Penda Photo Tours

Penda Photo Tours We provide photography workshops, tours, and safaris around the world, all designed by and for photographers. At Penda, we love travel, and we love photography.

We also believe in the power of photography to do good. So we combined our passions to create the best photographic experiences around the world, and added a responsible element to it. Our photo tours and photography workshops offer exclusive opportunities, and are guided by experts. Our charity, the Penda Trust, uses photography to generate positive change in communities we visit. The complete picture changes lives.

How close is too close?📷⁠⁠We know the best wildlife shots come from patience, not proximity. Our ethical photo safaris s...
04/09/2026

How close is too close?📷⁠
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We know the best wildlife shots come from patience, not proximity. Our ethical photo safaris start with fieldcraft, we read behaviour, respect boundaries and always let the animal set the terms of the encounter.⁠
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Our guides can read the language of the wildlife around, and they know when an animal isn't happy to have us around. Whether it's pinned ears, raised tails or mock charges, knowing these signs is as essential as knowing your camera settings. ⁠
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The reward? Calmer subjects, more natural behaviour and intimate images that were captured through patience and respect rather than the pursuit of the perfect shot🐘⁠

Curious how it works? Head to the link below to start planning your photography adventure.⁠

https://www.pendaphototours.com/tours/
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We're looking forward to being back in Slovenia next year photographing bears with 🐻We'll be working in forest landscape...
01/09/2026

We're looking forward to being back in Slovenia next year photographing bears with 🐻

We'll be working in forest landscapes where patience, light and timing matter as much as equipment. These settings can be challenging, but they also create opportunities for deeply atmospheric images that capture the quiet essence of Slovenia🌿

Here are a few of the key tips we follow when shooting in Slovenia:

- Stay silent and minimise movement: Noise and sudden shifts can easily spook bears. Make sure your gear is set up in advance to reduce fumbling around.

- Pack versatile equipment: A 100–400mm lens is a great all-rounder. You can’t predict how close or far away bears will appear or where they will move so you want versatility. A wider lens (e.g. 16–55mm) is useful if a bear comes close to the hide.

- Focus on behaviour, not just portraits: Shots of bears interacting, foraging, or showing natural behaviours tell a stronger story than static portraits.

- Light awareness: Hides often place you in low-light woodland with dappled light. Be prepared to raise your ISO and work with changing conditions, especially at dawn and dusk when bears are more active.

If you fancy putting these tips into practice, check out the link below for more info on our Bears of Slovenia Photo Tour🔗

https://www.pendaphototours.com/tour/bears-of-slovenia-photo-tour/

28/08/2026

How it sounds to spend a morning in the Tuli Block🌿

Between it's rocky landscapes and huge dry riverbeds, the Tuli Block in Botswana makes for the perfect photo safari destination.

Big cats, huge herds of elephants and incredibly clear night skies, if you fancy joining us on this true wilderness experience, check out the link below🔗

https://www.pendaphototours.com/tour/botswana-photo-safari/

Upcoming dates📅
Jul 12 - 18, 2027
Sep 13 - 19, 2027

Wondering what to expect from a photography tour?📸It's a trip built entirely around getting you to the right place, at t...
25/08/2026

Wondering what to expect from a photography tour?📸

It's a trip built entirely around getting you to the right place, at the right time, for as long as it takes to get the shot.

You'll be guided by a professional photographer every step of the way, with tuition tailored to wherever you're at, whether your ready to take your photography to the next level or you're looking to sharpen skills you've had for years. Small groups mean the guidance is personal and shaped around what you're photographing in that moment, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

You'll also be travelling alongside like-minded people who share your passion for photography, which has a way of shaping the whole trip.

Good photography takes patience. A photo tour gives you the time, the guidance, and the opportunities to put that patience to good use.

Fancy joining a tour yourself? Head to the link below🔗

https://www.pendaphototours.com/tours/

What keeps drawing us back to Botswana?🐘There's a reason our lenses keep finding their way back to the Tuli Block, it's ...
21/08/2026

What keeps drawing us back to Botswana?🐘

There's a reason our lenses keep finding their way back to the Tuli Block, it's a landscape unlike anywhere else we travel to. Rocky plains, dry riverbeds, skies that stretch on forever, and described by Lonely Planet as ‘Botswana’s best kept secret’.

