Photo tours in Africa

A photo tour in Africa follows the basic principle of a classic round trip: you travel from place to place and stop at sights along the way or take part in various activities in nature.

The key difference: photo tours are entirely focused on photography. This means we plan all activities around the best light – sunrise, golden hours and sunset.

You spend significantly more time at each subject to photograph it thoroughly, rather than just stopping by briefly.

The choice of accommodation is also guided above all by the needs of photographers. This refers not only to a reliable power supply but above all to the location of the accommodation, for example at an illuminated waterhole.

On our photo safaris, you are accompanied by two guides together: the tour guide drives the vehicle and navigates the route, while the photo guide shows you targeted tips, tricks and the best angles. A team combining local knowledge and photographic expertise.

Scheduled photo safaris with Elefant-Tours take place in Namibia and Botswana. Both countries are among the most impressive destinations for photo tours in Africa and offer the best conditions for exceptional wildlife sightings, atmospheric play of light and varied subjects.

On our scheduled small-group tours, you are accompanied by photo guide Wolfgang Bauer, who supports you with his many years of travel and photography experience in both countries.

In addition, photo safaris can also be organised as a private trip in other African countries. There you travel with an experienced local guide who knows the region, animal behaviour and the ideal viewing spots extremely well and so provides valuable support for impressive photos.

Our German-speaking photo guide Wolfgang Bauer is an experienced photographer and tour leader who combines his passion for composition with in-depth knowledge of southern Africa.

For many years he has been exploring Namibia and Botswana in a 4x4 with a rooftop tent, tracking down those special moments that make photo tours in Africa so unique: from impressive landscapes to remarkable wildlife sightings.

The vastness of Namibia, its varied shapes and colours and the fascinating wildlife have left a lasting mark on his photographic style.

On our photo safaris, you benefit from his trained eye, calm manner and practical tips for compelling shots.

Alongside his photo safaris, Wolfgang regularly gives multivision presentations in southern Germany, in which he impressively presents his experiences and images.

In our blog you can find out more about his photography and photo tours.

On our photo safaris, photographers of every level are warmly welcome – whether you are just starting out in photography or have already gained some experience.

The only important thing is that you bring your own camera equipment. We recommend that you familiarise yourself a little with your camera before the trip. That way you can get started straight away on site and put what you have learned into practice immediately.

Our photo guide accompanies you throughout the trip, gives practical tips on composition, perspectives and camera settings and helps you improve your skills step by step.

Professional knowledge is therefore not necessary for our photo tours in Africa. What matters is curiosity, enjoyment of photography and a willingness to try new things. This way, every photo tour becomes an inspiring experience full of beautiful moments and unique shots.

On our photo safaris, you stay in comfortable lodges, cosy tented camps or well-kept guesthouses.

All accommodation offers a reliable standard, very good food and, of course, enough power to charge camera equipment and batteries without any trouble – an important point for photo tours in Africa.

Rather than pure luxury, however, the location of the accommodation takes priority: many camps are set in natural surroundings, close to active waterholes or right in areas rich in wildlife and scenic beauty.

This often creates exciting viewing opportunities and atmospheric subjects right in front of your own veranda, which make photo safaris especially appealing. This way you enjoy comfort without giving up authentic nature experiences.

On our photo safaris, you travel in robust 4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles – an ideal vehicle for photo tours in Africa.

Every guest has a guaranteed window seat, so you always enjoy an unobstructed view of the landscape and wildlife. The pop-up roof and the generous roof hatch also allow elevated perspectives and maximum freedom of movement for your camera.

These vehicles are specially equipped for safaris and can also handle uneven terrain. This way you always have the best conditions for capturing special animal encounters to perfection.

Our scheduled photo tours are deliberately designed as small-group tours and take place with a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 10 participants.

This size creates a pleasant balance: you can exchange ideas with other photographers, learn from each other and gather new inspiration without it ever becoming unwieldy.

At the same time, the group remains small enough for our photo guide to look after each guest individually, whether it's questions about technique, composition or suitable camera settings for special subjects.

This creates a personal, motivating atmosphere that particularly enriches our photo tours in Africa.

Whether wildlife photography is the focus of a photo safari depends on the tour you choose.

On all our photo tours in southern Africa you will of course encounter wildlife – but not every route focuses on wildlife sightings.

In southern Namibia and central Namibia, impressive landscapes, colours and shapes dominate, which is why landscape photography is the main focus here.

If you are looking for a photo tour with a clear focus on wildlife watching and photography, we recommend northern Namibia or Botswana. There, waterholes, national parks and wildlife-rich ecosystems provide ideal conditions for intense wildlife moments and strong subjects.

A photo tour or photo safari is suitable for all photography enthusiasts, regardless of whether you are a beginner, an ambitious hobby photographer or already advanced.

If you are wondering whether you are “good enough”, the answer is: yes! Enjoyment, curiosity and passion count for more than equipment. What matters is not experience, but enthusiasm for nature, animals and special moments.

Photo tours are designed so that every participant is met at their own level and can develop further as a photographer.

On a photo safari, the focus is not only on travelling, but above all on conscious experiencing and photographing. In small groups, there is enough time for the perfect light, for exchanging ideas, learning from each other and experiencing real camaraderie.

Participants also benefit from an experienced photo guide who gives valuable tips on technique, composition and perspectives.

A photo tour is ideal for anyone who wants to photograph the African wilderness, experience special lighting moods and take unique shots home with them.