Safari experiences

If you're longing to capture that safari-defining moment on camera, why not get the expertise of someone who has made their home in the bush and spends their days doing just that? Book a day (or more) in the company of a specialist photographic guide and discover exactly what your camera is capable of. Remote, breathtaking and very photogenic, South Luangwa has become a sanctuary for wildlife including the Thornicroft's giraffe, which is only found here. Whatever the season, you'll learn the art of reading animal's movements, finding the perfect light and clicking just at the right moment. Photographing a leopard on the hunt and lying flat on the plains to snap a herd of elephant only metres away, it's all in a day...

If you've ever wondered whether you'd see a mammoth, we've found the closest thing. Legendary, impressive and rather photogenic, the 'Big Tuskers' of Amboselli are aptly named for their enormous tusks that weigh in at over 50kg and almost brush the ground as they walk. Enjoy a game drive with Mount Kilimanjaro as your backdrop in search of the elephants as they stroll across their domain. There are less than 30 of these soulful creatures left in the world and to see them in the wild and up-close...well there's nothing quite like it.

The day gets off to a wild and wonderful start at the 220-hectare Villiera Nature Sanctuary, where you’ll game drive amongst giraffe, zebra, springbok and other iconic African wildlife. An MCC (sparkling wine) tasting is up next, paired with a selection of handcrafted chocolates, which might help ease the nerves for your next activity: a meeting with the rare birds of Eagle Encounters, a rehabilitation and conservation centre, and a thrilling visit to a crocodile farm. There’s another wine tasting in there too – just in case!

While much of a Mozambique holiday is all about sea, sea, sea, take a safari detour to the Maputo Special Reserve. Helmed by your expertly-trained guide, you'll get a front row seat to the wild goings-on in this biodiversity hotspot - it's one of only 36 in the world. Along the way, you may see herds of antelope, incredible butterfly (over 433 species!) and birdlife and, of course, elephant. If you leave in the morning, enjoy a post-game drive picnic brunch overlooking Lake Hlunguti and its snorting hippo, or sundowners following an afternoon drive.

We don't doubt you've heard of the Great Wildebeest Migration, but what about Botswana's Zebra Migration? Leave your lodge at the hornbill's call to follow the hoof prints of these striped beauties as they walk the route carved out over thousands of years. On their circular pilgrimage from North to South, they make a pitstop on the sun-cracked Makgadikgadi Pans as the rains bring sweet green shoots for them to eat. Here, they remain from December until March, filling the arid pans with a flurry of activity for you to marvel at. And Makgadikgadi's vastness makes it easy to track and spot the zebra. The big cats follow hot on their heels, so be ready for some full-throttle predator versus prey!

Rise with the sunbirds to hop aboard a hot air balloon and watch breathtaking views appear in technicolour as dawn breaks over the Masai Mara. Let the early morning winds be your guide as you enjoy the pure magic of a safari from the air. You may be reluctant to blink and we don't blame you! As one of Kenya's most iconic wildlife treasures, the Mara reveals snoozing prides of lion amongst the acacias, elephants marching across the plains and hippos that bask in the river. If you're travelling between August and November, you may even see the Great Wildebeest Migration as it spills over the savannah. When you come back down to earth, toast the experience with champagne or enjoy a hearty breakfast in the bush before returning to camp.