Between the big cats, sprawling elephant herds, and birdlife that rewards patience, it's a place that keeps surprising us. And once the sun goes down, the lack of light pollution turns every night into a chance to photograph the stars too.

It's wild, remote, and every time we go, it gives us something new to photograph📸

Want to experience it for yourself? Follow the link below to see more🔗

https://www.pendaphototours.com/tour/botswana-photo-safari/

Today is World Photography Day, and it's a good reminder of why we do what we do. The early alarms, long waits and the p...
19/08/2026

Today is World Photography Day, and it's a good reminder of why we do what we do. The early alarms, long waits and the patience it takes to be in the right place at the right time. We wouldn't have it any other way!

We feel so lucky to spend our days in the field with a community that loves this craft as much as we do, swapping tips and tricks, celebrating incredible sightings and chasing the same light together🌟

Here's to another year of unforgettable moments behind the lens📷🌍

A few weeks ago, joined us for two weeks on back to back photo safaris, exploring Timbavati and Botswana's Tuli Wildern...
18/08/2026

A few weeks ago, joined us for two weeks on back to back photo safaris, exploring Timbavati and Botswana's Tuli Wilderness🌿⁠
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In our latest blog, Kim shares how two weeks in the wild became a journey of close encounters, creative growth, and unforgettable moments behind the lens.⁠
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From the Big Five in her first 24 hours to daily sightings of the rare and elusive brown hyena, plus a few surprises along the way⁠🐘⁠
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Read Kim's full story through the link below🔗

https://www.pendaphototours.com/blog/a-photo-safari-through-timbavati-and-tuli/⁠
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Maternal Serenities❄This image, captured in Greenland by , was a finalist in the Wildlife category of our 2025 Travel Ph...
15/08/2026

Maternal Serenities❄

This image, captured in Greenland by , was a finalist in the Wildlife category of our 2025 Travel Photography Competition.

Here's what he had to share about the image:

“Here, on a still-winter sea ice, we are almost trapped as the polar night begins to fall. A mother and her two cubs, clearly hungry, force her to slow down and take care of them. In this moment, she seems to enter a state of meditation, as if she forgets the rest of the world to give strength and calm to her young. This scene, full of quiet and delicacy, perfectly shows the balance between survival and maternal instinct in the Arctic.”

A quiet moment, captured perfectly🧊

To see more of last years finalists, follow the link below🔗

https://www.pendaphototours.com/blog/2025-travel-photo-competition-finalists-wildlife-category/

Get to Know Anna L***y 📸For almost 20 years, Anna has documented the work of humanitarian organisations across Africa, c...
13/08/2026

Get to Know Anna L***y 📸

For almost 20 years, Anna has documented the work of humanitarian organisations across Africa, creating imagery that gives a voice to communities and helps nonprofits make a greater impact.

In the words of Anna herself, "when we photograph with empathy, respect and curiosity, we don't just capture images; we create connections."

Want to learn from Anna firsthand? Join her in the field on our Humanitarian Photography Workshops in Tanzania or Victoria Falls.

📅 Tanzania: Oct 2-11, 2026 / Oct 1-10, 2027
📅 Victoria Falls: May 24 - Jun 2, 2027

Link below for details🔗

https://www.pendaphototours.com/tours/?tour-focus=non-profit-photography-tours

A few weeks ago, we explored the wild forests of Slovenia with , and we're excited to share that we'll be heading back a...
06/08/2026

A few weeks ago, we explored the wild forests of Slovenia with , and we're excited to share that we'll be heading back again next year!🐻

Slovenia is one of Europe's best-kept secrets for wildlife photography and one of the last strongholds of the magnificent brown bear. With a population of more than 500 bears, it offers an incredible opportunity to photograph these iconic animals in their natural habitat.

Over five unforgettable days, we'll explore the pristine forests of the Notranjska and Kočevska regions, photograph from specially designed bear hides, and discover Slovenia's spectacular landscapes of ancient forests, lakes and mountains. Along the way, you'll receive expert photographic guidance in a small group, ensuring plenty of personalised tuition and time in the field.

Whether you’re an experienced photographer or a nature enthusiast, this bear photography tour will help you develop your craft while immersed in one of Europe’s most pristine wilderness areas.

📅Jul 15-19, 2027

Link below for more information🔗

https://www.pendaphototours.com/tour/bears-of-slovenia-photo-tour/

Address

61/63 Wale Street
Cape Town
8000

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