East Africa Travel update

by Various

Date: January 20, 2021

East Africa update as of 11 January 2021. 2020 has highlighted more than ever the impact Mother Nature has on our health, our wellbeing and our ability to cope with all the twists and turns that have come our way. We have seen that a simple walk outside can provide much-needed wellbeing and p...

Beyond shutter speeds and white balances into the heart of photography

by Shem Compion

Date: January 14, 2021

In a year that is starting out on a very different note, I would like to introduce you to something very special. On a secluded beach in a wild corner of the South African coast, lies a pristine wilderness with a beach lodge only accessible by private vehicle. It is here that we will be hosting our ...

Machaton Photo Workshop

by Darren Shaun Donovan

Date: December 7, 2020

We arrived to a hot and humid Timbavati, the kind of weather you expect from the lowveld in November. The camp, spacious and with a laid-back atmosphere, is situated along the Nhlaralumi riverbed, the main artery of game movement in the northern Timbavati. After a delicious lunch, we got ready to ex...

Mashatu Game Reserve - A secret goldmine of wildlife activity

by Various

Date: December 1, 2020

Africa is travel ready and there is no better place to practice social distancing than in the African bush. On the 6th of November the president of Botswana, Masisi announced in a press release the lifting of international travel restrictions in a phased manner starting from the 9th ...

South Africa relaxes travel restrictions to South Africa

by Various

Date: November 27, 2020

Government has relaxed South Africa’s level 1 lockdown rules around international travel, allowing visitors from any country provided they follow health and safety guidelines. International travel will open to all countries subject to the necessary health protocols and the presentation o...

AFRICA TRAVEL UPDATE

by Various

Date: November 12, 2020

Africa is open and ready for travel. There is no better place to practice social distancing than in the African bush. If ever there was a time to book a safari, it is now. Please kindly note that the information provided below are as of current regulations (updated on 11 November 2020) and sub...

10 C4 reasons to visit the Masai Mara

by Shem Compion

Date: November 10, 2020

Have you ever dreamt of a wild Africa, to experience grassland plains like no other, meet a unique tribe of people like none other, and expand your views; spotting zebra, eland, lions, cheetahs and gnus under a warm, hazy sun? Then the Masai Mara should be your nex...

A safari guideline for travel in Africa

by Various

Date: October 12, 2020

Firstly, we would like to convey our sincere thanks to you for your commitment to a safari trip during these times. Ultimately it is not about us, but the lodges and the wildlife that need the support. To the lodges it is imperative that the conservation and community programmes cont...

Borders to South Africa reopen; but with a caveat

by Various

Date: October 5, 2020

As of 01 October 2020, South African borders started re-opening, and while we look forward to welcoming tourists back, the opening of our borders comes with a caveat as a Risk Adjusted Approach is being adopted. This is due to be updated every two weeks, and we will update this page accordingly...

Timbavati Photo Workshop

by Darren Shaun Donovan

Date: September 18, 2020

Set on the banks of the famous Nhlaralumi dry river in the northern Timbavati, is the private Machaton camp. The breath-taking scenes of the river, with the massive Jackalberry, sycamore figs and Leadwoods, immediately dip into the atmosphere of the surrounding area. The diversity along this stretch...

Madikwe Magic

by Darren Shaun Donovan

Date: September 8, 2020

Often overlooked and very highly underrated, the Madikwe Game Reserve presents many photographic opportunities you’ll struggle to experience in a short visit. For the purpose of this blog, I wanted to touch on some of the area’s that I enjoy during a visit to Madikwe, and the opportuniti...

The Power of Postponing

by Shem Compion

Date: July 1, 2020

As written by the famous Johnny Clegg, ‘we are the scatterlings of Africa’ could not be truer.' Many visitors to Africa, that come on safari often tell us, that they ‘feel at home’ and that there is always a part of them missing when leave Africa. Our ancestors all trace back...

