The Lightstalker’s World Discovery Experience
Featuring classic bucket list locations, and small intimate group of 3/4 photography guests.
World Discovery tours are all about adventure, discovery and a less rehearsed photography travel experience.
A mixture of travel, landscape, wildlife and local culture photography. All include creative support, location briefings, accommodation and of course transport to locations.
Destination Summary – Botswana and Victoria Falls A 13 day African photography adventure featuring Botswana and Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls, focusing on the wildlife, landscapes and life in the north east corner of Botswana. Zimbabwe Victoria Falls Or Mosi-oa-Tunya, “the smoke that thunders” kicks off this photography adventure. One of the world’s natural wonders, August is the ideal month to view and photograph the falls. Water levels are good but not too much as to obscure the views and get a soaking in the process. We’ll meet up at a local lodge for an intro and dinner before an early visit to the falls the following morning. Botswana Botswana has really got its act together when it comes to progressive wildlife conservation and there’s a strict hunting ban in place. Some of the most concentrated wildlife populations in Africa exist and it’s ranked as the #1 safari destination. The National parks are wild, unfenced and unforgettable. The Chobe River Front, Moremi Game reserve, eastern Okauvango and the Makgadikgadi Pans will be our main areas of focus. There are also landscape and travel photography elements as we move between villages, towns and isolated Kubu Island in the Makagikgadi Pans with its glowing Baobab trees and the thundering mists of Victoria Falls in neighbouring Zimbabwe. Our mode of transport will be by 4×4 vehicle equipped with double Roof tents ( shared ), camp equipment with fridge, all fully self contained for mobile camps. A Botswana and Victoria Falls detailed itinerary is available for this tour. If you are interested in this trip drop me a note. Note: Due to the adventurous nature of this trip it is only open to previous Lightstalker Clients. Extra Info Tourism Botswana can be an expensive destination. Tourism is high end here , the industry keeping numbers low and costs high. Some luxury park lodges charge eye watering fees for there accommodation. To make this trip accessible we’ll be travelling by self contained 4×4 which gets us around this, keeping things affordable, accessible and flexible. Park and community concession Campsites are limited and have to be pre-booked well in advance. So get in touch as soon as possible if you’re interested. Accommodation Tabokana Guest house Victoria’s Falls – 1 night / Thebe River Safari Lodge Kasane 1 night / Cresta Rileys Hotel Maun 1 night / Maun Lodge 1 night. Optional supplement Botemi River lodge (subject to availability) all single occupancy. 8 nights rooftop camping ( 2 lodge and 6 wilderness locations) Insurance Participants must provide copy of travel and medical insurance 60 days prior to departure. Getting there Meet up is in Victoria Falls – Zimbabwe mid afternoon . A Visa is required on arrival either by Evisa or in person on arrival. End point – the small city of Maun Botswana , gateway to Moremi. Botswana issues free Visa on arrival. Flights to Victoria Falls and from Maun via International Hub of Johannesburg or Windhoek or Ethiopia. Baggage 1 soft shell hold-all with max 90 litres capacity. Northface , Osprey or Berghaus are good brands. No hard suitcases as these will not be practical in the vehicle. 1 camera bag – small to medium Make sure that you are comfortable with this mode of travel and type of trip. What to expect Game drives and Camping in Botswana Wildlife is most active early morning from 06:30 – 08:00 and from late afternoon around 15:30 into sunset on game drives in the Chobe NP and Moremi Game Reserves. During the day wildlife is less active but still visible and we will either be travelling between our destinations or resting during this time . The roads can be rough with gravel and deep sand with access to 4×4 vehicles only. It can get very bumpy and rough for long periods up to 4hrs. Wildlife viewing even in Botswana is based on and element of being in the right place at the right time and there are no guarantees of sightings. Although Elephant, Giraffe , wildebeest, zebra , monkey , wild dogs, red Lechwe, Hippo and crocodile are likely. Big cats ( especially cheetah and Leopard) are a little more illusive, Lions less so. When out photographing in Chobe and Moremi we must stay in the vehicle at all times when on a game drive – except for designated areas. Our three night camps around Moremi are at designated camp sites with basic amenities and in Botswana these camps are all unfenced. Wildlife can wander through at anytime time after dark. Camps are safe as long as we stick to camp guidelines, notice boards and common sense. The camps are small but usually busy with other travellers and local guides around to offer advice on sightings and road conditions etc. If you’d like to know more just email Glenphoto1@gmail.com
