Photography Volunteering in South Africa

The program was a fantastic experience that fully met my expectations. The highlights were truly unique, from experiencing animals that are not normal for me up close and personal to seeing a baby 1-month-old hyena and witnessing a lion vasectomy. The purchased experiences, such as a gorge swing and swimming with crocodiles, were also very high up there. The team were all wonderful and very friendly too. I would absolutely recommend Penda. Overall, it was a wonderful experience to celebrate a big birthday. The team went above and beyond in keeping me safe and comfortable, including celebrating with me when I was not expecting it. The experiences in front of me were once in a lifetime for me, and I hope to see them again in the future.

The program with Penda Photo Tours was a wonderful success, fully meeting my expectations. The highlight of the experience was being surrounded by elephants in Zambezi National park. I would absolutely recommend Penda.

The program was a deeply moving experience that mostly exceeded my expectations. The highlights were Anna’s enthusiasm, energy & warmth, the group of photographers working together, the great team, and the variety of NGO’s we visited. I was particularly touched by the experience at the Bezweni Centre for Disabled Children and I hope I was able to provide them with what they needed. Reflecting on the whole experience, the highlights are all about the encounters with people and the generosity of spirit. I am grateful to have had the opportunity access these communities and contribute to the work of the NGO’s with my pictures. I would recommend Penda, yes.

The most memorable and exciting part of the holiday was the wildlife photography opportunities. Overall, it was an excellent trip, not without its challenges of course on this type of programme. You do need very good time management and to be flexible, and also be able to get along with people.

The program was a fantastic success, fully meeting my expectations. The highlights included having so many different perspectives of the different types of non-profits and getting excellent, constructive feedback from Anna. I would absolutely recommend Penda.

Learnt a lot during the program with Penda Photo Tours while being very enjoyable. All the staff were friendly, approachable and keen to answer any questions. Any issues that did arise were promptly addressed and resolved.

Meeting other people (volunteers and guides) who care about the same things as me in the same way - it's so important to surround yourself who share your values and this was a great opportunity to do this! I've made some friends who I am planning on meeting again in person before the end of this year, so that's very special :) Seeing all the wildlife! I've always dreamed of seeing African wildlife and didn't know if I would ever actually do it, so seeing all these animals on a daily basis in the wild was also very special for me. Further to that, this experience has helped me clarify that wildlife photography and conservation is something I want to pursue and I'm now feeling really motivated and inspired to continue down this path.

The program was a fantastic and enriching experience that fully met my expectations. Alongside the great photographic opportunities, the other highlight was the feedback sessions with Anna and the other participants, where so much learning occurred and helped us all make big steps with our photography during the two weeks. I would absolutely recommend Penda.

The program was a profound experience that met and greatly exceeded my expectations. Each location was a highlight by itself, if I am honest, but visiting Kayamandi was probably a pivotal point in truly understanding the environment from which some of our NGOs or beneficiaries are coming. I would recommend Penda, yes.

The program was excellent, providing a nice balance of theory and practice with a strong focus on putting things into practice. The highlights of the experience were the full day safari trips and the subsequent process of editing photos and getting feedback. I would absolutely recommend Penda.

I had an amazing time here. Staff were so kind and I’ve made unforgettable memories! It's an amazing experience to try once in your life. If you're passionate about animals and nature in general you'll love this project

It is great to have three months of focus on wildlife and photography. We had a lot of great moments with a variety of animals and learned a lot of them and their behavior. Improving my photography and editing skills was one of my goals, the help of the staff is really great for that. I loved being here and hope to be back.

The 6 weeks I spent there were amazing. I met some incredible people and the staff team is awesome. I got told what I needed in the emails so it’s perfect, the kitchen’s food is really good too. The researchers presentations and the inductions were really helpfull.

What an amazing experience; being immersed in the midst of a game reserve for 4 weeks, with incredibly knowledgable and passionate guides and photography experts surpassed all expectations. We learnt, we laughed and made great friends.

The warmth and generosity of the Zambian people has left an indelible mark on my heart. I am forever grateful for the opportunity this program has given me. It perfectly blended my desire to learn more about photography with a genuine desire to make a positive impact. Welcomed with open arms by local communities each day to document their daily lives for different ngos was a true privilege. A massive thank you to Anna, you’re amazing <3. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking a fun and fulfilling adventure! I went into the first week only really knowing that the big silver button was what took a picture when pressed! I’ve definitely come along way not only as a photographer ( if I can call my self that after three weeks ?!) but as a whole, the experience really enriched me on a personal level. The opportunity to photograph things that most ‘normal’ people would never get the privilege of… walking into rural communities and truly feeling welcomed and wanted there, engaging with the local people was something that maybe initially felt a little bit daunting but turned into the best part! Faces and hugs I’ll never forget

It would be very easy to say the whole experience was life changing but that might appear to be a cliche. As is always the case, whenever I go to Africa as a volunteer, I come away firmly believing that the country and its people have given me far more than I was able to give back. The Humanitarian Photography Programme was superb, the arrangements, the placements and the opportunities to take photographs in difficult situations was amazing. Anna is a fantastic teacher, she offers constructive criticism in a positive but gentle way and is equally enthusiastic when you produce images that meet her rather demanding standards. I can't wait until the next opportunity.

The program was incredible. The first week was getting to know some of the organizations we would be photographing by meeting staff and learning of their history and mission. Week two and three we dove into the work and we’re busy everyday but had our weekends off to rest and recuperate. I learned a multitude of photography skills while photographing these environments.

If you want to learn how to do wildlife photography, this is the place ! I enrolled in a four week course in the Greater Kruger Area and I had the best time of my life. You will learn all the basics of wildlife photography and you will go on game drives every day ! The camp was very good and had all the necessities. The staff and the guides were the most amazing persons ever ! It’s an experience of a lifetime ! Will be coming back next year !

This experience was incredible! Getting to know such amazing children and to get the opportunity to be a part in their life for a short time was incredible to me. I will forever cherish everything that they taught me and be grateful for this time! The work-days were perfectly put together with teaching, breaks, other activities and social happenings in the evenings! And being in such a beautiful town, it was easy to find something fun and cool to do on the weekdays! I did Angels pool, The Elephant Cafe, Rhino Walk and overnight safari in Chobe, Botswana! Compared to my expectations it was very safe, clean and comfortable stay at the Backpackers and the city itself! I had a lot of fun and made awesome memories that I will cherish forever. I would recommend doing a project ant African Impact in Livingstone to absolutely everyone!

I had a fantastic time on the photography program in the Greater Kruger Area. The staff is helpful and knowledgeable - lots of learnings on every game drive. I felt I was part of the community - all of the volunteers were engaged and fun. The exposure to the wildlife every day was amazing - I was able to extend my photography skills and learn the Lightroom for editing my photos. The facilities and location are just fantastic. I would recommend the program!