Beyond shutter speeds and white balances into the heart of photography

by Shem Compion

Date: January 14, 2021

In a year that is starting out on a very different note, I would like to introduce you to something very special. On a secluded beach in a wild corner of the South African coast, lies a pristine wilderness with a beach lodge only accessible by private vehicle. It is here that we will be hosting our ...

Machaton Photo Workshop

by Darren Shaun Donovan

Date: December 7, 2020

We arrived to a hot and humid Timbavati, the kind of weather you expect from the lowveld in November. The camp, spacious and with a laid-back atmosphere, is situated along the Nhlaralumi riverbed, the main artery of game movement in the northern Timbavati. After a delicious lunch, we got ready to ex...

Mashatu Game Reserve - A secret goldmine of wildlife activity

by Various

Date: December 1, 2020

Africa is travel ready and there is no better place to practice social distancing than in the African bush. On the 6th of November the president of Botswana, Masisi announced in a press release the lifting of international travel restrictions in a phased manner starting from the 9th ...

South Africa relaxes travel restrictions to South Africa

by Various

Date: November 27, 2020

Government has relaxed South Africa’s level 1 lockdown rules around international travel, allowing visitors from any country provided they follow health and safety guidelines. International travel will open to all countries subject to the necessary health protocols and the presentation o...

AFRICA TRAVEL UPDATE

by Various

Date: November 12, 2020

Africa is open and ready for travel. There is no better place to practice social distancing than in the African bush. If ever there was a time to book a safari, it is now. Please kindly note that the information provided below are as of current regulations (updated on 11 November 2020) and sub...

10 C4 reasons to visit the Masai Mara

by Shem Compion

Date: November 10, 2020

Have you ever dreamt of a wild Africa, to experience grassland plains like no other, meet a unique tribe of people like none other, and expand your views; spotting zebra, eland, lions, cheetahs and gnus under a warm, hazy sun? Then the Masai Mara should be your nex...

A safari guideline for travel in Africa

by Various

Date: October 12, 2020

Firstly, we would like to convey our sincere thanks to you for your commitment to a safari trip during these times. Ultimately it is not about us, but the lodges and the wildlife that need the support. To the lodges it is imperative that the conservation and community programmes cont...

Borders to South Africa reopen; but with a caveat

by Various

Date: October 5, 2020

As of 01 October 2020, South African borders started re-opening, and while we look forward to welcoming tourists back, the opening of our borders comes with a caveat as a Risk Adjusted Approach is being adopted. This is due to be updated every two weeks, and we will update this page accordingly...

Timbavati Photo Workshop

by Darren Shaun Donovan

Date: September 18, 2020

Set on the banks of the famous Nhlaralumi dry river in the northern Timbavati, is the private Machaton camp. The breath-taking scenes of the river, with the massive Jackalberry, sycamore figs and Leadwoods, immediately dip into the atmosphere of the surrounding area. The diversity along this stretch...

Madikwe Magic

by Darren Shaun Donovan

Date: September 8, 2020

Often overlooked and very highly underrated, the Madikwe Game Reserve presents many photographic opportunities you’ll struggle to experience in a short visit. For the purpose of this blog, I wanted to touch on some of the area’s that I enjoy during a visit to Madikwe, and the opportuniti...

The real enticement of Madikwe, is the diversity of species to see and photograph

by Shem Compion

Date: July 14, 2020

Madikwe Game reserve a 75,000 Ha reserve with amazingly opposing and varied habitats. Th landscapes vary from riverine forest along the Marico river, Kalahari Sandveld to Bushveld with intermittent massive open plains. These are all divided by the 2 mountain ranges that cut through the reserve, the ...

The Power of Postponing

by Shem Compion

Date: July 1, 2020

As written by the famous Johnny Clegg, ‘we are the scatterlings of Africa’ could not be truer.' Many visitors to Africa, that come on safari often tell us, that they ‘feel at home’ and that there is always a part of them missing when leave Africa. Our ancestors all trace back...

C4 Atelier: How does tourism actually benefit conservation & communities surrounding wildlife areas?

by Shem Compion

Date: June 24, 2020

C4 Photo Safaris has three main pillars on which its business is cemented: Tourism, Photography and Conservation. Due to the effects of Covid-19 halting travel globally, all tourism and wildlife photography businesses have essentially been halted. Tourism is closely linked to conservation. ...

Conservation initiative in a time of crisis

by Shem Compion

Date: June 12, 2020

As human beings we sometime forget that we are all interconnected with all living organisms on Earth and it is our duty to help conserve it. Without the conservation of our natural world, essentially, we will not have anything to enjoy, connect with or photograph. With official lockdowns acros...

C4 Lockdown Photo Competition- The winning image

by Shem Compion

Date: June 8, 2020

Selecting a winning image is always a tough task and I have had to do so on many occasions for various international photo competitions. This competition was set up in order to provide some positive distraction to people whilst they were in lock down: A creative outlet for people of all ages and an...

Guest Image gallery - Mashatu - by Joe Lewit

by Joe Lewit

Date: April 29, 2020

As an avid amateur photographer since my childhood, going on a photo safari in Africa had long been one of my dreams. In early 2014 I saw a promotion in my newspaper’s travel section for a special photo safari in August to Tanda Tula and Mashatu led by Denis Glennon (Iconic Images) and Shem Co...

Getting up close at the PhotoMashatu Hide

by Aubrey Tseleng

Date: April 17, 2020

It’s a common question from my guests to ask if a long lens is necessary or suitable for shooting in our PhotoMashatu hide. I often answer that they should bring it along though we do get really close with animals. Especially the elephants that just fill up the frame even if you zoomed out to ...

Guest Image gallery, Mashatu Green Season 2020

by Janet Kleyn

Date: March 12, 2020

Green Season at Mashatu Game Reserve The first of our Mashatu Green Season Workshops was hosted over the first few days of March by Trevor Kleyn and Janet Kleyn. The group of seven photographers on the four-day workshop were treated to great sightings set in the unique Mashatu landscape, especiall...