April 29, 2025 11:04 am Published by Glen Destination summary – ( Aotearoa ) New Zealand Photo Tour – The South Island New Zealand photo Tour – Experience and photograph one of the world’s most beautiful locations. The iconic mountains, lakes and rivers of New Zealand’s South Island. Aotearoa – The land of the long white cloud. The Lightstalker’s New Zealand Photo Tour will explore a range of stunning locations from glacial lakes, alpine mountains, lush meadows, historic gold mining towns, quirky villages and the Pacific east coast. Plus all the places in between. This 13 day New Zealand Photo tour will focus on 3 key regions, Otago (Queenstown, Glenorchy Wanaka, Dunedin and the Caitlins). Further north we’ll explore Canterbury (Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park and Lake Tekapo) before finishing off in Southland with incredible Fiordland and the Jewel in the crown – Milford Sound. April is peak Autumn in the southern hemisphere and this trip will be scheduled to capitalise on the Autumn colours that will be abundant at this time of year. Getting there The tour starts and ends in Queenstown, New Zealand’s adventure capital on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. The Airport has connecting flights from Auckland, Sydney and Melbourne. Accommodation A mixture of apartments, hotels and holiday homes, all single occupancy rooms. Queenstown 2 nights / Wanaka 1 night / Twizel 1 night / Aoraki – Mt Cook NP 2 nights / Dunedin 2 nights / The Catlins 1 night / Te Anau- Milford Sound 3 nights. What to expect The location The South Island is without doubt the most dramatic part of this Island nation. The high snow capped peaks of the Southern Alps are surrounded by glacier, alpine rivers , meadows and aquamarine glacial lakes. The highlight Mt Cook ( Aoraki ) rises to a height of over 3700 metres , we won’t be climbing it but we will be using it it as a stunning back drop to several compositions when we stay in the National Park. The transition East brings a change in geography and colour as we arrive at the pacific coast. The Pacific’s breakers north and south of Dunedin crash into golden beaches, with wildlife, rugged rocky islets and coastal outposts also providing interesting subject matter. The Nuggets lie south of the very “Scottish vibes” town of Dunedin and provide a great opportunity to capture stunning images at dusk complete with light house perched on high cliffs. Once over looked by travellers the Catlins coast is covered in dense woodland and provides a total contrast to the Alpine scenes to the west. A trinity of spectacular waterfalls give us a good morning workout before heading back west to Te Anau and World Heritage Listed Milford Sound. Milford Sound is just one of the few inlets that is accessible in Fiordland. We’ll take to the water and explore the fjord by boat as well as exploring the 125km approach road that cuts through the mountains to reach the sound. Quirky historic towns like Arrowtown, Kurow, Oamaru, Dunedin and Cardrona provide many interesting subjects between our natural locations. The noticeably friendly and chatty locals, local produce, NZ’s famous wines and boutique brewery’s all combine to give an insight into the cultural aspect of this part of the world. The Weather The southern hemisphere will be in Autumn and warms hues will be mixed into to the colour palette of the New Zealand landscape. It’s the equivalent of October, so days will be cooler, mornings potentially misty with a mix of sun and showers through out our time here. This dynamic weather should offer some quality light as we move around between locations. More info to come – register your interest directly. Check out some recent testimonials here
