|
It has been an action-packed year for me in 2025. I've been busy leading a large number of dedicated wildlife photography tours for Wildlife Worldwide, while I have also been busy working on photographing deer for my big project - I'll be able to announce more on this in 2026. However, I have some big news. Two magazines have decided to use my images on their front covers in the past month. The first is something any wildlife photographer dreams of achieving. I am delighted to say that my image of an African wild dog was used on the front cover of BBC Wildlife Magazine. The image was taken in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park towards the end of 2024, and it is a massive honour to achieve this landmark moment in my career. Now I just need to get an image into Wildlife Photographer of the Year and National Geographic.  The second publication to choose one of my images from the front cover was Hidden Scotland. This beautiful magazine used one of my red squirrel images which was captured in the Cairngorm National Park - my home! I couldn't have been happier to have been the luck one to have their images selected (they were also used for a feature within the publication).  I've got a busy end of the year, so you can expect plenty more content over the next few months. I'll do my best to keep my instagram updated and update this blog as and when I can.
0 Comments
I have been travelling to Finland since 2013. The country is home to some of Europe's most sought-after wildlife, with brown bear, wolf, wolverine, and even lynx calling the vast tracts of forest home. I was delighted to be leading another two departures back in the summer months, where we were treated to some exceptional encounters. We had great views of both wolf and bear, but the wolverine views were less reliable this year. This is what keeps me coming back year after year. You never know what to expect and the photography is never the same. I hope the following images inspire you to join me on a short but action-packed photographic adventure in 2026. I'll start by sharing some images of the bears, which put on one heck of a show.      Alongside the bears, the wolves were also around, providing some excellent opportunities for photography, while there was also a white-tailed eagle which was particularly co-operative on one of the evenings in the hides.      If you are interested in joining me in Finland, be sure to find out more on the Wildlife Worldwide website. There is still availability for 2026 and beyond.
I've been visiting Zambia on and off since I worked there in 2010. It is a place very close to my heart, and the wildlife encounters I've enjoyed there are some of the best of my career. From leopards to African wild dogs, elephants to bee-eaters, I have always been spoiled with many standout moments. This year, I was delighted to lead a trip to Zambia's Kafue and Lower Zambezi National Parks with Wildlife Worldwide. Many of the areas we explored were completely new to me. Although the wildlife was familiar, it was great to be photographing these species in a range of different habitats. In fact, we enjoyed some of the best leopard encounters I have ever had, alongside lion, elephant, a wealth of other herbivores, and some magnificent birds too. Here is just a selection of my images to whet your appetite. If you'd like to join me, I am delighted to be at the helm of the NEW Lower Zambezi Photo Safari with Wildlife Worldwide in 2027. I hope you like the images.        Be sure to keep an eye on my blog later in the year for more images from South Luangwa National Park. I can't wait to be back in the bush as the dry season comes to an end. Be sure to get in touch if you want more information about my photo safaris in Zambia.
Back in May 2025, I was delighted to be leading another chartered voyage aboard the MS Stockholm for Wildlife Worldwide. The ship is the perfect platform for exploring this vast Arctic wilderness, and with the expert team on board, we were treated to some of the most remarkable wildlife encounters. Rather than write too much about this trip of a lifetime, I am going to share some images of the standout encounters and the photo opportunities they presented. It isn't just about close-up portraits of the region's exceptional wildlife. Many of my favourite moments were when we watched and photographed an animal wander or rest amongst the epic scenery and landscapes. For most people visiting this wilderness, the focus is undoubtedly the most recognisable species. This expedition certainly delivered. In total, we saw 15 different polar bears, a few different Arctic foxes, too many walrus to count, seals galore, and birdlife all over. Every year I return, I fall a little more in love with the wildlife of the Arctic. I hope that comes across in the imagery below.          If the images above have inspired you to visit this magical part of the world, then why not join me in 2026 or 2028 (2027 is fully booked). You can find out all the details and book your place with Wildlife Worldwide.