Big Tuskers - Private Safari

by Andre Cloete

Date: March 10, 2020

As a wildlife photographer it is such a privilege to be able to travel around this wonderful continent! Our latest safari however had all the ingredients to make for some of the best photography you could imagine. The brief from our client was that he wanted some time in the Mara and then Rhino and...

Svalbard Expedition 2020

by Shem Compion

Date: February 4, 2020

The High Arctic... is a place to inspire the imagination. Explorers, adventurers and more recently wildlife enthusiasts, have found it to be a place that delivers extra ordinary scenes in a pure wilderness. The Svalbard Islands are located in the Arctic Ocean, halfway between Norway and the North P...

The flush green season of Zambia

by Shem Compion

Date: January 14, 2020

In December 2019, C4 hosted a its first and very successful Photo Symposium. Timed for the flush of the green season in Zambia, this safari is a different take on many of our other small group departures. On this safari we invited 16 guests as part of a photo symposium. It meant a larger group,...

Masai Mara, the feeling of complete fulfilment and amazement!

by Trevor Kleyn

Date: November 1, 2019

I still remember the excitement I felt the first time I went to Kenya back in the 80’s on a family holiday. Without a doubt the highlight for me was the Masai Mara. I clearly remember the build up and excitement and the feeling of arriving on the Mara and how it left me with the fe...

Guest Image gallery by Jimin & Xiaoling - Kenya & Tanzania

by Jimim

Date: October 7, 2019

C4 Photography Tour in Maasai Mara plus private tours in Kenya and Tanzania "We went with the C4s Premium Photo Safari in Maasai Mara plus a private extension for both Amboseli and Tanzania. The whole trip was a wonderful experience for both of us in many ways. C4 team communicate...

The reality of Virunga National Park & a safari you will never forget!

by Kyle De Nobrega

Date: September 4, 2019

Virunga National Park is the most biodiverse region in Africa, a region that envelopes swathes of afro-montane forest, the home of an increasing population of over 1000 Mountain Gorillas... The sweat had already made its way through the zipper seams bringing an undesirable amount of moistur...

Guest Image Gallery by Vicki Santello - The search for Mashatu's blue-eyed babies

by Vicki Santello

Date: July 12, 2019

The search for the elusive leopardess with her blue-eyed cubs... On the third day of my trip in Mashatu there was exciting news! A female leopard was in the riverbed with young cubs. When I arrived with Eric Maripane and Janet Kleyn they had moved under heavy cover. I only had a very small ...

Guest Image Gallery, Mashatu Workshop, By Carol Darby

by Carol Darby

Date: May 29, 2019

"Once again I have had an amazing Mashatu workshop with Isak and C4. I did the same workshop back in 2016 and when I knew I was returning to Africa it was a no brainer that I would do it again. Isak is a great teacher and I always come away learning more techniques and features of my cameras that I ...

Mashatu Photo Workshop May 2019

by Isak Pretorius

Date: May 20, 2019

I recently hosted my second C4 Photo Safari Workshop to Botswana’s Mashatu Game Reserve for the year so far. We had such fun sharing good sightings, great laughs and terrific photography. With conditions already quite dry in Botswana after a poor rainy season, the game viewing was very good an...

Guest Image Gallery, Svalbard 2019 by Brian Shepard

by Angelica Mills

Date: May 17, 2019

Brian Shepard travelled with us to Svalbard earlier this year in April. He shared some of his thoughts and beautiful images of the trip with us! "Great Trip. Shem and Kyle were awesome leaders. The Freya and crew were outstanding." Images by Brian Shepard

ZAKOUMA CONSERVATION SAFARI 2019

by Kyle De Nobrega

Date: May 15, 2019

Zakouma National Park has become one of the most significant conservation success stories in modern times and most certainly one of the greatest conservation outcomes that the continent has ever seen. Since African Parks took over management in 2010, in a reserve that was on the fragile edge of vani...

Svalbard 2019 - An Adventure in White

by Shem Compion

Date: May 6, 2019

Ever since our first expedition to Svalbard in 2012, I have been entranced by this wonderland. Over the course of 7 trips, I have covered most of the summer season on these islands and so for this latest expedition we looked at a slightly different time of year. Indeed, April is still regarded as Wi...

ENNEDI EXPEDITION

by Kyle De Nobrega

Date: April 29, 2019

We circled a relatively sand free clearing several times within a landscape wedged between endless tassili (rock masses) before the caravan we were flying in pointed her nose directly towards the seasonal water pan ahead of us on the valley floor. With not a runway in sight we looked across at each ...

Inimitable Tanzania Safari 2019

by Shem Compion

Date: April 23, 2019

How does one make a definitive safari to people who have been to Africa many times? In my view, the difference is twofold. You make it extra special and then you add in areas so special to yourself, that you only share these with very special clients. As such this is what we did on the most recent I...

Guest Image Gallery, Mashatu Workshop 2019 By Sue Goodman

by Angelica Mills

Date: April 23, 2019

Sue Goodman recently travelled with us on a Mashatu Photo Safari hosted by Isak Pretorius. During the workshop she was fortunate to use the PhotoMashatu vehicle that is designed to keep your photographic equipment on hand but out of dust and rain. Sue enjoyed having meals with the Mashatu manageme...

Mashatu Photo Workshop April 2019

by Isak Pretorius

Date: April 16, 2019

Last week I hosted my first Mashatu Workshop for 2019. It was a surprise to find Mashatu unusually dry for this time of the year. But, dry conditions meant good game viewing. However, two days into the workshop the land was blessed with good rains. The usual suspects made their appearance on our me...

Guest Image Gallery, Mara Predators 2019, By Heather Wall

by Heather Wall

Date: April 9, 2019

I had a wonderful time again this year on the Masai Mara Predators. Andre and Isak were excellent guides and helped me a lot, both while out taking photos, but also back at camp with technical advice on my camera and post editing help with some photos. I really enjoyed the critiquing sessions that w...

