COUNTRY: Tanzania    PHOTO TYPE: Wildlife    TRIP LENGHT: 8 days    DATES: Feb 24 – March 2, 2024    GROUP SIZE: 8-12 guests 

Join me on a unique trip to Selous, one of Africa’s last wildlife paradises,   and experience amazing wildlife with giraffes, hippos, leopards and one of Africa’s largest populations of the endangered African wild dog. Add thousands of elephants and close to 5 000 lions, and I guarantee you great photo opportunities.

Mattias Klum

The sun slowly rises over the horizon and casts a golden light over the Miombo forest as we drive through the lush vegetation in southeastern Tanzania. As we pass by a herd of zebra, a pair of giraffes pop their heads up in between the trees to look for predators. We stop to photograph three giant elephants that quietly pass just a few meters in front of our jeep. Our goal is to find the pride of lions which we left just after sunset the night before. Suddenly we discover a leopard in a tree scanning the ground for an easy prey. Finally we see them again. The pride of lions, males and females eating on their prey from the night’s hunt while the little cubs run around and play. The early morning light filters through the trees making its way down to the lions. The conditions to capture amazing photos could not have been any better.

Zoom Photo Tours gives you a unique opportunity to accompany the world-renowned National Geographic photographer Mattias Klum and the photographer, to an untouched part of Africa – Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania.

With Mattias inspiring and knowledgeable guidance, we will visit one of the world’s last great wildernesses to photograph its spectacular wildlife. In Selous Game Reserve there are thousands of elephants roaming in the Miombo forest and close to 5,000 lions will give us amazing photo opportunities. There are also giraffes, hippos, leopard and one of Africa’s largest packs of the endangered African wild dog.

Join us on a journey to this incredible paradise for wildlife and nature photography while learning more about why a thriving nature is essential for a stable future on Earth.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Photograph Selous’ pristine wilderness.
• 14 safaris with both jeep and boat.
• Walking photo safaris led by skilled rangers.
• Great chances to photograph the endangered African wild dog.
• Capture Selous’ many elephants and large cats.
• The parks more than 5 000 lions.
• Personal tutoring from Mattias Klum throughout the trip.
• Post processing workshops with Mattias Klum.

The sun slowly rises over the horizon and casts a golden light over the Miombo forest as we drive through the lush vegetation in southeastern Tanzania. As we pass by a herd of zebra, a pair of giraffes pop their heads up in between the trees to look for predators. We stop to photograph three giant elephants that quietly pass just a few meters in front of our jeep. Our goal is to find the pride of lions which we left just after sunset the night before. Suddenly we discover a leopard in a tree scanning the ground for an easy prey. Finally we see them again. The pride of lions, males and females eating on their prey from the night’s hunt while the little cubs run around and play. The early morning light filters through the trees making its way down to the lions. The conditions to capture amazing photos could not have been any better.

Zoom Photo Tours gives you a unique opportunity to accompany the world-renowned National Geographic photographer Mattias Klum and the photographer to an untouched part of Africa – Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania.

With Mattias  inspiring and knowledgeable guidance, we will visit one of the world’s last great wildernesses to photograph its spectacular wildlife. In Selous Game Reserve there are thousands of elephants roaming in the Miombo forest and close to 5,000 lions will give us amazing photo opportunities. There are also giraffes, hippos, leopard and one of Africa’s largest packs of the endangered African wild dog.

Join us on a journey to this incredible paradise for wildlife and nature photography while learning more about why a thriving nature is essential for a stable future on Earth.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Photograph Selous’ pristine wilderness.
• 14 safaris with both jeep and boat.
• Walking photo safaris led by skilled rangers.
• Great chances to photograph the endangered African wild dog.
• Capture Selous’ many elephants and large cats.
• The parks more than 5 000 lions.
• Personal tutoring from Mattias Klum throughout the trip.
• Post processing workshops with Mattias Klum.

SELOUS GAME RESERVE

In southeastern Tanzania lies Selous Game Reserve. With an area as large as Denmark, it has been called Africa’s last wilderness. It is easy to understand why when you see the enormous diversity of animals found here. With an area of ​​over 50,000 km2, Selous is the second largest protected natural area in Africa and an area that is relatively unaffected by man. The reserve is crossed by the mighty Rufiji River and Stiegler’s Gorge, a 100 meter deep and 100 meter wide gorge.

