Welcome to a journey of discovery in the heart of South Africa! From the dramatic coastal landscapes of Cape Town to the wild savannas of the Sabi Sands, this expedition offers an unforgettable blend of wildlife, culture, and natural beauty. Together, we’ll explore iconic locations, capturing the essence of South Africa through the lens.
At Gaia, we believe photography is about more than just pictures—it's about stories, connections, and the thrill of experiencing nature at its best. Whether you’re photographing a lion stalking the grasslands or the vibrant streets of Cape Town, this expedition is designed to take your photography to new heights.
Highlights:
CAPE TOWN: Spend 4 days in the ultimate landscape paradise - Cape Town! Home to Table Mountain, one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, beautiful beaches, stunning biodiversity, and the African Penguin.
RHINO SANCTUARY: Spend 3 days volunteering at a Wild Rhino Sanctuary that rescues orphaned black and white rhinos whose numbers continue to decline due to poaching. The Wild Rhino Sanctuary is closed to the public.
SABI SANDS: Seeing the "Big Five" in the wild is one of the most memorable things one can ever experience. The African continent is the only place in the world where big game still roams freely in great numbers. We will stay in a luxury tented camp in the Sabi Sands. Each guest will have an end seat on open game viewers to maximize photographic opportunities.
The Trip:
Even though our trips are focused on photography. everyone is welcome, regardless of photography level, age, equipment or physical condition. Non-photographers are also welcome!
Some days will be more relaxed than others - won't do any big walks, but we wake up practically every day for the sunrise and photograph until dark and some days the road will be long.
On this expedition, we intend to pass on to participants all our photographic and videography knowledge, from animal behaviour to planning a photo/video and final editing, tips on the market, prints, working with brands, models, producing and much more. There will be 10 days of photographic experiences in different landscape and light conditions, in addition to part of our time being devoted to theory and post-editing. The group will be relatively small - between 10 and 12 people and most journeys and tours will be made in 2 private cars and accommodation in twin or triple rooms, depending on the group's disposition.
Airport pick up & drop off (if arriving within stated dates/times)
Internal flight from Cape Town during itinerary
Twin share basis
All transport to excursions
All meals as outlined in the itinerary
All game drives as outlined in the itinerary
All park admissions and entrance fees
Guiding/host during trip
International airline tickets or other tickets before/after the trip.
Travel Insurance is compulsary and needs to be purchased when you sign up for trip and pay deposit
Photographic equipment insurance
Any extra trips, visits or activities NOT outlined in the itinerary
Any extra nights if you're staying on after the itinerary
Any extra food, meals or snacks NOT outlined in the itinerary
Extra drinks & beverages NOT outlined in the itinerary
Personal spending money & money for tips
On arrival, we will take a private transfer to our accommodation on the South Peninsula.
After settling into our accommodation we will venture to Camps Bay nestled between the Atlantic ocean and The Twelve Apostles Mountain Range. We will immerse ourselves in the stunning scenery and lounge on the wide white beach, regarded as one of Cape Town's top spots to catch a mesmerising sunset.
In the evening celebrate with a welcome dinner.
Dinner included.
Today we explore the spectacular Cape Peninsula and take sunset pics on Chapmans Peak.
Spend time at Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town, home to the African Penguin. Pristine white sands and calm turquoise waters hemmed in by gigantic granite boulders. Boulders Beach is one of the Cape Peninsula’s most magnificent beaches and is protected as part of the Table Mountain National Park.
We will spend time on the beach, boardwalk, and boulders capturing African Penguins. The South Peninsula is also home to one of the world’s most spectacular passes, Chapman’s Peak Drive.
We will venture on Chapmans Peak catching some sunset shots before heading to a local eatery for dinner.
Breakfast included.
Sunrise Hike & Free Afternoon
Up early to climb Lions Head an iconic 669 m mountain in Cape Town at sunrise.
Lions Head is is located between Table Mountain and Signal Hill and offers views of the Atlantic Ocean and Table Mountain. Lions Head is a playground for nature lovers and adventure seekers. On reaching the top of the Head, we will take in the amazing panoramic views across this fantastic city and beyond. We'll spend time exploring the area and enjoy a light snack with refreshments before we walk back down.
Free afternoon to explore the city, Bo Kaap, shop at the V&A, go to Robben Island, the choice is yours!
Packed breakfast included.
After a relaxing morning editing, around lunchtime we will head to The Kogelbaai (Cool Baai Beach) a range of mountains along the False Bay coast in the Western Cape of South Africa.
They form part of the Cape Fold Belt, starting south of the Elgin Valley.