C4 Atelier: How does tourism actually benefit conservation & communities surrounding wildlife areas?

by Shem Compion

Date: June 24, 2020

C4 Photo Safaris has three main pillars on which its business is cemented: Tourism, Photography and Conservation. Due to the effects of Covid-19 halting travel globally, all tourism and wildlife photography businesses have essentially been halted. Tourism is closely linked to conservation. ...

Conservation initiative in a time of crisis

by Shem Compion

Date: June 12, 2020

As human beings we sometime forget that we are all interconnected with all living organisms on Earth and it is our duty to help conserve it. Without the conservation of our natural world, essentially, we will not have anything to enjoy, connect with or photograph. With official lockdowns acros...

C4 Lockdown Photo Competition- The winning image

by Shem Compion

Date: June 8, 2020

Selecting a winning image is always a tough task and I have had to do so on many occasions for various international photo competitions. This competition was set up in order to provide some positive distraction to people whilst they were in lock down: A creative outlet for people of all ages and an...

The reality of Virunga National Park & a safari you will never forget!

by Kyle De Nobrega

Date: September 4, 2019

Virunga National Park is the most biodiverse region in Africa, a region that envelopes swathes of afro-montane forest, the home of an increasing population of over 1000 Mountain Gorillas... The sweat had already made its way through the zipper seams bringing an undesirable amount of moistur...

Guest Image Gallery by Vicki Santello - The search for Mashatu's blue-eyed babies

by Vicki Santello

Date: July 12, 2019

The search for the elusive leopardess with her blue-eyed cubs... On the third day of my trip in Mashatu there was exciting news! A female leopard was in the riverbed with young cubs. When I arrived with Eric Maripane and Janet Kleyn they had moved under heavy cover. I only had a very small ...

Guest Image Gallery, Mashatu Workshop, By Carol Darby

by Carol Darby

Date: May 29, 2019

"Once again I have had an amazing Mashatu workshop with Isak and C4. I did the same workshop back in 2016 and when I knew I was returning to Africa it was a no brainer that I would do it again. Isak is a great teacher and I always come away learning more techniques and features of my cameras that I ...

Mashatu Photo Workshop May 2019

by Isak Pretorius

Date: May 20, 2019

I recently hosted my second C4 Photo Safari Workshop to Botswana’s Mashatu Game Reserve for the year so far. We had such fun sharing good sightings, great laughs and terrific photography. With conditions already quite dry in Botswana after a poor rainy season, the game viewing was very good an...

Guest Image Gallery, Svalbard 2019 by Brian Shepard

by Angelica Mills

Date: May 17, 2019

Brian Shepard travelled with us to Svalbard earlier this year in April. He shared some of his thoughts and beautiful images of the trip with us! "Great Trip. Shem and Kyle were awesome leaders. The Freya and crew were outstanding." Images by Brian Shepard

ZAKOUMA CONSERVATION SAFARI 2019

by Kyle De Nobrega

Date: May 15, 2019

Zakouma National Park has become one of the most significant conservation success stories in modern times and most certainly one of the greatest conservation outcomes that the continent has ever seen. Since African Parks took over management in 2010, in a reserve that was on the fragile edge of vani...

Svalbard 2019 - An Adventure in White

by Shem Compion

Date: May 6, 2019

Ever since our first expedition to Svalbard in 2012, I have been entranced by this wonderland. Over the course of 7 trips, I have covered most of the summer season on these islands and so for this latest expedition we looked at a slightly different time of year. Indeed, April is still regarded as Wi...

ENNEDI EXPEDITION

by Kyle De Nobrega

Date: April 29, 2019

We circled a relatively sand free clearing several times within a landscape wedged between endless tassili (rock masses) before the caravan we were flying in pointed her nose directly towards the seasonal water pan ahead of us on the valley floor. With not a runway in sight we looked across at each ...

Inimitable Tanzania Safari 2019

by Shem Compion

Date: April 23, 2019

How does one make a definitive safari to people who have been to Africa many times? In my view, the difference is twofold. You make it extra special and then you add in areas so special to yourself, that you only share these with very special clients. As such this is what we did on the most recent I...

