Intimate photographic journeys, guided by photographers

Since 2008 | Experienced Tour Leaders | 12 Destinations | Specialist Photo Boats & Vehicles

South Africa based, we host photographers of every level, with expert tour leaders who teach settings, positioning and light in the field and not just where to point the camera.

FEATURED SAFARIS

Chobe River, Botswana

Boat-based photography from a low custom platform — elephants crossing at eye level, fish eagles at first light, on one of Africa’s greatest rivers.

Multiple departures throughout the year

Shompole, Kenya

Our favourite low-level day and night hides with adjustable lighting — for rare, close-up nocturnal sightings deep in Kenya’s Rift Valley.

Only 2 seats left for 2027

Svalbard Expedition, Norway

Step into the Arctic on our small-group expedition. Explore ice-filled fjords, dramatic coastlines and towering glaciers, while searching for walrus, Arctic foxes, whales, seabirds and other incredible wildlife.

18 – 28 July 2027, 10 nights / 11 days

View all our destinations

View our complete tour calendar →

The first photo-safari operator in the world to design and build both specialist photography boats and vehicles

Why CNP Safaris

Expert Guidance

Internationally recognised wildlife photographers lead every safari, not local drivers reciting facts.

Intimate Access

Small groups on custom-built boats, vehicles and hides — designed around the photographer.

Hands-On Assistance

Real-time in-field guidance on settings, positioning, depth of field and animal behaviour, while the moment is happening.

Ongoing Education

Workshops, online courses, and a structured mentorship programme that continues long after you've flown home.

      
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 4.9
 Top Rated Service 
   Verified by Trustindex  Trustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   French S 
 9 days ago
 
 
 Verified Perfect CNP for both an experienced and new photographer trip. This was an exceptional 5 days of photography with CNP at Samara. We had the perfect storm of great weather, a great host in Nico Pretorium, the field in (rare) full bloom with pink and purple field flowers, cheetah wife small cubs etc. Absolute magic. CNP looked after all the details and made traveling easy and stress free. I thought I knew my photography and tools, but learnt a huge amount from Nico and learnt how to use new tools. My wife was a complete novice and learnt as much. No pressure to perform. Can't recommend it highly enough for experienced and new photographers.
  
 
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   Mark B 
 10 days ago
 
 
 Verified An unforgetable three part journey In August and September, my wife and I were fortunate to travel to three very different locations with CNP Safaris: Kenya, Botswana, and Zambia. Each offered a unique photographic experience, but what stood out throughout the trip was the extra effort CNP’s guides made to help us capture images we otherwise might have missed. Kenya | Shompole Hide This was our first experience shooting from a hide, and especially my first time doing it at night. We stayed in two different hides, spending four nights in each. The hides have three sets of lights—front, side, and back—which created some very interesting photographic opportunities. The local Shompole guide was extremely skilled at manipulating the lights to create exciting exposures. Nico, our CNP guide, carefully explained how to set up and adjust our cameras under these low-light and challenging conditions. The results were fantastic. The images I have already shared have been a big hit, and a few will almost certainly end up on our wall. Our only warning: be prepared to be seriously sleep deprived! Botswana | Chobe River We love the Chobe region because there always seems to be something happening. Animals and birds are constantly appearing, giving us plenty of opportunities to photograph. Unfortunately, on this trip we had quite a bit of wind, which reduced the number of sightings somewhat. Elena, our CNP guide, did a superb job calling out birds and animals that were approaching while our eyes were glued to our viewfinders. She also anticipated when there might be some action, such as animal interactions, and alerted us in advance. That made a real difference and resulted in some great action shots that I might otherwise have missed. The boat was fantastic, with gimbal heads that made shooting with long lenses much easier, although a few of the gimbals are beginning to show their age. Being on the water also allowed us to get much lower-angle shots than we normally can from a safari vehicle—unless, of course, you are willing to hang halfway out of the vehicle and risk becoming part of the photographic story yourself! Zambia | Chikunto Safaris Our final stop was Zambia and Chikunto Safaris, where we enjoyed a more traditional safari experience with early-morning and late-afternoon game drives. We experienced our first wild dog hunt and saw more leopards than we have ever encountered, including one with a kill in a tree. The density of lions was also impressive, providing photographic opportunities virtually every day. Neil, our CNP guide, did a fabulous job calling out approaching animals while we were concentrating on our subjects. Being warned that something was coming allowed us to prepare and capture action shots that I would normally have missed. Overall CNP Safaris did much more than simply take us to target-rich environments. Their guides consistently took the extra step to anticipate what was about to happen, alert us to approaching animals and birds, and help us get our cameras ready for the moment. For wildlife photography, that makes a huge difference. Seeing the animal is one thing; being ready when the action happens is another. The knowledge, anticipation, and communication from the CNP guides helped us capture images we otherwise would have missed. We came home with some great memories, a lot of photographs, and a serious backlog of images to review. I would definitely travel with CNP Safaris again.
  
