A year in the making
Some journeys begin the moment you step onto African soil. Others begin long before that, with months of planning, countless conversations, and the growing anticipation of an adventure that has lived in your imagination for over a year.
This was one of those journeys.
Our 16 day privately guided photographic safari through Southern Africa had been more than twelve months in the making. Together with our guests, Jim and Rhonda, we carefully crafted an itinerary that would showcase some of the continent’s most iconic wilderness areas. From the legendary MalaMala Game Reserve in South Africa, to the wildlife rich waters of the Chobe River, the remote floodplains of Linyanti, and finally the breathtaking Okavango Delta, each destination would offer something entirely unique.
The excitement reached its peak as we met at OR Tambo International Airport for the first leg of our adventure. There is always something special about that first meeting before a safari. The anticipation, the conversations about what lies ahead, and the shared excitement of finally beginning a journey that has been months, if not years, in the making. As we boarded our flight to MalaMala, we all had high expectations, but none of us could have imagined just how extraordinary the next sixteen days would become.
MalaMala – Setting the Standard
If there is one place that consistently delivers unforgettable wildlife encounters, it is MalaMala. Sharing an unfenced boundary with the Kruger National Park and renowned worldwide for its exceptional game viewing, it proved to be the perfect place to begin our safari.
Over the next four days we experienced some of the finest wildlife viewing and photographic opportunities Africa has to offer. Jim and Rhonda captured remarkable images, but perhaps even more importantly, they experienced moments that simply cannot be measured by photographs alone. These are the encounters that stay with you forever.
One of the greatest advantages of a privately guided safari is the freedom it provides. There are no fixed schedules, no pressure to return to camp because others are waiting, and no compromises. It is simply you, your guide, and the African bush.
That freedom allowed us to spend long days in the field, often leaving camp before sunrise and only returning around 2:00 pm after patiently waiting for wildlife behaviour to unfold. After a quick lunch and a short break, we would head straight back out again for the afternoon drive. Those long days are demanding, but they are also where the magic happens.
Patience was rewarded time and again.
In just four days we encountered seven different leopards, each with its own story to tell. We watched incredible lion interactions, spent unforgettable time with African wild dogs, and witnessed behaviour that photographers can only dream of. Three leopards sharing a tree. Lionesses moving through the grass with playful cubs scattered around them. Quiet moments, dramatic moments, and everything in between.
These weren’t simply sightings; they were experiences. The kind that remind you why Africa captures the hearts of so many people.
By the time we left MalaMala, we already knew this safari was going to be something truly special. It had set the standard in every possible way, and yet we still had three incredible destinations waiting ahead.
Chobe River – A Different Perspective
Our next stop took us across the border into Botswana, where we spent three unforgettable nights at Pangolin Chobe Hotel. After the predator filled days of MalaMala, Chobe offered a completely different photographic experience. This is why we love combining destinations on our private safaris. Every location brings something unique.
Once again, travelling privately made all the difference. With our own dedicated photographic boat and guide, we had the freedom to spend as much time as we wanted at a sighting, reposition for the perfect angle, and let moments unfold naturally without ever feeling rushed.
The Chobe River is famous for its incredible birdlife, hippos and, of course, its vast elephant herds. One of the most iconic images photographers hope to capture is elephants crossing the river. We were hoping for one memorable crossing.
Instead, we witnessed five.
Watching these giants swim across the Chobe River, trunks raised above the water, was nothing short of spectacular, and each crossing offered a different photographic opportunity.
Hippos kept us entertained throughout our stay, from dramatic yawns to playful interactions, while colourful kingfishers, fish eagles and countless birds in flight ensured there was always something happening around us.
One photograph had been on our wish list long before the safari began: an elephant silhouetted against a glowing African sunset. Thankfully, Chobe delivered, giving us one of those magical moments where perfect light, perfect timing and a magnificent subject came together.
By the time we left the Chobe River, our memory cards were filling up quickly, but more importantly, so were the memories. With Linyanti Bush Camp next on the itinerary, we were excited to discover what the next chapter of our Southern African adventure would bring.