Marvellous Mahale 2019

by Andre Cloete

Date: March 16, 2019

As a wildlife photographer we consider un-spoilt areas teeming with mammal and birdlife as paradise. But … can tropical paradise of white beaches surrounded by deep blue waters also be a wildlife photographer’s idea of paradise? Not many destinations would easily fit that description an...

Masai Mara Predators Trip Report 2019

by Isak Pretorius

Date: March 8, 2019

The open landscape and abundance of game in Kenya’s Masai Mara makes it a photographer’s dream. From January to March each year, after the “short rains”, the grass is lush and long. With these conditions and without the wildebeest migration around, the predators must work muc...

Interesting, remote, inaccessible and inspiring destinations we have or may travel to within the next few years!

by Various

Date: February 26, 2019

The tourism and travel industry is constantly changing. Travellers now desire ever more vibrant experiences. There is a hunger for joint safaris and increasingly isolated destinations. We have done some research on a variety of destinations that we would like to travel to purely because of th...

A child, more than anyone else, is a spontaneous observer of nature.

by Angelica Mills

Date: February 14, 2019

Children in the Wilderness Limpopo Valley was founded in 2009 and operates within the Northern Tuli Game Reserve. Children in the Wilderness (CITW) hosted another successful tri-nations camp at Mashatu Tent Camp in Mashatu Game Reserve. Mashatu kindly donates 2 weeks of accommodation to the CITW pro...

An Introduction to the Congo Basin

by Shem Compion & Kyle De Nobrega

Date: January 30, 2019

2018 ended off with two C4 guides heading into the Congo rainforest. Here lies one of Africa’s best-kept secrets, with amazing photography of some spectacular species. We are excited to already be advertising safaris into this region in April 2020. The Congo basin is a mysterious place,...

How Jonathan and Angela Scott became Wildlife Photographers

by Shem Compion

Date: January 21, 2019

Our exceptional relationship with Jonathan and Angie Scot continues to develop- and who have chosen C4 as their exclusive safari partners. Running safaris with them is such a delight. It is a window into 40 years of high level nature experience viewed through the eyes of a zoologist, a phot...

The year that was 2018 and the year that is, 2019

by Shem Compion

Date: January 14, 2019

I never like doing reviews of years, because for us at C4, the seasons are in continual flow and blend into each other. While many consider the December period a quiet time, we were running safaris over Christmas and as soon as the New Year started, so do our safaris. What I do like to do is ...

Along the Chobe River by Houseboat

by Ellen Mack

Date: December 20, 2018

For my second African safari, I wanted to visit the Okavango Delta and neighboring parts of northern Botswana. In addition to the predator and other big wildlife that we all so enjoy seeing and photographing, I particularly wanted to visit areas that would allow me to photograph some of the be...

Namibia Photo Tour with Art Wolfe 2018

by Jandre Germishuizen

Date: November 22, 2018

In September 2018 we hosted a Namibia Photo Tour with the marvellous Art Wolfe. The Tour commenced on a high note as the group travelled to the south of Namibia to photograph Quiver tree forest and the Ghost town of Kolmanskop. We were treated to beautiful light conditions, which were perfect for p...

Masai Mara Photo Safari with Jonathan Scott 2018

by Kyle De Nobrega

Date: October 26, 2018

Nature has the most beautiful way of circulation, rhythm and precision. We have become fascinated with the phenology of life and the human race cannot resist asking questions with the sole purpose to find answers, trying to confirm our position as the smartest species on Earth. Nowhere could this be...

Guest Image Gallery, Masai Mara 2018 by Barry Barnes

by Barry Barnes

Date: October 18, 2018

This was my second Mara Trip, both times with C4 Safaris and both times staying at Entim Main Camp. The team at C4 are all really nice people, very professional but still down to earth, friendly and they look after you. Their wildlife and photographic knowledge is first class and you get basically ...

Guest Image Gallery, Mashatu Private Photo Safari 2018 by Yvonne Smuts

by Yvonne Smuts

Date: October 16, 2018

C4 has been the perfect means to merging photographic theory with practice. A combination of outstanding photographic instruction given by Trevor Kleyn and the expertise of Jakes, our guide/driver, made my most recent trip to the Tented Camp Mashatu, a huge success. Image and text by...

Guest Image Gallery, Masai Mara 2018 by Andrew JK Tan

by Andrew JK Tan

Date: October 5, 2018

This was not the first time I went for a Photo safari with C4. I expected the same high standards that C4 provided and I was not wrong. The Masai Mara photo safari was just brilliant. The lodging at Entim Camp was just superb and I had everything in the tented camp to relax and refresh with. The...

Guest Image Gallery, Masai Mara 2018 by Todd Stein

by Todd Stein

Date: September 27, 2018

I had high expectations before my recent trip to Kenya. The C4 team exceeded those expectations and I hope to travel with them in the future - either back in the Masai Mara or elsewhere in Africa or even the Arctic. The accommodations at Entim was nice and well-located. I cannot underscore ho...

Guest Image Gallery, Masai Mara 2018 by Hennie van Greuning

by Various

Date: September 26, 2018

We all know that the Mara is home to the ‘greatest show on earth’. So C4 decided to run the best photo safari we could muster in the heart of the greatest show. Its simple really - find a camp in the middle of the action. Hennie and Elna van Greuning joined C4 Photo Safaris on our Ma...

A few tips before your next Safari

by Various

Date: September 10, 2018

The word safari originates form the Swahili word for ‘journey’. Safari travel in modern Africa naturally implies that the journey will include game viewing and some time spent in wilderness areas. A traditional African safari is usually focussed on seeing Africa’s wildlife, but saf...

