Ellies at the PhotoMashatu hides

Mashatu is a top Photography destination with many award-winning shots having been taken at Mashatu.

A must for photographers during the dry season is a visit to the Photographic Hides. These hides are sunken and you photograph animals at eye level while they take a drink. The most sought after photos are usually of elephants.

Many guests become very overwhelmed when the elephants arrive and start frantically taking photos without giving much thought to what they want to achieve.

Photographer, Trevor Kleyn has hosted many groups at Mashatu’s hides and has shared a few ideas for when the elephants arrive.

Don’t panic, they normally hang around for a while so have a look at the scene and decide what you want to capture.
Decide if you want to start with a wide angle and then later change to a telephoto lens for close-ups.
Be aware that light can be tricky with dark skinned animals such as elephants. Check which side the light is coming from and shoot on the opposite side if possible.

Here’s a selection of elephant images taken by Trevor at the hide for some inspiration.