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WILDLIFE BLOG
Wildlife: a video montage from August 2017
While guiding a camera-man last week, I took some video footage of my own....I hope you enjoy this short montage. This safari was based at Kafunta River Lodge where I run my Prime Luangwa Safari - a beautiful lodge, brilliantly run and we'll set-up for photographers.
Guest Report: Clive Ferreira, RSA | Zikomo Safari Lodge | 14 – 20 August 2017
Clive joined me on a safari organised by Africa Geographic Travel in mid-August and wrote to me afterwards, sending through some of his photos. I hope you enjoy! I had a good and instructive time and you certainly have a good eye and know the 1DX well. This was a huge unexpected bonus in addition to you knowing your territory so well and sharing with me your intimate knowledge of the Luangwa bush. I learnt a [...]
Photo Safari Skills: Composing with a Prime Lens
Prime lenses offer fast apertures, rugged design and the finest optics available; as a result, they've become the "go-to" lenses for professional photographers all over the world. However, there are drawbacks such as weight, and of course the fact that you can't adjust your composition by changing you zoom/focal length. I was watching some lions recently, and one of the youngsters was resting on the top of a bank. With my guests, I discussed how to [...]
Photo Safari Report: Clive & Sue Ferreira | Zikomo Safaris | 14 – 20 August 2016
I have just finished a safari with Clive & Sue Ferreira from South Africa who booked their safari with Africa Geographic Travel. They hoped for the great wildlife sightings and remote seclusion offered by the Nsefu Sector, and I believe that Luangwa delivered on both! Just before I start a new safari again tomorrow - this time with a cameraman shooting video rather than stills - here's a run-through of the highlights of this trip! Leaving [...]
Through the Lens: Back-lit Baboons
On a recent safari, my guests specifically asked if we could explore back-lighting and how to create interesting and dramatic shots with this technique. Fortunately, this is a concept that I love to explore, and we also had several opportunities to make it work. The best of these was with a troop of baboons which were playing and resting on the edge of a gully in the early morning. The light was directly against us, and [...]
Photo Safari Report: Double Luangwa | Zikomo Safaris & Luambe Camp | 4 – 12 August 2017
The Luangwa is well-known for its amazing wildlife, including large buffalo herds, healthy lion prides and reliable leopard sightings. However there are some parts of the Luangwa Valley that are lesser-explored, and it was to a couple of these areas that I took repeat-guest Sharon Verkuilen. She traveled with me last year, and returned bringing her mother for her first safari! I combined time in the legendary Nsefu Sector, with time in Luambe National Park. Luambe [...]
Photo Safari Report: Double Luangwa | Flatdogs Camp & Tafika | 24 – 30 July 2017
August is usually the busiest month of the safari calendar with many choosing to take time out to visit us. But before I start on back-to-back safaris, I wanted to write up an epic trip that I lead last week for Maria-Luisa, Miguel, Sebastian and Rosita, a lovely group of 4 from Chile. All four had travelled in Africa before, and were knowledgeable about safari and wildlife in general. (In fact, it was great hearing about [...]
Guest Report: Mike White, UK | Marula Lodge & Zikomo Safari Lodge | 15 – 22 July 2017
Mike has made two trips to the Luangwa in consecutive years....after doing a once-in-a-lifetime safari in Tanzania a few years ago! Luangwa has rewarded him with fun sightings and his good photographic eye has made the best of the opportunities. He sent me some of his photos and wrote a report of his trip. This was my second trip with Ed, following the one in 2016. Last year we saw some great sightings but I [...]
Photo Safari Skills: Photographing Carmine Bee-eaters
The season of Carmine bee-eater colonies will soon be upon us. There are already hundreds of bright red birds chirruping and hawking for insects along the Luangwa River, a sure sign that the identification of suitable nesting sites has started! Carmine bee-eaters need steep river banks for their nesting colonies. Ideally they will have water at the base - to prevent terrestrial predators approaching - and be steep enough to keep away predators attempting to climb [...]
Photo Safari Report: Mike White | Marula Lodge & Zikomo Safari Lodge | 15 – 22 July 2017
It's always a pleasure to have a repeat visitor on safari; not only is it great that someone enjoyed South Luangwa so much that they wish to return, but it's fun to pick up where you left off and continue exploring different areas and new photographic techniques! I welcomed Mike White - from the UK - back to Luangwa last week, where we stayed in two camps in different parts of the National Park. Mike is [...]
Tour Info: Why book a photographic guide for your safari?
The safari guides in South Luangwa are famed across the continent for their knowledge of the bush, their understanding of mammal behaviour, their ability to locate and identify hundreds of bird species and the skill with which they share this with their guests. This has given the Luangwa its well-deserved reputation as a wildlife hotspot to rival any other on the continent. Photographing zebra on a photo safari in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia. Booking [...]
Tour Info: Upcoming Photo-Tours in Nsefu Sector
Safari Season is upon us! I will be in the bush for all but about 7 nights of the next 4 months! While I will miss my family, I am so excited to be out in the wild doing what I love. For those who are joining me on safari, I am looking forward to getting started. My first trip is to the famous Nsefu Sector of the South Luangwa, known for its density of wildlife, [...]