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South Africa
embark with us on an unforgettable journey to
From the wild savannas of the Sabi Sands to the dramatic coastal landscapes of Cape Town, this expedition offers an unforgettable blend of wildlife, culture, and natural beauty. Together, we’ll explore iconic locations, capturing the essence of South Africa through the lens.
Hosted by Ricardo Braz & Leo Cavazzana
November 7-17, 2026
After a sold out trip in 2025, we're thrilled to announce a 2026 expedition to South Africa!
At Gaia, we believe photography is about more than just pictures—it's about stories, connections, and the thrill of experiencing nature at its best. Whether you’re photographing a lion stalking the grasslands or the vibrant streets of Cape Town, this expedition is designed to take your photography to new heights. Highlights:
SABI SANDS: Seeing the "Big Five" in the wild is one of the most memorable things one can ever experience. The African continent is the only place in the world where big game still roams freely in great numbers. We will stay in a camp exclusive to our group. Each guest will have an end seat on open game viewers to maximize photographic opportunities
RHINO SANCTUARY: Spend 3 days volunteering at a Wild Rhino Sanctuary that rescues orphaned black and white rhinos whose numbers continue to decline due to poaching. The Wild Rhino Sanctuary is closed to the public.
CAPE TOWN: Spend 4 days in the ultimate landscape paradise - Cape Town! Home to Table Mountain, one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, beautiful beaches, stunning biodiversity, and the African Penguin.
The trip
Even though our trips are focused on photography. everyone is welcome, regardless of photography level, age, equipment or physical condition. Non-photographers are also welcome!
Some days will be more relaxed than others - won't do any big walks, but we wake up practically every day for the sunrise and photograph until dark and some days the road will be long.
In this expedition, we intend to pass on to participants all our photographic knowledge, from animal behaviour to planning a photo and final editing, tips on the market, prints, working with brands and much more. There will be 10 days of photographic experiences in different landscape and light conditions, in addition to part of our time being devoted to theory and post-editing. The group will be relatively small - between 10 and 12 people and most journeys and tours will be made in 3 private cars and accommodation in double or triple rooms, depending on the group's disposition.
Itinerary
Day 1 - 07/11 - Hello & Welcome!
Hello and Welcome - Cape Town
On arrival, we will take a private transfer to our accommodation on the South Peninsula.
After settling into our accommodation we will venture to Camps Bay nestled between the Atlantic ocean and The Twelve Apostles Mountain Range. We will immerse ourselves in the stunning scenery and lounge on the wide white beach, regarded as one of Cape Town's top spots to catch a mesmerising sunset.
In the evening celebrate with a welcome dinner.
Dinner included.
Day 2 - 08/11 - Penguins!
Today we explore the spectacular Cape Peninsula and take sunset pics on Chapmans Peak.
Spend time at Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town, home to the African Penguin. Pristine white sands and calm turquoise waters hemmed in by gigantic granite boulders. Boulders Beach is one of the Cape Peninsula’s most magnificent beaches and is protected as part of the Table Mountain National Park.
We will spend time on the beach, boardwalk, and boulders capturing African Penguins. The South Peninsula is also home to one of the world’s most spectacular passes, Chapman’s Peak Drive.
We will venture on Chapmans Peak catching some sunset shots before heading to a local eatery for dinner.
Breakfast included.
Day 3 - 09/11 - Sunrise Hike & Free Afternoon
Up early to climb Lions Head an iconic 669 m mountain in Cape Town at sunrise.
Lions Head is is located between Table Mountain and Signal Hill and offers views of the Atlantic Ocean and Table Mountain. Lions Head is a playground for nature lovers and adventure seekers. On reaching the top of the Head, we will take in the amazing panoramic views across this fantastic city and beyond. We'll spend time exploring the area and enjoy a light snack with refreshments before we walk back down.
Free afternoon to explore the city, Bo Kaap, shop at the V&A, go to Robben Island, the choice is yours!
Packed breakfast included.
Day 4 - 10/11 - Kogelbaai
After a relaxing morning editing, around lunchtime we will head to The Kogelbaai (Cool Baai Beach) a range of mountains along the False Bay coast in the Western Cape of South Africa.
They form part of the Cape Fold Belt, starting south of the Elgin Valley.
The Kogelberg area has the steepest and highest drop directly into the ocean of any southern African coastal stretch and is one the world's greatest and possibly the most biodiversity hot spots in the world.
We’ll organize a sunset photoshoot in this beautiful place.
Breakfast included.
Day 5 - 11/11 - Cape Town to Rhino Sanctuary
After breakfast, we will load up the vehicles and travel to the airport to catch a domestic flight to a Rhino Sanctuary in the heart of the Mpumalanga to meet Rhino Rehabilitator Petronel Nieuwoudt. Petronel founded Care For The Wild in 2001 due to the drastic increase in the number of rhino poaching incidents within South Africa, resulting in orphan rhinos needing a specialized sanctuary that would rehabilitate and eventually, release them back into the wild.
Care for Wild is also home to many different animal and plant species. The reserve, together with surrounding areas, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains contain the best-preserved, oldest, and most diverse sequence of known volcanic and sedimentary rocks on Earth. Our home for the night at Care for Wild is in shared cabins. Each room is equipped with comfortable beds, en-suite bathrooms, and electrical outlets.
