Marian Herz
United States
The Botswana trip I just completed was my 4th with Wild4. They are by far the best safari company with which I've traveled. Everything starts with wonderful pre-trip information. Then comes the planning details, wonderfully handled by Justyna. The trips themselves are beyond imagination. Stu gives everyone a full bench, so that one can photograph from either side. His guides/ drivers (and Stu himself) are great spotters, encyclopedias of information about what we're seeing and they know how to position the vehicle for the best pictures. Staying in the mobile camp was a first for me. The tents were comfortable and the staff gave us a luxury experience and gourmet food. It was amazing to have wildlife just walking through the camp. Reactions to my photos from this trip have been spectacular. I know that when I travel with Stu, I will get great shots. He is also there to provide photo tips on how to best capture the wildlife and also the processing of your images. It was Stu's tip that finally allowed me to get that Lilac-breasted Roller takeoff. Thank you Stu, for great and well-organized trips. Anyone who wants the best safari experience and great photos needs to travel with Wild4. www.marianherz.zenfolio.com
James Smith
USA
We recently joined a Wild 4 African Photographic Safari. To put things simply, we were completely blown away. Compared with others I’ve been on, this exceeded anything we had imagined, in so many ways.
Justyna handled all our travel and trip details with exceptional professionalism and always responded to even our most basic questions quickly and in a very detailed manner. We were met by our photo guide Stu Porter, who I cannot say enough good things about. His spotting ability and anticipation, together with his understanding of animal behavior and the ecosystem, produced an amazing wildlife experience. He went to great lengths to ensure that we had the best chance of capturing a great photo, without compromising the rules of the park or the integrity of the animals. This made the trip so much more than just a “drive around and snap at whatever we see” kind of experience.
In all honesty, I can’t imagine a better guide than Stu Porter. We will be doing our future trips to Africa with Wild 4 and cannot recommend them highly enough. Thank you so much for what a lot of people call “the trip of a lifetime”, although we feel that this is only the beginning of many trips of a lifetime. Thank you, Wild 4!!
George Cathcart
USA
Wild4's photo safari to Botswana featured two expert guides, Stu Porter and Nkosi Sibanda and the abundant wildlife of four different Botswanan hot spots. Those features alone are worth the price of admission, particularly since they include vehicle modifications that ensure the best possible photographic experience.
We spent the first ten nights in expedition-style mobile camps, “roughing it” with bucket showers and drop toilets and listening to the leopards, elephants and hyenas wandering in and around the camp at night. However, the expert staff made "roughing it" a pleasure, preparing perfect meals, including fresh-baked bread and cakes and ensuring that the camp was safe and clean.
We finished the 12-night trip in a luxury lodge on the Chobe River, where we photographed from a boat customised to accommodate serious photographers, in a waterway full of hippos and elephants and lined with Africa's most iconic birds.
If you can only go once to Africa, go to Botswana with Wild4 Photographic Safaris. They will take care of every detail of your safari. If you are an old Africa veteran, ditto. You just can't go wrong with Wild4.
Manty Arnott and Andrew Dudgeon
Australia
We were lucky enough to enjoy 10 nights in Kenya (Samburu, Ol Pajeta and Masai Mara) and 4 nights in Rwanda with Wild4Photos Safaris. We are not really photographers but picked this company because we wanted to really observe and experience the wildlife - and we were not disappointed. Our guide in Kenya - Mamai - was incredibly knowledgable and able to position us perfectly to see both mammals and birds. He was a font of knowledge on everything we asked him! We really appreciated his gentle approach to viewing the Kenyan wildlife and his commitment to conservation and education. We are indebted to Mamai for providing us with such a unique and wonderful experience. Rwanda was also a highlight - both for the country itself and of course the gorillas. We loved the Rwandan's conservation efforts reflected in the growth of the mountain gorilla population. We were surprised and delighted with how close we got to these magnificent animals. We found the organisation of this safari holiday to be impeccable and made the experience even better. The itinerary, the transfers/flights/accommodation was brilliant. We would highly recommend Wild4 to anyone wanting to see and learn about Africa.
Bud Ralston
United States
I've been traveling the world and taking pictures since 1966. Several weeks ago, I was privileged to join Stu Porter and Mamai John of Wild 4 African Photo Safaris in Kenya for eight days of the great migration. As expert photographers, they lined me up for the best angle, lighting, and vantage point available on EVERY shot! They are experts in the zoology of the area, knowing every bird and mammal, their behaviors, estrus cycles, life spans, etc. Mention the desired photo opportunity, and they will take you to it. Camp Entim is a priceless jewel. The lodge, restaurant, and individual tents all have views overlooking the Mara River. The "tents" were more excellent than most five-star hotel rooms. The food here was Michelin Three Star quality. Being a fussy eater, I've learned not to expect much, especially from remote locations. Was I wrong. I ate every bite of every meal, unfortunately gaining the accompanying weight. Worth every bite! The service was exceptional. I would go back there again just for the hedonistic pleasure of the visit. Stu Porter and Mamai John are class acts. They provide the best possible photographic experience to their clients. When I return to Africa, I will only look to them and Wild 4 Africa Photo Safaris to arrange my trip. Bud Ralston
Tara & Kevin
USA
This was our first trip to Africa, and I decided on Wild4 after reading through recommendations in a wildlife photography FB group. I am so glad to have found Wild4 because the vehicles are amazing in how they are set up, and everything was handled so seamlessly, with the pretrip documents, airport pickups, etc. James was our guide in Kenya, for Samburu and Maasai Mara, and he was so wonderful! We saw so many amazing wildlife encounters because he has such a great eye for spotting the animals and reading their behavior. He took very good care of us on the road and made sure we had the best stay at the camps. Both of the camps we stayed at were excellent as well. I will definitely use Wild4 the next time I am ready to plan another trip to Africa!
