Things to do in South Africa

Capture the moment on a photographic safari at Kariega Game Reserve

I am a qualified field guide, and my passion is photography so it makes it extra special when I can show guests how to capture the moment du…

By Brendon Jennings

Field Guide and Photographic Specialist

There is something quite special when the sun starts to rise and the light is just perfect for some early-morning photography. I enjoy the peace and quiet that Kariega Game Reserve offers and love to meet new people and share our little piece of paradise with them.

I am a qualified field guide, and my passion is photography so it makes it extra special when I can show guests how to capture the moment during our wildlife encounters. I have been fortunate to get some of my images published for causes that support conservation programmes in Africa. To have something you enjoy making a tangible difference to natural areas and animals is very rewarding. I hope to share this passion with my guests. I love the excitement that each game drives brings and I particularly enjoy seeing people’s reaction when they see their first animal in the wild.

To maximise the photography experience, guests need to stay a minimum of three nights at any of our lodges on our reserve. No previous photography experience is necessary although guests will need to bring their own equipment and it would help if guests had a basic idea on how to orient themselves around their camera and how to change the settings. As we head off on safari, we will discuss the best settings to use as we create the perfect composition. All focal lengths are welcome from wide-angle to telephoto.

The vehicle we use for our photographic safari is open-topped and is equipped with gimbals and clamps for longer lenses. However, I do find the simple bean bag remains the best in my opinion as it is quicker to use, giving more time to catch the action as it unfolds. If guests have the correct lenses, tripods and filters we can also offer landscape and night photography. Many guests travel with laptops so when we are back at the lodge, I can assist them with editing in Lightroom.

Seeing an animal in the perfect light, set against the beauty of our reserve and watching the joy as our guests capture the moment is the most rewarding part of my job.

Available in these itineraries…

Itinerary

Special Offer

Classic Garden Route Self-drive
by Helen Austin

Length11 Days

Price range£3,095 - £3,450pp
Itinerary

Special Offer

Safari and the City
by Adele Jones

Length8 Days

Price range£2,825 - £3,395pp

Alfred & Brendon Jennings

Brendon grew up in South Africa’s East London and started his safari career working in Kruger National Park and has run specialist photographic safaris for Africa Geographic in South Africa and Botswana. He’s been with the team at Kariega since 2005 and holds the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa’s (FGASA) Level Two qualification. When he’s not helping guests improve their photography skills, he enjoys music and sport.

Plan your holiday withAlfred&

Your journey will start with one of our UK team – someone like Laura, who's travelled extensively in South Africa. They’ll shape your ideas into the trip of a lifetime. But they won't do it alone. They'll draw on the expertise of our contacts on the ground, connecting you to the people who'll make your holiday one you'll always remember - ex banker who can show you the hottest foodie spots in Cape Town, the award-winning young sommelier who can introduce you to Stellenbosch's finest wines and the walking safari ranger who can guide you to the best game.

Laura Preston

Travel Expert for Alfred&

Having travelled extensively through Africa, Laura has a wealth of experience. She is passionate about Tanzania’s diversity from the quiet wilds of Ruaha that feel completely private to the silvery sands of Zanzibar and Stone Town’s spice-laced streets. In South Africa, she sought out the best views over Table Mountain, cocktail in hand, as well as the lesser-visited Kruger conservancies for more exclusive safaris. But her favourite place in the world has to be the Serengeti for its wide-open plains and incredible game that epitomise that feeling of Africa.
Wayne Howarth

Head Safari Guide at Kariega Game Reserve

Wayne loves being outdoors and has spent most of his life between the family farm and working on Private Game Reserves in the Eastern Cape. He has been guiding at Kariega for 12 years. His qualifications include Field Guide Association of South Africa (FGASA) Level 2, Advance Rifle Handling, Skippers Licence Category R and first aid. One of his career highlights was becoming a finalist in the 2021 Safari Guide of the Year competition.
Rupesh Kassen

Founder and guide of Eat Like A Local

Rupesh Kassen abandoned his decade-long career in banking to move to East Africa, where he trained and worked as a chef. He later became immersed in South Africa’s food scene and worked as a food critic before setting up Eat Like A Local in Cape Town. Rupesh now offers guided food tours to showcase the city and its diverse culture and history through food.
Fundi Ziqubu

Sommelier

Fundi was born in Durban and fell in love with wine when it was introduced to her by a few Capetonian friends. On discovering her passion she got the chance to study wine with the department of tourism in collaboration with the Sommeliers Academy. Being appointed sommelier at Lanzerac was a career highlight and in 2019 Fundi was named most up-and-coming wine steward by the Distell Inter-Hotel challenge.
Ntobeko Ntshingila

Duty Manager at Three Tree Hill Lodge

Ntobeko has been part of the Three Trees family for 13 years and describes it as a lovely journey with lots of room for growth and experience. She has her own family, including a daughter of 18, and a son, aged three. She lives in a nearby village with her parents, four siblings and three nephews. When not spending time with her family she manages her broiler chicken business, which brings her extra income.
Cheryl Blackburn

Owner and guide, Three Tree Hill Lodge

Being born in the Kruger National Park instilled in Cheryl a love of nature and wildlife. Having lived and worked as a guide in the Kruger reserve, and also in Botswana, she eventually got the opportunity to run her own lodge, with her growing family, in the lush KwaZulu Natal Drakensberg region. She still finds time to guide guests on foot, tracking white rhino in the neighbouring Spioenkop Game Reserve.