Let’s get this out of the way: I love both.

I’ve photographed leopards from the open seat of a Land Cruiser with a guide whispering, “She’s about to hunt,” and I’ve also spent six dusty days driving solo through the Central Kalahari with nothing but lion tracks and the occasional springbok to keep me company.

And the truth is, both types of safari—guided and self-drive—have a place in your wildlife photography journey.

But they couldn’t be more different.

If you’re planning your first trip (or your tenth), here’s what I’ve learned after years of switching between the two, and some honest thoughts about when to pick one over the other.

What Is a Guided Safari, Really?

Let’s start here, because I think a lot of people misunderstand what a guided safari is.

No, it’s not just “someone else drives.”

It’s a full-on experience: a trained guide, often born and raised in the bush, helps you interpret animal behaviour, navigate the park, and even predict what’s going to happen before it does.

I remember being in South Luangwa with a guide named Andrew. We were parked near a sleeping lion pride, and everyone else had driven off. But Andrew noticed a flicker in one lioness’s ear and said, “Wait. Something’s coming.”

Five minutes later, a herd of buffalo wandered into the scene—and we captured the most tense, cinematic standoff I’ve ever photographed.

That’s the kind of thing you get on a guided safari: experience, instinct, and access.

And a Self-Drive Safari? Welcome to the Wild Side

Self-driving is a whole different beast.

It’s you, a map (sometimes), your gear, and the wilderness.

You wake yourself up. You decide which roads to take. You manage your fuel, food, tyre pressure, and where you’re going to sleep.

Sounds stressful?

Sometimes it is.

But also? It’s one of the most liberating and immersive ways to explore Africa.

In May, I spent ten nights in Botswana’s Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Just me, a Hilux with rooftop tents, and a week’s worth of food and water.

There were no fences. No signal. No other vehicles.

But also, no one is telling me when to stop, when to leave, or how long I can photograph that jackal walking into the sunrise.

That moment, with the wind picking up dust around the pan and the silhouette perfectly lined up with my 600mm? That shot would’ve never happened in a group setting. I would’ve had to leave.

Let’s Break It Down: The Pros and Cons

Guided Safaris: The Good Stuff

✅ Expert knowledge: Your guide knows the park, the wildlife, and how to get the best sightings.

✅ No logistics stress: You don’t have to worry about flat tyres, finding fuel, or getting lost.

✅ Photographer-friendly setups: Many photo safaris utilise custom vehicles equipped with beanbag rests, low angles, and guides who understand the importance of light.

✅ Higher success rate: If you want leopards, lions, or that classic kill shot, a good guide seriously increases your odds.

✅ Time of day access: In places like Zambia or Tanzania, lodges and guides can stay out longer or return later than regular tourists.

Guided Safaris: The Limitations

❌ Less flexibility: You’re often sharing a vehicle. If someone wants to move on, you might have to.

❌ No control over stops: Can’t always stop where you want, especially if the guide doesn’t understand photographers’ needs.

❌ Cost: High-end guided trips are expensive. Worth it—but not budget-friendly.

Self-Drive Safaris: The Good Stuff
✅ Complete freedom: Stay with a sighting as long as you want. Revisit areas. Move at your pace.

✅ More affordable: Especially in South Africa, Namibia, or Botswana (if you already have some gear), it can save you thousands.

✅ Perfect for experimentation: You can test slow shutters, drive loops for light, try wide-angle setups—no pressure.

✅ Solo solitude: There’s nothing quite like watching a cheetah stalk while you sip coffee in silence, no engine noise but your own.

Self-Drive Safaris: The Challenges
❌ Hard to shoot and drive: Especially if you’re alone. You’ll miss shots while reversing or looking for a pull-off.

❌ Safety: You need to know animal behaviour. Getting too close, misreading cues, or even getting stuck can be risky.

❌ No real-time info: You don’t have a guide on the radio calling in sightings. You might miss 90% of what’s going on.

❌ Photography limitations: You can’t go off-road in most national parks. You’re stuck to the road—unless you’re in private conservancies.

Which Is Best for You? Ask These Questions.

1. Are You New to Africa?

Go guided. Trust me. You’ll learn 10x faster from watching a great guide work.

My first trip to Botswana was guided, and it helped me understand animal movement, track reading, and what to listen for—skills I now use when self-driving.

2. Do You Have a Long Lens?

In self-drive parks like Etosha or Kruger, a 600mm or 400mm + teleconverter becomes essential. You can’t go off-road, so you need reach.

Guided safaris often bring you closer, and the open vehicles allow for lower angles and better compositions.

3. Do You Like Independence?

If you hate being told when to stop shooting, self-driving might be your thing.

But be honest with yourself: can you handle a 5 am start without a wake-up call? Can you change a tyre while baboons harass you from the trees?

4. Are You Planning to Build a Portfolio or Have Fun?

If you need results—fast, sharp, dramatic wildlife photos—a guided trip will outperform every time.

However, if you want to delve deeper, chase light, and cultivate a more personal style, self-driving allows you to explore that side of yourself.

What I Recommend (From Experience)

Here’s my honest take after doing both styles across multiple countries:

👉 Start guided. Then go self-driving. Then combine them.

I run my South Luangwa trip in Zambia as a fully guided safari with local expert trackers and an open vehicle just for photographers. It’s the perfect place to learn, experiment, and build confidence.

Then I offer self-drive experiences in the Kalahari—not just for adventure, but to teach you how to be self-sufficient, scout for sightings, and work with extreme light. We cook on the fire, sleep under stars, and build stories that go beyond the classic “lion on a termite mound.”

The most powerful thing? When a guest joins both types of workshops, they leave with confidence and creativity.

📸 Ready to master wildlife photography in the field?

Join me on an unforgettable workshop where we put these lessons into practice—out in the wild, where it really matters.

see upcoming workshops

Final Thoughts: It’s Not Either/Or—It’s a Journey

I used to think self-driving was “better” because it was more real. Then I started guiding and realised how transformative a good guided experience can be.

Now? I see them as two tools in your photographer’s toolkit.

One teaches you craft.
The other builds your independence.
Both connect you more deeply to the wild.

And honestly? That’s what it’s all about.

If you’re unsure where to start, please feel free to send me a message or check the workshop calendar. Whether you want lions in the golden grass of Luangwa or silence under Kalahari stars, I’ve got a seat for you.