Photo Tour Videos
Our videos below showcase a selection footage filmed by our photographic leaders during ORYX photography tours.
From photo safaris in Africa, to the surreal icy world that is Antarctica, ORYX Photo Tours craft the best experiences for photographers to the most sought after photographic destinations. Below is our ever-growing collection of photography tour videos. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more inspiring travel videos.
The Greatest Show on Earth
Considered one of the world’s greatest natural spectacles, the Great Migration sees over 1.5 million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelles traverse a continuous circular route from Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and Kenya’s Masai Mara ecosystem in search of water and nutritious grazing. As calendar months go, by late January or February, the herds occupy the southern short-grass plains. It is here that some 400,000 calves are born within a period of two to three weeks, or nearly 8,000 new calves every day! This season is dubbed Big Cat season due to the many predator and prey interactions, and combined makes for fantastic photographic opportunities. By the end of May the wildebeest have mated and the herds depart the southern plains and amass along the western corridor of the Serengeti before crossing the Grumeti. They eventually arrive in the Kenya’s Masai Mara ecosystem, where the treacherous Masai Mara river separates the Mara Triangle from the Masai Mara National Reserve and outlying conservancies. Depending on the rainfall patterns and distribution, the migrating herds can often be seen crossing back and forth through the Mara River between the Reserve and Triangle. River crossings are a product of the Great Migration where fierce battles with monster crocodiles are often had and carnivores sit and wait on the river’s banks for the opportune moment.
ORYX Photo Tour Leader Daniel Bailey
South African Wildlife Photographer and ORYX Photo Tour Leader Daniel Bailey introduces himself and explains why he considers MalaMala Game Reserve to be one of the finest predator viewing destinations in Africa.
Tanzania: Wildebeest Migration
Millions of White-bearded Wildebeest crossing the river as they make their way from Kenya’s Masai Mara to Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. Typically during the end of October, the Wildebeest are making their way back into northern Serengeti as over the next few months, they will journey to the southern Serengeti where they will calve. As you can see, there is great beauty in photographing the migration from the Lamai area in the northern Serengeti as vehicle traffic is much lower than what is found in Kenya, so the Wildebeest are able to gather and cross in seemingly endless numbers!
Tanzania: Lion vs Hyena
There is a long-standing feud between the Kings & Queens of Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and the laughing, excitable Hyena. What started off as a Lion kill and feast soon turned to one littered with excitement and eager chatter from large numbers of Hyena. Watch how the rivalry ended. ORYX Photo Tours CEO Marius Coetzee recently had this incredible encounter in Tanzania’s famed Serengeti National Park. Four sub-adult Lion were feasting on their Wildebeest kill while surrounded by over 25 Spotted Hyena, waiting for the opportune moment to dive in and steal the kill.
Botswana: African Wild Dog Letchwe Hunt
What an incredible sighting of raw nature our guest and ORYX CEO & Co-founder, Marius Coetzee witnessed and captured in Botswana’s Okavango Delta one afternoon on a private ORYX Photo Tour. Endangered African Wild Dog had chased a female Letchwe to a waterway. Upon entering into the water to flee from the Wild Dog, a crocodile saw an opportunity and started to hunt her too. With predators on land and in the water, the options of escaping were slim.
Thank you!
We couldn’t do it without you… the photography, wildlife and cultural experiences, travel and laughs that we are so eager to share with you would not be possible if we didn’t have you, our guests. The ORYX conservation initiatives that are key to the protection of vital habitat and species would be irrelevant if we didn’t receive your support. We appreciate you working with us to postpone your existing bookings during what has been a tumultuous 2020, and look forward to assisting you wherever necessary with your future travel plans.
Zambia: South Luangwa Photo Tour
The Luangwa Valley is one of Africa’s safari gems and within this valley, you will find Zambia’s ” Valley of the Leopard”. South Luangwa National Park marks the end of the Great Rift Valley, one of the last remaining unspoilt wilderness areas and possibly the finest wildlife sanctuary in Africa – a claim which is not an overstatement.
Kenya: Mara Nyika with ORYX
Kenya remains at it’s a core a destination many of us associate with SAFARI. Tourism helps to protects species, habitats and gives employment and supports large numbers of people as well, and so we want to encourage people to get out and travel! Kenya is ready to welcome tourists, and we can’t wait to share special areas and camps like Great Plains Conservation’s fabulous Mara Nyika with you. Aside from the benefits to conservation and local people, a safari is an elixir to combat the ills of our draining, fast-paced lives, and is an exciting, regenerative and captivating experience.