The Ultimate Predators of Africa 2018

by Shem Compion

Date: August 1, 2018

The name says it all: when building this safari, we used all our experience to find and locate the three best locations to find Lion, leopard and cheetah in Africa. The conditions were to stay away from the crowds and also to try and view them at the season they are most active. The safari was lead ...

Guest image gallery, Masai Mara 2017 by Yvette Holzbach

by Yvette Holzbach

Date: May 25, 2018

Last year I decided to enter a competition by C4 to celebrate their 10th year in business. The prize was a Photographic Safari to the Maasai Mara with the extra bonus of having Jonathan Scott spend a day with us on safari. Having never entered a competition before I thought I would give it a try and...

Guest Image Gallery, Serengeti and Mahale Chimps 2017 - By Simona Doyle

by SIMONA DOYLE

Date: May 18, 2018

When C4 offered a Photography expedition to Mahale, on the Tanganyika Lake, in Tanzania with Greg Du Toit I signed up immediately. The idea of experiencing the area where Dr.Livingstone was tracked down fascinated me. Not to mention the idea of climbing through a jungle to track down Chimpanzees! T...

Guest Image Gallery, Inimitable Tanzania 2018 - By Maggie and Peter

by Maggie Manson and Peter Farmer

Date: May 16, 2018

Inimitable Tanzania 2018 Our journey really began with the transfer from Kilimanjaro airport when we were immediately thrown into the interesting and colourful street life, with cattle, goats, markets and scenes of local life. We spent the first night at the beautifully appointed Olerai Bush House ...

Mashatu Photo Workshop April 2018

by Shem Compion

Date: May 15, 2018

A beautiful array of images taken by Trevor Kleyn on one of our recent workshops hosted by him at Mashatu Game reserve. Our workshops are designed to get photographers into the best areas to ‘get the shots’. Here is where you take your wildlife photography from ‘good...

Inimitable Tanzania 2018

by Shem Compion

Date: April 25, 2018

Africa is visited by so many people and sadly; they often visit the same places over and over again. For this safari, we wanted to go to new destinations to experience new ways of seeing what Africa is about. It also meant going to places like the Serengeti in the quieter time, when no vehicles are ...

Excellent in every way - Masai Mara Predators 2018

by Pam Holmes

Date: April 16, 2018

Maasai Mara Predators ranks as one of my favourite trips. Entim Camp excels in understanding photographers’ needs. Its location, in the centre of the Mara, is excellent - we could readily explore in any direction. Tents are comfortable, with power strips for charging batteries downloading ...

Mashatu Photo Workshop March 2018

by Janet Kleyn

Date: April 4, 2018

Trevor Kleyn recently hosted a workshop for C4 Photo Safaris at Mashatu Game Reserve. The guests got to use the specially adapted PhotoMashatu Vehicle on drive and had ample opportunity to photograph from our well known photographic undergound hides. On the vehicle sightings were up to Mashat...

The extraordinary miracle, which is Zakouma National Park

by Kyle de Nobrega

Date: March 19, 2018

Situated above the vast tract of the Congo- Guinean rainforest is an extended network of remnant savannah that lingers with endless and ancient tales of mega-herds, massive Ivory drawn elephants numbering in the tens of thousands, mythical Giant Eland and since pretty recently (1970’s to be pr...

Introduction to the Surma tribe

by Shem Compion

Date: January 29, 2018

The Suri people are part of the famous Surma tribe, known for the lip disks. During the slave trade, the Surma started using the lip disks to disfigure themselves so that the Arab slave traders would not take them away. Over time, the practise became a sign of beauty and hence it remaining in their...

2017 - The year in Review

by Shem Compion

Date: December 20, 2017

2017 has quickly come to an end. As always, the last part of the year becomes a time for reflection. Fortunately it was a very busy year for us at C4 and this means we have a wonderful array of images to help stimulate those memories of wanderlust, travel, adventure, beautiful wildlife s...

2017 Masai Mara season highlights

by Angelica Mills

Date: December 15, 2017

The Masai Mara Game Reserve was established in 1961 to protect wildlife from hunters, and is the reason many visitors come to Kenya and its beauty and abundant wildlife won’t disappoint. Designated as the seventh New Wonder of the World because of the amazing spectacle of more than 1 million...

Mashatu Photo Workshop November 2017

by Shem Compion

Date: December 7, 2017

Summer is now in full swing at Mashatu. Some of the summer migrant birds begin to arrive. It is not uncommon to find leopard reclining in one of the large Mashatu trees, which makes Mashatu one of the best Predator viewings. The soft rays of early morning and late afternoon sun make li...

Great Rivers of Africa 2017

by Shem Compios

Date: December 1, 2017

The Chobe Riverfront is one like no other in Africa. At first glance, the large expanse of water that is the Chobe River meanders and flows languidly and peacefully through islands on towards its confluence with the Zambezi. It is a calm and peaceful scene if there ever was one. Yet on the islands a...

Guest Image Gallery, Masai Mara 2017 - By Mischa Ehlers

by Mischa Ehlers

Date: November 28, 2017

Mischa Ehlers was on one of our Masai Mara Safaris this year and this is what she had to say about her experience: "It has been an unbelievable experience with your perfect photographers Ruth, Kyle and Isak as well with very nice participants. Already after 15 minutes after arriving in Entim Ca...

Join C4 and Jonathan Scott in the Masai Mara

by Shem Compion

Date: November 17, 2017

The Mara is home to the ‘greatest wildlife show on earth’, and C4 are proud to be offering the best photo safari at the heart of the action. C4 guides have more than 30 seasons in the Mara and they have mapped their own special places and secret spots to share with you. &...

The endless plains of the Masai Mara

by Angelica Mills

Date: October 30, 2017

Jambo! A warm hearted welcome greets you in the heart of Africa. A year ago, I would never have imagined that I would be heading out to the original Safari country – is this a dream? Why yes, I am talking about the mighty Masai Mara! The vast open plains of the Masai Mara has wildlife roaming...

