Our Story
Who we are
Ourworkisdrivenbyadeeppassionandexpertiseinbothsafarisandphotography.Whenyoutravelwithus,youarewelcomedintoAfricaasintoourhome.
C4 Photo Safaris
A C4 safari is about revealing Africa to you – both in front of the lens, and behind it.
It is empathy, experience, and a genuine sense of wonder, all expressed through the medium we know best, photography. We approach our work with focus and intent, combining deep expertise with careful planning to ensure our safaris, often into remote regions, run seamlessly. With C4 and our team, you can expect meaningful moments shaped by an understanding of your needs and a commitment to delivering on them. It is this approach that has seen us recognised among the world’s leading photographic safari specialists.
This allows you to relax into the experience and simply enjoy each day, as you should. A natural sense of connection develops on safari, where guests and guides share in the rhythm of the field while every detail is quietly taken care of. It is perhaps why so many of our guests return year after year, drawn back by the experience as much as the destination.
Shem Compion
Since 2005
The Foundation
Curating distinctive photographic experiences and planning rare encounters in the natural world across Africa sits at the heart of what we do. Founded in 2005, C4 has remained focused on a clear purpose, to introduce our guests to remarkable species and scenes across the continent through the lens. Our reputation has been shaped by years of crafting carefully considered safaris, often involving complex logistics delivered with quiet precision.
This depth of experience, combined with an understanding of both the landscape and the expectations of our guests, allows each safari to unfold with intention and ease.
We apply the same principles to every safari we design, whether for dedicated photographers, families, film crews, or those seeking a highly tailored private experience.
Ourgoalissimple:Togetyouintothebestwildlifelocations,inthebestseasonwiththebestphotoguidessoyoucantakethebestphotos.It'sassimpleasthat.
C4 Photo Safaris
Our History
C4 Photo Safaris was founded in 2005 by two award-winning wildlife photographers, André Cloete and Shem Compion, with Isak Pretorius joining the team in 2012. United by a deep connection to nature and a shared life spent exploring Africa, they have guided guests across the continent and beyond, creating opportunities to photograph and experience the natural world with intention and depth.
As an independent safari company, C4 is not tied to any lodge group. This independence allows us to design each safari with complete freedom, shaping itineraries around our guests and the experiences we want to share. Each year, our owners and guides continue to travel, exploring new regions and refining existing ones, bringing back fresh insight and access to locations that remain off the familiar path.
This approach keeps every safari authentic, rooted in discovery and guided by firsthand experience.
If you are a photographer seeking a safari in Africa, we invite you to connect with us. We work with photographers of all levels, offering an environment built on sharing, learning, and thoughtful guidance. The majority of our guests return or arrive through recommendation, reflecting the trust built over time. Many choose private safaris, carefully curated and often led by one of our photo guides. Our team includes some of the most respected names in photography, ensuring each safari is supported by deep expertise, experience, and a genuine commitment to the craft.
C4 Photo Safaris
The C4 Guest Experience
We carefully select destinations that support exceptional photographic opportunities, from open vehicles with stable camera support to prime wildlife viewing during optimal seasons. Small groups and intimate lodges that understand the needs of photographers are central to creating an environment where meaningful images can be created with ease.
To protect your creative freedom, we partner with locations and lodges that are aligned with this approach. Over time, these relationships have developed into something deeper, allowing us to offer access, consistency, and experiences that translate into strong photographic outcomes for our guests.
If you are seeking iconic encounters and compelling images, we invite you to get in touch. You will quickly recognise the value of our team and the depth of experience behind crafting safaris across Africa.
Our scheduled safaris are offered in both CLASSIC and PREMIER formats. For a more tailored experience, our BESPOKE safaris are fully customised to your needs, accommodating individual travellers through to groups of up to 30 guests.
C4 Photo Safaris
Experts in Africa
Our photographers bring deep, field-tested experience across the ecosystems they guide in. When you travel with C4, you are led by a professional wildlife photographer who understands animal movement, reads the landscape, and anticipates where moments are most likely to unfold.
This insight translates into a refined and responsive approach to guiding, shaped by years of time in the field. Today, we operate safaris across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, Rwanda, Chad, Ethiopia, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Benin, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, and Madagascar.
Beyond Africa, we also curate expeditions to Svalbard, Antarctica, Brazil, and Argentina, extending the same level of care and photographic intent to each destination. Many of our guests return, with a strong majority choosing to travel with us again, often on small, highly customised safaris that reflect our commitment to detail and personalisation.
We plan both guided and independent safaris with the same thoughtful preparation, ensuring every journey is carefully considered from start to finish. C4 is fully insured and bonded by SATIB, allowing you to travel with confidence and peace of mind as you explore Africa and beyond.
C4 Photo Safaris
Beyond Our Photo Safaris
C4 Photo Safaris has grown to include a range of specialised offerings. In Botswana, the PhotoMashatu Hides create a distinctive photographic experience, from an underground hide that offers an intimate, ground-level perspective on wildlife, to a sleep-out hide with fully adjustable lighting for creative control into the night.
Alongside this, Nurture Africa Safaris is our family-focused travel company, designed to create meaningful experiences for families as well as photographers and adventure seekers. Across all that we do, our commitment remains constant, to deliver unique and enriching safaris for every guest who travels with us, guided by the passion that continues to drive us forward.
