Wildlife Photo tour to cape town

DATES: TBC

PHOTO EXPERIENCE: All levels

PRICE: 4900$

DIFFICULTY: This is a light-medium level adventure tour, so there will be walking, light hiking and lots of swimming and diving. A scuba diving license is preferred, but not absolutely mandatory. Age - 18+

I’m thrilled to announce my very first wildlife photo tour, taking place in Cape Town, South Africa! This vibrant and picturesque city is one of the best places I've ever been to, and I can't wait to share it with you. Whether you're a beginner or a more experienced photographer, this trip is for you - Cape Town offers incredible access to a variety of wildlife, and I'll be there to help you hone your skills, develop creative approaches and help you better understand how to work with animals in the wild. During our 8-day adventure, we'll learn on location and capture some truly amazing shots of African wildlife. My top priority is to ensure that you have a fun and memorable experience, while also coming away with stunning photos that you'll be proud of. Join me on this unforgettable journey to Cape Town!


day 0

Meeting at the airport and transfer to the hotel.
Check-in at hotel: St James Guesthouses


day 1

We’ll ease into our trip with some introductory information on photographing wild animals and head over to Boulder Beach, where we’ll get up close and personal with African penguins. These playful creatures are very entertaining to observe and capture, so you’ll have a ball of a time snapping away the first half of the day.

In the evening we’ll get dinner at Kalk Bay harbour and review our first day’s work, as well as hang out with some local seals for good company.


DAY 2

On our second day, we’ll head to the Cape of Good Hope - we’ll spend the day among the most scenic landscapes of beaches, cliffs and ocean, and will have an opportunity of encountering local wildlife like zebras, antelope and ostriches! This is a great location for those interested in landscape photography too. It’s going to be a full day with lots to see and take in, so we’ll find a good spot for a lunchtime picnic and take time to bask in the gorgeous views.


DAY 3

Now we’ll be ready to get our feet wet! We’ll get our scuba gear and hop on a boat to explore the underwater world of the kelp forest where we’ll have good possibility of encountering the Sevengill shark and Cape Fur Seals! The maximum depth is only 12 meters - ideal for beginner divers. The shallow depths and scenic environment makes this the ideal environment for photographers aiming to capture these sharks in their natural habitat. Their curious nature means there is no baiting involved. If Sevengills are not evident, we’ll look out for the Spotted Gully sharks, and several species of catshark: the Pyjama catshark, Puffadder Shyshark, Leopard shyshark and Dark shyshark. These smaller sharks are between 50cm and 1.2 metres in length.

The Cape Fur Seal dive is super fun and interactive - the seals are very playful and are used to divers and are not shy at all, they will often jump in the water in large numbers to come and investigate and play with divers. A shallow section of the reef is the best spot to interact with the seals, while the deeper sections of the reef offer beautiful marine life.
Aside from the main attraction, the kelp forest is a beautiful environment to explore. There is an abundance of life in the kelp forest understorey. I’ll guide you on how to approach underwater photography and help refine your skills.

Important - this activity requires a diving license, if you are not a licensed diver - please let me know, and I’ll organize an alternate option for this day.

Included:

  • Two guided dives

  • Full equipment rental

  • Coffee / tea and lunch

  • Water and chocolates on boat

Excluded: Photo gear and cameras

In the evening, I’ll lead a presentation on the art of wildlife photography, and we can once again review/discuss the day’s experiences.


DAY 4

We’ll start the day with an early-morning return to Boulder Beach and have another go at capturing the local penguins. Some need time to re-familiarise or get comfortable with photography, but going back on location is also a major part of wildlife photography - we don’t always get lucky. So it’s important to take opportunities to get another shot.

Later in the day, we’ll reward ourselves and enjoy the fine things in life at the Peter Falke winery, which is nestled against the slopes of the Helderberg Mountains in the heart of the Stellenbosch winelands. South Africa is famous for its wines, so exploring the vineyards at sunset and indulging in wine tasting in a luxurious outdoor lounge is not to be missed!


DAY 5

Today we’ll drive down Chapman’s Peak - one of the world’s most beautiful coastal roads. This little road trip is an experience within itself, so we’ll make sure to make stops and capture the breathtaking scenery. The main destination is Hout Bay - a lively coastal town surrounded entirely by mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, known for its great food joints and the neighbourhood's most loved market. From here we will go to Duiker Island, home to 10 000 fur seals, where we will observe and swim with these friendly creatures in their natural habitat. Snorkeling is a great way to observe underwater life without all the more complicated equipment required for scuba diving.

Included:

  • Snorkeling gear

  • Short training session

  • Hot Drink and Snacks on the boat


DAY 6

We’ll immerse ourselves into the deep and go exploring for beautiful blue and mako sharks. This is another world, which every ocean enthusiast should experience at least once in their lifetime! Blue sharks are cobalt in colour and can reach lengths of 3.5 meters. Shortfin mako sharks are silver and bluish in colour and are more robustly built than the blues reaching lengths of over 4 meters and 1500 pounds. The depth of the dive is 8m max with visibility down 10 – 50 meters. There’s an option to scuba or snorkel.

Included:

  • Guided snorkel/Scuba dive.

  • Scuba/snorkeling gear

  • Snacks & cool drinks on boat.

  • Dive briefing and shark presentation.

Important - dive certification card (if snorkeling, dive card not needed)

In the evening I’ll give a storytelling lecture on my personal experience as a wildlife and underwater photographer.


DAY 7

Now that we’ve explored down below with our underwater expeditions, it’s time to go up above. Today we’ll check out Cape Town’s prominent landmark - the Table Mountain. The plateau overlooks the whole city and boasts spectacular views of the ocean, making it a popular tourist attraction, and for good reason! There are several hiking trails, which can take about 2h, but the cablecar is always an option for those not ready to break a sweat. Despite being in the middle of a large city, Table Mountain is still home to a wide variety of animals, the most common - Rock Hyrax or Dassie. If we’re lucky, we can also catch a glimpse of mongoose, Cape fox, genet, porcupine and caracal.

You will have some free time to explore the city of Cape Town and its central attractions.


DAY 8

It’s our last day so we’ll try make it count! While organising group adventures takes good planning, we also want to remain open and flexible to your interests. Some of our suggestion are:

  • a trip to Noordhoek beach - an expansive yet secluded beach popular for horse riding and various water sports.

  • finding good spots for drone photography

  • back to the Cape of Good Hope for some trekking

Aside for the plans above, the last day remains open to whatever is left unseen or uncaptured.


Day 9

Check out and airport transfer. Bon voyage!


ACCOMMODATION - 4* hotel - breakfast included - St James Guesthouses

EQUIPMENT - scuba/snorkeling gear will be provided. Camera equipment not included.

MEALS - Unless otherwise stated, food is not included in the price.

PRICE - $4900
Included in the price:
- 4* hotel accommodation with breakfast.
- All planned activities along with entry tickets, diving gear rental.
- Local transportation (minivan).

Not included in the price:
- Flights to Cape Town
- Meals, unless otherwise stated. - Camera gear

*This tour is designed to accommodate a small group of 6-8 people.

Get in touch for more info or to book your spot: dmitry.kokh@gmail.com