Guest Image Gallery, Masai Mara 2017 - By Barry Barnes

by Barry Barnes

Date: October 26, 2017

This was my first trip to the Mara, it was long awaited and I was very excited to be there. Whilst we didn’t get to see a crossing we had some amazing sightings of Lions, Leopards, Cheetahs, Elephants, Black Rhino’s and of course many hundreds of Wildebeest and many Zebras, Eagles, an...

Guest Image Gallery, Masai Mara & South Luangwa 2017 - By Nev Bryant

by Nev Bryant

Date: October 18, 2017

We have safely returned home after a very successful safari. Everything went according to plan including the last minute changes. We were last at Entim Camp 7 years ago when it was a bit smaller. It brought back fond memories as it was then our 1st C4 trip. The Mara is a special place and always de...

Guest Image Gallery, Masai Mara 2017 - By Kina Joubert

by Kina Joubert

Date: October 16, 2017

Thanks for all your "behind the scenes" organizing to make this superb trip possible for us! It has been a dream of a lifetime and a WHOW trip to Kenya. I'll gladly go back tomorrow if I can! Africa is so in my blood... Images & text b...

A compilation of photography tips

by angelica

Date: September 27, 2017

A few months back we posted a variety of great photography tips over multiple blog posts. Our guides shared the tricks of the trade, which they've learned over many years of photographing nature and wild animals. We then decided to put everything together for those of you who might have missed it. ...

Introduction to C4's Mini Mashatu Photo Workshop.

by Michelle

Date: August 17, 2017

Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana is a vast wilderness area and home to ancient migratory elephant routes. For centuries these majestic animals have traversed these lands, passing down information from one generation to another. There is no better place to observe and photograph elephant in...

The Mobile hide at Zakouma

by Kyle De Nobrega

Date: July 31, 2017

Zakouma National Park in the South-eastern corner of Chad hosts a myriad of vast floodplains and a network of otherworldly looking rivers that look as if they where painted on set during the making of The Jungle Book. Watch the VIDEO HERE. It is exactl...

Everything I could have wished for!

by Michelle

Date: July 27, 2017

C4 Photo Safaris arranged a private safari for a special client of ours, Mr. Wood in the beautiful and wildlife abundant reserves of Mashatu and Mala Mala. On his return he sent us a testimonial on how his experience was at both camps, the service of the guides and the wildlife viewing. Also have...

Svalbard - A place of extremes

by Shem Compion

Date: July 20, 2017

When visiting a location for the sixth time, I thought long and hard about what makes Svalbard and the high Arctic so special. There are of course many highlights that are easy to share with clients. The vastness and drama of the landscape, the magic of sailing through a white desert of pack-ice, th...

A SAFARI INTO THE LUANGWA VALLEY

by Kyle De Nobrega

Date: July 3, 2017

A traditional Jembe drum disrupts the serenade of hippo calls that emanate from the Luangwa River. A few moments after the drum roll, Mopane wood smoke from a small fire is absorbed into your winter jacket whilst having a cup of coffee that has been boiled over a traditional coal oven. Upon departin...

Above & beyond the beauty that is Mashatu Game reserve

by Angelica Mills

Date: June 9, 2017

Alarm calling, sightings, and “watch out for the bushes” are some of the words that come to mind when I think of my visit to Mashatu. It has been said that once a year, one should go some place that you have never been before, which is a little more difficult when you’re juggling y...

Mashatu Workshop April 2017

by Kyle De Nobrega

Date: May 24, 2017

Having lived at Mashatu for 3 years together we have studied very closely the tides of each season and the beautiful way they smoothly transfer into on another. This has left us with a deeper understanding of season dynamics and how rainfall, surface water, grass cover and the stages of leaf phonolo...

Guest Image Gallery, Mashatu 2017 - By Bennie Vivier

by Bennie Vivier

Date: May 19, 2017

It was just wonderful! I don’t think we could get better guides than Ruth and Kyle and the photo opportunities were awesome. I never thought that I would enjoy a “non-self-drive” trip so much. It was an experience that I will never forget and we are already talking about a next ti...

Guest Image Gallery, Mashatu 2017 - By Sally Hinton

by Sally Hinton

Date: May 15, 2017

The Workshop was just brilliant - both Isak and Janet were so helpful teaching and guiding us throughout. They were both professional and at the same time very friendly so we were constantly learning and improving our images as the week progressed! I love Cheetahs and we were lucky to have an amazi...

The Masai Mara with Jonathan Scott 2017

by Shem Compion

Date: May 12, 2017

2017 marks C4 Photo Safaris 10th consecutive year of leading photographic safaris in the Masai Mara. The Masai Mara causes a stutter and a pause, but then the surge comes, and millions of animals cross the Mara River in one of the most spectacular wildlife scenes on earth.In celebration of our 10th ...

10 Highlights from the Masai Mara - #C4ExploreMore

by Shem Compion

Date: April 28, 2017

My first visit to the Masai Mara was in 2002. It was with two friends, one who is now the co-owner of C4 alongside myself. For that first trip, we drove up all the way from South Africa and the Mara visit was part of a 7-month photo trip through Africa. Over the years I have returned many times, in ...

#C4ExploreMore Competition Winner!

by Shem Compion

Date: April 26, 2017

So today is the day! We are finally announcing the winner of our #C4ExploreMore Competition! We'd like to say a big thank you to everyone that entered! It has been a great pleasure receiving your inspiring and beautiful images! Yvette Holzbach, you are the #C4ExploreMore winner. So pack your bags...

10 Unforgettable moments from the Masai Mara - #C4ExploreMore

by Various

Date: April 7, 2017

The Masai Mara is known for being one of the best wildlife photography destinations, with so much to see, experience and photograph. Our guides have all teamed up to share with us the most unforgettable moments that they have experienced from photographing in the Mara over the last 10 years and we&...

