Intimate photographic journeys, guided by photographers

Wonderful experience!!! My partner and I had the best time on a wildlife photography safari on the Chobe River. Neal was so helpful, not only with photo settings and lighting advice but also in his knowledge of all the various bird species. With his help we were able to get the best photos we’ve had all trip. He also had such a great, engaging attitude and made sure everyone had a great time. I would do another trip with Neal and CNP Safaris in a heartbeat.

An incredible "Brush with Conservation" safari I had a fabulous experience! The accomodations were great, food was excellent and beautifully prepared. Having Monique's guidance helped me level up my photography! The conservation experiences were amazing and taught me a lot, we tracked cheetahs on foot and helped with dehorning two rhinos! We also added a special section of oil painting to deepen our understanding and connection to our experience.

Wildlife viewing and painting experience We just had another amazing trip with CNP, during which we got to enjoy walking with the Cheetahs, experience conservancy actions to protect rhinos from poachers and seeing many more wildlife. We also enjoyed spending downtimes learning to paint wildlife under the expert teaching of Michelle McCune with results I never thought I could attain! Lodging and food did not disappoint.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Dazzling! Absolutely extraordinary shooting conditions! The "hide" is designed for taking photos at water level just a few meters away from the animals that come to drink at the water hole: magical! And at night, lighting, managed by a Maasai, allows for extraordinary images!

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.