Mashatu Photo Workshop April 2019

by Isak Pretorius

Date: April 16, 2019

Last week I hosted my first Mashatu Workshop for 2019. It was a surprise to find Mashatu unusually dry for this time of the year. But, dry conditions meant good game viewing. However, two days into the workshop the land was blessed with good rains. The usual suspects made their appearance on our me...

Guest Image Gallery, Mara Predators 2019, By Heather Wall

by Heather Wall

Date: April 9, 2019

I had a wonderful time again this year on the Masai Mara Predators. Andre and Isak were excellent guides and helped me a lot, both while out taking photos, but also back at camp with technical advice on my camera and post editing help with some photos. I really enjoyed the critiquing sessions that w...

Marvellous Mahale 2019

by Andre Cloete

Date: March 16, 2019

As a wildlife photographer we consider un-spoilt areas teeming with mammal and birdlife as paradise. But … can tropical paradise of white beaches surrounded by deep blue waters also be a wildlife photographer’s idea of paradise? Not many destinations would easily fit that description an...

Masai Mara Predators Trip Report 2019

by Isak Pretorius

Date: March 8, 2019

The open landscape and abundance of game in Kenya’s Masai Mara makes it a photographer’s dream. From January to March each year, after the “short rains”, the grass is lush and long. With these conditions and without the wildebeest migration around, the predators must work muc...

Interesting, remote, inaccessible and inspiring destinations we have or may travel to within the next few years!

by Various

Date: February 26, 2019

The tourism and travel industry is constantly changing. Travellers now desire ever more vibrant experiences. There is a hunger for joint safaris and increasingly isolated destinations. We have done some research on a variety of destinations that we would like to travel to purely because of th...

A child, more than anyone else, is a spontaneous observer of nature.

by Angelica Mills

Date: February 14, 2019

Children in the Wilderness Limpopo Valley was founded in 2009 and operates within the Northern Tuli Game Reserve. Children in the Wilderness (CITW) hosted another successful tri-nations camp at Mashatu Tent Camp in Mashatu Game Reserve. Mashatu kindly donates 2 weeks of accommodation to the CITW pro...

An Introduction to the Congo Basin

by Shem Compion & Kyle De Nobrega

Date: January 30, 2019

2018 ended off with two C4 guides heading into the Congo rainforest. Here lies one of Africa’s best-kept secrets, with amazing photography of some spectacular species. We are excited to already be advertising safaris into this region in April 2020. The Congo basin is a mysterious place,...

The year that was 2018 and the year that is, 2019

by Shem Compion

Date: January 14, 2019

I never like doing reviews of years, because for us at C4, the seasons are in continual flow and blend into each other. While many consider the December period a quiet time, we were running safaris over Christmas and as soon as the New Year started, so do our safaris. What I do like to do is ...

Along the Chobe River by Houseboat

by Ellen Mack

Date: December 20, 2018

For my second African safari, I wanted to visit the Okavango Delta and neighboring parts of northern Botswana. In addition to the predator and other big wildlife that we all so enjoy seeing and photographing, I particularly wanted to visit areas that would allow me to photograph some of the be...

Namibia Photo Tour with Art Wolfe 2018

by Jandre Germishuizen

Date: November 22, 2018

In September 2018 we hosted a Namibia Photo Tour with the marvellous Art Wolfe. The Tour commenced on a high note as the group travelled to the south of Namibia to photograph Quiver tree forest and the Ghost town of Kolmanskop. We were treated to beautiful light conditions, which were perfect for p...

Masai Mara Photo Safari with Jonathan Scott 2018

by Kyle De Nobrega

Date: October 26, 2018

Nature has the most beautiful way of circulation, rhythm and precision. We have become fascinated with the phenology of life and the human race cannot resist asking questions with the sole purpose to find answers, trying to confirm our position as the smartest species on Earth. Nowhere could this be...

Guest Image Gallery, Masai Mara 2018 by Barry Barnes

by Barry Barnes

Date: October 18, 2018

This was my second Mara Trip, both times with C4 Safaris and both times staying at Entim Main Camp. The team at C4 are all really nice people, very professional but still down to earth, friendly and they look after you. Their wildlife and photographic knowledge is first class and you get basically ...

