Wildlife Photography Course
Discover the Art of Wildlife Photography in the Heart of Dinokeng
Immerse yourself in the breathtaking world of wildlife photography at Tendeni Private Lodge, nestled within the pristine landscapes of Dinokeng Game Reserve. In an exclusive collaboration between MaiaWildlife and renowned Portuguese photographer Andreia Costa, our carefully crafted photography courses offer an unparalleled opportunity to capture the raw beauty of South Africa's wildlife.
Whether you're a passionate beginner or an experienced photographer looking to refine your skills, our workshops provide a unique blend of expert guidance, stunning natural environments, and intimate photographic experiences. Set against the backdrop of Dinokeng's diverse ecosystem, you'll learn from Andreia Costa's exceptional expertise, gaining insights into composition, lighting, animal behavior, and the subtle art of wildlife photography.
Our courses are more than just technical training – they're a journey into the heart of nature, where every click of the shutter tells a story of wild beauty, conservation, and the remarkable creatures that call this reserve home. Join us for an unforgettable photographic adventure that will transform your perspective and elevate your craft.
Where are you headed?
Our meeting point will always be at the O. R. Tambo International Airport , Johannesburg, South Africa.
There, one official driver from Dinokeng Events will be waiting for you.
From there you will have around one hour drive to the Dinokeng Game Reserve, were your guide will be expecting you.
DGR is the largest wildlife sanctuary in the province of Gauteng in a malaria free area. There the "Big Five"(lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros) roam free in the approximately 26.000 hectares of the reserve. The DGR is an exclusively conservation reserve, were they developed the concept that eco-tourism could become the source for uplifting the rural communities through sustainable employment. Dinokeng is the language of the baTswana and baPedi people, translated means "a rivers place"and the reserve is named for the many rivers that flow through it on their way to joining the Limpopo and Orange rivers.
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You will be accommodated in one of the newest lodges of Dinokeng, the 4* Tendeni Private Lodge, that offers our guests open-plan accommodations, each one furnished with king-size or double single beds and a ceiling fan, all units with inside bathroom fitted with toilet, shower and bath. The lodge also offers a communal lapa with a lounge, kitchen, dining area and bar, as well as an outdoor braai area and swimming pool. You can find more information about Tendeni in our "Partners" page.
Travelling to South Africa
-We strongly advise that when you start planning your experience in South Africa, you make a travel consultation with a doctor for information about vaccinations, etc. (The World Health Organisation recommends the following vaccines for South Africa: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, cholera, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), varicella, shingles, pneumonia and influenza)
-A link at the bottom of this page will show you a list of visa-free countries for travel to South Africa. This list may change without notice, so please check before your trip.
Ensure yourself that you comply with South African immigration regulations to have at least one blank page in your passport. Passengers whose passports do not contain a blank page will be subject to a fine and will be refused entry into the country.
-Travelling with children: At immigration, you require an International Birth Certificate showing the details of both parents.
If the parent is travelling alone, then the birth certificate needs to be certified. Check the link at the bottom of the page for more information.
Voltage
In South Africa the power plugs and sockets are of type N. Check out the following picture.
The standard voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. You can use your electric appliances in South Africa, if the standard voltage in your country is in between 220 - 240 V (as is in the UK, Europe, Australia and most of Asia and Africa). Manufacturers take these small deviations into account. If the standard voltage in your country is in the range of 100 V - 127 V (as is in the US, Canada and most South American countries), you need a voltage converter in South Africa. You can also consider a combined power plug adapter/voltage converter.
Insurances
All participants are expected to take out comprehensive medical and travel insurances in the event of unforeseen circumstances leading to participants falling ill or having to cancel their trip in South Africa.
Dress code
The entire event is very casual. Just one little reminder about colours, it is important the using of earth colours (greens, browns and khakis), specially for the game drives and bush walks.
Bush walks are walking safaris and we are invading the territory of the animals and possibly predators. For your safety and the safety of your group, you will be expected to dress in neutral tones (earth colours), so white, bright colours or busy patterns are not appropriate.
Dark colours, like blacks and dark blues are thought to attract flies and mosquitos. Red is also not a very good idea, predators identify red with wounded animals.
The weather in South Africa is nothing like one would expect, most people think that this part of the world is constantly warm, if not unbearably hot. Nothing could be more farther from reality. During the early morning and evening safaris a warm jumper, cardigan or coat is highly advised as it can get quite cold on the open plan jeeps.
