Up-close photographic wildlife encounters and epic landscapes

For close-up shots of predators, especially leopard, Okonjima deserves to be high on the list for photography in Namibia. Allow at least two days to maximise your photographic chances, and do be aware that most of the big cats are collared.

The iconic dunes of the Namib Desert are a must for landscape photographers in Namibia. Kulala's private entrance into the Namib-Naukluft National Park means that visitors on a guided excursion can make the most of the morning light on the dunes.

A private vehicle and guide is relatively inexpensive at Lagoon Camp, allowing avid photographers in Botswana the ultimate flexibility in focus and pace of game drives.

For close-up shots of predators, especially leopard, Okonjima deserves to be high on the list for photography in Namibia. Allow at least two days to maximise your photographic chances, and do be aware that most of the big cats are collared.

The safari vehicles at Kwara have a roof-removal option, offering almost unobscured views and are ideal for a photographic safari in Botswana. Avid photographers can take a private vehicle/guide (at additional cost) for ultimate flexibility on activities.

With specialist hides for carmine bee-eaters, hippos, elephants and general wildlife, Kaingo is ideal for photography holidays in Zambia. Their vehicles have beanbags and dust covers, and the guides have been trained how to position vehicles with photographers in mind.

Around December, January and February – during the rains – the area around Bagatelle Kalahari Game Ranch is carpeted with beautiful yellow devils' thorn flowers. These bring colour and life to the Kalahari, further enhancing the stunning scenery for photographers visiting Namibia.

The photographic hide at Ongava Lodge overlooks a waterhole just in front of the lodge. Whether you are a budding photographer or just keen to get closer to the action it offers guests a unique perspective on Namibia’s wildlife.

Mwamba has two hides allowing you to get close to the wildlife, great for photography holidays in Zambia. In addition, all Mwamba's vehicles have clamp stabilisers, beanbags and camera dust covers – and their guides are acutely aware of what photographers want.

With its setting among smooth granite kopjies, landscape photographers will be in their element at Mowani. The views are spectacular, too, especially from the sundowner spot, which is stunning at all times, not just at sunset.

The dunes at Sossusvlei are perhaps Namibia's most iconic and most photographed attraction. Sossus Dune Lodge is the only lodge whose guests are allowed access outside the usual opening times, making it an ideal stop for keen photographers in Namibia.

For a photographic safari in Namibia, Desert Rhino Camp offers exceptional opportunities to capture the black rhino that wander this semi-desert region, along with other desert adapted wildlife, while the dramatic scenery of the ancient Etendeka lava flows make for great landscape photography.

Onguma’s water-level hide affords guests unique perspectives of the reserve's wildlife and the chance to calmly sit and unobtrusively enjoy nature. Enjoy a few hours at this well equipped hide as an activity from Onguma Tented Camp.

With four people per vehicle as standard, Shinde is ideal for both budding and more experienced photographers on safari in Botswana. Private vehicles are also available at an additional cost.

With keen photographer Paul Goldstein a major shareholder and frequent visitor to the camp, Kicheche is well geared to photographers. The guides are very good at using light in their positioning, and the vehicles have bean bags, tables to rest on, and bars to attach lenses.

Chiawa's open-topped 4WD vehicles are ideal for a photography safari in Zambia, while boating, canoeing and three hides give different perspectives on the wildlife. Then there are the camp’s excellent guides, plus the stunning backdrop scenery of the escarpment behind camp.

With its own waterhole in from of camp and access to the reserve's water-level hide Onguma Bush Camp is a fantastic stop for photographers visiting Namibia. Amateur and professional photographers alike love the angles from the equipped hide.

With a guiding team led by Dave Carson, one of the country’s leading professional guide examiners, Camp Hwange’s guiding team is one of the best. This makes it a fantastic option on a photographic safari to Zimbabwe.

The Namib feral (wild) horses, high yellow grass and mountain backdrop around Eagle’s Nest make for stunning photos. It is also a convenient base for visiting the ghost town of Kolmanskop, a must see on your photographic holiday to Namibia.

Sand Rivers is an excellent lodge to include on a photographic safari in southern Tanzania. The photographic platform overlooks a marshy area which is frequented by large numbers of animals, from playful elephants to herds of giraffe.

Fish River Lodge’s catch phrase, “on the edge of eternity”, alludes to its spectacular location on the rim of Africa’s largest canyon. With such a natural wonder literally on its doorstep this is truly one of the most photogenic locations in Namibia.

The Namib Desert and Sossusvlei are a dream for photographers in Namibia: huge apricot dunes with knife-edge ridges beneath blue sky. Little Kulala stands in the desert with breathtaking views: camelthorn trees in front of its main area, and mountains and dunes in the distance.

