If you’re a keen photographer – amateur or more experienced – and you’re passionate about capturing the perfect wildlife pic, here’s a treat that is honestly not to be missed.
We’ve teamed up with Canon and are inviting you to join us for a brilliant, creative weekend at the magnificent Thanda Safari private game reserve in Northern KwaZulu-Natal.
There’ll be specific photographic game drives with specially trained rangers and professional photographers, talks and tips from the best in the industry, including Andrew Aveley, and you’ll get to meet and chat to Gerald Hinde, who, with Will Taylor, has just launched a magnificent wildlife coffee-table book, The Big Seven. Plus (huge bonus) Canon will have their latest cameras there for you to touch, feel, say cheese!
What’s more, horrified at what we know big lodges are charging for these photographic safaris, we’ve managed to put together this weekend at a really affordable rate. We are limiting the event to 30 guests … you don’t want to miss it so early booking is hugely advised.
Learn from the best in the (wildlife photo) business
African wildlife photographer and specialist photoguide, Andrew Aveley, is an internationally recognised, award-winning wildlife, nature and landscape photographer. Having grown up in SA, he has focused on the many animal species and environments locally and in neighbouring African countries. With this knowledge, he has become a sought-after specialist photographic guide.
He combines his love of photography with his passion for teaching with every opportunity he gets. He’s also the only independent Canon professional trainer in South Africa along with being a Lightroom and Photoshop specialist.
He is passionate about helping his students improve on their photography skills – which he is able to do thanks to more than 15 years of experience in the photography field. He also has more than seven years of experience in nature guiding, which explains why he can offer a pretty impressive portfolio of work. This Canon Photographic Safari weekend is an amazing opportunity to chat with Andrew and pick up hints, tips and info.
Win with Canon!
We love a competition … and there’ll be a few during the weekend. One of the prizes up for grabs will be the new Canon EOS RP. This small, light and practical full-frame mirrorless camera are for advanced amateurs looking to take a step up into Canon’s revolutionary EOS R System. As Canon’s smallest, lightest, full-frame digital interchangeable lens camera to date, it provides the ultimate blend of practicality and ease of use, with impressive image quality An exceptional camera, an exceptional prize.
Great wildlife pics
Gerald Hinde and Will Taylor have enormous wildlife photographic experience and quite a few exceptional books under their bush belts. With more than 30 years spent recording African animals and landscapes, they have an enormous amount of knowledge about photographing animals in the bush … knowledge Gerald will willingly (and entertainingly) share during the weekend. You’ll also be amongst the first to see their amazing new book, The Big Seven (where they highlight the Big Five plus two more they feel belong in this exciting and dangerous group … wild dog and cheetah). R650, RPH Publishing.
Thanda Safari’s tented camp … straight Out of Africa!
Our Canon Photographic Safari weekend is at the brilliant Thanda Safari private game reserve … set against the awe-inspiring backdrop of the historic Zulu heartland in KwaZulu-Natal. For an experience that’s straight Out of Africa, the Thanda Tented Camp is hard to beat. Sitting high on the hills and offering breathtaking views of the Lebombo Mountains, this destination is all claw-footed bathtubs and luxurious outdoor showers and an entire room where the canvas walls can be rolled up to complete your experience of sleeping right in the heart of the bush. When you step outside your room onto your private deck, with complimentary Amarula nightcap in hand, and gaze up at the stars, you really do start to feel that you’re living the movie. The 15 tented rooms are dotted around a central boma area where you meet up with other guests to enjoy meals, take a dip in the infinity pool, or have a drink at the bar. If seeing, and photographing, the Big Five is something you’ve always wanted to do, then Thanda won’t just show them to you … it will give you the kind of real-life brushes with nature you’ll never forget. Details: thanda.co.za.
All the deets you need to know …
The readers’ event takes place from the afternoon of Friday, September 13 to after breakfast on Sunday, September 15.
Accommodation is in the (very luxurious) Thanda Tented Camp.
There’ll be four photographic game drives, a wildlife photography talk and the opportunity to have one-on-one chats with the professionals.
You’ll be able to download three of your best photographs at the event and have them printed to take home.
The weekend rate includes all the above, as well as meals and selected local beverages (house wines, soft drinks, local spirits and beers). The rate for the weekend is R5 773 per person, sharing (which includes the conservation levy); or R8 573 single. No children under 16. Payment in full to secure. Details: Booking on [email protected] or 032 586 0149 – you must quote GET IT CANON SAFARI to get the special Canon Safari experience.