August 23, 2018 1:25 pm Published by Glen Namibia Overland – World Discovery Photo Safari 2027 Destination summary I’ve ran four previously sold out Namibia Photo Tour trips. If you’d like to participate in the next adventure to Namibian drop me a line now. The next scheduled trip is June 2027. This incredible Namibian World Discovery Photo Safari is an overland journey exploring a variety of photography locations and African wildlife. With a maximum of only 3 photography guests on each trip, this guarantees you get the most of each location, maximum help and advice when required. The Namib Desert is the world’s oldest and plays host to some of the planet’s highest and most dramatic sand dunes. Further north Etosha National Park, is a vast salt pan with the surrounding plain home to a vast array of wildlife that’s adapted to Namibia’s dry desert conditions. We’ll expect to see Elephant, Rhino, Springbok, Zebra, Giraffe and big cats if we’re lucky. This Namibia Photo Tour will leave a lasting impression on your memory and one that is well suited to photo safari exploration. Spitzkoppe in south Damaraland is a range of high granite peaks that light up at dawn and dusk, Swakopmund with its German colonial past sits where the desert meets the sea and Skeleton coast. The World Heritage Namib Sand Sea features two of the trip highlights in Sossusvlei and Deadvlei and these will offer you an abundance of creative photo opportunities. There is also the option of taking to the air in a small fixed wing aircraft to grasp the sheer scale of it all. To the south The Namib Rand is an incredibly scenic area and Dark Sky Reserve that will offer you a sense of wonder, isolation and peace as you gaze across endless plains and soft dunes dotted with Oryx and Springbok. To the east the Naukluft mountains rise up, their jagged peaks silhouetted below the starry night sky. Sessions here include Desert landscapes at dawn and dusk and star trails and the Milky Way at night. Ludertiz and the sand consumed diamond mining town of Kolmanskop are a mixture of the historic, bizarre and muted colour. Pastel painted walls and doorways that have been left to the elements juxtaposed against windswept sand dunes. Over the years the town has been consumed with the encroaching desert sand which creates some unique, abstract compositions. After our morning session we can enjoy a cooked breakfast on site and take in its fascinating history in its museum and a historic tour. Making our way back to Windhoek our final night on your Namibia photo tour takes place at the Quiver Tree forest. This is where the soft warm dusky light makes these iconic African trees come alive with vivid colour and texture. This is a photographic journey that’s bursting with amazing locations and experiences. Namibia Photo Tour – On Location Namibia ( formally South West Africa ) was a German colony from 1884 until 1915 when it was “passed on” to South Africa. It fought for its independence for over 20 years, finally achieving it 1990. This mix of history, culture and amazing geography creates a fascinating experience. Etosha National Park First stop is Etosha National Park and Namibia’s premier wildlife Park. It is without doubt one of the best places in Africa to view and photograph Rhino, Elephant, Giraffe, Lion and Zebra. We can observe and photograph them as they congregate around water holes during the dry winter season. Springbok, Wildebeest and Namibia’s iconic Oryx also roam the park and the Kalahari and Namib deserts. Spitzkoppe, Damaraland Spitzkoppe is a group of granite peaks in the Namib desert formed over 100 million years ago. The high domes reach into the cobalt blue sky in winter but its at dusk and dawn that we’ll capture these majestic mountains when the warm sunrise and sunset brings them to life. Camping out under the clear skies we’ll also photograph the night sky.. the Milky way seems within touching distance as the air is so clear. From Spitzkoppe we’ll travel to the town of Swapkopmund on edge of the Namib desert at the southern end of the Skeleton coast. Here we’ll re-stock, get a few shots of the Germanic architecture and catch a sunset from the beach water side Tiger bar. In the morning we’ll have a short session in nearby Walvis bay photographing the local flock of Flamingos. World Heritage Sand Sea Desert – Sossusvlei The drive to Sossusvlei takes us across the Namib Naukluft National Park which extends all the way south to the South African border. Our base here for 2 nights is Sesreim, as close as we can get to the giant dunes and salt / clay pans. Dune 45 sits close to our base and we’ll scale its heights to photograph a sunset over the surrounding desert. Deadvlei is one of the star attractions for photographers from all over the world. Its dramatic dead camel thorn trees are a stark contrast against the morning shadows and warm hues of the dunes. We’ll tackle this location in post sunrise light so we can make use the shadows rising up the sand walls. The giant red dunes around Sossusvlei are said to be the highest in the world. We’ll walk up one of the smaller dunes (optional) making a circuit to capture the surrounding landscape from above. After a bush breakfast at the foot of Sossusvlei dune we’ll head back to our base. Later that afternoon if we still feel energised we’ll explore nearby Sesreim canyon. At dawn the following morning there will be the option of a 1 hour fixed wing aerial session over Sossusvlei. With our knowledgable pilot