Predators of South Luangwa
18th - 27th Sept, 2026
An unforgettable photography adventure in South Luangwa National Park in search of leopards, lions and wild dogs.
Trip highlights
Peak dry season
In September, South Luangwa comes alive. Wildlife gathers along the river and shrinking lagoons, making sightings intense and frequent. Leopards seek some breeze up in the trees. Buffalo crowd the last remaining water in the lagoons - often with lions watching nearby. Wild dogs begin roaming again after denning season, while vibrant colonies of carmine bee-eaters nest along the riverbanks, creating unforgettable photo opportunities.
Lions, leopards and wild dogs
South Luangwa is one of Africa’s top spots for big cats - especially leopards, which are seen here more often than almost anywhere else. It’s also one of the few parks in Africa where wild dog numbers are growing, offering exciting chances to witness hunts and social behavior up close.
Night game drives
When the sun sets our safari continues. South Luangwa allows night drives, giving us rare access to the nocturnal world. We’ll search for elusive creatures like genets, civets, owls, hyenas, and servals - and often catch leopards or lions on the move, hunting under the cover of darkness.
Only 6 spots available in this once in a lifetime photography experience!
Priority contacts get first access to early bird bookings before public launch.
When?
Sept 18th to 27th 2026
Group Size
Max 6 people
Price
€5,900
€5,200 Early Bird*
*Only for Priority List members
PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY
This tour is designed to be comfortable and accessible for anyone in reasonable health - there are no strenuous physical requirements or extended hikes. However, participants should be prepared to manage hot daytime temperatures, typically averaging between 28–35°C (82–95°F), while evenings and early mornings are cooler, averaging around 15–20°C (59–68°F). Staying hydrated and protecting yourself from the sun is essential. The days are structured to include restful periods at camp, ensuring you’ll feel refreshed and ready for every wildlife encounter.
EXPERIENCE
This photography tour welcomes both passionate beginners and seasoned photographers. As long as you’re comfortable with the basics - such as setting your camera’s shutter speed, aperture, and ISO - you’ll find yourself right at home. Throughout the tour you’ll receive personalized guidance tailored to your skill level, ensuring you capture incredible images while developing your photography skills, no matter your starting point.
Elephants crossing the Luangwa River; in the background you can see the camp where we will stay during the safari.
What makes it special?
Thornicroft giraffe with her baby.
Expertise Built from Experience
Paolo personally explored South Luangwa National Park extensively across multiple seasons, developing deep familiarity with its varied landscapes, wildlife habits, and optimal photography locations. This first-hand knowledge ensures you’ll be positioned perfectly to capture unforgettable wildlife moments.
Ethical Wildlife Encounters
While Paolo will offer comprehensive photography guidance throughout our journey, we’ll be accompanied on every game drive by a highly experienced local guide. These guides don’t rely on radios or phones to chase sightings; instead, they use exceptional tracking skills and intimate knowledge of wildlife behavior to bring us close to predators quietly and respectfully. As a result, we’ll often find ourselves enjoying incredible sightings without any other vehicles in sight, fostering an immersive and ethical wildlife experience.
Exclusive Access to Wild Areas
Leveraging the expertise of our local guide we’ll venture into some of the most remote and prolific wildlife areas in South Luangwa. Away from busy routes, you’ll experience the tranquility and thrilling encounters that come from being immersed deep within this spectacular wilderness.
Conservation & Community Commitment
The lodge we’ll call home during our stay actively partners with Project Luangwa, an initiative dedicated to supporting local communities and protecting this precious ecosystem. By participating in this tour you’ll be directly contributing to sustainable tourism practices, positively impacting conservation efforts and helping empower the communities living alongside South Luangwa’s incredible wildlife.
What will I see?
This photo tour takes place exclusively within the spectacular South Luangwa National Park, a wildlife haven renowned globally for its extraordinary concentration of predators and diverse habitats.
Rather than rushing between multiple locations, we’ve intentionally planned a longer stay in this single, magnificent park. This allows for a more immersive, relaxed pace, maximizing your photography opportunities and ensuring you can deeply connect with and understand the local ecosystems.