Part-owned by renowned film-makers and photographers Dereck and Beverly Joubert, Selinda Camp is a great spot for photography in Botswana. The guides position vehicles to find the best angles and light, some will even give a little instruction if asked.

Ikuka is an excellent choice for keen photographers in Tanzania. Owner and guide Mark Sheridan-Johnson is an accomplished photographer and is more than willing to share his skills and experience with guests.

Dunia can arrange the hire of a specialist photographic vehicle. This features three swivel seats for full view and minimal disruption, as well drop-down sides to allow photographers to lie down and get low-angle photographs.

The safari vehicles used by DumaTau are open-sided, which is handy for wildlife photography. With a maximum of six guests per vehicle, all guests have a 'window' seat for a clearer view and the guides are usually adept at positioning the vehicle.

Naboisho’s photographic vehicle boasts rotating chairs and drop sides, and top-quality guides position it to get the perfect shot. The camp’s location in a game-rich, private area offers access to wonderful landscapes and wildlife without the crowds.

On a photographic holiday to Namibia the feral horses of the Namib and the deserted ghost town of Kolmanskop are certain to be highlights. Desert Horse Inn makes a great base to take in both these attractions.

With the diversity of activities in camp, and varied wildlife and environments, plus a dedicated photo-editing suite, Shinde Footsteps is a brilliant option for a safari with a focus on photography in Botswana’s Okavango Delta.

To include chimpanzees in a photographic holiday in Tanzania, come to Mahale: probably Africa's best location for photographing wild chimps. The scenery is spectacular: a white sand beach separating the blue lake from the tropical, forested mountains.

The guiding team at Vundu Camp, headed by owner Nick Murray, is one of the best in Zimbabwe. The opportunity to canoe the Zambezi, approach big game on foot and explore Mana Pools with an expert gives photographers a huge range of potential subjects.

There is a specialist photographic vehicle based at Namiri Plains with drop-down sides to allow photographers to lie down and get low-angle photographs and just the three swivel seats for full view and minimal disruption.

For a unique perspectives of the Onguma reserve's wildlife and the opportunity to calmly sit and unobtrusively enjoy nature. Enjoy a few hours at this well equipped hide as an activity from Onguma Camp Kala.

Photographers wanting to calmly sit and unobtrusively watch nature will enjoy the equipped water level hide on the Onguma Reserve. Spend a few hours at the hide as an activity from Onguma The Fort.

With scenery ranging from rugged mountains to rolling sand dunes and the Skeleton Coast, Hoanib Camp offers a spectacular opportunity for landscape photographers in Namibia.

Safarihoek Lodge boasts a spectacular split-level hide overlooking a pumped waterhole. Designed by a Namibian photographer in conjunction with the lodge, it allows for superb close-up photography of the reserve's animals and birdlife.

Vumbura Plains is located on Botswana’s Kwedi Concession. The range of environments here are not only attractive in their own right but also draw large numbers of wildlife and birdlife. All this makes Vumbura a fantastic stop for photographers.

The Kgalagadi offers the opportunity to photograph a good number of animals that wander this fossil desert region including lion, cheetah and the endearing meerkat. There is also the potential for some pretty good landscape photography.

The Hide makes a perfect stop on a photography holiday to Zimbabwe. Of its two photographic hides, one is accessed via an underground tunnel from the heart of the camp, so at any time of day guests can get up close with wildlife that comes to drink from the waterhole.

Giraffe Manor is a wonderful place to get close-up photos of giraffes. It also makes a very appropriate venue for photographing special occcasions. If you prefer to have this done by a professional photographer, Giraffe Manor can lay on a photo shoot at extra cost.

Laikipia Wilderness has been a consistent draw for keen wildlife photographers since it opened, with sightings of wild dogs frequent, and periodically reliable. Similarly, the appearance of black leopards near the camp has provided excitement and challenge for photographers.

Namibia abounds with otherworldly environments but the often Martian like landscapes around Serra Cafema are some of the most remote and photographic in Southern Africa.

The desert and dunes surrounding Sossusvlei Lodge are superb landscapes for photography in Namibia. For guests at the lodge it is relatively easy to make two trips into the dunes on one day: one for the early-morning light, and another to catch the late-afternoon sun.

Hwange Bush Camp focuses on excellent guiding and walking, both of which make a wonderful camp for photographers. Exploring on foot allows without the noise of an engine allows guests to see the little things they might miss from a vehicle.

Sited by a broad marsh, Little Governors’ has a great backdrop for wildlife shots in camp, especially elephants and hippos, while spacious vehicles and experienced guides allow for great opportunities to get up close and personal with your subjects.

