Zimanga wildlife photography tour 2025
Join me for a photographic safari tour with a difference, designed specifically to get you the best photographs of Africa’s wildlife, up close and personal at Zimanga Private Game Reserve. We will have exclusive access to the whole 8000-hectare reserve in South Africa and will spend 10 days photographing a diverse range of wildlife on a safari uniquely combining photographic hides with game drives.
This trip presents the opportunity to photograph from a range of amazing hides, purpose-built with photography in mind (see below for more details) and a purpose-built brand-new dedicated photo vehicle designed specifically to allow low angle shots of species such as lions.
Each of the hides has been designed and built under the supervision of Bence Máté, repeat winner of the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition, and in my opinion, one of the best wildlife photographers around. Bence has built hides all around the world and knows exactly what is required to get the best shots.
Over the trip you’ll take part in 16 activities, comprising of game drives and hides, including both daytime and overnight sessions in each of the different hides.
Key info
Available spaces:
1 (shared female room)
duration:
10 Days
DATES:
4th - 13th October 2025
Fitness level:
Easy
price:
£4595 per person
Single supplement:
£1500
group size:
15 (max 8 per leader)
pACKING LIST:
into the wild
10 days of wildlife photography, designed to get you shots you won’t get elsewhere.
Trips during the best times of year for capturing wildlife photographs.
Small group sizes (max 8 people per photographic leader)
Local guides combined with expert tuition.
The opportunity to drive off track, ideal for photographing predators such as cheetah and lion.
Varied hide sessions: small birds, mammals, vultures and more.
Luxury accommodation.
100% of participants have rated trip 5/5.
The trip of a lifetime!
itinerary
Below is an example itinerary. As the whole reserve is booked out for our group there is flexibility with activities and schedules can be amended (e.g. should you wish to do an additional overnight hide).
Each day consists of a morning and afternoon activity, which is a mix of hide sessions and game drives. After your morning session you'll return for breakfast and then have time to relax on your veranda, swim, edit your photographs or socialise in the communal area. Jonathan will be available at midday each day for 1:1 support (anything from reviewing photographs, helping with settings to editing). After your afternoon session you will return for drinks and a meal together at the main lodge.
Day 1
AM: We'll depart from Durban and take a scenic 3 hour drive to Zimanga, arriving at Zimanga around midday where we'll enjoy a welcome drink and lunch.
PM: Jonathan will host a welcome talk and give a presentation on how to get the most our of each activity, including providing camera settings for each hide. Then onto your first hide session at the stunning Lagoon hide.
Day 2
AM: An early rise, up before dawn and out on your first game drive to get into position for the best light.
PM: Your first overnight hide session in the epic Tamboti hide. You'll set off at at in the early afternoon and then stay in the hide until the following morning. Zimanga will provide a hearty dinner and drinks for your stay.
Day 3
AM: You'll complete your overnight hide session around 9am and return to the lodge for breakfast.
PM: An afternoon game drive.
Day 4
AM: A morning game drive.
PM: An afternoon session in a reflection hide.
Day 5
AM: A morning game drive.
PM: Your second overnight hide session, this time in Umgodi hide.
Day 6
AM: Dawn at Umgodi hide.
Day 7
AM: A morning session in the action packed Scavenger hide.
PM: An afternoon game drive.
Day 8
AM: A morning dawn session at the Lagoon hide.
PM: Your final overnight session in Tamboti hide.
Day 9
AM: Dawn at Tamboti hide.
PM: An afternoon game drive.
Day 10
AM: A final morning activity (shorter than standard activity), return for breakfast and to say our fairwells to the Zimanga staff. Then return transfer to Durban airport.
Accommodation
For this tour we book the whole Zimanga reserve and all accommodation on site. This allows our tour group exclusive access to hides, vehicles, guides and accommodation.
The main lodge offers six separate air-conditioned luxury double suites and 4 single rooms. The homestead offers 3 double rooms. The Lodge is situated in close proximity to the Homestead, with breathtaking views over the Mkhombe Valley and nearby Tamboti Overnight hide from the large deck with sun loungers, large shade providing umbrellas and rim-flow swimming pool.