South Luangwa is home to several fascinating species unique to the Luangwa Valley, including:
Thornicroft’s giraffe, distinguished by its unique coat patterns found only here
Crawshay’s zebra, characterized by narrower stripes than the more common Plains zebra
Thornicroft’s giraffe
Crawshay’s zebra
In addition to these special sightings, you can expect incredible photographic opportunities with:
Leopards – South Luangwa boasts one of Africa’s highest densities of these elusive big cats
Lions – prides of up to 20 are frequently seen resting along riverbanks or hunting near lagoons and open grasslands
African wild dogs – this area is one of the few were wild dogs population is currently increasing
Hippos – the Luangwa river offer the highest concentration of hippos in the world
Elephants, crocodiles, buffalo and a wide variety of antelope species – enriching every safari experience.
Bird lovers won’t be disappointed either. September offers excellent birding with clear skies, dry conditions, and the chance to photograph iconic species such as:
Southern carmine bee-eaters (often seen nesting along riverbanks)
Lilac-breasted roller
African fish eagle
Pel’s fishing owl
Grey-headed kingfisher
White-fronted and little bee-eaters
Woodland and brown-hooded kingfishers
Lappet-faced and white-backed vultures
Bateleur eagle
Ground hornbills
Yellow-billed stork and saddle-billed stork
By staying in one place longer, you increase your chances of witnessing exceptional wildlife behaviors and capturing truly unforgettable images—all while traveling at a comfortable, photographer-friendly pace.
What will I learn?
Understanding natural light and choosing the best exposure
Learn how to optimize your camera settings for different scenarios, whether it’s low light or super fast action
How to frame natural scenes, from wide landscapes to tight wildlife portraits, to create balance and harmony in your images
How to use shutter speed and aperture settings to create unique images
What lens to choose based on your vision
All the basics to capture images of animals in a truly wild landscape
Post-production basics, how to organize your files and backup strategies to make sure you won't lose your precious files
Our itinerary
Our days in South Luangwa follow the rhythm of the wild: early starts, golden light and long quiet moments that lead to unforgettable encounters. Each activity is designed to maximize your photographic opportunities while allowing time to reflect, learn and rest in one of Africa’s most extraordinary and pristine ecosystems.
Day 1 – Arrival & First Sunset
You’ll be welcomed at Mfuwe Airport by our trusted guides and transferred to our accommodation (transfer is about 40 mins). After settling in we’ll meet for a first group session where Paolo will walk you through the plan for the following days and share some essential field techniques to ensure everyone is ready to make the most of each ecnounter.
In the late afternoon we’ll head out for a relaxed first photo session by the river where elephants, hippos, fish eagles, puku and impala are often seen. It’s the perfect way to warm up, set your camera settings, and ease into the wild rhythm of South Luangwa.
Days 2–9 – Sunrise to Stars
Each day follows a carefully planned structure to give you the best light and most wildlife activity while ensuring plenty of extra time to learn grow as a photographer:
05:30 – Early wake-up with fresh coffee and light breakfast.
06:00 – Morning game drive as the first light breaks and predators are still active. We’ll adapt our routes based on recent sightings and seasonal activity.
10:00 – Return to camp for a well-earned break and rest.
12:00 – Group lunch and casual discussion of the morning’s sightings, with space to cover photography topics and share insights.
13:00–15:00 – Downtime and one-on-one sessions with Paolo, tailored to your experience level and creative goals.
15:30 – Afternoon safari drive, chasing golden light and searching for dramatic moments.
After sunset – Unlike many parks, South Luangwa allows us to stay out after dark, giving us the unique chance to photograph nocturnal species like hyenas, civets, genets and, if we’re lucky, leopards and lions on the hunt.
19:30 – Return to camp, followed by dinner under the stars.
Each day is flexible—crafted to follow the wildlife, respond to the light and adapt to the needs of the group. On the evenings we may gather for short image reviews or informal talks depending on energy levels.