I'm very lucky to head to India most years, leading dedicated photographic safaris to one of the country's hidden gems. Nagarhole National Park, situated within the state of Karnataka does not have the crowds of many of India's national parks. Therefore, sightings can be much more enjoyable and the photographic rewards can be exceptional when everything comes together. This year was another super example. We were spoiled rotten but the dhole (Asiatic wild dog), which made an appearance every single day. We were also blessed with excellent Asian elephant encounters, some stunning birdlife alongside a host of other mammals and even reptiles. So, if you have thought about India, but haven't yet decided on where to go, have a look at some of the images and see if they whet your appetite.     This really is just a taster of the birdlife on offer in the park and the mammal images to follow are the same. There is so much more on offer in this magnificent protected area.    I have hundreds of images of the dhole from this year alone, but this is not typical for this time of year. We made the most of every opportunity though and photographed to our hearts' content.   This tigress was an absolute star, and after a busy start to the sighting, we had her to ourselves at the end. This allowed us to capture some absolutely beautiful imagery of this magnificent big cat.    As well as the iconic, large mammals, we also enjoyed some time photographing the park's smaller residents.   If you want to enjoy encounters and photography opportunities such as this in India, then why not join me on one of my upcoming photo safaris to Nagarhole National Park with Wildlife Worldwide. I look forward to seeing you there.
I was really lucky to be heading off once again to Australia back in February, with a highlight being the trip to the states of Victoria and Tasmania with Wildlife Worldwide. It's always fantastic exploring these magnificent parts of this vast country, searching out some of the most iconic wildlife Australia has on offer. Flying into Melbourne, we had a couple of days around Geelong, where we were able to focus our efforts on a number of different mammals and birds. My group had a great time photographing the emus of Serendip Sanctuary, while we were lucky with a number of other local residents.    After a fabulous few days exploring some of the wonderful places around Geelong, we headed back to Melbourne for our flight across the Bass Strait to Launceston in Tasmania. We had 10-days to explore the magnificent wildlife and landscapes of this incredible island. Lost in time, Tasmania still supports a number of species that are now hard to find on the mainland, while there's also a few endemic birds to enjoy. I hope you enjoy the selection of imagery, it really is a wonderful place and I urge you to discover it for yourself.    As you can see, we struck gold with the two monotreme (egg-laying mammal) species found in Tasmania - the platypus and the short-beaked echidna. Meanwhile, the birdlife was pretty exceptional too.     Australia is rightly famed for its diverse array of marsupials. It is safe to say we were not disappointed with the sightings or photographic opportunities of these iconic mammals.       It's also worth mentioning that the landscapes of Tasmania are pretty exceptional and we were blessed with some amazing weather - particularly up at Cradle Mountain ...  If you'd like to find out more, or join me on one of these photographic tours, please do get in touch. Alternatively, please visit the Wildlife Worldwide website to find out more.
This year I was lucky enough to be in charge of Wildlife Worldwide's first Japan's Winter Wildlife Photography tour of the year. As per usual with this tour, we start off by focussing our efforts on the incredible wildlife that you can find on the northernmost island of Japan, Hokkaido. Our first morning focuses on the red-crowned cranes, a pair of Ural owls and the whooper swans of Lake Kussharo. Unfortunately, the conditions at Lake Kussharo were not favourable for photography but we were blessed with some wonderful views of cranes and the owls.   From our time around Lake Kussharo, it was time to head up to the town of Rausu on the Shiretoko Peninsula. Here, our primary focus was photographing the Steller's sea eagles and the white-tailed eagles that gather here each winter. Enjoying dedicated boat trips, we maximise the photographic opportunities and first light and once again in the afternoon. Another one of our target species here was the Blakiston's fish owl.      Our final morning at Rausu provided us all with some wonderful, soft light and some superb photography opportunities.    After a fabulous week on Hokkaido, it was time to head back down to Tokyo and from here up into the mountains in search of Japanese Macaques. These primates, often referred to as snow monkeys, are famous for their hot spring bathing antics close to the town of Yamanouchi in the Japanese Alps. Upon our arrival there was a large amount of fresh snow, making for some challenging, but rewarding photography.    As you can see, the photography in Japan is exceptional and it is always a real pleasure to lead this trip. I am lucky enough to have now been to Japan three times and I'd happily return again and again. Be sure to keep an eye on the Wildlife Worldwide website for more information.