Guest Image Gallery, Mashatu Private Photo Safari 2018 by Yvonne Smuts

by Yvonne Smuts

Date: October 16, 2018

C4 has been the perfect means to merging photographic theory with practice. A combination of outstanding photographic instruction given by Trevor Kleyn and the expertise of Jakes, our guide/driver, made my most recent trip to the Tented Camp Mashatu, a huge success. Image and text by...

Guest Image Gallery, Masai Mara 2018 by Andrew JK Tan

by Andrew JK Tan

Date: October 5, 2018

This was not the first time I went for a Photo safari with C4. I expected the same high standards that C4 provided and I was not wrong. The Masai Mara photo safari was just brilliant. The lodging at Entim Camp was just superb and I had everything in the tented camp to relax and refresh with. The...

Guest Image Gallery, Masai Mara 2018 by Todd Stein

by Todd Stein

Date: September 27, 2018

I had high expectations before my recent trip to Kenya. The C4 team exceeded those expectations and I hope to travel with them in the future - either back in the Masai Mara or elsewhere in Africa or even the Arctic. The accommodations at Entim was nice and well-located. I cannot underscore ho...

Guest Image Gallery, Masai Mara 2018 by Hennie van Greuning

by Various

Date: September 26, 2018

We all know that the Mara is home to the ‘greatest show on earth’. So C4 decided to run the best photo safari we could muster in the heart of the greatest show. Its simple really - find a camp in the middle of the action. Hennie and Elna van Greuning joined C4 Photo Safaris on our Ma...

A few tips before your next Safari

by Various

Date: September 10, 2018

The word safari originates form the Swahili word for ‘journey’. Safari travel in modern Africa naturally implies that the journey will include game viewing and some time spent in wilderness areas. A traditional African safari is usually focussed on seeing Africa’s wildlife, but saf...

Guest image gallery, Masai Mara 2017 by Yvette Holzbach

by Yvette Holzbach

Date: May 25, 2018

Last year I decided to enter a competition by C4 to celebrate their 10th year in business. The prize was a Photographic Safari to the Maasai Mara with the extra bonus of having Jonathan Scott spend a day with us on safari. Having never entered a competition before I thought I would give it a try and...

Guest Image Gallery, Serengeti and Mahale Chimps 2017 - By Simona Doyle

by SIMONA DOYLE

Date: May 18, 2018

When C4 offered a Photography expedition to Mahale, on the Tanganyika Lake, in Tanzania with Greg Du Toit I signed up immediately. The idea of experiencing the area where Dr.Livingstone was tracked down fascinated me. Not to mention the idea of climbing through a jungle to track down Chimpanzees! T...

Guest Image Gallery, Inimitable Tanzania 2018 - By Maggie and Peter

by Maggie Manson and Peter Farmer

Date: May 16, 2018

Inimitable Tanzania 2018 Our journey really began with the transfer from Kilimanjaro airport when we were immediately thrown into the interesting and colourful street life, with cattle, goats, markets and scenes of local life. We spent the first night at the beautifully appointed Olerai Bush House ...

Mashatu Photo Workshop April 2018

by Shem Compion

Date: May 15, 2018

A beautiful array of images taken by Trevor Kleyn on one of our recent workshops hosted by him at Mashatu Game reserve. Our workshops are designed to get photographers into the best areas to ‘get the shots’. Here is where you take your wildlife photography from ‘good...

Inimitable Tanzania 2018

by Shem Compion

Date: April 25, 2018

Africa is visited by so many people and sadly; they often visit the same places over and over again. For this safari, we wanted to go to new destinations to experience new ways of seeing what Africa is about. It also meant going to places like the Serengeti in the quieter time, when no vehicles are ...

Excellent in every way - Masai Mara Predators 2018

by Pam Holmes

Date: April 16, 2018

Maasai Mara Predators ranks as one of my favourite trips. Entim Camp excels in understanding photographers’ needs. Its location, in the centre of the Mara, is excellent - we could readily explore in any direction. Tents are comfortable, with power strips for charging batteries downloading ...