Day 10 – Final Light
On our last morning we’ll head out for one more sunrise drive - a chance for final encounters and reflections. After returning to camp and checking out, you’ll be transferred back to Mfuwe Airport for your onward journey, carrying with you a gallery of powerful images and the memory of an immersive experience in one of Africa’s richest and wildest places.
Only 6 spots available in this once in a lifetime photography experience!
Priority contacts get first access to early bird bookings before public launch.
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Continuous assistance with your photography and image processing by Paolo Sartori
17 private safari game drives; we will have a dedicated vehicle where each guest will have a “window” seat, giving you the best chances to see and photograph any wildlife we will encounter
9 nights in luxury tented camp
Two persons per room (i.e. shared double occupancy), unless single supplement option is exercised and secured at the time of payment of deposit;
Ground transport from Mfuwe airport to our destination and back
All tourism taxes and park entry fees
Snacks and beverage during game drives
Plenty of time for Q&A and one-on-one learning with Paolo
Access to a private Whatsapp and Facebook group to share, plan, and collaborate with Paolo and other attendees leading up to, and after the workshop
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Airfare to and from Mfuwe, Zambia
Mealtime drinks
Non-mealtime snacks and drinks
Credit Card surcharges
Any purchases of a personal nature
Guide tips
All wines and liquors
Travel Insurance (highly recommended)
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The workshop is limited to 6 seats. Apply via the button at the end of this page. If there is still a spot available, you will be given instructions to make your deposit to secure your spot.
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The price of the trip is 5900 €.
A deposit of 2300 € will be due to confirm the booking.
The remainder will be due 90 days before the trip departs.
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To reserve your spot we do require a 1780€ deposit. That deposit is only refundable for 48 hours after booking.
Once you pay for the rest of your trip you can receive the following refunds on the rest of the trip (deposits not included):
More than 90 days before the trip = 100% refund.
Between 90 and 60 days before the trip = 50% refund.
Less than 60 days before trip departure = 0% refund.
We highly recommend trip insurance.
We may cancel a trip prior to the start date for reasons including (but not limited to) insufficient participation, weather conditions, or other instances that may impede trip operations. In this case, you will receive a refund for funds paid towards the trip cost. You will not receive any refund for hotels, flights, or transportation you booked before or after the trip.
A legal language version of our trip cancellation is this...
We reserve the right to cancel any trip, at any time, prior to the scheduled departure date for any reason whatsoever, including without limitation, insufficient participation, local weather conditions or logistical problems that, in our sole judgment, may impede trip operations. In the event we cancel your trip for any reason whatsoever other than a force majeure event, your sole and exclusive remedy shall be the refund of all payments we received from you as of the date of cancellation. The payment of the refund shall release us from any and all other or further liability in any way related to such cancellation. We may make payments to our suppliers (permits, transportation companies, etc.) far in advance of the scheduled trip departure date. Accordingly, if a trip is cancelled due to a force majeure event (e.g. war, labor strikes, earthquake, flooding or any other cause beyond our control), we will undertake commercially reasonable efforts to promptly refund the portion of any amounts paid by you that have, in turn, not already been advanced to suppliers. In addition, we will use commercially reasonable efforts to recover and refund to you the balance of your payment amounts that were advanced to suppliers, less our expenses, if any, of such recovery, as promptly as possible. However, we do not guarantee you recovery of any portion of advance payments made to our suppliers. We are not responsible for, and you hereby release and forever discharge us from, any expense or cost incurred by you in preparing for or arising or resulting from a cancelled trip. If you cancel your trip, we will refund your payment as follows: (a) cancellation 90 days or more prior to trip departure – 100% of your payment will be refunded, with the exception of the deposit amount; (b) cancellation between 90 - 60 days prior to trip departure - 50% of your payment will be refunded, with the exception of the deposit amount; or (c) cancellation less than 60 days prior to departure, or during trip – no refund will be made.