Our group will have our own talented chef who serves delectable meals within the dining area and the open deck offers another dining alternative for those who prefer to dine outside under the stars. A large circular open-air boma provides the ideal spot to enjoy a nightcap whilst sharing the day’s stories around a small bushveld fire.
In between vehicle based safaris or hide sessions one can explore the lovely lodge gardens which host a magnificent variety of indigenous plant and bird species, enjoy a book from our well-stocked sponsored library, relax in the swimming pool or sun loungers with one’s favourite drink, or laze around in your room to conserve energy for the next adrenaline filled activity. The Greaves’ collection of camera equipment is on display at the lodge, with some items on display dating back to the late 1800s!
A floating staircase in the lodge leads up to yet another deck, built on the lodge roof and offering spectacular views over the peaceful valley in front of the lodge and Lebombo mountain range in the background.
Jonathan will run a series of workshops and offer 1:1 supports in the well-equipped boardroom, complete with wireless HD projector, drop-down screen and custom built boardroom tables doubling as a museum exhibit, proudly displaying a fascinating collection of local geology and artefacts originating from Zimanga and its nearby surrounds within recessed glass displays built into the tables. The entrance lobby of the lodge is graced by a variety of stunning images taken to date on Zimanga, and kindly provided by some of the world’s best photographers, guests, guides and friends, and is a feast to behold every time one heads out or returns from activities.
I am sure that Zimanga, where you can experience really close encounters with wildlife, exceeded everyone’s expectations. The reserve, with its amazing hides, is exceptional for photographers. The game drives were really exciting, particularly following the lions and cheetah. The group on the trip were great company and the Zimanga guides were terrific”
- Alan Coupe
Hides & Wildlife
Zimanga offers unrivalled photographic opportunities, both through its excellent hide network and purpose-built vehicles, all of which our group has exclusive access to.
Hides on offer include:
- Reflection pool for kingfishers, birds of prey and an abundance of small beautifully coloured birds.
- Lagoon hide to photograph wetland species such as kingfishers, herons and other aquatic species.
- Two overnight hides offering amazing opportunities to photograph secretive nocturnal species such as buffalo and rhino (and if you're lucky big cats) very close up.
- Scavenger hide – set up to photograph a range of vultures species, eagles and other scavengers.
- Tower hide - an eight metre tall hide situated in the fever tree forest.
Depending on circumstances, there may also be the opportunity to photograph bee eaters from a temporary hide.
included
not included
Exclusive use of the whole reserve
Beautiful luxury accommodation situated within the reserve
Use of all hides
Game drives in purpose built vehicles (with one row per photographer to maximise opportunities)
All food & alcoholic drinks
Bottled water
Laundry service
All transportation from Durban airport
Local park and conservation fees
Fantastic local guides
Tuition and advice throughout the trip both on your photography and the best locations for a wide variety of subjects
Flights (approx £800 return, London Heathrow to South Africa Durban)
South African visa (if applicable, currently free for UK residents)
Personal travel insurance (mandatory)
Tips for local guides and Zimanga staff
aDD-oNS
Coming soon!
To be announced
Details announced soon!
More to be added soon!
Testimonials from our trips
“I was very excited about the trip having digested the comprehensive information Jonathan provided beforehand but also a little anxious, I shouldn’t have been. Jonathan’s planning and attention to detail meant that every day was packed with exciting events and sightings; his schedule of activities and organisation on a day to day basis was excellent and ensured that everyone had the opportunity to maximise the potential to see and photograph the varied wildlife in the reserve. Jonathan was an exceptional guide – always made himself available to help and offer his invaluable advice as required which I made full use of – and good company too. The entire package far exceeded my expectations on all fronts. The relationship Jonathan had fostered with the Rangers ensured that we had the best experience possible on game drives made all the more enjoyable because of the small group size. The hides delivered an unprecedented up close and personal eye-level view, the overnight hide was an unforgettable experience. I know it sounds cliché but it really was the trip of a lifetime!”
- Karen McGrath
