Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana is a vast wilderness area and home to ancient migratory elephant routes. For centuries these majestic animals have traversed these lands, passing down information from one generation to another. It’s no coincidence that many award-winning photos of elephants have been taken from Mashatu. General game and predators are also abundant in this semi-arid region providing diverse photographic opportunities. This workshop is an introduction to wildlife photography which is designed to get photographers into the best areas to ‘get the best shots’. Here is where you take your wildlife photography from ‘good’ to ‘great’. By learning the tips, techniques and methods of taking great wildlife images with professional photographers, you will gain great insight and knowledge while improving your wildlife photography.
Please Note: The Notice on the ban of irregular-shape bags at OR Tambo International Airport. Details can be found under the 'Logistics' tabs
There is a little secret about Mashatu that not many people know: It looks it’s finest during the quietest tourist season; the month of January/February. The beginning of the year is when zebras give birth to the new generation, and Kudu start calving, the migration of large elephant herds into the area can be seen taking advantage of the new vegetation. Cheetahs normally make their appearance, drawn to the area by concentrations of impala moving from the woodlands into the open plains. The impala are lured out by the tender new grass shoots, which cover the plains in delicate shades of green, especially to the north and east of the Majale River. Expect verdant scenes of elephants walking through the grassy valleys, lion, leopard and cheetah in green backdrops and water in the rivers for elephants top play in during the hot hours.
While many people come to Mashatu during the dry season to enjoy the predator action, it is the green and rainy season that the reserve looks immaculate - a vibrant and lush green that makes for beautiful backdrops in your images.
Highlights
4 nights accommodation at Mashatu Tent camp.
January/February has on average only 4 days of rain, mostly being passing thunderstorms.
Clouds in the sky make for lovely skies and excellent landscapes.
Exclusive use of a 2 x private vehicles with 4 guests on each vehicle.
2 x C4 Photo Safaris specialist photo guides to accompany and guide you.
The opportunity to spend long amounts of time with predators and elephants in beautiful green surrounds - making for lovely green backdrops to your photos.
Use of the Hide while at Mashatu (only if there is activity).
Photography Highlights
Close quarter photography of Predators such as lion, cheetah and leopard.
Excellent, open sightings and photography of very relaxed elephants.
General game is relaxed and easy to photograph.
Beautiful plains areas interspersed with rocky kopjes.
A marsh area, when wet attracts all manner of waterfowl.
Beautiful sandstone rock formations on the Limpopo River - excellent for landscapes.
Archaeological ruins in the Limpopo valley- part of the Mapungubwe society.
Rhodes baobab perched precariously on the edge of a rocky hill.
Viewing is generally open and clear - allowing for easier photography.
Large Baobabs and Mashatu trees dominate the skyline- providing excellent photographic subjects.
N.B. Please read our Covid-19 protocol to familiarise yourself with South African tourism protocols. These policies are subject to change. C4 Photo Safaris PTY LTD is a facilitator of Safaris and the right of admission is at all times reserved to the guests of our lodge partners by prior booking.
All guests will be required to complete a C4 indemnity form together with a medical and travel declaration form.
All guests will be required to practice social distancing when in camp. Masks or face shields are compulsory in areas where social distancing is not possible.
Janet manages our C4 photographic concession at Mashatu Game Reserve in the Northern Tuli block of Botswana. A nature lover at heart, Janet is a qualified nature and trails guide as well as a professional photographer.
African wildlife is where his main interest lies and to gain a better understanding of this subject Trevor trained as a nature and trails guide while simultaneously completing a diploma in digital photography. He’s been on photographic safari throughout most of Southern and East Africa.
André grew up in the African bush with literally one hand on his binoculars and the other hand on the camera. An avid birdwatcher at that young age, he was given his first SLR in 1990. The passion of birding turned into one of photography and in 2004 Andre co-founded C4 Photo Safaris with Shem Compion.