Mashatu Photo Workshop March 2018

by Janet Kleyn

Date: April 4, 2018

Trevor Kleyn recently hosted a workshop for C4 Photo Safaris at Mashatu Game Reserve. The guests got to use the specially adapted PhotoMashatu Vehicle on drive and had ample opportunity to photograph from our well known photographic undergound hides. On the vehicle sightings were up to Mashat...

Introduction to the Surma tribe

by Shem Compion

Date: January 29, 2018

The Suri people are part of the famous Surma tribe, known for the lip disks. During the slave trade, the Surma started using the lip disks to disfigure themselves so that the Arab slave traders would not take them away. Over time, the practise became a sign of beauty and hence it remaining in their...

2017 - The year in Review

by Shem Compion

Date: December 20, 2017

2017 has quickly come to an end. As always, the last part of the year becomes a time for reflection. Fortunately it was a very busy year for us at C4 and this means we have a wonderful array of images to help stimulate those memories of wanderlust, travel, adventure, beautiful wildlife s...

Guest Image Gallery, Masai Mara 2017 - By Mischa Ehlers

by Mischa Ehlers

Date: November 28, 2017

Mischa Ehlers was on one of our Masai Mara Safaris this year and this is what she had to say about her experience: "It has been an unbelievable experience with your perfect photographers Ruth, Kyle and Isak as well with very nice participants. Already after 15 minutes after arriving in Entim Ca...

Join C4 and Jonathan Scott in the Masai Mara

by Shem Compion

Date: November 17, 2017

The Mara is home to the ‘greatest wildlife show on earth’, and C4 are proud to be offering the best photo safari at the heart of the action. C4 guides have more than 30 seasons in the Mara and they have mapped their own special places and secret spots to share with you. &...

The endless plains of the Masai Mara

by Angelica Mills

Date: October 30, 2017

Jambo! A warm hearted welcome greets you in the heart of Africa. A year ago, I would never have imagined that I would be heading out to the original Safari country – is this a dream? Why yes, I am talking about the mighty Masai Mara! The vast open plains of the Masai Mara has wildlife roaming...

Guest Image Gallery, Masai Mara 2017 - By Barry Barnes

by Barry Barnes

Date: October 26, 2017

This was my first trip to the Mara, it was long awaited and I was very excited to be there. Whilst we didn’t get to see a crossing we had some amazing sightings of Lions, Leopards, Cheetahs, Elephants, Black Rhino’s and of course many hundreds of Wildebeest and many Zebras, Eagles, an...

Guest Image Gallery, Masai Mara & South Luangwa 2017 - By Nev Bryant

by Nev Bryant

Date: October 18, 2017

We have safely returned home after a very successful safari. Everything went according to plan including the last minute changes. We were last at Entim Camp 7 years ago when it was a bit smaller. It brought back fond memories as it was then our 1st C4 trip. The Mara is a special place and always de...

Guest Image Gallery, Masai Mara 2017 - By Kina Joubert

by Kina Joubert

Date: October 16, 2017

Thanks for all your "behind the scenes" organizing to make this superb trip possible for us! It has been a dream of a lifetime and a WHOW trip to Kenya. I'll gladly go back tomorrow if I can! Africa is so in my blood... Images & text b...

Svalbard - A place of extremes

by Shem Compion

Date: July 20, 2017

When visiting a location for the sixth time, I thought long and hard about what makes Svalbard and the high Arctic so special. There are of course many highlights that are easy to share with clients. The vastness and drama of the landscape, the magic of sailing through a white desert of pack-ice, th...

A SAFARI INTO THE LUANGWA VALLEY

by Kyle De Nobrega

Date: July 3, 2017

A traditional Jembe drum disrupts the serenade of hippo calls that emanate from the Luangwa River. A few moments after the drum roll, Mopane wood smoke from a small fire is absorbed into your winter jacket whilst having a cup of coffee that has been boiled over a traditional coal oven. Upon departin...