As many of you will know, particularly those that have followed my work for a while, I was privileged to work in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park. Now, I am incredibly lucky to head back each year and lead dedicated photography tours. In 2024, I was able to lead two back-to-back trips, focussing on the incredible wildlife that calls the area home. Rather than waffle on too much, I'll let the pictures do the talking. However, what I will say, is that my groups were treated to some of the best views of leopard cubs I have ever known. Another group also had one of the best African wild dog encounters and photography opportunities.     As you can see, the birdlife is equally as impressive as the iconic mammals, but it was the predators (except for lions) that really put on a show to remember.       There was is always so much more on offer in this magnificent wilderness area.     If you would like to join me in Zambia, why not book your place for 2025 (limited spaces) or 2026. You can find out more on the Wildlife Worldwide website.
Back in October I was delighted to be back in the Pearl of Africa - Uganda. This magical country, so often overlooked by safari goers, really is a superb safari destination and offers a range of incredible wildlife encounters, from gentle giants to big cats and bizarre birds. What more can you ask for? We started off by heading out into Mabamba Swamp, home to the truly weird and wonderful shoebill. This prehistoric bird is losing much of its former habitat as swamps are drained, but here locals run boat safaris in search of this bird and so we set about trying to find it. We couldn't have asked for a better start to our safari.   Ordinarily, our tour combines Kibale, Queen Elizabeth NP & Bwindi, but due to foreign office advice, we would have to bypass QENP, and so, instead we headed up to Murchison Falls NP. This did mean we could add a surprise stop to our trip, one which the guests were unaware - a visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. We were treated to the most incredible encounters (on foot) with a herd of white rhino.  We had two full days to enjoy the delights of Murchison Falls NP, including a couple of boat trips. This meant we were able to enjoy the full breadth of what the park has to offer, including some magnificent birdlife, mammals and the falls themselves. We were even treated to another shoebill stork in the papyrus swamps along the shores of Lake Albert.       After a fabulous couple of days enjoying the varied wildlife of Murchison Falls NP, we headed south-west to Kibale Forest NP for our next target species - chimpanzee. We had two treks searching for and photographing the chimps, while also enjoying a walk around the community-led Bigodi Wetlands. It was a primate bonanza with several species of monkey also seen including Ugandan mangabey, red-tailed monkey, black-and-white colobus, vervet monkey and L'Hoest's monkey. Unsurprisingly, our time with the chimpanzees was the highlight of our time here and the accommodation on offer at Primate Lodge is exceptional.     The final focus, and usually the highlight of any trip to Uganda, was the mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Here we were once again treated to two exceptional gorilla encounters, enjoying exceptionally close views of these gentle giants. I actually didn't capture too many images as I had to lend my camera to one of the group (humidity issues) and sat back to allow my group the best photographic opportunities.  As you can see, we were treated to some particularly close approaches by the gorillas and, as always, it was the most remarkable privilege to be in the company of these great apes. There was one more delight in store for us. We were able to visit the pangolin rescue centre in Buhoma and were treated to the most wonderful encounters with a tree-climbing pangolin about to be released back into the wild.   If you would like to join me in Uganda, you can find out more on the Wildlife Worldwide website. I look forward to see you there.
In August, I was given a unique opportunity to head up to the remote Canadian wilderness, joining Quark Expeditions aboard their purpose-built ship, the Ultramarine. This modern vessel has been designed specifically for modern expedition cruising in the world’s polar regions. I flew to Calgary, before joining Quark’s chartered flight up the remote Arctic outpost of Resolute (after a refuelling stop at Yellowknife). We were whisked from the airport to the bay and there was the ship waiting. After a short zodiac transfer, it wasn’t long before I was in my spacious cabin and familiarising myself with the ship. From Resolute, the ship worked its way east along the southern coast of Devon Island, before heading north once we reached Baffin Bay. One of the wildlife highlights of the trip was visiting the vast colonies of breeding seabirds at Coburg Island.     The Ultramarine allowed the unique opportunity to enjoy helicopter flights over this vast Arctic wilderness, something I will never forget. I was privileged to see narwhal, beluga and even musk ox on one of the flights, while on another we enjoyed remarkable views of a vast glacier on Ellesmere Island. The wildlife sightings were typically distant, but just being such an expanse of pure wilderness was truly remarkable.   Across the 10-days aboard the ship, we saw musk ox, walrus, numerous seals and more than 10 polar bears (all distant), but it was the narwhal that were so, so special for me. A life’s dream complete – even if the photographic opportunities were negligible.       I would say this. If you are looking for an expedition to one of the world’s least visited areas, a true wilderness, then this is the trip for you. You will see wildlife, but it is unlikely to be close to the ship (some voyages are luckier than others). Instead, revel in the vast polar desert landscapes, incredible geology and the fascinating culture of the Inuit people. Keep an eye on the Wildlife Worldwide website and discover this rugged beauty for yourself.