10 Things to take with to the Masai Mara - #C4ExploreMore

by Various

Date: March 31, 2017

10 Things to take with to the Masai Mara – #C4ExploreMore Our professional guides have all teamed up to provide you with the most important things that they always take with when they travel to the Mara. Laptop and a Kenyan Adapter. A long lens from 500mm or 600mm as well as a wide angle ...

10 Favourites from the Judges - #C4ExploreMore

by Shem Compion

Date: March 24, 2017

Capture something close-by to go really far. Taken a picture of your cat that could rival the sharpest close-up of a leopard? Snapped a pigeon majestically diving for a slice of bread? Your best ‘everyday extraordinary’ photo could help you win two places on a 7-day luxury photo safa...

10 Mistakes Photographers make in the Masai Mara - #C4ExploreMore

by Various

Date: March 17, 2017

There is so much to see and photograph in the Masai Mara. However, some of our expert guides have also made some mistakes when it comes to photographing in the Masai Mara. Our professional guides have all teamed up to provide you with the most important mistakes that they have learned from photogra...

10 Lessons from Photographing the Migration - #C4ExploreMore

by Various

Date: March 10, 2017

There is so much to see and photograph in the Masai Mara and with the C4’s expert wildlife photographers as your guides; you will always have the best positions available. Our professional guides have all teamed up to provide you with the most important lessons that they have learned from pho...

Meet Jonathan Scott - #C4ExploreMore

by Shem Compion

Date: February 24, 2017

This is C4 Photo Safaris tenth consecutive year operating photo safaris in the Masai Mara. To celebrate this milestone we have joined forces with an absolute Icon of the Mara: Jonathan Scott. Jonathan Scott is a broadcaster, illustrator, writer and teacher, but he primarily sees himself as a wildli...

10 Best images from the Mara - #C4ExploreMore

by Michelle v.d. Westhysen and Angelica Mills

Date: February 17, 2017

Ever dreamt of a wild Africa? To experience grassland plains like no other, meet a unique tribe of people like none other, and expand your senses of spotting zebra, eland, lions, cheetahs and gnu’s under a warm, hazy sun? Then the Masai Mara is your next destination.Established in 1961 to prot...

10 years in the Masai Mara - #C4ExploreMore

by Shem Compion

Date: February 13, 2017

It is always a pleasure for me to lead safaris in the Masai Mara, one reason is because I know the eco system very well and the other is that C4 makes sure that our clients have a great time experiencing the beauty of the Masai Mara. I discovered this wonderland in 2002 and from 2007, have been comi...

The Secret Season of Mashatu

by Kyle De Nobrega

Date: February 3, 2017

For a long time, the age old adage of ‘the secret season’ has been said. Truth be told, it is no longer the secret season and rather common knowledge that Mashatu during the summer, the green season, is a spectacular sight. The rains flush the dry undulating savannah and a lifeless wint...

The year in review

by Shem Compion

Date: December 21, 2016

The year that is 2016 is drawing quickly to an end. As always, it becomes a time for reflection and remembrance. At C4, we have a wonderful array of images to help stimulate those memories of wanderlust, travel, adventure, beautiful wildlife sightings and wonderful interactions. W...

Mashatu Photo Workshop 2016

by Calvin Kotze

Date: November 28, 2016

We arrived at the border to be met by our Mashatu rangers, it was instantly clear that they were filled with passion and knowledge and that the next few days would be wonderful. On route to the camp, our eyes were treated kindly by the amazing habitat and left our minds dreaming about the possible ...

Mashatu Photo Workshop November 2016

by Trevor Kleyn

Date: November 8, 2016

It was an intrepid group of guests that came to brave the heat in November at Mashatu Game Reserve for our last C4 Photo Safari’s workshop of the year. Despite the heat, the rewards were well worth it. Thanks to the late rains, predator sightings were at an all time high while general ga...

Mashatu Photo workshop October 2016

by Isak Pretorius

Date: October 24, 2016

The photography on our recent October Mashatu Photo Workshop in Botswana was just as hot as the temperatures I thought we were going to experience. Our photo workshops are all about learning and helping guests improve their own photography, in a stunning wildlife reserve, while having a lot of fun. ...

October at Mashatu

by Kyle De Nobrega

Date: October 18, 2016

Spring in October enthusiastically brings upon new life in the form of flowering Sheperds Tree’s, migratory bee-eaters and the characteristic buzz of Cicada bugs. The surface water that attracts wildlife along the riverbeds has largely dried up and anxiety builds in anticipation for the ...

Wildlife meets conflict: in its millions

by Shem Compion

Date: October 5, 2016

The Mara River - A place where wildlife meets conflict: in its millions. The migration is a constant dynamic. But at one point during the cycle, a major obstacle stands in the way of the momentum. At first it causes a stutter and a pause, but then the surge comes, and millions of animals cross the M...

Masai Mara Exclusive Safari September 2016

by Kyle De Nobrega

Date: October 3, 2016

Sitting in the Serena Hotel lounge, enjoying the local Tusker beer or a welcomed glass of wine, the intermittent light rains that characterise the climate of Nairobi, a conversation with our newly appointed family of guides and guests, does very little to dampen the excitement of what will follow fo...

Drama in the Mara

by Shem Compion

Date: September 28, 2016

The Mara always offers amazing wildlife sightings but it is very difficult to capture new scenes from the Mara. The latter comment was our goal on this private safari in the heart of migration season. Dan and Denise are both experienced wildlife photographers, so the emphasis was not to get as many ...

PhotoMashatu hide staff experience

by Janet Kleyn

Date: September 28, 2016

The Mashatu staff serving brunch to the guests arriving back from a morning session in one of the PhotoMashatu hides are often confronted with excited guests and their stories of the exceptional sightings and photographic opportunities. For many this is a highlight of their visit to Mashatu. &...

Mashatu Magic

by Angelica Mills

Date: August 30, 2016

There’s no doubt that Mashatu is a magical place for photography. Mashatu is know as the ‘Land of the Giants’ which comprises of the elephant, lion, giraffe, eland, Ostrich, Kori Bustard and the iconic baobab tree. But that’s not all that Mashatu has to offer.During the past ...