Above & beyond the beauty that is Mashatu Game reserve

by Angelica Mills

Date: June 9, 2017

Alarm calling, sightings, and “watch out for the bushes” are some of the words that come to mind when I think of my visit to Mashatu. It has been said that once a year, one should go some place that you have never been before, which is a little more difficult when you’re juggling y...

Mashatu Workshop April 2017

by Kyle De Nobrega

Date: May 24, 2017

Having lived at Mashatu for 3 years together we have studied very closely the tides of each season and the beautiful way they smoothly transfer into on another. This has left us with a deeper understanding of season dynamics and how rainfall, surface water, grass cover and the stages of leaf phonolo...

Guest Image Gallery, Mashatu 2017 - By Bennie Vivier

by Bennie Vivier

Date: May 19, 2017

It was just wonderful! I don’t think we could get better guides than Ruth and Kyle and the photo opportunities were awesome. I never thought that I would enjoy a “non-self-drive” trip so much. It was an experience that I will never forget and we are already talking about a next ti...

Guest Image Gallery, Mashatu 2017 - By Sally Hinton

by Sally Hinton

Date: May 15, 2017

The Workshop was just brilliant - both Isak and Janet were so helpful teaching and guiding us throughout. They were both professional and at the same time very friendly so we were constantly learning and improving our images as the week progressed! I love Cheetahs and we were lucky to have an amazi...

The Masai Mara with Jonathan Scott 2017

by Shem Compion

Date: May 12, 2017

2017 marks C4 Photo Safaris 10th consecutive year of leading photographic safaris in the Masai Mara. The Masai Mara causes a stutter and a pause, but then the surge comes, and millions of animals cross the Mara River in one of the most spectacular wildlife scenes on earth.In celebration of our 10th ...

10 Unforgettable moments from the Masai Mara - #C4ExploreMore

by Various

Date: April 7, 2017

The Masai Mara is known for being one of the best wildlife photography destinations, with so much to see, experience and photograph. Our guides have all teamed up to share with us the most unforgettable moments that they have experienced from photographing in the Mara over the last 10 years and we&...

The year in review

by Shem Compion

Date: December 21, 2016

The year that is 2016 is drawing quickly to an end. As always, it becomes a time for reflection and remembrance. At C4, we have a wonderful array of images to help stimulate those memories of wanderlust, travel, adventure, beautiful wildlife sightings and wonderful interactions. W...

Mashatu Photo Workshop 2016

by Calvin Kotze

Date: November 28, 2016

We arrived at the border to be met by our Mashatu rangers, it was instantly clear that they were filled with passion and knowledge and that the next few days would be wonderful. On route to the camp, our eyes were treated kindly by the amazing habitat and left our minds dreaming about the possible ...

PhotoMashatu hide staff experience

by Janet Kleyn

Date: September 28, 2016

The Mashatu staff serving brunch to the guests arriving back from a morning session in one of the PhotoMashatu hides are often confronted with excited guests and their stories of the exceptional sightings and photographic opportunities. For many this is a highlight of their visit to Mashatu. &...

A Mega-herd Visits the Valley Hide

by Ruth Nussbaum

Date: August 15, 2016

On Sunday morning we set off to the Valley Hide to see what the morning had install for our Mashatu guests. On arrival to the hide, we saw very little sign of elephant activity in the valley. We did however, find a drag mark dotted with hyena tracks which led straight into the waterhole and out the...

C4 Photo Vehicle Experience, Mashatu

by Ruth Nussbaum

Date: June 14, 2016

During the past week at Mashatu Game Reserve, I had the privilege of taking out yet another group of wildlife photographic enthusiast on the C4 Photo Vehicle. Included in the photo vehicle experience where a few mornings at the underground hides, which added a unique flare to the entire photo experi...

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Blog East Africa Travel update... January 20, 2021

Blog Beyond shutter speeds and... January 14, 2021

Blog Machaton Photo Workshop ... December 7, 2020

Blog Mashatu Game Reserve - A ... December 1, 2020