Let It Rain: Photographing in The Rain

On arrival in the Mara Triangle Conservancy it was clearly evident that the region had very little rain. Little did I know that this was apparently the driest the Mara ecosystem has been in the last 20 years. Not a hint of greenery in any of the standing grasses, just a burnt orange and yellow [...]

What Is A Photographic Safari

What is a Photographic Safari? It seems that everyone has their own view and opinion on what actually constitutes a photographic safari. For some, its simpy travelling with a group of like minded poeple with an interest in photography. For others its about chasing the shot. For some, its all about photographing big cats and [...]

Uganda’s Lion Population: A Podcast with Alex Braczkowski

In this episode, Andrew Beck catches up with Alex Braczkowski, a conservation scientist, photographer and cameraman from Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. Over the past ten years Alex has have filmed, photographed and studied African lions, leopards, jaguars, and caracals across three continents. Alex’s most recent science and film work explores assessing densities of lions and other [...]

Guest Blog: A Safari to Madikwe in July 2023

We have been travelling with WildEye since our safari to the Mara Camp, in 2017. Two further photographic safari’s and a fabulous tailor-made trip to three different African countries followed. It had been my dream to show friends why we love to go on safari, and especially with WildEye. Well, on 27th July that dream [...]

Trip Report: Uganda, No Primates Private Guided Safari

Uganda. No Primates. That was the brief for this private guided safari experience. It may seem rather unusual but, given that this particular guest has had the privelege of trekking for Western Lowland Gorillas in Odzala-Kokoua National Park with me, it makes a bit more sense. The gorilla trekking experience is very different in the [...]

Behind The Frame: Lion in the Okavango Delta

In this episode in the Behind The Frame series, Andrew Beck shares the story behind one of his all time favorite images captured in Botswana's Okavango Delta. Join our Botswana Wilderness Safari The Okavango Delta, the Jewel of Africa. Can there be any place more unique than an oasis in the Kalahari Desert filled to [...]

Places We Love: Beagle Expeditions Kweene Trails Camps

There is no better way to experience a true African Safari than in the comfort and privacy of your own exclusive mobile safari camp. A journey through the wilderness with the intimacy and flexibility of your own camp, guide, safari vehicle and staff compliment. This unique Beagle Expedition is designed to explore one of Botswana’s [...]

Places We Love: Bateleur Safari Camp

Bateleur Safari Camp is located in South Africa's world renowned Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, an exceptional safari location. All artificial barriers between the Timbavati and the adjacent Kruger National Park have been removed and Bateleur Safari Camp itself shares unfenced borders with Kruger, allowing free animal movement. This prime wilderness area boasts the Big Five, [...]

Behind the Frame: A Leopard at the Lentorre Hide

In this episode in the Behind The Frame series, Andrew Beck shares a Lightroom Edit of an image of a male leopard captured at the Lentorre Hide during the September 2022 Great Migration with Hides and Helicopters Safari. The Lentorre Hide offers the most incredible, intimate sightings of birds and animals at ground level. Launched [...]

Your Images Reviewed: The Greatest Maasai Mara Photo Competition

Are you planning on entering The Greatest Maasai Mara photo competition and standing a chance of winning $10 000 AND a 5 night stay at Angama Mara? We would love to help you refine your image selections and edits and perhaps increase your chances of winning this fantastic prize all whilst supporting one of the [...]

Photographing the Western Lowland Gorillas of The Congo Basin

Did you know that there are actually four recognized subspecies of gorilla, all of which are native to Africa? Eastern Gorilla (Gorilla beringei) The Eastern Gorilla is divided into two subspecies: the mountain gorilla and the eastern lowland gorilla. The mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) is found in the Virunga Mountains on the border of [...]

The Wild Eye Podcast #433: The Congo Conservation Company

In this episode Andrew Beck, who just returned from the Congo, shares conversations he recently had in the field with Raphaël de Laage, Dean Oelofse and Nicole Mathesie. Raphaël is the senior camp manager at Congo Conservation Company while Dean and Nicole are two of the guides who work in this amazing part of Africa. Congo Conservation Company [...]

Trip Report: Great Migration + Hides and Helicopters September 2022

Yes, I know, the trip title is a mouthful but in all honesty, we just couldn't come up with a title that would sum up the full range and diversity of experiences that one would have over a period of 11 days. So, The Great Migration, Hides and Helicopters it is (I'd love to hear [...]

Guest Blog: The 2022 Great Migration, Hides and Helicopters Safari

When I was asked to write a few words about my recent experience with Wild-Eye on the Hides and Helicopters tour I jumped at the chance to share my amazing experience in Kenya.  This tour allows guests to experience the Wild-Eye Mara Camp as well as visit Lentorre Lodge for amazing hide photography as well [...]

Tips for Photographing Jaguars of the Pantanal in Brazil

Having just returned from my very first trip to Brazil's Pantanal where our group spent 9 nights exploring the rivers and channels around Porto Jofre, I though that rather than pulling together a trip report, I'd share my tips for photographing Jaguars of the Pantanal with you all. Besides, if you're planning to visit this [...]

MalaMala and Mashatu Photo Safari: A Guest’s Perspective

“This is my last Africa trip”, I said to myself after booking this photographic journey nearly four years ago in December 2018. Africa gets in your soul, and I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have traveled to this magical continent 12 times since my first trip in 2006. No matter how hard I try to visit [...]

Highlights from MalaMala and Mashatu Photo Safari | July 2022

After two postponements we were finally able to combine two of the most productive areas in southern Africa into one magnificent safari experience! Our luck literally began from the moment we arrived in Mashatu with our first sighting being that of a female leopard and her young cub before we even got to the lodge. [...]

Desert Adapted Lions of Namibia: The Desert Lion Trust

During the most recent edition of our Desert Wildlife of Namibia Safari (click here for the Trip Report) we were treated to some very special sightings of the desert adapted lions that call Namibia's Hoanib River Valley home. The Namib is the only place on Earth where a small population of desert-adapted lions occurs. Remarkably, [...]

Trip Report: Desert Wildlife of Namibia Safari May 2022

Namibia. A land of contrasts and a landscape which is as varied as it is beautiful. In the weeks leading up to this safari I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous, and no this had nothing to do with Covid or travel restrictions but rather with the massive rains that Namibia (and [...]

All things Canon and Mirrorless with Roger Machin

Canon South Africa's Product Marketing Manager Roger Machin recently visited the Wild Eye office and shared a very informative presentation and training session with our guides. With camera technology advancing at a rate of knotts it is vital that our guiding team stay up to date with the latest developments in an effort to deliver [...]

Is This The End of Travel Related PCR Testing?

I'll never forget that moment when, during the height of the Covid 19 Pandemic, the world started to open up through PCR testing and that a negative PCR test quickly became your ticket to ride! It was a massive relief to think that things could be starting to return to normal. Then came the realisation [...]