South Africa: MalaMala Leopard Cubs
ORYX Senior Photo Tour Leader, Penny Robartes saw these cubs first in October 2020 when they were only 3 months old. From shy and scared cubs, a month later they have developed so much in their confidence and curiosity. Their mother, the Island Female, wasn’t at the den but this did not deter these cubs from going on full-out play mode! Bouncing off boulders, playfully falling out of a small tree, terrorizing branches and curiously watching Penny and her guests as they watched and photographed them, laughing and utterly captivated with these special moments.
Botswana: Luxury Photo Tours
800km north of the Norwegian mainland lies the archipelago of Svalbard, where the polar bear population exceeds our human counterparts. With towering snowcapped mountains, forbidding glaciers and flower-studded tundra, it is here where the formidable Polar Bear reigns as the apex predator and we hope to capture these white bears during our Svalbard photography tour on the drifting ice sprinkled across the ocean. A Winter Photo Tour is different, exciting and will focus on Arctic winter light, landscape and wildlife photography.
Svalbard: Winter ORYX Photo Tour
800km north of the Norwegian mainland lies the archipelago of Svalbard, where the polar bear population exceeds our human counterparts. With towering snowcapped mountains, forbidding glaciers and flower-studded tundra, it is here where the formidable Polar Bear reigns as the apex predator and we hope to capture these white bears during our Svalbard photography tour on the drifting ice sprinkled across the ocean. A Winter Photo Tour is different, exciting and will focus on Arctic winter light, landscape and wildlife photography.
Kenya: Hyena Killing Gnu in Masai Mara
To many individuals, the Spotted Hyena is seen as a scavenger trying to steal scraps or a meal from other predators. This is not the only truth to these predators. The Spotted Hyena are ruthless hunters. Their body is made for endurance and they are easily capable of chasing their prey until it succumbs to exhaustion. They are built for the kill.
South Africa: Leopard Cubs at MalaMala
ORYX Photo Tour clients and Senior Photo Leader, Penny Robartes, saw something that they never expected to happen! And they were blown away.The last morning game drive with ORYX Photo Tour Leader Penny Robartes was a particularly wet one. Her and her guests were bundled up in warm clothing and waterproof gear as they made their way to the den with more of the idea to just sit and watch this special sighting before the tour came to an end. This morning would prove to be different from the rest. The Leopardess had made a kill further down the way. When Penny and her guests arrived at the den site, she was …
Conservation Photo Safaris
ORYX is very pleased to launch our Marataba Rhino Conservation Photo Safari – an ecotourism experience where guests contribute to conservation in the field. Marataba is an exciting property in South Africa that represents a fresh approach to ecotourism and we are most excited that guests will get to roll their sleeves up and participate in the actions that will help threatened species, in situ! During the course of this safari, you will partake in the notching and microchipping of a rhino, which is important as it contributes to an ongoing study of rhino numbers and allows researchers to carefully analyse the species on the reserve.
10 Year’s of Dreaming
ORYX the company was conceived after Marius Coetzee and Adam Riley converted a thought, a dream, into reality. ORYX has been in the business of delivering outstanding photographic experiences to our guests for the past 10 years – transforming our guest’s dreams into experiences that will remain with them in abstract form as memories, and also in many cases as digital ones in the form of millions of pixels depicting a moment in time as displayed on a screen or as a print. The ORYX way is to make sure both these versions are as exceptional as possible.
ORYX live your dreams
When we travel and photograph, our world transforms into dreams. Dreams of exploring the unknown, to photograph iconic animals and to push the limits of our personal existence. ORYX was born 9 years ago, when two like-minded people came together with a desire to create the world’s finest photographic expedition company. Our recipe is simple; small group departures, visit the world’s finest photographic locations, at the best time of the year, and ensure that it’s all about our clients, their needs, their experiences.
ORYX’s Big Cats of the World
The big cats are unquestionably some of the most sought-after wildlife photographic subjects on the planet. With this in mind, we are launching the ORYX’s Big Cats of the World Photo Club, which will give you the chance to photograph 7 of these alluring mammals!
The Masai Mara – A Moment in Time
Filled with some of the Earth’s most sought after predators and plains game and the interaction between life and death is a constant dance, ORYX Photo Tour Leader Penny Robartes films and shares it with you. The Mara is wild, raw and filled with some of the most captivating wildlife moments and our Kenya Photo Tours offers you the chance to photograph these natural wonders.