Wear a hat/cap, anyone who’s spent time in the African sun can attest to the power of the rays, and wearing a hat/cap for safari is the first line of defence from sun damage.
Very confortable shoes at all time is a must, specially for the bush walks is recommended high trekking shoes.
Who is Andreia Costa ?
Click on the logo for more informations.
Andreia is a professional wildlife, landscape, and nature photographer who will ensure that this course becomes one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. Her passion for photography has taken her to some of the most extraordinary landscapes around the world, including the Northern Lights in Northern Europe, the mountains of South America, the diverse terrains of Asia and Central America, as well as the vast plains of Africa.
These travels have fueled her interest in untouched landscapes and remote destinations. Wildlife photography has been a consistent element of her journeys, as she believes that every location holds unique and undiscovered elements waiting to be explored.
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Prices
The price of your Wildlife Photography Couse is €2'850 (in sharing accommodations).
The event fees include: photography course, airport transfers, accommodation, all meals & drinks and sunrise/sunset safaris from Sunday to Saturday. The event fees do not include: flights, optional activities and private expenses.
The inscriptions will be validate just after the payment of 30% of the event fee (non-refundable). The participant agrees to pay the full payment until 60 days prior of the event. If the inscription will be made 60 days or less from the beginning of the event , the full fee should be payed for inscribing. The Maia Wildlife have the right to cancel all inscriptions, when the payments did not follow the conditions here described.
We have a limited number of inscriptions, early reservations are advised.
Don't forget to pack
Adaptor for South African wall plugs, if needed; sun cream; insects spray; hat/cap; sunglasses; swimming suit; pool towel; binoculars; photo camera material; basic medication;
And the most important, an open mind and lots of fun.
Itinerary & Course Modules:
​Day 1: Arrival in Johannesburg, South Africa
Upon your arrival at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, you will be greeted by a driver from our esteemed partner, Dinokeng Events. The driver will transport you to the 4-star Tendeni Private Lodge, located in the heart of the Dinokeng Game Reserve. Following a drive of approximately one and a half hours, you will be warmly welcomed by our hosts. You will then have the opportunity to relax and enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure. At the evening we will have a briefing about the week planing.
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Day 2: Morning safari and get to know each other
We will make our first safari to learn some basic rules and to get to know our terrain and our animals. After that we will go back to the lodge for a well deserved breakfast.
In the begging of the afternoon we will depart to a surprise location for some relaxing time and early dinner.
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Day 3: Camera Settings
We will start with an early morning safari of about 3h. After returning to the lodge and breakfast, we will have our first module about camera settings:
- ISO
- Aperture
- Shutter Speed
- Light Meter
And we will end the day with one beautiful sunset safari.
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Day 4: Focus
We will leave before sunset to try to get the first light of the day and capture some pictures.
Today we will talk about Focus, in our second module of the course.
- Manual focus
- Automatic focus
- Focus modes
We will finish our day again with an afternoon safari.
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Day 5: Equipment
Again Sunset and Sunrise safaris, and today the course modulo will be Equipment:
- Cameras DSLR vs Mirrorless
- Sensors Full Frame vs APS-C
- Lenses (Prime lenses, Zoom lenses, Telephoto lenses, Wide-Angle lenses, etc.)
Day 6: Morning safari followed by our fourth module the will be - Lightroom and treatment of images:
- RAW vs JPG
- Import via Lightroom
- Colour treatment
- Black & White treatment
- Masks
- Exportation via Lightroom
We will finish our day by walking in the 100 hectares of the lodge trying to find the perfect spot for some sunset photos and with a very special dinner under the stars.
Day 7: One last time, morning and evening safaris, and our last module of the course, Learning animal behaviour for photography:
- Understanding animal behaviour
- Observation skills
- Approaching and photographing animals
- Ethical behaviour
We will wind our day with a goodbye dinner.
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Day 8: Unfortunately the day of going back home has arrived. Is time to clean our materiel, packing and doing our check-out. After another delicious breakfast served by the Tendeni team, it's time to return home.
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We will take memories and experiences that will enrich our lives. This wild journey was much more than an adventure, was an immersion in the raw beauty of the African wilderness.
Each safari will be a promisse of natural wonders and each sunset will be a painting of colours in the sky that will chalenge any description.
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More we will say our goodbyes, more we will feel that we don't just take magnificent pictures with us, but also the feeling of having witness South Africa in the fully nature.
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(The itinerary can be changed accordingly with the group wishes, weather conditions, etc.)