A Mega-herd Visits the Valley Hide

by Ruth Nussbaum

Date: August 15, 2016

On Sunday morning we set off to the Valley Hide to see what the morning had install for our Mashatu guests. On arrival to the hide, we saw very little sign of elephant activity in the valley. We did however, find a drag mark dotted with hyena tracks which led straight into the waterhole and out the...

Mana Pools Photo Workshop & Chitake Springs extension, June 2016

by Shem Compion

Date: August 11, 2016

Angie & Jimmy Sandoval recently travelled with C4 Photo Safaris to the raw wilderness of Mana Pools with the photographic expertise of Shem Compion, Andre Cloete and Humphrey Gumbo. Angie and Jimmy first joined a photo workshop with a group of other C4 clients based on the banks of the Zambezi. ...

Okavango Delta & Mashatu Private Safari experience

by Angelica Mills

Date: July 8, 2016

C4 Photo Safaris had the privilege of hosting the Osborn’s on a Private safari in the Okavango Delta and Mashatu Game reserve in June 2016. Wayne and Pamela Osborn are seasoned photographers that have been travelling with C4 Photo Safaris for years. On their latest Private safari they had som...

Hide Update

by Ruth Nussbaum

Date: July 8, 2016

Its been a really good winter for the hides so far. The reserve has dried up extremely quickly this year due to the assumingly low water table. Although it is sad to see all the grass and tree’s dry up it bring upon a new cycle of change and life. The elephants have begun moving on their regu...

C4 Photo Vehicle Experience, Mashatu

by Ruth Nussbaum

Date: June 14, 2016

During the past week at Mashatu Game Reserve, I had the privilege of taking out yet another group of wildlife photographic enthusiast on the C4 Photo Vehicle. Included in the photo vehicle experience where a few mornings at the underground hides, which added a unique flare to the entire photo experi...

12 - 16 May 2016 Mashatu Photo Workshop 2016

by Michelle van der Westhuysen

Date: May 31, 2016

12 - 16 May 2016 Mashatu Photo Workshop 2016 Francois Venter recently joined C4 Photo Safaris on one of our Mashatu Photo Workshops with Trevor Kleyn as guide and had this to say about his experince there... "My main purpose for visiting Mashatu was to visit the under ground hides. We we royally ...

Botswana wildlife awards 2016

by Shem Compion

Date: May 5, 2016

It is wonderful being a wildlife photographer out in the field. The joy of the anticipation, the capture and the result combine to make it a very rewarding pastime. What is even more pleasing to see is how photography ignites passion and enthusiasm in other people. Two people I know who have bucket ...

Icy Iceland

by Ruth Nussbaum

Date: May 5, 2016

There are no direct flights to Reykjavik for us in winter, because all the "normal" people go there in summer. We leave on January 29th, the sun will rise at around 10:00 and set at 17:00 and won't get higher than 10 degrees above the horizon. The bad thing is we can't pronounce any of the names of ...

March at Mashatu - By Trevor Kleyn

by Shem Compion

Date: May 5, 2016

Last month Trevor Kleyn spent a few weeks heading up C4’s photographic concession at Mashatu Game Reserve. After some late rains, the reserve was left looking lush and the wildlife, healthy as ever. Trevor spent a few days guiding guests from our customised photographic vehicle, and thes...

Serengeti Calving Season 2016 - By Andre Cloete

by Ruth Nussbaum

Date: May 5, 2016

A selection of images by trip host Andre Cloete, from our first week of the Serengeti calving season safari 2016. Some feedback from Andre, "Staying in our private camp set up just for our group of photographers, we were able to be right in amongst the migration herds. This meant full...

Guest Image Gallery, Iceland 2016 - By Anita Keet

by Ruth Nussbaum

Date: May 5, 2016

Anita recently travelled with C4 Photo safaris to the wonderful wonderland of Iceland. Under the experienced landscape photographic guidance of tour hosts Isak Pretorius and Hougaard Mala, Anita and the rest of the group had the opportunity to capture the mythical landscapes of Iceland at its very b...

Icy Iceland

by Ruth Nussbaum

Date: May 5, 2016

There are no direct flights to Reykjavik for us in winter, because all the "normal" people go there in summer. We leave on January 29th, the sun will rise at around 10:00 and set at 17:00 and won't get higher than 10 degrees above the horizon. The bad thing is we can't pronounce any of the names of ...

C4 Photo Safaris in 2016

by Shem Compion

Date: May 5, 2016

Many companies look back at the year that passes and review what went wrong and what was good. At C4 Photo Safaris, we like to work it the opposite way round where we offer our clients our outlook for the upcoming year. Here is our preview for 2016. With the influx of mass tourism and congestion o...

Antarctica Part 2 2016

by Shem Compion

Date: May 5, 2016

Part 2, of Shem Compion’s Antarctica 2016 image gallery. If you would like to take photographic journey with us, take a look at our website for 2016 destinations! Photographs by Shem Compion

Antarctica Part 1 2016

by Shem Compion

Date: May 5, 2016

When you are surrounded by icebergs, glaciers and mountains that dwarf the size of any human built structure on earth you know you are in Antarctica. The sheer enormity of this wilderness prompts an immediate rethinking of your significance on this world. Then to top it all you take the first cruis...

Premier Predator Tour, November by Joy Thomas

by Ruth Nussbaum

Date: May 5, 2016

In June 2015, Joy Thomas joined award winning photographer, Greg du Toit on a C4 Photo Safari Premier Predator Tour. The tour saw the small and exclusive group of 3 clients travel to Mashatu Game Reserve, Mala Mala Game Reserve and finally end off at Tswalu Kalahari. What a fantastic combination of...