Isak was born to be a photographer, but before he discovered this, he became an engineer. Once he picked up a camera, his engineering career came to an end and Isak has now established himself as one of the top bird photographers in Africa. The benefit of his engineering training is his flawless technical knowledge of camera systems and the post processing software that accompanies them.
You will arrive at Mashatu at midday. Your professional photographer and host will open proceedings with a short talk on what we can expect over this workshop. You will be staying at Mashatu Tented Camp for 4 nights.
Drive 1 is about enjoying and relaxing. This drive is used to take photos ‘as you are used to’, so that it sets the benchmark to measure the images taken at the end of the weekend against. Before dinner, the photo guides will give a short presentation showing a variety of images and how, by using specific aspects, you can alter and change an image dramatically.
Day 1 - 5
Mashatu, Botswana.
05h30
Early morning Game drive/Photo Hide
10h00
Brunch
11h00
Presentation on light and composition with regards to wildlife photography. Technical discussion on how to maximise your use of light with regards exposures.
13h00
Rest and own time
15h30
High Tea
16h00
Game drive/Photo Hide
20h00
Dinner in the outdoor boma and then retire to bed for another day of more great photography!
Over the next few days the daily activity will be the same as day 2
Topics to be covered while on safari:
Presentations on light, composition.
Tutorials on advanced photo techniques.
Use of Lenses for various effects.
Post processing your images in Lightroom or Photoshop.
Cataloguing images.
Review selected images. These will be used for discussion, critique and learning purposes.
Aimed at beginner/intermediate as well as advanced photographers, this workshop brings like minded people together to enjoy nature and learn more about improving their photography.
Day 5
Final day.
You will have your finally early morning drive and will depart after breakfast. This is the end of the safari.
Mashatu Tented Camp
Without stealing away any luxuries, accommodation is in a tented camp situated in the northern reaches of the reserve. Twin luxury safari tents offer you a luxurious rest in bush surrounds. Each tent has two large single beds, an en-suite bathroom with flushing W.C and its own private veranda to relax on. Breakfast and lunch are served in a main dining area whilst dinner is served in an out door boma overlooking an adjacent waterhole. There is a central lounge area to relax in, a plunge pool and a bar. A hide overlooks the waterhole next to the camp.
The drive from Pretoria is approximately 5 hours. On arrival at the border we will go through customs and cross the Limpopo River where a Mashatu representative will meet us. From there we will transfer on the Mashatu game vehicles to tent camp. It is an hour’s drive from the border to the camp.
CUISINE
Meals are a sumptuous celebration of traditional African Cuisine – flavoursome, but lacking in ostentation Fresh fruits, vegetables, home-made breads and pies, succulent meat dishes and delicious desserts will appeal to a guest who appreciates home cooking at its best.
R29 500.00 price per sharing person
R0.00 price per single person
40% deposit confirms your booking. Balance payable 8 week before tour start date.
Maximum of 8 guest with maximum of 2 single clients per green season. Please enquire for USD RATE.
On all our tours and workshops we may ask participants to rotate seats in the vehicles, taking it in turn to sit in the more popular seats in the front and the less popular ones in the rear. The requirement applies to everyone. If there is some reason why you can't take your turn in the back of a vehicle (e.g. a bad back or travel sickness) please inform our office at the time of booking to see if we can accommodate you. We regret that anyone failing to inform us of such limitations before the tour will be expected to rotate seats in the same way as everyone else.
The above costs include
Transfers to and from the Border post.
Accommodation.
All meals.
Game activities.
The services of 2 of our photographic guides.
2 x private vehicles (4 guests per vehicle).
Option to visit the hide, only if there is activity at them.
The above costs don't include
Gratuities to staff and guides.
Non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks.
Extra activities not included.
Personal expenses.
Travel insurance.
Travel visas.
Transport to and from the Pont Drift border post. A return road/flight transfer from Johannesburg can be arranged.
