Kicking it around the world…
Most of us don’t have the time or the budget to go on many wildlife photography trips, so it’s worth making the most of what we have by going to the right place at the right time.
In 2014, I wrote down all the destinations on my bucket list. Here’s an updated version containing all the best places for wildlife photography I’ve never visited...
Africa
GMC course in southern Serengeti for blue wildebeest calving season in January/February or Mara river crossing in August/September
Cheetahs at Singita Boulders, Singita Lebombo, Singita Faru Faru, Governors Camp, Kichwa Tembo, Namiri Plains, Phinda Vlei Lodge, Phinda Forest Lodge, Phinda Mountain, Samara Private Game Reserve (on foot), Chitabe Camp
Mana Pools, Zimbabwe, for wild dogs on foot
Zimanga for hides (when BA reintroduces direct flights to Durban!)
Cheetah sanctuaries in Namibia
Kruger in September, eg Shingwedzi Kamp, Sabi Sands Private Reserve (Sabi Sabi or Mala Mala) or November/December for the impala birthing season
White lions at Timbavati
Kicheche with Exodus/Big Cat People (and Giza panther in Laikipia?)
Lewa in Kenya for cheetahs and black and white rhinos, Big Five (and electric vehicle at Lewa Wilderness Lodge)
Lentorre Lodge in Kenya for backlit hides
South Luangwa, Zambia, for Big Four and carmine bee-eaters in November (Sparrow Safaris)
Leopards at Sabi Sands and in South Luangwa, Zambia
Madikwe for Big Five, red hartebeest, brown hyena, wild dogs
Majete Wildlife Reserve, Malawi, for Big Five
North Luangwa, Zambia, for black rhino
Londolozi and Mala Mala private game reserves bordering Kruger National Park in South Africa
Asia
Flame of the Forest for tigers
Kabini, India for Saya, the black panther
Wrangel Island (favourite of Mark Carwardine) with Wildlife Worldwide Travel
Tigers, leopards and panthers in Nagarhole NP, India
Clouded leopards in Deramakot Forest, Sabah, Borneo
Snow leopards in Ladakh or Mongolia
Tigers at Pench or Kanha NP
Britain
Bempton Cliffs for gannet, guillemot, puffin, razorbill, kittiwake, fulmar, shag and herring gull
Beddington Farmlands
Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Gloucestershire, for kingfisher, ruff, sandpipers, warblers, whimbrel, grey plover, cuckoo, Mediterranean gull and cranes
The Wick, Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire, in July for puffins, guillemots and razorbills
Lackford Lakes, Suffolk, for kingfishers
Minsmere, Suffolk, for red deer, adders, stoats, bitterns, marsh harriers and bearded tit
Ranworth Broad, Norfolk, for ospreys, common terns, Cetti’s warblers
Gigrin, Rhayader, or Bwlch Nant Yr Arian in Wales for red kite feeding stations
Horn Mill Osprey Hide, Rutland, for ospreys, kingfishers, grey herons, red kites and buzzards (£80 for dawn to 0830 or 1630 to dusk)
Lakenheath Fen or Lackford Lakes hide near Cambridge with Kevin Pigney
Seal colony on Norfolk coast
Colin McCloud near Loch Marie, Westeros for rutting deer in September/October only a few feet away (£200 for argocat for four people). Go in morning.
Ospreys in June or July at Aviemore Osprey Centre (if they’ve returned) or Aviemore Ospreys, a hide costing £130 a day or River Spey for free!
Europe
Wildlife Dreams Estonia hide in May for bear cubs
Flatanger, Norway, in summer for white-tailed eagles
Boat trips with fish in Norway with Kvernoboats
Tromso for orcas
North America
Brown bears of Lake Clark with Tom Bol (or Patrick and Mary)
Barter Island, Alaska (September)
Barrow, Alaska
Wapusk National Park, Canada
Seal River Lodge, Canada
Baja, California, for boat rides to touch grey whales (cf Chris Bruce)
Baffin Island
Black bears with Charles Munn in North Carolina (Alligator River)
Elk rut in Rocky Mountain National Park
Brooks Falls in July (Georgia at Naturetrek to enter lottery)
Ellie Rothney trips to Costa Rica?
Guy Edwardes Costa Rica workshop
Email Tweeds Muir Park Lodge in Canada (credited by Andy Skillen)
South America
Peuma Hue or Huechahue in Argentina in September/October
If you’d like to order a framed print of one of my wildlife photographs, please visit the Prints page.
If you’d like to book a lesson or order an online photography course, please visit my Lessons and Courses pages.