South Africa!
Experience a South African Photo Safari like no other with Road Runner! July 5 – 12, 2025
Imagine being the only people in the entire African bush… because that is the experience we have when we visit South Africa. There are no other vehicles, no other guests, just our group, as we book the entire lodge and reserve for our group. With a small group of no more than 12 guests, everyone will have a “window” seat and elbow room to maneuver gear, allowing everyone the opportunity for amazing views and image making.
Our lodging is 5-star, with unique bungalows, each has a view of the private reserve. Each meal will be prepared by a first-class chef and served either in the open-air lounge or outside under the stars.
Our chef is able to accommodate individual guest needs, such as vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free and more. Our hosts go to great lengths to make sure participant’s experience is one of a kind.
Each full day will consist of two game experiences. These experiences include game drives and unique hide experiences, which are alternated throughout our stay.
The hides will be experienced during the day and during the night time hours. The day hides provide amazing opportunities to birds and other wildlife that otherwise would never allow humans so close. Each hide provides a different experience, as the lodge has gone to great lengths to create environments that each type of animal or bird desire. No two hide experiences are the same.
For the night hide experiences, participants will have the opportunity to experience from sunset to sunrise at two different hides. Each overnight hide comes equipment with bathroom facilities with running water, a kitchenette, table and chairs to eat our chef-prepared meals and snacks comfortably, beds to rest or sleep as needed, and an unparalleled view into the African bush at night. A place you would never tread, but here, you are able to experience safely and comfortably.
Each hide (day or night) accommodates up to 4 guests and is equipped with rolling desk chairs and tripods with Arca-Swiss mounts. Hidden behind one-way glass, the animals come within 10 feet of you, none-the-wiser of your presence. It is truly extraordinary.
The open-vehicle game drives on this private reserve are also amazing. Our guides/drivers are all professional photographers with years of experience leading African safaris. Each is a naturalist with in-depth knowledge of the wildlife, avian-life and plant-life throughout the reserve. As experts in their field, our guides will be able to anticipate animal behavior, get us to the right place at the right time, and provide advice on how to capture the very best images. Our guides will get us close, while ensuring our safety.
Because this is a private reserve, we will also have access to unique experiences that cannot be had in other areas of Africa. You will be able to walk with the cheetahs; even get eye-level!
Depending on conditions, you may be to experience other wildlife at eye-level as well. In the past, we have been able to capture crocodiles and rhino. We may even be visited by the elephants during our evening Sundowners!
These are just a few examples of the opportunities that present themselves during our South African Photo Safari experience. As the reserve is managed under strict conservation principles, it is a one of kind location. With more than 80 species of mammals, with populations of giraffe, buffalo, white and black rhino, elephant, waterbuck, wildebeest, zebra, kudu, nyala, hippo, cheetah and lions; the reserve is a present-day microcosm of Africa’s rich past. The animals roam free and exist just as they did hundreds of years ago. Also present are the Zululand’s incredible variety of bird species, with more than 400 species have been spotted here over the years. What is happening at this reserve is a miracle and something to behold, as populations of near extinct animals are thriving.
Learn more and register for our South Africa trip here.
Botswana!
Experience Botswana from the land and water! Botswana from July 12 – 19, 2025
As noted in our first newsletter, we actually have two safaris running in 2025. Our next African safari experience takes place in Botswana, on the Chobe River and in the Chobe National Park. This safari consists of open-vehicle games drives with the national park and river excursions in a flat-bottom boat specifically designed for photographers.
We will again be staying at a 5-star lodge and hosted by amazing guides and photographers. Each room looks out over a watering hole frequented by elephants, warthogs, and various antelope species. Our meals will be catered by a professional chef, who will prepare amazing meals, from vegan to carnivore, everyone’s needs will be met.
Our safaris in Botswana will provide beautiful and unique photo opportunities that will allow you to capture animals both in the bush and at the water’s edge. We will spend about 75% of our time traveling the river system that separates Botswana from Namibia. This is because life happens on or near the water. Every animal will find their way to the river; either for safety or sustenance. And we will be right there!
Our flat-bottom boats are equipped with comfortable captain’s chairs that rotate 360º and each chair is equipped with a fully-articulating gimble head. This allows each participant to face the direction they desire to capture the image they see!
On the water, you will experience elephants and hippos unclose and personal. You may see hippos rafting, yawning, as well as demonstrating territorial behavior.
You may see elephants snorkeling, mating, and quenching their thirst at sunset before the head inland to rest for the night.
During the morning safaris on the water, you will be able to pull up close to birds and crocodiles as they wait for warmer temperatures. You may even see predators coming to the beach for a drink of water.
You will experience life on the river.
The game drive experiences within the Chobe National Park will be a bit different than the game drive experiences in South Africa. As we will be in a national park, we will not have the area to ourselves. But our guides know the park well and are adept at getting us to the right location at the right time. Our viewing experience in Chobe have been amazing! From our open-vehicles, everyone will have a window-seat and be able to get the shot! From predators to prey, you will see all sorts of animals.
Learn more and register for our Botswana trip here.
Our two African safari trips can be taken separately or joined together. It’s up to you!
The beauty of going to both locations is that you maximize your time in Africa but only fly in and out one time. Also, if you do both trips, we provide the night’s lodging between the trips and the flight to and from Botswana. You get to see two completely different regions of Africa and experience these areas in truly unique ways.