taking us on the best flight path over the red dunes, Deadvlei, fairy circles and any wildlife that may be wandering the desert. Namib Rand Reserve From Sossusvlei, we head south on gravel roads to the privately owned Namib Rand Reserve. With just a handful of visitors this is one of the unexpected highlights to Namibia. A mixture of open plains, surrounding mountains, wildlife and some of the darkest skies your ever likely to see. From our remote and *private camp we’ll capture the area at dusk and dawn, make a drive through the dunes and breathe in the awesome beauty of this special place. The night sky will again offer the chance to create some magical Milky Way imagery. Luderitz and Kolmanskop Luderitz, a small port town Luderitz again has a weird mix of Germanic colonial architecture and isolation. Nearby is the slightly weird and wonderful deserted mining town of Kolmanskop. Now long since deserted the sand has slowly taken its toll on the derelict ruins, creating interest and fantastic photography. Ever changing patterns of sand against pastel shades of colour and worn textures are great to experiment with. Windows, doors and shafts of light all combine to create hours of rich photography. The Quiver Tree Forest Stopping on the western edges of the Kalahari desert the iconic forest will provide our final location. The Quiver tree is seen all over Namibia, but here near the town of Keetmanshoop, they’re concentrated and surrounded with rocky terrain and various critters. A colourful subject at dawn and dusk. From here we make our way back to the capital Windhoek and the end of our Namibian photo adventure. We’ll enjoy a final dinner at either Joe’s Beer House ( outdoor BBQ restaurant) or the Stellanbosch winery restaurant. Trip Information Start date Early June TBA – meet up @ 4pm at the Olive Grove Guest House in Windhoek and enjoy a dinner together. We depart the following morning for Etosha at 08:30. Tour Ends TBA at 16:00hrs in Windhoek where you’ll have a final night and group dinner together. You can depart on the TBA to your onward destination. You may wish to leave at any point on the final day after returning to Windhoek. What to expect – please ensure this trip is suitable for you . This Namibia Photo Journey is an overland photo adventure that travels an anti clockwise route from the capital Windhoek by 4 wheel drive vehicle. It’s fully equipped with comfortable twin share roof tents for 6 nights of camping close to our locations. The remaining 6 nights are at comfortable guest house and park lodge accommodation. The vehicle is equipped with fridge, water and all the supplies we need to travel overland. We will be covering around 3400km over 12 days mostly on gravel roads and some sandy tracks. Some days will have minimal distances and some longer days up to 500km (5-6hrs) You will see the landscape first hand as we make our way to each location, stopping when we like, where we like. Accommodation is a mixture of guest houses, lodges and twin share roof top safari tents (with mattresses and all bedding provided) this allows us to be closer to some of our locations offering more flexible photo opportunities. Accommodation Lodges are very comfortable single occupancy rooms and vehicle safari tents are twin share. So if you’re comfortable in a camping environment with camp fire under the stars then this is for your. But please do bear this in mind before booking. All bedding required for camp is provided. Windhoek 1 night – single occupancy room Olive Grove Guest House Etosha National Park – 2 nights: 1 single occupancy double room and 1 night Camp ( options to upgrade motel style room) Spitzkoppe – 1 night twin share safari roof tent Swakopmund 1 night – single occupancy room Namib Guest House Sossusvlei 2 nights – inside park gates – Safari roof tent camping Namib Rand 1 night – twin share safari roof tent camping Luderitz 2 nights – single occupancy Cormorant Guest house Quiver Tree Forest 1 night – twin share Safari roof tent camp Windhoek 1 night – single occupancy Olive Grove Guest house This a photography journey full of stunning world class locations with the added experience of camping out under the African night sky by camp fire, sharing a drink or two and discussing the days events. Please read the testimonial by a previous client for a participant perspective. Meals These will be either buffet style meals, national park restaurants or at local pubs. Spitzkoppe, Namib Rand and the Quiver Tree forest will be self catered with meals prepared by ourselves by the camp fire and your more than welcome to offer up suggestions to suit preferences. As mentioned, this photo journey covers a large part of Namibia by road in a 4×4 vehicle. You’ll have the opportunity to see the landscape and terrain