Camera Equipment
This trip is designed to help you build a stunning portfolio of wildlife images, from dramatic predator portraits to atmospheric wide-angle scenes. You’ll be shooting almost exclusively from a custom safari vehicle, where wildlife sightings can vary from close-range encounters to distant animals in open landscapes or woodland. Here’s how to prepare your gear.
Camera Bodies
A mirrorless or DSLR camera with interchangeable lenses is essential. Modern mirrorless systems with fast autofocus and good low-light performance (like Canon R5/R6, Sony A7RIV/V, Nikon Z8, etc.) are ideal for wildlife work. However, a well-set-up DSLR system will also perform well.
We recommend bringing two camera bodies if possible - this allows you to switch focal lengths quickly without missing critical moments.
Lenses for Wildlife
focal lenghts of 100 to 300mm are incredibly useful for environmental portraits or when animals approach the vehicle - expect many encounters to be quite close to the vehicle
400–600mm lenses are ideal for tight portraits, birds, and distant subjects - particularly useful for photographing predators like leopards or wild dogs across open clearings
A zoom lens (e.g. 100–400mm, 200–500mm, 200–600mm etc.) is recommended as your primary lens for flexibility
If you have a prime telephoto (400mm f/2.8 or 600mm f/4) it will shine in low light and for more distant subjects
Teleconverters (1.4x or 2x) can be useful if you’re comfortable using them
Lenses for Close Encounters
While telephoto lenses are essential, you’ll also want to pack a shorter zoom for those incredible moments when wildlife gets very close to the vehicle—which happens often in South Luangwa.
A 24–70mm or 24–105mm lens is perfect for tight framing of elephants, giraffes, or hippos just a few meters away, capturing the emotion and detail of the encounter.
These lenses are also ideal for wider storytelling shots showing the animal in context with the environment - especially useful in golden light near the river.
Other Essentials
Extra memory cards and batteries – Expect to shoot several thousand images per day during active sightings.
Laptop + external SSD – For daily backups and image review. Paolo will guide you through safe workflow and storage practices throughout the tour.
Sturdy camera bag or backpack – Ideally something that fits under your seat and keeps your gear protected and accessible.
Camera cleaning gear – Dry season conditions are typically clear, but dust is everywhere. A battery powered blower, a brush and a lens/sensor cleaning kit will be essential to ensure you’ll keep shooting through the trip.
Need Gear Advice?
If you’re unsure what to bring or are thinking about renting a lens, Paolo will be happy to give tailored advice based on your experience level and creative goals. Don’t hesitate to get in touch before the trip—we’re here to help you arrive prepared and confident.
YOU WILL RECEIVE A MORE DETAILED INFORMATION DOCUMENT WITH ALL THE INFOS ABOUT WHAT TO PACK 90 DAYS BEFORE YOUR TRIP. THE DOCUMENT WILL INCLUDE SPECIFICS OF WHEN AND WHERE TO MEET, GEAR AND CLOTHING RECOMMENDATIONS AND ALL THE VARIOUS INFORMATIONS YOU MIGHT NEED.
Getting there
We will pick you up at Mfuwe Airport (MFU) at any time on Day 1 of the trip. From there, it’s a short and scenic transfer directly to our lodge on the banks of Luangwa River, where your wildlife photography adventure begins.
The most common route is to fly into Lusaka (LUN) and then take a domestic flight to Mfuwe with Proflight Zambia. These domestic flights are operated daily but must be booked separately from your international flight.
If you’re flying from Europe or North America, we highly recommend booking your entire journey to Mfuwe on a single ticket with Qatar Airways. This option is often available and gives you the advantage of:
Protection in case of delays or cancellations
Simplified connections and less stress
If your international flight arrives in Lusaka too late to catch the same-day connection to Mfuwe, we recommend arriving one day early. Let us know and we’ll be happy to assist with transfers and hotel arrangements in Lusaka.
As always, feel free to reach out if you’d like help planning your route—we’re happy to assist.
Only 6 spots available in this once in a lifetime photography experience!
Priority contacts get first access to early bird bookings before public launch.