The vegetation in Selous consists largely of deciduous Miombo woodlands and open grasslands, but there are also acacia-lined hills, marsh forests and wetlands. The reserve has been on UNESCO World Heritage List since 1982. In Selous Game Reserve, there is not only the option of regular safaris by jeep but also by boat as well as walking photo safaris led by skilled rangers.

The wildlife in the park is extensive. In addition to large herds of elephant and over 5,000 lions, there are leopards, hyena, rhinos, zebras, giraffes and African buffalos. There is also a wide-ranging birdlife with species such as turacos, ostriches and hornbill birds. Selous is also one of the few areas in eastern Africa where there are still good opportunities to see the endangered African wild dog.

TOUR ITINERARY • FEBRUARY 24 – MARCH 2, 2024

DAY 1 – WELCOME TO TANZANIA
Arrive at DCB Hotel during the day. After check in, you will have time to relax on your own before you meet the tour leader from Zoom Photo Tour in the evening. After some information about our upcoming adventure we will have a great welcome dinner together while we get to know each other a bit better. (D)

DAY 2 – DAR ES SALAAM TO SELOUS
After a nice breakfast we leave the hotel to head towards the airport for our flight to Selous Game Reserve.

 After a flight of about 45 minutes, we land in Selous and are now in what is often called Africa’s last wilderness. After check-in and lunch, it’s time to explore Selou’s animal-rich surroundings for the first time as we embark on our first safari. Sometimes you don’t have to go far to find the amazing photo experiences. During our last visit to Selous we had barely left the lodge before we met a pack of wild dogs playing by the side just a few feet from our jeeps. After watching the sun set over the African landscape and getting a taste of what awaits us in the coming days, we return to the lodge with the first photos of the trip on the memory card. Back at the lodge we have dinner and enjoy the tranquility of the African wilderness. Below the Lodge runs the Rufiju River which we will explore during our days in Selous but with a bit of luck we already see the hippos whose heads stick up above the water surface. Filled with both impressions from the day and expectations for our upcoming photo adventures, we go to bed and fall asleep to the sound of Africa’s last wilderness. (F, L, M)

DAY 3-7 – SELOUS GAME RESERVE
During the days we will explore and photograph Selous’ surroundings together with Mattias and our well-informed guides. After a warm cup of coffee in the cool morning air, we head out to take photographs as the sun slowly rises and the air fills with smells and sounds. With an area as large as Denmark and with an immense diversity, the photo opportunities are endless. Our open jeeps give us the opportunity to explore the wildlife of Africa’s largest nature reserve. When we find our motifs, Mattias, who will rotate between the different jeeps, is on hand to give tips and guidance on how to develop as a photographer. He will also share his amazing knowledge of the wildlife and habitats around us. After an early morning safari filled with experiences and photo opportunities, we discuss the morning’s experiences by the pool. After lunch there is time for a few hours of relaxation, a dip in the pool or some photo editing before we embark on the second safari of the day.

One of the days we will explore Selous by boat and we will make our way quietly along the river Rufij. In the water, the hippos will look at us with curiosity and we get the opportunity to photograph everything from birds to crocodiles resting by the river edge.  After the day’s safari, we have dinner at the lodge and listen to fascinating stories from Mattias’ career as one of the world’s foremost photographers with many assignments for National Geographic. After dinner we relax for a while on the terrace and listen to the sounds of all the animals and birds around us before it’s time for some sleep.  During the trip we will also work with image editing on our computers.

FolkeExpedition Linné. Sydafrika.[/caption]

 On the last evening in Selous, we will share a closing dinner during which Mattias will designate the ”image of the trip” which will advance to the final of the ”image of the year 2024” competition where the first prize is a gift card worth 5,000 SEK. (B, L,D)

DAY 8 – SEOLUS TO DAR ES SALAAM
After our last safari and amazing breakfast we check out of the lodge and head back to Dar es Salaam for further transportation to your home country. (B)

MATTIAS KLUM – Nat Geo Photographer

SELOUS KINGA LODGE

CBD HOTEL

SELOUS KINGA LODGE