change through the journey. Through the Kalahari, salt pans, giant sand dunes, seascapes along the skeleton coast and mountain ranges that all combine to make this an incredible adventure. Remote camping with limited facilities at some camps is also part of the itinerary, this enables us to access some of the best locations in Namibia under on our own terms and schedule. Basic toilets and shower facilities are available at all the camps and towels are provided as are sleeping bags. It’s can be tiring with long days, dusty and warm / cold temperatures. Sossusvlei – our camp is inside the main gate for accessing the park which means we can reach Deadvlei before many of the other travellers and tourists. Please ensure that this trip meets your requirements, comfort levels and abilities before booking, if you would like to discuss any of the logistical factors involved please just get in touch. At the moment there is a maximum of only 3 participants with an emphasis on creating a intimate group dynamic while on location. This makes shooting at locations more manageable which helps you get the shots you want. At camp it’s all hands on deck and guests are asked to participate in meal preparations and maintaining the camp while we are in remote areas. Toilets, showers and clean running water is available at every camp. When you arrive in Namibia’s capital Windhoek you’ll make the 40 minute drive from the airport by shuttle / taxi to our guesthouse where I will meet you. This is the day before we depart. What to expect It’s winter in June in the southern hemisphere but the days are settled and sunny, temperatures range from mid to high 20s to 2 or 6 degrees during the night (centigrade). So it can feel pretty warm during the day and cooler at night the further south we go. It very rarely rains. Namibia has good infrastructure / wifi at lodges but not much outside of towns. This is Africa but Namibia’s parks and reserves are well organised as long as you stick to the rules. Wildlife is plentiful but patience is still needed to wait and spot each animal if and when they decide to make an appearance. Its random but always an exciting event when they appear. Fitness – mostly short walks with the exception of two dune accents but nothing too strenuous. Recommended Equipment Only bring what you need and will use. DSLR or Mirrorless camera with wide angle 16-35 / 50 or 24 -70 / 70 -200mm / a 150 – 600mm long telephoto or similar, I use this lens as much as any other to get up close for wildlife. Nikon, Fujifilm, Sony, Sigma or Canon are all good options, contact me for advice. Camera bag dust / waterproof cover / lens wipes and cloths Once booked a fact sheet of what to bring will be available. Luggage Space in the vehicle is limited. Please limit your luggage to 2 pieces only. One luggage bag and one camera bag. I travel with and recommend a soft shell 90 litre ( or smaller ) Osprey rolling duffel bag. These are ideal for adventure travel . Suitcases are bulky and impractical for storage in the rear of the vehicle canopy so please keep this in mind. There will be an opportunity to wash some clothes during our trip.
October 5, 2016 1:02 pm Published by Glen Outback Australia – The Gibb River Road and The Kimberley Outback Australia Adventure – The Kimberley Western Australia Destination summary You’re invited to register your interest as one of just 3 guests touring and photographing this stunning part of Outback Australia. This photography adventure begins by the turquoise shores of the old pearling town of Broome. First you’ll travel the length of the legendary Gibb River Road. This outback track is a red ribbon of dirt road that passes by spectacular gorges, waterfalls, outback scenery and vast horizons. This is the Kimberley, the last frontier in the far north of Western Australia. The Australian outback is a special place. The Kimberley region is a sparsely populated part of of Western Australia, around 3 times the size of England. It borders the Northern Territory to the east and the Indian Ocean to the west. You’ll be starting off and ending this adventure in Broome completing a 2000km 14 day circuit capturing the vivid outback colours, sunsets, textures and spirit of this ancient land. Highlights along the route include Bells Gorge, Mount Barnett Station (Galven’s Gorge and Manning Gorge) Windjana and Tunnel Creek plus all the wild flora and fauna along the way. To the east the natural geology around the Cockburn Ranges, Emma Gorge, El Questro station and the Pentecost River will offer a rich array of subject matter. The Gibb River Road This is an iconic outback journey starting with a sunset session on Broome’s Cable Beach before departing for 4 overnight camps under the stars along the Gibb River Road. From the Gateway town