“Make the most out of your camera in Zambia”
7 Day Explore Unique Photographic Styles with the Best Wildlife Safari in South Luangwa
Track & Trail River Camp, South Luangwa National Park, Luangwa, Zambia
Photo Safari in Zambia
Join Peter Geraerdts, professional wildlife photographer and safari guide, in a photographic workshop to improve your wildlife photography skills. Peter will be personally guiding all the safaris. Photographers of all levels are welcome, from absolute beginners to seasoned professionals. Most time will be spent outdoors (in their classroom) exploring the incredible South Luangwa National Park with opportunities to review and discuss images once back in camp.
Key information
- Group and private safari possible, rates will vary depending on this.
- Maximum 6 people in a safari vehicle to afford the best viewing and comfort
- Children policy: Children from the age of 12 years are allowed to participate under the supervision of a parent or guardian.
- Languages: English, Dutch, and Spanish
- Park entry fees are not included (30 USD per person per day, payable at the check-out)
Meet the guides
Peter
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Highlights
- Amazing photographic game drives
- Explore South Luangwa National Park
- Spot leopards, hippos, giraffes, elephants, lions, buffaloes, and more
- 4×4 open-sided safari vehicles are customized specifically for the photographer
- Guided by Peter Geraerdts, wildlife photographer and professional guide
- Transfers from and to Mfuwe Airport (MFU)
- 6 nights accommodation
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Styles
7 activity days in English
The organizer also speaks: Dutch, Spanish
Group size: Maximum of 6 participants
Airport transfer included:
Mfuwe Airport
Accommodation
Facilities
- Gym
- Spa
- Swimming pool (outdoor)
- Bar
- Barbeque facilities
- Environmentally friendly
- Fireplace
- Kitchen
- Lounge
- Restaurant
- Internet access
- Laundry
- Library
- Medical assistance
- Parking lot
- Outdoor shower
During this safari, you will stay either in a private or shared room at the Track & Trail River Camp in South Luangwa. Track & Trail Camp is a privately owned lodge situated on the picturesque banks of the Luangwa River overlooking the South Luangwa National Park. The camp affords all the necessities and comforts one would require, situated in an untouched wilderness.
The Track & Trail River Camp is only five minutes from the main entrance of the South Luangwa National Park and has a three-star rating. The camp is unfenced so wild animals can roam freely and it's also known for its excellent leopard photography. Accommodation is provided in chalets scattered around the banks of the river.
The standard facilities include coffee and tea making facilities, a fan and electricity, an en-suite bathroom, mosquito nets, an in-room safe, and a veranda. Among services, chalets include laundry services. The rooms are spacious and they also have a sitting area.
Also, the camp has a massage area for in-between safaris. Local traditions of hospitality are combined with modern comforts such as an elevated swimming pool with unrevealed river views, an open air gym, a spa, a restaurant offering international dishes, and a "Lime tree" bar.
Program
Join Peter Geraerdts, a professional wildlife photographer and safari guide, in a photographic workshop to improve your wildlife photography skills. Peter will be personally guiding all the safaris. Photographers of all levels are welcome, from absolute beginners to seasoned professionals.
Most time will be spent outdoors (your classroom) exploring the incredible South Luangwa National Park with opportunities to review and discuss images once back in camp.
Individual or small-group travelers are both welcome to book a private safari. This personal approach results in the best possible opportunity of improving your wildlife photography skills and spend as much time as possible on your favorite subject.
On this safari, you will make use of a customized and fully equipped photographic safari vehicle. A maximum of six people are accommodated on the game drive vehicle, to ensure all participants have ‘window’ seats. The game viewer is completely open, allowing you to have a 360-degree view for capturing images.
The workshop aims to bring together like-minded people who enjoy both nature and photography. Bringing a partner or close friend along will add shared value to your journey as you explore one of Africa’s most exciting and fragile environments: South Luangwa. This park has one of the largest concentrations of wildlife and birdlife to be found anywhere in the world. Dramatically changing seasons add to the richness and diversity of the park and the picturesque landscapes range from dry bare bush veld in the winter to a green wonderland in the summer months.
During this safari, you will enjoy two photographic game drives of four hours each to capture the beauty of Zambia. On day one, you will arrive at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) and then take a connecting flight to Mfuwe Airport (MFU). You will be picked up from this airport and then you will be transferred to the Track & Trail River Camp in a forty-five-minute drive.
The animals in the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia certainly aren’t exhibits created for your entertainment, they are born wild and free. For photographers and tourists, this means you are on their turf. As a result, there are no fences. Hippos, giraffes, and elephants are well known to regularly investigate the safari lodges and camps just outside the park boundary.
If you are a photographer in pursuit of that one special shot, you will surely find your dream just became reality when South Luangwa delivers its wild surprises like completely unperturbed elephants even walking alongside the road often in groups. While in camp, you may also be blessed with a visit to local hippos or giraffes.
Sample schedule
- 05:00 Wake-up call and light breakfast at the restaurant
- 05:45 Drive to the main gate of the National Park to register for park fees
- 06:00 Photographic safari in a private vehicle with a guide
- 10:00 Return to the lodge for a break
- 11:30 Brunch
- 12:30 Free time
- 15:00 Tea and coffee time and snack and briefing about the afternoon program
- 15:30 Start the late afternoon and evening safari
- 18:00 Sundowners at a scenic spot in the park
- 18:30 Spotter will take the passenger front seat with a spotlight to search for nocturnal animals
- 19:30 Return to camp
- 20:00 Three-course dinner will be served
- 21:00 Free time
Guides
Peter Geraerdts
Peter Geraerdts is a professional safari guide and wildlife photographer in Zambia. Peter started photography when he got introduced to the beauty of the African bush, about 15 years ago. He is currently running his own safari lodge in South Luangwa, the Track and Trail River Camp, specialized in private photographic safaris. Peter can provide the private use of a customized, specialized and fully-equipped photographic game viewer, with bean bag support systems, to help you attain those magical photographs you have always dreamed of having.
