Shem Compion is the co-founder and co-owner of C4 Photo Safaris. He uses his intricate knowledge of travel in Africa, its wildlife and fantastic photographic locations to give you the best photographic insight into Africa you can get. Shem runs the daily operations of C4 Photo Safaris, which includes managing the team and safaris in order to produce consistently excellent safaris for our many guests. Having personally travelled across many parts of Africa for the last 22 years, Shem brings his extensive travel, logistics and operations experience into planning your safaris and expeditions across Africa.

Beyond the more popular destinations in Africa, C4 Photo Safaris has gained a reputation for safaris into the more remote areas of Africa. Shem has been at the forefront of driving these safari destinations as the new frontiers of photography travel. These include Chad (Zakouma and Ennedi), Gabon, CAR, DRC, northern Kenya, Congo, South Sudan and Ethiopia. Safaris into these far-flung areas require a unique set of skills and operational precision. Shem and his team at C4 have built a reputation for making these run at the highest level- ensuring our guests have the most amazing experiences, anywhere in Africa.

Shem’s approachable nature allow for an easy interaction between guests and himself. This translates into building incredible safari itineraries. Shem also leads a number of scheduled and private safaris across Africa each year. Sharing his love for Africa and photography is one of his main pleasures and he does this with whole-hearted passion.

A self-taught wildlife photographer, Shem quickly established himself as one of the top wildlife photographers in South Africa. His work is regularly published worldwide in magazines, calendars and books. In 2010, he supplied all 72 images to the extremely popular Africa Geographic calendar. It sold out within 4 month- the first time ever.
 He published his first book "A Landscape of Insects" in 2009 and since then has published a total of 7 books. He is a regular speaker at photo events and has been invited as a keynote speaker to a number of international photographic conventions.

Shem's intricate knowledge on a variety of photographic subjects is his greatest photographic asset. He has received international awards for images in mammals, birds, reptile and landscape categories. In recent years, Shem has worked extensively with African cultures, taking him on expeditions into some of Africa’s most remote and beautiful  areas.

Reading and anticipating the behaviour of his subjects is Shem's other speciality - allowing you to be in the right place at the right time, something he has become known for throughout his career.