I have been leading trips to Finland for over 10 years. Along the Russian border, there is a strip of land that has been left alone, a 'no man's land', and it supports a thriving population of brown bear, wolverine and grey wolf. It is these three predators which we focus our efforts and the photographic rewards can be out of this world. This year, I was delighted to be at the helm for two separate departures, each of which provided countless photographic opportunities.   It really was a fantastic summer for the wolves - each trip had some exceptionally good views of these apex predators.   We did see wolverine, but they proved to be particularly challenging to photograph for some reason, while the bears were also a little more skittish than usual. However, when the bears did show themselves, the photography was pretty exceptional.   We still have some limited availability in 2025 - you can find out more on the Wildlife Worldwide webpage. I look forward to seeing you there.
I am delighted to announce that I have been awarded twice in the 2024 edition of the MontPhoto photo competition. This is the third time I have featured in this prestigious competition in four years - a massive achievement for which I am over the moon. I was awarded with an Honourable Mention (highly commended) in both the 'Birds' and 'Mammals' categories with the two following images ...  Deep Freeze  Fiery Dawn Unfortunately, this year I was unable to make the awards ceremony, but it was a real honour to feature in the competition and I hope to repeat my success in 2025. Congratulations to all the other winners!
I am very lucky to have been to Svalbard several times. What an incredible wilderness and a must for anyone with a passion for rugged landscapes and epic wildlife. For many, the biggest draw of this remote, Arctic archipelago is the polar bear, but there is always so much more to enjoy. With that in mind, I was incredibly fortunate to be the photographic leader aboard the MS Stockholm for Wildlife Worldwide’s chartered voyage at the start of May 2024. This remarkable small ship, built in 1953, is a charming and incredibly capable vessel, perfect for an expedition into this icy realm. I met up with the group in either Oslo, or Longyearbyen, before we boarded the Stockholm for the most incredible week of photography. We left the pontoon and were soon on our way out of Isfjorden, enjoying our first meal onboard this historic ship. We awoke to the most magical conditions in Kongsfjorden and set out on a zodiac cruise to really get a feel for the wonders of the Arctic. We saw several different seabird species as well as eiders and common seals. However, the real highlight was being able to get out of the zodiacs and walk on the fast ice – it was absolutely exhilarating. It was just one of those magical days and an experience that few ever get to enjoy.    The next day, we arrived on the edge of the vast expanse of sea ice, sat high above the northern coastline of Spitsbergen (it was unusual for it to be so far north so early, but the winds had broken up the fast ice). We spent a whole day enjoying the vastness of this epic frozen world, but despite our best efforts, we could not find our first polar bear. We saw plenty of tracks, but the bears eluded us. We ended up following the edge of the ice, making it all the way to the northern coastline of Nordaustlandet - the second largest island of the Svalbard archipelago. Very few vessels make it up here this early in the season, so this really was a proper expedition. We were likely to be the most northerly, non-military ship on Earth. The conditions were absolutely sublime.  After such an incredible day and evening, the clients were either heading to bed or relaxing in the lounge, when I spotted something on the horizon. Sat on the bridge with the expedition team, scanning all the while, I spotted a cream shape moving on the edge of an inlet. We went a little closer to see if we could confirm what we hoped it would be. "Polar bear!" went up the call from the Expedition Leader. We stirred those that had gone to their bunks, while the others were already getting their survival suits and lifejackets on. It was time to photograph our first bear of the trip. Within ten minutes everyone was ready, we'd boarded the zodiacs and were approach the bear as it walked along the shoreline. We ensured that we kept our distance, allowing the bear to do its own thing. It was completely relaxed with our presence after initially stopping to work out what we were. Giving it plenty of space, allowed the bear to wander freely.   We decided to move a kilometre or so down the coastline and see if the bear appeared a little closer. He certainly did and it was then we realised a mark on his shoulder was a large wound.  We were treated to some really exceptional views as we always made sure to move ahead, ensuring that we didn't change his behaviour at all.   As you can see, we were blessed with the most remarkable encounter and the photography was out of this world. I'll never get bored of seeing a polar bear in such a beautiful, wild place. Knowing that we had this bear all to ourselves just made it that little bit more special.