The Kogelberg area has the steepest and highest drop directly into the ocean of any southern African coastal stretch and is one the world's greatest and possibly the most biodiversity hot spots in the world.
We’ll organize a sunset photoshoot in this beautiful place.
Breakfast included.
After breakfast, we will load up the vehicles and travel to the airport to catch a domestic flight to a Rhino Sanctuary in the heart of the Mpumalanga to meet Rhino Rehabilitator Petronel Nieuwoudt. Petronel founded Care For The Wild in 2001 due to the drastic increase in the number of rhino poaching incidents within South Africa, resulting in orphan rhinos needing a specialized sanctuary that would rehabilitate and eventually, release them back into the wild.
Care for Wild is also home to many different animal and plant species. The reserve, together with surrounding areas, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains contain the best-preserved, oldest, and most diverse sequence of known volcanic and sedimentary rocks on Earth. Our home for the night at Care for Wild is in shared cabins. Each room is equipped with comfortable beds, en-suite bathrooms, and electrical outlets.
Accommodation: Care for Wild Volunteer Village
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
After breakfast, we join Petronel and her team for the full day to get a true understanding of the effects of the rhino poaching crisis in Africa. We will learn about the rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned calves, and the rewilding and release processes.
We will also meet their K9 Unit and hear about their ongoing monitoring, protection and conservation of the rhino species and their ecosystem and are fortunate to get a behind-the-scenes look into the daily running of the rhino sanctuary and how it evolves as the needs and requirements change.
The sanctuary runs a structured and timetabled programme that is designed to meet the needs of the rhinos under their care, however, as they are a Rhino Sanctuary on call 24/7 the programme may be altered at any given time.
Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary operates a ‘hands-off’ approach to caregiving. Their sole purpose is to rescue, rehabilitate and re-wild rhinos so that they can be released successfully back into their natural ecosystems.
We will assist in milk preparation, bottle feeding and boma care, participating in behavioural observations and gaining completely new insights into the world of rhino care, rehabilitation and conservation. We will be able to take photos and videos to document our experience.
Accommodation: Care for Wild Volunteer Village
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, we will bid farewell to the Rhinos and all the unsung hero's at the sanctuary and load up our vehicles and travel as a group to the Sabie Sands home to Africa’s iconic Big 5; Elephant, Lion, Buffalo, Rhino, and Leopard, majestic birds of prey and unrivalled density of big game.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Each morning after coffee we will start our photographic/videography adventure at first-light to sights of animals waking and preparing to start their day within the Sabi Sands Game Reserve. Perched on trees, hidden behind bushes or out in the open at a watering hole, the open-top vehicle safari allows us to pry on unsuspecting animals in their natural habitat. Each guest will be allocated an end seat for photography and enjoy a scenic pit stop for a refreshing cup of coffee.
After our morning drive we will head back to camp for a delicious breakfast and free time before our afternoon safari.
The second safari of the day takes place in the late afternoon and early evening allowing the opportunity to spot the nocturnal animals of the bush as they roam over hilltops and through the expanse. As the sun goes down, we will be delighted by the surreal colours of a vibrant African sunset as darkness enshrouds all below. We will experience a classic safari sundowner with a brief pause for snacks and refreshments.
Umkumbe offers open plains and a waterhole, and is one of the world’s best-kept secret Big 5 gaming viewing destinations where nature tells a spectacular tale for all who will listen. The river and its surrounding vegetation change drastically from season to season and with the summer comes an abundance of wildlife and large mammals. Known for its open boundaries, the Sabi Sand River allows for unprohibited two-way traffic across the reserve. Thanks to a lack of human habitation between the Sand River and the Kruger National Park boundary, the entire area is left for wildlife to enjoy and roam freely.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included.
After our morning drive and breakfast, we'll bid farewell to the breathtaking landscapes of the African bush and transfer to Nelspruit Airport where home or your next destination awaits.
Ensure your flights are scheduled for 2 pm or later, allowing you ample time to relish the final moments of this unforgettable experience.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Volunteer and Explore was founded in 2006 by Alison Paulus who was inspired by her own amazing experiences volunteering with wildlife and later working alongside wildlife film maker Kim Wolhuter in Etosha and MalaMala. She dreamed of offering other people the chance to have a special experience like hers. She saw the many opportunities to make a difference with the help of volunteers.
The V and E team are passionate about standing up for conservation and against animal cruelty and poaching. “I am so proud of what we do at Volunteer and Explore”. “It’s about community, it’s about getting involved and it’s all about making a difference.”
Volunteer and Explore is a small family run business. A Mom and Daughter Team that are Proudly South African and based in Cape Town.