The business of Wildlife Photography, Nikon Workshop

by Michelle van der Westhuysen

Date: May 5, 2016

Join wildlife photographer, Shem Compion and Nikon South Africa for a talk on what is means to run a successful business in wildlife photography. Shem, the owner of C4 Photo Safaris, is an internationally recognized award winning photographer with an expansive knowledge on nature and brand building....

C4 Private guide safari with Trevor Kleyn at Tswalu

by Ruth Nussbaum

Date: May 5, 2016

Recently photo guide Trevor Kleyn returned from a private guided safari to Tswalu Kalahari. An incredibly unique safari experience can be had Tswalu, with the opportunity to view and photograph some of Africa's rare species including meerkats, aardvark, pangolin, cape fox, aardwolf, brown hye...

Premier Predator Tour, November by Charlotte Blanchet

by Ruth Nussbaum

Date: May 5, 2016

A wonderful image gallery by C4 Photo Safari guest Charlotte Blanchet. Charlotte, recently traveled with C4 and Greg du Toit to Mashatu Game Reserve, Mala Mala and finally ended off at Tswalu Kalahari. These are a selection of images from Mashatu Game Reserve, allot of which where captured a...

November Mashatu Workshop with Kyle de Nobrega

by Kyle de Nobrega

Date: May 5, 2016

With the threat of drought and the presence of its unforgiving hand, the reserve is stuck in the middle of a transformation. The early rains in September have conned the trees into prematurely using up vital energy, and the contrast of the barren soil lying lifeless beneath a canopy of sprouting lea...

C4 Photo Hide in October with Trevor Kleyn

by Ruth Nussbaum

Date: May 5, 2016

Recently, photo guide Trevor Kleyn spent some time manning the C4 Photo Hides. We have come to realise that October, being the buffer month between winter and summer, is the month that the wildlife pluck up the courage to get themselves properly involved at the waterholes. To escape the soaring temp...

Mount Mahale Magic

by Shem Compion

Date: May 5, 2016

Africa has many beautiful places in it to visit that many people know about. Yet there are a few places in Africa that are extremely beautiful and offer brilliant wildlife encounters. Recently Shem Compion led a group of photographers into the Mahale Mountains to find wild chimpanzees in the forests...

Wild shots event 2016

by Ruth Nussbaum

Date: May 5, 2016

With the Cape Town event going down a huge success, the bar has been set high for the Johannesburg Wild Shots Event which will be held later this month. The day was truly inspirational, show casing a wide variety of topics including our very own C4 Photo Safaris Underground Hides, fine art in wildl...

Masai Mara seasons best 2015

by Ruth Nussbaum

Date: May 5, 2016

C4 Photo Safaris has over 13 years of experience in the Maasai Mara, hence why we take the utmost pride in sharing this wilderness wonderland with our valued clients, nature lovers and co wildlife photographers. 2015 did not disappoint, from season start to finish our clients where entertained by a...

Mashatu Workshop September 2015 with Trevor Kleyn

by Ruth Nussbaum

Date: April 13, 2016

Yet another successful photographic workshop hosted at the prime wildlife destination, Mashatu Game Reserve. The C4 Photo Safaris group where hosted at the beautiful Tent Camp by photo guide Trevor Kleyn. Here are a few of Trevor’s shots from the workshop:

The Seasons end: Masai Mara 2015

by Ruth Nussbaum

Date: April 13, 2016

Much to our groups dismay, 7 days in paradise flew by in no time at all. This may have been due to the fact that every single game drive was filled with some sort of action packed wilderness theatre. To start off the string off exciting events that where to follow our arrival, we were treated to an...

The Great Migration 2015

by Shem Compion

Date: April 13, 2016

The Great Migration takes place in East Africa between Tanzania and Kenya and is the largest migration of mammals in the world. Our iconic Masai Mara season started early September well into October and we had back to back Masai Mara safaris booked to take our clients to photograph this spectacular ...

C4 at the Getaway Show 2015

by Michelle van der Westhuysen

Date: April 13, 2016

This coming weekend 28 - 30 August C4 will be at the 2015 Getaway show in the TicketPro Dome. It has been a while since we've exhibited and we are extremely excited. The last time we were there it was a great success and a wonderful experience meeting new and existing clients. Our stand number is R3...

C4 Vehicle Experience Part 2

by Kyle de Nobrega

Date: April 13, 2016

Part 2 to our gallery of our epic photographic experience at Mashatu Game Reserve, thank you to ranger Fish for the fantastic sighting! See more about the C4 Photo Vehicle All eyes on the leopard in the tree, as the hyena casually strolls past a game drive vehicle Slow ...

Matebole Hide, guest image gallery by Karin Braby

by Ruth Nussbaum

Date: April 13, 2016

Mashatu Game Reserve guest Karin Braby shares some amazing snaps from her outstanding morning spent in the C4 Matabole Hide this month. Karin and friends were treated to an array of mammal species at the hide, starting off with a blood strewn hyena that was in desperate need of some water to wash do...

C4 Vehicle Experience Part 1

by Kyle

Date: March 30, 2016

Just a few days back Mashatu resident photographer Kyle de Nobrega hosted guests on the C4 photo vehicle for an awesome four day experience. The four days where jam packed with world class sightings and photographic opportunity. Everything from mating lions, new born hyena relocation, multi...

Iceland Tours

by Annel Venter

Date: March 8, 2016

On a remote island in the frigid North Atlantic, lies the world’s most popular landscape photography destination; Iceland. Join Isak Pretorius and Hougaard Malan on this Ultimate Iceland photo safari. Hougaard spent three weeks in Iceland in 2015 scouting the location to ensure that the trip i...

C4 Photo Safaris in 2016 - The year in preview

by Shem Compion

Date: March 3, 2016

Many companies look back at the year that passes and review what went wrong and what was good. At C4 Photo Safaris, we like to work it the opposite way round where we offer our clients our outlook for the upcoming year. Here is our preview for 2016. With the influx of mass tourism and congestion o...

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