Doug Croft
USA
I found Wild4 through an article in Popular Photography magazine. I saw that Stu and Wild4 offered the kind of experience that I wanted:
- Small groups of dedicated photographers.
- Variety in wildlife viewing.
- Tuition on photography and wildlife behavior.
- Good communication and organisation.
I can say that Wild4 met and exceeded all expectations on all points.
We used one vehicle for three photographers. Being a trained photographer himself, Stu always got us into the best position with the best light. Three on the tour meant plenty of room for equipment and the ability to shoot from either side of the vehicle.
The three places we visited, each provided a unique experience and wonderful variety in scenery and wildlife viewing.
Stu's tuition was excellent but never pushed. Tips, reminders, anecdotes, all given with patience and good humor.
From the first email, the communication was timely & clear. Justyna was a joy to work with.
Wild4 didn’t provide the wildlife or the spectacular sunsets that we experienced, but they put us in a position to enjoy and capture them with our cameras and in our memories. Our safari was amazing and I would not have changed a thing.
If you're looking for a Photo Safari, there is nothing to consider. Just go ahead and contact Wild4 Photographic Safaris. You will not be sorry.
Andrew Oliver
CANADA
For thirty-five years I have dreamed of going on a photographic safari in South Africa. I have finally realised that dream and my hopes and expectations were surpassed in every way.
I researched extensively before settling on Wild4 Photo Safaris. What an inspired choice that was! This family company provides the perfect safari experience for photographers of every skill level.
Stu is a fine wild-life photographer and a first-class teacher. His knowledge of the habitat and habits of the animals and birds to be found in Kruger National Park is simply encyclopaedic. My 25-year-old daughter and I eagerly adapted to the early morning wake-up call, to go off into the wilds in one of Stu’s specially fitted jeeps, to catch the sunrise.
Every day brought its special moments and we returned home with thousands of photos to sort through and cherish for the memories they’ll bring back.
A safari with Wild 4 is a photographic experience with a master photographer, an initiation into the wonders of South African wildlife and spectacular landscapes - and an experience of friendship as everyone aboard the jeep bonds in common purpose.
Everything about Wild 4 is first class. The organization is superb, accommodations excellent, choices of locale perfect. Our safari with Stu and Wild4 was truly the experience of a lifetime.
Malcolm
UK
This was simply an outstanding photographic safari all round – by far the best that I have been on! As a keen enthusiast photographer, looking to step up a level and enter 2 competitions later in the year, I could not have hoped for more. Excellent!
The Wild4 team is very well organized and their prompt and helpful responses to queries pre-trip ensured they were easy and a pleasure to deal with.
Stu Porter can pitch his photographic tuition at any level and his attention to detail and enthusiasm was spot on throughout this trip. Already comfortable with my own photo technique, I was surprised by just how much I learned. I have easily adopted his full-on manual approach, every bit of which he was able to justify - a revelation! I am quite picky, but I cannot praise these guys enough and I will be back.
Very many thanks to the whole team.
Marcia & Phil
USA
We loved our custom trip to Namibia, with Wild4 African Photographic Safaris. Stu and Justyna planned every detail for my husband, me, and a good friend we met on a prior trip with WILD4.
We covered much of the country and had a mind-blowing variety of looks at a very interesting country. Our accommodations, meals and experiences could not be surpassed. Based on our preferences, we toured Sossusvlei in a fixed-wing plane/ the images we got there were breathtaking! We also did a balloon tour which was lovely and peaceful. Our 4x4 desert creature tour was intimate and revealed small animals that we'd have otherwise never seen. A 4x4 Sandwich harbor tour took us to yellow sand dunes, close-ups with 2 shipwrecks, close encounters with jackals, seals, birds, and the dunes themselves. We did a boat tour in Walvis Bay, where we were joined by pelicans & seals on board. A walking tour at Deadvlei was exhausting but worth it. Each tour was more incredible than we had imagined. What an unforgettable experience!!! And that's not even talking about Etosha - the animals were different and it was really enjoyable. Sebastian, our guide. was patient, knowledgeable, and helpful.
This was our second tour with WILD4, and we are about to sign up for another. You can't go wrong with Stu and Justyna. Worth every penny!
Thanks,
Marcia & Phil