Location
This safari will be held at South Luangwa in Zambia. South Luangwa has earned a reputation as one of the finest natural wilderness areas in the world. A large part of this reputation is due to the wealth of opportunities to see the rarely viewed leopard. This is why the South Luangwa National Park has been nicknamed “The Valley of the Leopard.”
South Luangwa National Park
South Luangwa is one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world with 9,050 square kilometers. The park offers a unique type of habitat with dense woodland, oxbow pools, and open grassy plains. This beautiful environment is host to a wide variety of animals and birds.
The South Luangwa National Park was founded in 1938 as a game reserve for hunters. Then, in 1972, it was declared a national park. Now, an entire ecosystem of leopards, lions, elephants, hippopotamuses, giraffes, buffalo, and a huge array of birds fills the 9,000 kilometers of free range with unrestrained wild living.
Wildlife
Common animals sighted all year round at the Track & Trail River Camp are elephants, giraffes, hippos, and crocodiles. Within the South Luangwa National Park, lions, leopards, and hyenas are regularly sighted. Buffalos are abundant and wild dogs are not uncommon. The best months to visit for good game viewing are from May to December. However, from January to March all animals are also frequently seen.
Birdlife
The South Luangwa National Park has over 400 different bird species. This number includes 39 birds of prey and 47 migrant species. For this reason, there is plenty of species all year long for any birdwatcher to admire whatever the season.
Distances
- Mfuwe Airport (MFU) - 45 minutes
- South Lungwa National Park - 5 minutes
Food
During this safari, you will be served daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dining options are designed to make your stay diverse, exciting, and slightly adventurous. The chef and his team will produce a combination of international and pan-African style dishes and variable specialties depending on ingredients available. The meals will also feature fusion cuisine.
If you want to challenge your own cooking abilities, you may ask for your own table barbecue. Then, select and prepare your food just the way you like it.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
Things to do (optional)
During your free time, you may check the venue's schedule and join some other activities for an additional cost. If you are tired and wish to relax, you may book a massage at the spa for an additional cost, relax by the pool, or sit at the restaurant and enjoy the view.
Cultural village tour
What is a Zambia safari without getting to know the local people and discovering their traditions and culture? On this tour, you will be taken to the Kawaza village where the friendly Kunda people will welcome you to share their traditional way of life with you. During your three-hour visit, you can experience daily life in the village.
On this tour, you may also take part in activities like pounding maize or brewing Kachasu, the local beer. You may visit a school and interact with the students and visit the traditional healer. The traditional healer inherits healing powers from generation to generation and knows everything about natural medicine, which is still used by the local people.
Also, the Kunda people will prepare lunch and invite you to eat their traditional dishes together. Afterward, they will show you their traditional dances and tell you old exciting Kunda stories. What better way than to get in touch with the local people and be part of daily life to understand the essence of a safari?
Game drives
At the Track & Trail River Camp you can join a morning or a night drive. The safaris are conducted in open safari vehicles to fully experience the surroundings. The game drives are taken by professional and knowledgeable guides that will tell you all about the fascinating flora, fauna, and birdlife of the Luangwa valley.
Private special interest safaris
There's no better way to explore the Luangwa Valley at your own pace than a private safari. If you have specific interests that you would like to focus on without being disturbed by the daily routine of the normal program, you may do it by using the vehicles and being led by the Track & Trail River Camp guides.
Whether you are an enthusiastic birder or a keen photographer, with this option, you may take all the time you want to enjoy specific wildlife sightings. Your private safari will be a memorable experience of undisturbed wildlife viewing only surrounded by the sights and sounds of the bush.
Walking safaris
The Luangwa Valley is one of the few places in Africa where it is possible to do a walking safari. The safari guide and armed national park scout will bring you to direct contact with all the park has to offer. You will not only see the African ecosystem, but you will also smell, feel, touch, and hear the African wilderness. A walking safari is a perfect opportunity to experience that up close and personal feeling.
Spa treatments
Enjoy a massage after a safari experience at the ‘Bush house’. The perfect end - or beginning - to a perfect day. Your safari experience is not complete without a signature treatment to relax the body.
What's included
- 2 daily photographic game drives on full days
- 6 nights accommodation
- 3 daily meals
- 16% VAT
- Laundry services
- Coffee, tea and bottled water
- Transfers from the Mfuwe Airport (MFU)
- Transportation in the camp in a private vehicle
What's not included
- Additional activities
- Additional game drives
- Additional transportation
- Airfare
- Conservation fees (5 USD per person per day)
- Drinks from the bar
- Massages or other treatments
- Personal expenses
- Park entry fees (20 USD per person per day for SADC countries and 25 USD per day for internationals)
How to get there
Recommended Airports
MFU
Mfuwe Airport
23 km
Transfer included
Airport: Mfuwe Airport
Airport transfer included: Mfuwe Airport
No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 25% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookAllSafaris.com. All major credit cards supported.
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