The ultimate guide to photographing at Mashatu

Mashatu is fast becoming one of the top destinations for Wildlife Photography in Southern Africa.

• Sightings of leopards, lions and cheetahs are common and there’s often action involved. Be sure to always have your camera settings ready for action. At any given moment ask yourself “if a lions suddenly runs past giving chase to something, will I be ready”.
• Don’t just concentrate on the big cats. Mashatu has so much diversity. In the wet season there are carpets of green and yellow, creating stunning backdrops for most subjects. In the dry season look out animals kicking up dust as they move about, creating wonderful silhouette and rim-lighting shots.
• If you are shooting with a large telephoto zoom lens a monopod is useful on the vehicle, unless of course you have booked the Photo vehicle (see next point).
• If you are serious about photography, consider booking the Photo Vehicle. You will have exclusive use of a vehicle that has been specially adapted for photographers. There’s ample place for your equipment as well as support for those heavy lenses.   Photo Vehicle guests are accompanied by a photographic guide who has experience in both photography as well as wildlife.
• Book a session at one of our underground hides, which have been specifically designed with photographers in mind. Numerous award-winning photos have been taken from our hides including the Natural History Museum Photographer of the Year 2013 and Botswana Photographer of the year 2017. In addition, Team USA won gold in the 2018 World Photographic Cup with a photo taken from the hide. It’s a must for any serious wildlife photographer. Bring a telephoto zoom lens for birds and a wide angle for the bigger mammals.
• If you need a little help while there, you can book a tutor session with the resident photographer.

Images and text by: Janet Kleyn