Reviewed on 15 Sep 2019 by Linda Gould
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The fantastic wildlife viewing
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Make sure you take some cold and wet weather clothes. It is freezing cold in the mornings and evenings in the safari truck
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes- The Mara conservation system benefits both the local people and the wildlife and this is funded by visitors
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
The whole vacation was great
Responsible Travel
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we've screened this (and every) vacation so that you can travel knowing it will help support the places and people that you visit, and the planet. Read how below.
Planet
We believe in the power of photography; the power to create incredible experiences, and the power to make a positive impact. That’s why we founded our Trust, a non-profit organisation that uses photography to make a positive impact on both a social and conservation level. Our photo tours finance the running costs of the Trust, so by just by joining one of our workshops, you're indirectly contributing. (So all you have to do to make a difference is have the photo adventure of a lifetime!) Through the Trust, we provide free professional photography to charities doing environmental and conservation work; images they can use for fundraising and communication purposes.Your Contributions as a Volunteer:
A selection of the wildlife photographs you'll take will be added to a photographic database, which is used to support conservation charities, who can use the images for awareness and fundraising efforts. In addition, your pictures will be used for educational purposes, particularly at schools in surrounding communities. On top of the wildlife photography you’ll be doing, you’ll have a chance to participate in general conservation work in the area. In partnership with local wildlife trusts and foundations, we’ll assist with hands-on field work, such as clearing alien invasive plants and removing snares, and with the collating of data and compiling of animal identy-kits that are part of larger conservation research. You’ll also assist with eco-education projects at school in local communities.
Ethics on Game Drives:
We have strict ethical and environmentally friendly practises in place on any project activity, including game drives. We keep the animals’ wellbeing as a top priority and do not drive off-road unless in pre-designated areas to minimise damage and negative impact.
Recycle and Water Policies:
Through a local company run by the community we recycle all recyclable materials, much of which gets used for crafts. Garden waste from our lodge gets composted along with raw waste from our kitchens to grow seedlings that are used in an aligned community garden project, Farmers for the Future. Our water comes from a borehole on the property that we closely monitor, and we use grey water for the lodge to water our vegetable garden, plants and gardens. To everyone involved in the project, we give presentations on usage of electricity and water to help minimise wastage and raise awareness. Since our lodge is set in the Greater Kruger area, we monitor the wildlife on the property to ensure its health along with the vegetation to ensure their survival. We have also established a butterfly garden to help support a healthy ecosystem.
At our office in Cape Town, we recycle, compost, and minimise the use of paper by predominantly working with digital files.
People
Apart from supporting conservation initiatives through our photography, we also support social nonprofits. We provide free professional photography to charities that do valuable work and can use the images for fundraising purposes.Through our Trust, we also run PhotoVoice workshops for youth in underprivileged South African communities. We identify talented young individuals with an interest in and talent for photography, and provide workshops where we encourage them to tell their stories, and the stories of their communities, through photography. We teach them creative self-expression, and the power visual images can have. Participants are encouraged to raise awareness about issues that matter most to them, which stimulates positive activism.
Social Programs:
All of our guests (volunteers) work in the local community on both our conservation education and sustainable living projects, providing relevant education and entrepreneurial opportunities to young adults in the local community.
Supporting Local Economy:
All operational staff members on the ground are locals, who get consistent training opportunities, comfortable accommodation, healthy food, and fair wages and working conditions.
Popular similar vacations
Orangutan photography in Borneo
From £2375 - £2565 10 days excluding flights
Develop your photography skills in Borneo
Madagascar Photography vacation
From €6990 16 days excluding flights
Photograph Madagascar's unspoiled beauty on exclusive tour
South Africa wildlife photography safari
From £3250 7 days excluding flights
Enjoy incredible photography during an exclusive safari