Near the confluence of the Mara and Talek rivers, Rekero is in the heart of the Mara reserve – ideally located to capture the migration. The standard of guiding is superb and a specialised photographic vehicle is also available to book.

Two guides at Savuti (Grant and Kani) are both highly talented photographers in their own right (they were featured in the December / January 2010/11 issue of National Geographic). For keen photographers, being guided by two experts will be a real draw to Savuti.

The Opstal offers the choice between great-value and more elegant accommodation – in any case a lovely base for photography trips in South Africa’s De Hoop Reserve. Come for a wide range of scenic environments, fantastic birdlife and good numbers of game.

Nyungwe House is in a beautiful location, nestled within a tea plantation and overlooking the forest there are ample photographic opportunities here. You can trek the chimpanzees and colobus monkeys, while back a the lodge the resident bird guides can take you on forest walks.

Built up in the trees with long walkways from the main area to the rooms it isn't uncommon fro wildlife, particularly elephants to pass under Nambwa. This offers photographers an unique perspective for some unusual shots.

Andersson’s at Ongava has a one-of-a-kind sunken hide overlooking their waterhole. Accessed via a tunnel from the lodge this offers photographers in Namibia a unique perspective on some of the country’s most endangered species, and more besides.

The dunes at Sossusvlei are perhaps Namibia's most iconic and most photographed attraction. Death Valley Lodge is one of only two lodges whose guests are allowed access outside the usual opening times, making it an ideal stop for keen photographers in Namibia.

Co-owned by wildlife filmmakers and photographers Dereck and Beverly Joubert, Zarafa is one of the best camps for photographers in Botswana. A number of Canon 5D cameras are available for guests’ use and the guides are great at positioning for pictures.

Ruckomechi Camp has some excellent game and a particularly scenic backdrop, so is ideal for photography in Zimbabwe. The elephants are very relaxed, and boat trips give good opportunities for photographing water birds, river life and close-ups of big game on the islands.

For a private guide and great, close-up shots of some of Namibia’s most endangered species – especially leopard – Okonjima Villa should be high on the list for keen photographers in Namibia. Note that many individuals will be radio collared for research purposes.

Standing high above the Boteti River, Meno A Kwena has a cool and well-situated hide which makes a good spot for keen photographers to take unobtrusive pictures of busy wildlife scenes.

Set high above the Mara River, Serian offers spectacular views. Private vehicles and guides offer complete flexibility and bush walks are available for those hoping to photograph their surroundings from a new perspective.

Mara Plains is great for serious photographers: Canon cameras and 400mm lens are available to borrow, while the vehicles are ideally set up and there’s a keen photographer if advice is needed. The camp can burn images to CD, but it's best to bring your own storage devices.

With its broad range of activities, Hoanib Valley Camp offers photographers in Namibia an unusual diversity of subjects, from spectacular scenery to desert-adapted wildlife and traditional cultures. The opportunity to capture photos of the elusive desert lion is perhaps the biggest draw.

The game densities, varied birdlife, fertile soils and classic Delta environments make Mombo an excellent place for photographers. Private vehicles are also available (at additional cost) allowing complete flexibility on where and when you want to go.

Governors Camp has a resident photographer on site, and with advance notice you can pre-book him for a special photo shoot or perhaps a photography lesson. Lenses are also available to hire. The guides can also advise you on photography and know how to position the vehicles for the best shots.

There's lots of wildlife around Satao Camp offering plenty of quirky photo opportunities. On our last visit this included a fairly relaxed bull giraffe, hippos after dark, a genet over the bar, insect life and numerous birds, including feed-from-your-hand hornbills.

The desolate landscapes, eerie shipwrecks and windswept beaches of Namibia’s Skeleton Coast National Park are worthy photographic subjects in their own right. Combined these with the modern and stylish Shipwreck Lodge and it becomes a photographer’s dream destination.

Musango’s owner and head guide, Steve Edwards, is a keen photographer. Combine his many years’ experience with subjects including Kariba’s eerie “fossilised” trees, prolific birdlife and larger wildlife, for a great stop on a photographic trip around Zimbabwe.

In a quiet corner of the Sikumbi Forest Reserve, Bomani Tented Lodge has its own private gate into Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park. Overlooking a pumped waterhole, the lodge has an attractive outlook but the real draw is access to several photographic hides in the park.

Ibo Island is very good choice if you're a keen photographer. The island is very traditional, and there's a range of subjects from people and dhows, to architecture and ruins, not to mention the usual birds, sunsets and 'tropical island'-type shots.

There are few other vehicles in the area, making the experience exclusive and very personal. The Porini Lion Camp Land Cruisers have a number of helpful modifications for photographers, including adept driver/guides and plug sockets.