Linyanti – Into the Wild
Our next stop took us deeper into Botswana, where we spent four nights at Linyanti Bush Camp. The change in scenery was immediate. Gone were the bushveld of MalaMala and the waterways of Chobe. Instead, we found ourselves surrounded by remote floodplains, marshes and ancient Mopane woodlands, offering our first real glimpse into the pristine ecosystems that lead towards the Okavango Delta.
Coming into Linyanti, we had two main photographic goals: African wild dogs and buffalo. Of course, Africa always has its own plans, and along the way we enjoyed fantastic lion sightings and even a beautiful leopard on our final afternoon.
Our search for the wild dogs began on our very first morning. Reports of a den deep within the concession meant a long drive, but the adventure was well worth it. When we arrived, a single adult rested quietly just metres from the den entrance. There was no sign of the pups, but only ten minutes later the female stood up, walked to the entrance and, one by one, ten tiny pups, no more than four to six weeks old, emerged into the morning light. It was one of those unforgettable wildlife moments that leaves everyone speechless.
Buffalo were our second priority, and I had a very specific image in mind that I hoped Jim and Rhonda would be able to capture. Just outside camp, the mopane woodlands had become incredibly dusty during the dry season. One morning, we noticed a cloud of dust drifting through the trees. We knew exactly what it meant.
As the rising sun filtered through the woodland, a herd of nearly 200 buffalo emerged from the haze. The light, the dust and the sheer scale of the herd created one of the most dramatic scenes of the entire safari. It was the kind of photograph you imagine long before a trip begins but can never guarantee. This time, everything came together perfectly.
Linyanti reminded us that some of Africa’s greatest moments aren’t always about the predators. Sometimes it’s the atmosphere, the light and the raw beauty of the wilderness that create the photographs you’ll never forget.
Okavango Delta – A Dream Fifty Years in the Making
Our final destination was the one Jim had dreamed of for more than fifty years. After everything we had experienced over the previous two weeks, the excitement for the Okavango Delta was unlike anything else.
A short 35 minute flight brought us to Khwai in the eastern Delta. Thanks to exceptional rainfall the previous year, the Delta had experienced record water levels. Fortunately, our timing couldn’t have been better. The floodwaters had receded just enough to allow us to explore areas that had been inaccessible only weeks before. We still found ourselves stuck once and helping recover other vehicles twice, but that’s all part of the Delta experience.
Our first glimpse of this incredible ecosystem came just moments after leaving the airstrip. Crossing a low level bridge, we found a bull elephant feeding quietly in the crystal clear shallows. It was the perfect welcome, but little did Jim and Rhonda know that the best was still to come.
A short boat transfer to Lediba Camp completed our arrival, immersing us completely in the Delta. As we glided through the channels, the emotion of finally being there became overwhelming. Seeing tears of joy in our guests’ eyes reminded us that this journey had become so much more than just another safari.
The game viewing lived up to every expectation. A pride of lions with cubs greeted us on our very first afternoon and kept us entertained over the following days. But it was the leopards that stole the show. After narrowly missing a young male one morning, we were rewarded with unforgettable sightings of the beautiful Seronga female and her sub adult cub, providing some of our favourite photographic moments of the entire safari.
Of course, no visit to the Okavango is complete without experiencing it from the water. Two boat safaris revealed another side of this remarkable wilderness, with elephants crossing flooded channels, hippos filling the waterways, crocodiles basking on the banks and spectacular birdlife around every corner.
To end our time in the Delta, we climbed into traditional mokoros and drifted silently through the shallow channels. It was the perfect way to slow down and absorb everything around us. Tiny painted reed frogs clung to papyrus stems while elephants fed quietly in the distance, reminding us that some of Africa’s greatest moments are found not in the excitement, but in the silence.
As we reflected on sixteen unforgettable days together, one thing became clear. Every destination had offered something completely different, yet each had built upon the last. From the predator rich plains of MalaMala to the wildlife spectacle of Chobe, the wild floodplains of Linyanti and finally the magic of the Okavango Delta, this wasn’t simply a photographic safari. It was a journey through some of the finest wilderness areas left on Earth, shared with wonderful guests who left as friends and with memories that will last a lifetime. Jim and Rhona we thank you – see you on our next adventure in 2028. and it is going to be even better…
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