of Derby in the west, capturing its famous Boab trees to the high escarpments around Home Valley Station at its eastern end. Home Valley Station and the Cockburn Ranges After midday break for tea and famous scones at Ellenbrae Station we’ll arrive at Home Valley Station. This is a working cattle station near the magical Pentecost River with spectacular views in every direction. The nearby Cockburn Ranges glow red under an outback sunset, a classic Australian outback image. Here you’ll enjoy all the comforts of lodge accommodation with good food and refreshments a great base from which to explore and photograph nearby locations. El Questro Wilderness Park A short drive from Home valley is Emma Gorge and we’ll make camp nearby at El Questro, where we’ll dine at the restaurant, relax and maybe review some images. Emma Gorge sits tucked away in the Heart of the Kimberley in the El Questro Wilderness park. A quiet 45 minute morning hike through spinifex grass and rocky creeks reveals the dramatic waterfall that plunges into a crystal clear pool surrounded by copper red cliffs From the Wilderness park we’ll head into the outback town of Kununurra for a night. Here we will replenish our supplies for our next adventure, Purnululu National Park and the Beehive Domes of the Bungle Bungle . Purnululu National Park World Heritage listed Purnululu National Park isn’t easy to get to and only accessible by 4×4 vehicle. Indigenous Australians and the traditional owners (the Gija and Jaru) have known about these strange beehive domes for millennia but it wasn’t until the 1980’s that they became more widely known after being “discovered” by a film crew looking for dramatic locations. Your base, deep in the park will be a 3 night wild bush camp with some facilities. You’ll have two full days to absorb, photograph and explore this incredible place. There’s also an option to photograph the domes by helicopter at dawn, an amazing spectacle. Other nearby highlights include Piccaninny Creek, Cathedral Gorge, Echidna Chasm and Mini Palms Gorge. Fitzroy Crossing and Geikie Gorge After our remote camp we’ll make our way west by sealed road to Fitzroy Crossing. We should be in time to capture a sunset along the Fitzroy River where a former coral reef has created Geikie Gorge. Its red gorge walls glowing when they catch the warm evening light. Broome After Fitzroy Crossing we end up back in Broome where we’ll enjoy a final photography session on Cable Beach with a cold sundowner. The beach is famous for its caravan of camels that promenade the beach at sunset making an iconic and evocative image. We’ll then enjoy a final dinner together before departing the following day. If you have time you may which to extend your trip with a visit to the Dampier Peninsula and the remote and colourful Cape Leveque and Cygnet Bay. A coastal seascape wilderness of vivid hues, white sand and warm turquoise waters and a working Pearl farm. More info This part of Australia has tropical monsoon climate, but in June its winter and the weather is settled. Day time temps from around 26 – 32 degrees centigrade during the day making it the best time to photograph and explore the region. We will be traveling by air conditioned 4×4 vehicle with all camping equipment, sleeping bags and towels supplied. This trip will feature some driving and rough terrain and some longer drives on some days. Please ensure you ahem good mobility and a moderate level of fitness Getting There The trip will start in the town of Broome and can be reached by regular flights from Darwin or Perth which both handle international flights. You may also be able to fly from Sydney or Melbourne but these are not as frequent. Accommodation This Photography Adventure features both lodge/guesthouse accommodation and outback camping. Parts of this itinerary are in remote locations where accommodation is limited. So camping gives us the best practical option, creates some of the best memories and experiences while being immersed in the outback environment. Evenings relaxing around a camp fire under the stars and tucked up comfortably in a tent at night can be a highlight of this tour. Tents will be vehicle roof top with comfortable mattresses and bedding provided and we will have fridge / freezer with all supplies and refreshments that we require while at emote sections. Lodge accommodation** – Broome (2 nights), Home Valley Station, Kununarra, Fitzroy Crossing Outback Camping – Windjana Gorge, Bells Gorge, Mt Barnett (2 nights), El Questro*, Purnululu National Park (3 nights) *full facilities and restaurant **twin share, single supplement available Itinerary is subject to change depending upon accommodation availability and road conditions. Please contact me if you’d be interested on participating. Thanks