Keep you eyes peeled on the next instalment of the blog from this trip. Alternatively, if this has whet your appetite and you want to join me in 2025, then visit the Wildlife Worldwide website and book your place. I've been travelling to India since 2011, indeed you can even look back at my blog posts from the time (excuse the terrible photography). In that time, the country has completely changed, both for better and for worse. A thriving modern 'democracy', India has developed at a startling speed and domestic tourism has increased a hundred-fold (no bad thing). However, that does mean that many of India's once quiet reserves are now packed with people keen to catch a glimpse of a tiger. Trying to get away from the crowds can be tricky, but Nagarhole is a place where things are a little quieter and the wildlife sightings can be enjoyed that much more. Back in April, I was at the helm for Wildlife Worldwide's Nagarhole Photo Safari once again. This week-long trip is perfect for seeing, and photographing Asian elephant, tiger, leopard, Malabar giant squirrels, a plethora of birds and even sloth bear. There is, of course, so much more on offer, but hopefully that whets your appetite. This little slice of paradise really has become one of my favourite parts of India, and it delivers year on year. I know, I know, you want to see the photos. Our first afternoon rewarded us with two tigers, but alas, the photography opportunities were not really there. The next day though, we were treated to exceptional views of sloth bear in the morning and tiger in the afternoon.    As you can see, it really didn't take long to get fantastic views, as well as some decent photography of some of our target species. We had hoped to have good encounters with Asiatic wild dog. Despite seeing them in the distance, we never got close enough for worthwhile photography opportunities. For the next couple of days, we focused on some of the smaller and less-photographed species that call the park home. That's not to say that we didn't enjoy views of some of the larger things, but it was these alternative species which provided the more rewarding photography.     With such great subjects, the group were rewarded with an amazing portfolio. These 'B-list' species are actually, in my opinion, what makes Nagarhole such a special place to be. So far, we hadn't caught sight of a leopard (something the park is famous for), and so we decided to spend a morning focussing on these elusive cats. We drove along a track, slowly working our way down a hill and scanning every tree along the way. Parking up at the bottom of the hill, our driver Sadiq turned off the engine and we just listened for alarm calls (the best way to find big cats in the dense forests of India). After 10-minutes or so, with no sounds and relaxed chital (spotted deer) all around us, we slowly made our back up the hill. Varun, our guide, suddenly called to stop - there only 25 yards away, sat perfectly in a tree was a gorgeous female leopard. It was a misty morning and the forest had an ethereal feel to it. What an incredible sighting. The photography was just wonderful.   Having already had the most magical of weeks, spoiled rotten with incredible sightings, we decided to spend the last full day focussing on the striped contingent once again. I don't think it matters how many tigers you see in the wild, you always want one more. And so we put in the hours and we were rewarded with one of those dreamy encounters - the hard work paid off.   If you would like to join me in 2025, there are still a couple of spaces remaining. Please contact Wildlife Worldwide to find out more.
