Tembe Photography Workshop
Tembe Elephant Park and Rory Baker Photography/My Photo School will be collaborating to bring a wildlife photography workshop experience to Tembe. Join us for an unforgettable photography experience. Whether you’re a novice or already experienced, you’ll gain valuable hands-on skills and insights in this inspiring setting.
Workshop Highlights
- Exclusive game viewer vehicles for photographers.
- Two game drive photography sessions each full day.
- Professional photography coaching every day in the field and classroom.
- Big-5 including big Tusker photography opportunities.
- Professional editing, retouching and workflow tips.
- Photo Critique and much more........
WORKSHOP SUMMARY
VENUE: TEMBE ELEPHANT PARK#
Tembe Elephant Park is a place where wild elephants still roam, and is part of the legendary Ivory Route where the great tuskers still tramp their ancient pathways through dense sand forest and tall yellow grass. The park is a 300 square kilometers reserve between Zululand and Mozambique, home to some of Africa's largest elephants as well as the smallest antelope, the suni.
Tembe Elephant Park is home to all the ‘Big Five’ and more than 340 bird species and a myriad of other plants and animals. It is a world of hot silence and white sand, where the busy modern world ceases to exist and only the rising and setting of the sun marks the passage of time. It is also the ancestral home of the Tembe people.
PRICE: November 2025 Bookings Closed - New dates will be posted soon#
- Price based on single person sharing.
- Single occupancy subject availability, will incur additional cost.
- Non-Photographers welcome subject availability, price on request.
- Non-photographers will ride on the general game viewers.
NOVEMBER 2025 - BOOKINGS CLOSED - 2026 Dates coming soon#
4 nights / 5 Days
Arrive : 11:00 am on first day
Depart: 12:00 pm on last day
INCLUDED & NOT INCLUDED#
Included:
- All-inclusive, accommodation and all meals.
- Community levy.
- All game drives and activities as per the itinerary.
- Free WiFi for the Workshop.
Not Included:
- Travel to and from the venue.
- Gate & Conservation fees.
- Beverages and drinks.
- Personal purchases and in-room services.
- Travel and medical insurance.
- Gratuities
DAILY ITINERARY#
Day 1:
Guests should arrive at Tembe Elephant Park by 12:00 pm. Upon arrival and settling in, there will be a short pre-lunch briefing to introduce the itinerary for the upcoming days. After lunch at the main dining area, guests will embark on their first photography game drive. A sundowner experience in the bush will follow before returning to the lodge for dinner and a peaceful night's rest..
Day 2-4:
Each morning, an early light breakfast is provided for guests followed by the morning sunrise photography sessions on a game viewer. During the session, guests can enjoy coffee and rusks. Upon returning to camp, a full breakfast will be served, followed by a 2-2.5 hour photography classroom session. There is time for relaxation, freshening up, and optional self-booked massages before lunch at 2:00 pm. The afternoon sunset photo sessions begin at about 3:00 pm, with a sundowner stop included. After returning to the camp, guests can freshen up and prepare for dinner at 7:00 pm. In the evening, after dinner, your photography host will be available for image downloading, editing sessions, and a Q&A.
Day 5:
An early start awaits us for the last morning game drive. Upon our return, a hearty breakfast will be served, followed by a final discussion on photography. The itinerary concludes around 12:00 pm for departure.
Notes:
Game drive departure times may vary depending what our goal is for the session.
WHAT IS COVERED DURING THE WORKSHOP#
Game Drive Sessions:
Practical coaching and other hands-on tips in the field.
Classroom Sessions:
- Introduction: 4 stages of a photographers development.
- Photography Essentials: shooting modes, exposure, focusing modes, white balance, DOF, histograms and other photography technical stuff.
- Wildlife Photography broken down into topics like gear, specific technical stuff, animal portraits, animal groups, animals in action, composition, creative shots amongst others.
- Bird Photography broken down into various topics like gear, technical stuff, bird on a stick, bird in water, bird in flight, composition, creative shots amongst others.
- Other photography like macro, flowers etc.
- Post-processing tips and examples.
- Photo critique.
- Q&A
How to Book
Bookings for November 2026 are closed.
New dates for April. and September 2026 coming soon.!
Add your name to the list to be first to know when published!
Meet your Workshop Host & Mentor
Rory is a professional photographer and coach. Renowned for his keen eye for detail and an unwavering passion for capturing the true essence of his subjects, Rory has built an impressive and diverse commercial portfolio. His work covers a wide range of photography genres, particularly within the corporate and industrial sectors, where his images meet high professional standards.
In addition, Rory is a wildlife and nature photographer having guided several photography tours and wildlife, landscape and nature workshops. He is deeply committed to nurturing creativity and knowledge in others. In 2014, he founded My Photo School with the vision of creating an inclusive and inspiring space where photographers of all levels can grow their skills and confidence.
Rory’s passion for photography is matched only by his enthusiasm for education, making him a beloved mentor and coach. His approachable style and dedication to fostering a supportive learning environment have earned him great respect among students and peers alike. Whether behind the camera or in the classroom, he continues to inspire the next generation of creatives to see the world differently and capture its beauty with authenticity and skill.
Luxury Tented Camp
The exclusive tented lodging provides a private retreat within a peaceful sand forest. Each tent features amenities such as air-conditioning, camping chairs on personal decks, and cozy queen-sized beds adorned with premium linens.
Indulge in the serenity of the al fresco shower. You can book in advance and unwind at the spa tent for a rejuvenating experience between game drives.
Chances are you will see a Tusker!
Tembe Elephant Park is home to a notable elephant known as a "Tusker," characterized by tusks weighing over 100lbs or 45.45kg.
Tembe Elephant Park is currently home to eight of the 30 remaining "big tuskers" in Africa.
We don't forget the small things!
Our workshops are not only centered around the Big-5 and other large animals and birds. We also spend time enjoying the nature around us and photograph the smaller things, including wild flowers, fungi, insects and other flora when the opportunity presents itself.
An excellent Elephant & Wildlife Workshop! Rory patiently and expertly guided us through all aspects from the daily planning to the final photo post-production. Feedback on photos from Rory and fellow attendees helped me to see my photographs in a new light. I left Tembe a wiser and better photographer with my passion for wildlife photography reignited. A must for all Wildlife Photographers. RG