Guests enjoy autonomy with a private vehicle and guide. You can pause to wait for the perfect angle or visit your favourite viewpoint. Open Land Cruisers offer fantastic visibility while the location provides brilliant wildlife and migration access.

The opportunity to take close-up shots of big cats, especially leopard, are maximised at Okonjima, where the Bush Suite offers a high level of flexibility. Do note, though, that many of the cats are radio-collared.

The NamibRand Nature Reserve is one of Africa's largest private sanctuaries. The diverse landscapes, from huge red sand dunes to vegetated inter-dune valleys, gravel plains and imposing mountains makes for spectacular photography in Namibia.

Gonarezhou National Park is perhaps Zimbabwe's most varied national park. The range of landscapes, wildlife and birdlife make it a photographers dream and a top guide from Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge only makes it better.

Bisate has a scenic setting with wonderful views over Mount Bisoke and the surrounding volcanoes. Small antelopes and numerous species of birds can be seen from the nature trail and the golden evening light can produce wonderful photos.

Little Vundu's guiding team, headed by owner Nick Murray, is one of the best in Zimbabwe. Canoeing the Zambezi, approaching wildlife on foot and exploring Mana with one of Nick's guides gets photographers up close and personal with their subjects.

A resident photographer at River Bend Lodge in South Africa offers free courses, from basic introductions to editing and manipulation. He also assists guests to choose the right lens, settings, composition and positioning on game drives.

Located in the north of Akagera National Park, Magashi is in a great area for wildlife. Join the resident guides to photograph lions and giraffe on the open plains and keep an eye out for leopards around the lodge. This is also a good location to try and spot the elusive shoebill stork.

An eye-level hide is the perfect way to capture a unique perspective on animals and birds without altering their behaviour. Kavinga, the only camp in Mana with such a hide, is a fantastic option for keen photographers visiting Zimbabwe.

For guests looking to get shots of elephants on a photographic safari in Zimbabwe, Camelthorn's “look up hide” gives great angles for up-close and personal photographic opportunities.

Leleshwa guides know how to position a vehicle to get you the best shots. For birders, the riverbank location is particularly rewarding in terms of subject framing, as you can spot birds on branches opposite comfortable spots for setting up with a camera.

Mara Expedition has two Canon 50D cameras that guests are invited to use. This is with a wide-angle and 100–400mm lens – fun for budding photographers to experiment with. The camp managers also have a good understanding of photography and so can offer up advice and tips.

Sitting on your deck with a camera at Basecamp Maasai Mara is always rewarding. Birds and monkeys often fill the trees near the tents, and there are areas in camp where you can get uninterrupted views across the Talek River to the herds of game in the reserve.

Mara Nyika equips each guest tent with a Canon camera, including 100-400mm and 24-70mm lenses for complimentary use. Your images will be downloaded onto a memory stick for you to take away with you at departure.

Shimba Lodge is a delight for photographers. Night or day, just set up somewhere with a tripod and start shooting: there is always something fascinating to watch around the very large waterhole, in the trees on the other side of it, or in and around the lodge itself.

The nature of the fly-in safari lends beautifully to photography. You can get birds eye views of some truly dramatic landscapes from the air and, when on the ground you can photograph geological features, fauna and flora, such as the Welwitschia Mirabalis around Kuidas Camp.

Aerial photography of the ever changing landscapes is very good when travelling by light aircraft on a fly-in safari. Around Kunene River Camp you also have a large diversity of birds, animals and geology.

Fly-in safaris lend beautifully to photography. Views of the varied landscapes are stunning from the air at ground level you will usually get the opportunity to photograph the desert-adapted elephant near Leylandsdrift Camp and the Himba people in the settlement close by.

The majority of guests come to Kwitonda to trek, and photograph, the mountain gorillas. As such the lodge has dedicated photography room with a number of computers and photography software for guests to edit and enhance their photos.

Lake Natron's scenery is stark and spectacular. Photograph it around dawn and dusk when the light on the surrounding hills, especially Oldoinyo Lengai volcano, is breathtaking. The lake is often home to flamingos and some of the local Maasai welcome visitors.

The scenery here is spectacular; volcanic mountains shoot straight up from flat plains, whilst in the middle glistens Lake Natron. Get up early for some fantastic shots. Also a great location for photographing traditional Maasai, though expect to pay for the privilege.

The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille is a great location for keen photographers. Combining wildlife, adventure and cultural activities, the range of subjects is wide, and that's before you take account of the wonderful landscapes in the area. And the fact that all stays here are private, means you will never have to compromise over your photography time - except with other members of your own party!

Ishara is one of the few safari camps to boast it's own photography studio. There are high end Cannon cameras and lenses for guests to use, while the resident photography guides can join you on game drives, providing tuition and editing advice. Professional safari photoshoots can also be arranged.