Back at the start of April I was privileged to be on the guiding team for the Wildlife Worldwide Festival of Wildlife to Tanzania. We took over the delightful Ndutu Safari Lodge for a week and enjoyed some absolutely amazing wildlife encounters and accompanying photography opportunities. I was lucky enough to join the pre-tour extension to the Ngorongoro crater, but to keep this blog as concise as I can, I will focus on the photographic highlights in and around Ndutu. It really kicked off with an incredible attempted lion hunt after the most incredible thunder and hail storm. A lioness walked within yards of my vehicle, before eventually trying to hunt a herd of wildebeest, albeit unsuccessfully.   It actually turned out to be a week of lions - we seemed to trip over them in each and every direction we travelled. What was great was that we actually were able to enjoy the lions being relatively active. This isn't typically the case with Africa's largest big cats, and so you have to make the most of these opportunities as and when they present themselves. What makes Ndutu such a fabulous place to base ourselves, was the wildlife that surrounds you while you're in camp. It's not always about the bigger things, sometimes it pays to sit in the comfort of the lodge and wait for the wildlife to come to you.    Of course, the smaller things were followed by some amazing male lions ...    For me, the absolute highlight of the trip was as we watched the sun set over Lake Ndutu. Giraffe were wading across the shallow water, while greater flamingoes sieved the rich waters through their beaks with the golden hues silhouetting them. Suddenly, someone spotted a cheetah and we were off, only for the cheetah to be immediately overshadowed by another shot. 'Caracal!' - I've been working in the safari industry for 14 years and this was my first every sighting of a caracal - just remarkable.  As well as the more obvious mammals, the plethora of birdlife was exceptional and as such the photography was incredible.      We timed our arrival perfectly, as the great migration was still in full swing. Although it's very hard to do it justice (photographically speaking) - unless you're in the air - it was a real privilege to see it out on the great plains.   Of course, to finish things off, we had to have some more lions. In all seriousness, I was blown away by the numbers of lion here. Having travelled a fair bit in eastern Africa, I think this must be among the highest density of lions around.    As I am sure you will agree, it was one heck of a trip. The Festivals are a real celebration of the wildlife, our wonderful clients and the team too. I won't be one of the leaders on the next iteration, but you can find out more about the trip to Falklands & South Georgia here.
This year, I was planning to have a break from leading our Iceland - Arctic Fox Photography tour, but at short notice I was called up to lead the tour. And so I found myself with the group in Reykjavik, before our onward flight to the town of Ísafjörður. There was a slight issue - a massive winter storm was hitting Iceland's northwest and we were stuck in Reykjavik. After two nights in Iceland's capital, we decided to make the journey north by road. What an adventure we had as we made our way through blizzards and an epic snow-covered landscape. The following morning we made our way across to Hornstrandir Nature Reserve and we finally got to spend a couple of days with the wonderful Arctic foxes. Here is a selection of my favourite shots from this year (including some particularly obliging ptarmigan).   Most foxes in this part of Iceland are blue morph and white individuals are actually a rarity. Therefore, we were absolutely delighted when this white fox made a brief, but close appearance.    Throughout our time in the pristine surrounds of Kviar Lodge, we were blessed a whole range of weather conditions which allowed everybody to build up a wonderful collection of images.    Although a little unexpected, it was a delight to be back in Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. The foxes are always an absolute delight and we couldn't have asked for more from our brief time there. Join me in 2025 as I return once again with Wildlife Worldwide.
One of my favourite places in Africa, are the conservancies which make up the Greater Mara Ecosystem. These large protected areas act as an important buffer to the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Furthermore, they are much quieter than the main reserve and so wildlife encounters are far more enjoyable and the photographic rewards are therefore often of a much higher quality. In January 2024, I was delighted to be at the helm for Wildlife Worldwide's dedicated photography tour to the area. We enjoyed staying in the wonderful Porini camps in Ol Kinyei & Olare Motorogi Conservancies. Our time in Kenya was incredible, despite some unseasonal rains, and we were treated to exceptional views of countless lion, a couple of beautiful cheetah familes, a leopard and a whole host of other incredible species. Here are some of the highlights for you ...     After spending the first few days around Ol Kinyei and Naibosho Conservancies, we headed west to Olare Motorogi where we were really spoiled with world-class wildlife sightings.    On our first afternoon in Olare Motorogi Conservancy, we were treated to an incredible sight. A female cheetah stalked and successfully killed a young male impala and we then watched from metres away, as her young joined her. What an incredible thing to witness from start to finish.      As well as excellent cheetah and lion sightings, we also enjoyed a session with a leopard. The photography opportunities were limited, but it was wonderful to see all three species of big cat.     As you can see, we were treated to some exceptional encounters and world-class photographic opportunities. I won't be leading a trip in 2025, due to other commitments, but we plan to run the tour in 2026 if you fancy joining me. Find out more on the Wildlife Worldwide website.