Travel Insurance
Is vital for any tour anywhere in the world. The foresight to protect not only the experimental investment of the safari i.e trip cancellation, travel interruption/ban, flight cancellation, but also the traveller themselves when in need of primary medical care, evacuation to the hospital of choice most of the time in nearby countries is one of the most important decision you can make to assist in a stress free trip. Please speak to your travel agent/insurerfor available options that will best suite your needs. Please note that when travelling with C4 Photo Safaris, that Travel Insurance is mandatory for all of our tours.
Day 1
Park vehicles at secure area at border if self driving. A Ranger will meet you there and transfer you to camp. Arrival time 13h00.
Day 5
Road transfer at 11h00 to border post on last morning.
How to get to Mashatu:
1. Self-drive and rental car
You have the option to rent a car from various rental car companies. You can then drive yourself to the Pont Drift Border post. Directions to the Border post will be sent to you. The drive is approximately 6 hours.
2. Road transfer which C4 can arrange
C4 Photo Safaris can make arrangements for you to be transferred from O.R. Tambo International Airport to Pont Drift Border post. The road transfer is approx. 6 hours.
3a. Flight details which C4 can arrange
If you prefer to fly, we can make arrangements for a flight transfer from O.R. Tambo International Airport to the Limpopo Valley Airfield on Mashatu:
The service will facilitate guests’ transit through the international terminal at OR Tambo.
Meeting time at OR Tambo is 10:45am, and guests will arrive back from Mashatu’s Limpopo Valley Airfield at OR Tambo between 14:30 and 15:30.
The flights are non-stop into Limpopo Valley Airfield, which is on Mashatu Game Reserve.
Sunday and Thursday flights are subject to a 2-passenger minimum, and flights operating on any other days are subject to a 4-passenger minimum.
Guests clear customs and immigration into Botswana at Limpopo Valley Airfield on Mashatu.
A late morning departure from OR Tambo to Limpopo Valley Airfield and an early afternoon departure from Limpopo Valley Airfield to OR Tambo will enable guests to co-ordinate most connections with international and domestic flights.
The flight takes approximately 60 minutes one way.
All flights are in a pressurized turbo-prop aircraft.
On completing Botswana immigration formalities guests will be transported via a transport vehicle for up to 60 minutes to respective camps. Please note that this transfer is done in an open safari vehicle.
3b. Scheduled flights and road transfers option
There are also DAILY flights between O.R. Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg) and Polokwane Airport (approx. 1 hour) and the option of a road transfer from Polokwane to the Pont Drift Border post (approx. 2 hours).
If you would like to make use of any of the road or flight transfer options, please contact us and we can build it onto your workshop.
On arrival at the Pont Drift border post
We will all meet 12h30 to go through the border.
Cars will be parked in the secure parking lot between the two border posts.
A Mashatu ranger will meet us at the parking and transfer us to camp.
If there is water in the river we will cross with the cable car. Cost is 50 pula one-way and will be added to your bill at Mashatu.
If the river is dry we will drive through.
From there it is a 60 min drive to the camp.
Notice on the ban of irregular-shape bags at OR Tambo International Airport
OR Tambo International Airport has announced new rules for checking in bags of irregular shape and size has come into effect at the Airport from, Monday 25 March 2019.
The new rules are aimed at preventing blockages and breakdowns in the baggage handling system caused by bags that do not have any flat surfaces or that have long straps or grips as per the International Air Transport Association (IATA) guidelines.
1. Only regular-shaped bags will be allowed at check-in counters;
2. This means that the bags must have at least one flat surface to be accepted on the check-in system;
3. Round or irregular-shaped bags will not be allowed at check-in counters; and
4. Bags with longs straps will not be allowed at check-in counters.
guests trying to check in bags that do not conform to the above rules will be offered the option of having their baggage wrapped with one flat side at the airport approved baggage wrapping stations.
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