Accommodation: Care for Wild Volunteer Village
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 6 & 7 - 12 and 13/11 - Rhino Sanctuary
After breakfast, we join Petronel and her team for the full day to get a true understanding of the effects of the rhino poaching crisis in Africa. We will learn about the rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned calves, and the rewilding and release processes.
We will also meet their K9 Unit and hear about their ongoing monitoring, protection and conservation of the rhino species and their ecosystem and are fortunate to get a behind-the-scenes look into the daily running of the rhino sanctuary and how it evolves as the needs and requirements change.
The sanctuary runs a structured and timetabled programme that is designed to meet the needs of the rhinos under their care, however, as they are a Rhino Sanctuary on call 24/7 the programme may be altered at any given time.
Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary operates a ‘hands-off’ approach to caregiving. Their sole purpose is to rescue, rehabilitate and re-wild rhinos so that they can be released successfully back into their natural ecosystems.
We will assist in milk preparation, bottle feeding and boma care, participating in behavioural observations and gaining completely new insights into the world of rhino care, rehabilitation and conservation. We will be able to take photos and videos to document our experience.
Accommodation: Care for Wild Volunteer Village
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 8 - 14 Nov - Sabi Sands
After breakfast, we will bid farewell to the Rhinos and all the unsung hero's at the sanctuary and load up our vehicles and travel as a group to the Sabie Sands home to Africa’s iconic Big 5; Elephant, Lion, Buffalo, Rhino, and Leopard, majestic birds of prey and unrivalled density of big game.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 9 & 10 - 15 and 16 Nov - Sabi Sands
Each morning after coffee we will start our photographic/videography adventure at first-light to sights of animals waking and preparing to start their day within the Sabi Sands Game Reserve. Perched on trees, hidden behind bushes or out in the open at a watering hole, the open-top vehicle safari allows us to pry on unsuspecting animals in their natural habitat. Each guest will be allocated an end seat for photography and enjoy a scenic pit stop for a refreshing cup of coffee.
After our morning drive we will head back to camp for a delicious breakfast and free time before our afternoon safari.
The second safari of the day takes place in the late afternoon and early evening allowing the opportunity to spot the nocturnal animals of the bush as they roam over hilltops and through the expanse. As the sun goes down, we will be delighted by the surreal colours of a vibrant African sunset as darkness enshrouds all below. We will experience a classic safari sundowner with a brief pause for snacks and refreshments.
Umkumbe offers open plains and a waterhole, and is one of the world’s best-kept secret Big 5 gaming viewing destinations where nature tells a spectacular tale for all who will listen. The river and its surrounding vegetation change drastically from season to season and with the summer comes an abundance of wildlife and large mammals. Known for its open boundaries, the Sabi Sand River allows for unprohibited two-way traffic across the reserve. Thanks to a lack of human habitation between the Sand River and the Kruger National Park boundary, the entire area is left for wildlife to enjoy and roam freely.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included.
Our accommodation in the Sabi Sands!
Day 11 - 17 Nov - Farewell
After our morning drive and breakfast, we'll bid farewell to the breathtaking landscapes of the African bush and transfer to Nelspruit Airport where home or your next destination awaits.
Ensure your flights are scheduled for 2 pm or later, allowing you ample time to relish the final moments of this unforgettable experience.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Photographic equipment
We want to make it clear that there is no such thing as mandatory equipment - what you have is enough! That said, here is a list of equipment and accessories that, if you have them, will provide a better photographic experience. Remember that, on trips of this type, we can always share material and equipment so that we all have an incredible experience! Feel free to contact us beforehand to ask for help when packing/getting equipment.
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Camera (DSLR/Mirrorless); Two bodies will provide the best safari experience.
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Lenses: For game drives, telephotos will perform the best. A 400mm is already a great range but, when talking about wildlife, the more the better. We recommend having at least a 100-400 or similar. For the rest of the trip, regular mid-range lenses like 24-70 are great.
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Tripod - indispensable for night photo shoots;
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Monopod - for keeping the camera steady inside the safari vehicles (totally optional and personal, works great for video)
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Extra batteries;
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Memory cards;
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Cables and chargers;
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Polarizer/ND filter;
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HD or SSD for storage;
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Laptop (preferably with Lightroom and Photoshop installed);
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Drone (not allowed in many places, but worth bringing);
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External battery;
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Comfortbale camera bag;
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Etc!
Investment
The price of the trip is USD 5200 per person. A deposit of USD 1000 is required to guarantee your spot, and the remaining balance can be paid in installments.
What's included:
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Airport transfers - Airport pick up & drop off (if arriving within stated dates/times)
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Domestic Flight - Internal flight to Cape Town during the itinerary
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Accommodation - On twin share basis
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All transport to excursions
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All meals as outlined in the itinerary
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All game drives as outlined in the itinerary
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All park admissions and entrance fees
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Guiding/host during trip
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Pre-departure support
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On-site support
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24hr on-site support from our team
What is not included:
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International airline tickets or other tickets before/after the trip.
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Travel insurance
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Photographic equipment insurance
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Any extra trips, visits or activities NOT outlined in the itinerary
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Any extra nights if you're staying on after the itinerary
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Any extra food, meals or snacks NOT outlined in the itinerary
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Extra drinks & beverages NOT outlined in the itinerary
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Personal spending money & money for tips
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Visa