 
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   Tobie 
 10 days ago
 
 
 Verified Photography specialists, excellent hosts What a wonderful experience with stunning accommodation and photographic opportunities. The photography host was exceptional and being on the water so close to the subjects was so special. CNP Safaris works very hard at placing you in position to grow your photography skills. I am a returning customer and am still blown away by the experience. The snack box, ice cold soft drinks and water on the boat is always very welcome, especially when sitting at sightings. Excellence beyond expectation
  
 
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   Culture35378656263 
 25 days ago
 
 
 Verified I wish I could stay on the Freya! Neal was an excellent leader, very considerate, good listener and very helpful. Thanks Neal! The staff on board were exceptional - the food and maintenance were both beyond any complaint. One ate even when you knew you were not hungry, and that says a lot. I have to compliment our two guides who willingly shared their knowledge, and helped me as an older person tremendously with their support! I thank you - you were both my 'sons' on this trip. The photographic options even better than I thought it could ever be. All of this contributed to a Life Time Trip. Thanks Secret Atlas, it was unforgettable.
  
 
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   Micha S 
 25 days ago
 
 
 Verified Shompole 10-15 August 2026 by Micha Schipper I had a wonderful experience with CNP safaris in Shompole. The underground photo hides with their lighting system are unique. The guide is operating the lighting system, so I did not have to worry about that. There is enough space in the hides for more then 4 photographers and the guide, there is even a separate space with bunk beds to rest if you get sleepy during the night. The guide will wake you up if something interesting is happening. Shompole Wildernes camp is excellent. CNP safaris chartered an airplane to fly from Wilson Airport to the Shompole airstrip, flight time is less then an hour.
  
 
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   Michel D 
 25 days ago
 
 
 Verified Eblouissant ! Des conditions de shooting absolument hors normes! Le "hide" est réalisé pour faire des photos au raz de l'eau à quelques mètres de distance des animaux qui viennent se désaltérer au point d'eau : magique ! Et la nuit, des éclairages, gérés par un Maasaï, permettent des images hors normes !
  
 
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   Maarten S 
 31 days ago
 
 
 Verified CNP Safaris experience CNP understands what it takes to make strong photographs, and their tours are built around what photographers actually need. That creates a rare setting: you sharpen your skills while coming home with images that genuinely stand out in your portfolio. Be prepared to work for it. The low-light conditions are challenging, but you get enough opportunities to experiment with different settings to really learn them. And if you book a run of nights in a hide, you'll give up some sleep: it's worth it! Everything is run professionally, but in a warm, friendly atmosphere. This was my first trip with CNP but definitely not my last.
  
 
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   nrf8 
 33 days ago
 
 
 Verified Shompole night hides with CNP Safaris Shompole night hides, a great addition for anyone who loves wildlife and safaris and is looking for something different. You get up close and personal with an abundance of wildlife. The night starts around 4pm until 8am, so you benefit from the evening and morning light as well as photographing under lights at night. Lights are adjusted by your guide and suggested camera setting are given in advice to help you make the most of your time in the hide. CNP look after you from arrival in Nairobi until you leave for your homeward flight. The lodge provides everything you need to enjoy your photography experience. Each visit is unique as wildlife viewing is unpredictable, but over 4 nights I took nearly 6,000 images and have 100 plus images that are unique special moments and over 600 that I would struggle to take anywhere else. If a safari is all about the photography for you, then a CNP Safaris visit to Shompole should be on your bucket list.
  
 
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   Journey53424281247 
 33 days ago
 
 
 Verified Experience of a lifetime I have been on a few Safaris, but nothing compares with the amazing experience with CNP at Shompole. We were looked after with kindness and consideration the moment we met up with our host, Neal. Shompole lodge is a delight, as are the lovely staff, but the cherry on the top is the photographic opportunities in the hides. Shooting game at eye level, intermittently through the night, with amazing lighting was an incredible experience. Thank you everyone for a very special trip. I have every intention of traveling again with CNP.... you guys are amazing
  
 
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   Donna K 
 33 days ago
 
 
 Verified Svalbard micro-expedition with a camera in hand! Ten days aboard the Freya with a photography group led by Neal Cooper exceeded our expectations. We had previously travelled on a larger ship to the Canadian Arctic and this micro-expedition experience was far better. The vibe onboard was friendly and fun and fully engaged. Food was much better than expected. Rooms were clean and well maintained. The open bridge was inviting and friendly. The conversations about what we were seeing felt unforced, not preachy or lecturing, and the guides were superb. Photographing wildlife from a zodiac is always daunting but we were able to get good shots of a wide range of birds and animals. And the big surprise? The shots of the ice features- ice caps, icebergs, polar ice, receding glaciers. 24/7 sunlights was interesting.