After a few weeks at home, it wasn't long before I was heading back to Zambia for Wildlife Worldwide's Festival of Wildlife 2023. I am sure many of you will have no idea what a Festival of Wildlife is, so let me paint a picture for you. Wildlife Worldwide will book out an entire lodge, or charter a vessel, and bring a team of leading experts who run a wonderful array of workshops and lectures. These 'extra' activities are timed around the traditional wildlife-watching times. I was there as the wildlife photography expert, trying to impart my knowledge with over thirty clients. I helped with theory and editing workshops each day alongside heading out on dedicated photographic game drives and enjoyed some incredible sightings. With that in mind, here are some of the highlights of our week-long stay at Mfuwe Lodge.   As I'm sure you know by now (I visit South Luangwa every year), but this park is renowned for its leopards. The Festival was no different as many of the clients were blessed with several views of these stunning cats.   There was, of course, so much more on offer ...      We had an amazing week and our clients had a fabulous time. Our next Festival of Wildlife is to Tanzania. in April 2024 Due to some cancellations, there is some late availability - visit the tour page to find out more and book your place.
Back at the start of November in 2024, I was back in my old haunt staying with my friends in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park. I was leading Wildlife Worldwide's South Luangwa Photo Safari and our primary focus were the big cats, African wild dogs and the stunning birdlife all found within the park. I'm not going to write too much, I am simply going to share some of the highlights of the trip for you all to enjoy.    Any trip to South Luangwa is sure to reward those with a passion for wildlife photography. We were blessed with some incredible lion sightings as well as numerous sightings of African wild dog. It doesn't really get much better tha that, except for maybe finding a leopard.  When you have a sighting such as that above, you can't help but pinch yourself. The rest of the week was just as memorable and my whole group were treated to some world-class sightings and photographic opportunities.     These were just a few of the highlights during our week in one of Africa's finest wilderness areas. If you would like to join us in 2025, then be sure to take a look at the webpage and book your place.
In 2023, after three years of delays due to a certain pandemic, I was delighted to be at the helm for Wildlife Worldwide's inaugural Uganda Photo Safari. This magnificent country is home to a wealth of exceptional wildlife and is often referred to as the 'Pearl of Africa'. It rightly earned this nickname for its agricultural wealth, but it's natural wealth is even more impressive. If you are into primates, then look no further than Uganda. With that in mind, this trip was put together to maximise photo opportunities of two of our closets cousins - the chimpanzee and the mountain gorilla. Along the way we were able to enjoy a plethora of other species in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Let's start with the wonders that lay within the forests of Kibale National Park. It was time to get up-close and personal with the chimps.    Our first gorilla trek wasn't really much of a trek. We came across a chimp in the track while we were still in our vehicle. We quickly got out and enjoyed an incredible session with a large chimp. He rested, groomed and just seemed to enjoy our company before he followed the rest of his extended family deep into the forest where they climbed trees in search of food. We went back again the next day and just had the most incredible, intimate experiences all over again.    Around the lodge and in the park we were able to photograph a number of monkey species, of which the most beautiful (in my humble opinion) was the L'Hoest's Monkey.  After a memorable couple of days with the chimpanzees and immersing ourselves in the towering forests of Kibale, it was time to head west to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This huge protected area only has a couple of areas which are currently open to safari-goers, but its mosaic of habitats is unlike anywhere else on the African continent. We based ourselves in the Ishasha sector - famed for its tree-climbing lions. Sadly the lions eluded us throughout our stay, but we were instead spoiled with exceptional leopard encounters alongside a host of other typical species seen on a safari.     As you can see, we were exceptionally lucky with what we managed to see in just a few days within the Ishasha sector. Furthermore, this area of the park is just absolutely beautiful - surely one of East Africa's most beautiful protected areas. With our safari bug scratched, it was time to head south towards the mountains of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for what is arguably the highlight of any trip to Uganda. Our primary focus here was to track and photograph mountain gorillas. I have no words to describe a gorilla trek. They can be physically demanding, the photography can be equally frustrating and rewarding and the weather can be unpredictable. However, none of it matters. When you are stood only yards away from the world's largest primates, your world is turned upside down forever more. Nothing will be the same again. This is truly is a life-changing experience and I implore you, nay, I beg you to experience it for yourself.      So what do you think? I really hope that I have inspired you to give Uganda some consideration when planning your next wildlife photography adventure. There is nowhere quite like it for such a varied experience and mesmerising wildlife encounters. I do hope you can join me on an upcoming Uganda Photo Safari with Wildlife Worldwide - you can find out more about the trip here.
|