Ethiopia’s Bale & Simien Mountains
Spectacular scenes from our Ethiopia Photo Tour. With endemic plant species, mammals & birdlife, travelling to Ethiopia’s Simien & Bale Mountains offers a chance to photograph the natural wonders of Ethiopia.
Let’s Dream – Find Inspiration in Nature
At ORYX, aim to highlight the beauty of our natural world through inspirational content. We hope that videos like this can lift spirits and inspire you to dream.
Tanzania – Predators & Calving Season
ORYX is proud to present you with an unforgettable wildlife safari to Tanzania’s world-renowned southern Serengeti Plains.
Ecuador’s Cloud Forest & Amazon
Explore a destination which harbours the highest biodiversity for a single region on the entire planet! Journey to the Ecuadorian Amazon & Cloud Forest with ORYX Photo Tours.
Encounters with Giants
There’s something so magical and mystical about wild Africa. Botswana’s Mashatu Game Reserve is an iconic wildlife destination in Africa that allows a combination of wildlife photography and experiences to be had.
Zambia’s South Luangwa
South Luangwa National Park in Zambia is the ideal destination for lovers of wildlife photography to experience. ORYX Photo Tour Leader Penny Robartes visited South Luangwa recently on an ORYX assignment to explore the best this incredible region has to offer. Here is a small taste of a wildlife photographer’s journey in South Luangwa with ORYX Photo Tours.
Antarctica Photo Tour 2020
Antarctica is the ultimate destination for photographers that are looking for a portfolio filled with captivating landscapes and wildlife interactions that are found no where else on the Planet! ORYX has journeyed to the always-inspiring destinations of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula annually for the past few years.
Kenya & Tanzania Photo Safaris
Truly a wildlife photography paradise. Experience and document the beauty and wonder of East Africa’s wildlife with ORYX Photo Tours as we explore the ultimate destinations for nature photographers.
In search of Snow Leopards
As the winter sets in and the snow line descends, these shy and fleeting big cats move down to lower altitudes in search of their prey, the bhairal, urial, and the arghali, the mountain sheep and antelope of this region. We will explore Hemis National Park or the ridges around Ulley on daily treks with our expert spotters to spot and track Snow Leopards on this once-in-a-lifetime photo tour.
Oryx Surma Photo Camp
After more than 2 years of fine tuning our ORYX Surma Photo Camp in the heart of Surma Territory in Kibish, we are truly delighted and genuinely able to confirm that we have the finest mobile tented camp in Surma Territory. A photo tour to Ethiopia’s Suri Tribe is a true expedition! It’s so far off the beaten track that it really does feel like you’re exploring uncharted territory.
Photo Tour Leader Penny Robartes
Penny Robartes has photographed and led multiple photo tours throughout Africa, predominately to Southern and East Africa, taken guests to Antarctica, India, as well as to remote destinations such as Kamchatka in Russia Far East. With her extensive travels and guiding experiences, her passionate, friendly and relaxed manner enables her to connect with and inspire each of her guests as she guides them in capturing and exploring their own unique vision.
ORYX Madagascar
Madagascar is often referred to as the “Eighth Continent” due to its size and isolation. Its exceptional fauna and flora have uniquely evolved over millions of years in this appropriately named “laboratory of evolution”.
Time-travel to Lake Turkana
A behind the scenes look at what makes ORYX’s photo tours to Kenya’s Lake Turkana so special. Located in northern Kenya, Lake Turkana is truly an ‘off-the-beaten-track’ destination which offers amazing cultural photographic opportunities.
Mashatu Hide Photo Safari
A sneak peek into what a journey to Mashatu in Botswana with ORYX Photo Tours is all about. Wildlife photography at its best with underground hides/blinds offering the opportunity to photograph animals including elephants at ground-level with Photo Tour Leader and Mashatu specialist Kirsten Frost.
Journey to Namibia with ORYX
Explore and photograph the remote cultures, incredible dune landscapes and unique desert-adapted wildlife as we journey into Namibia. Are you ready to be inspired?
South American Odyssey
Explore South America’s beautiful biodiversity, dramatic landscapes and captivating culture with ORYX Photo Tours as we venture to the very best photographic locations the continent has to offer!
Oryx live your dreams
When we travel and photograph, our world transforms into dreams. Dreams of exploring the unknown, to photograph iconic animals and to push the limits of our personal existence. ORYX was born 8 years ago, when two like-minded people came together with a desire to create the world’s finest photographic expedition company. Our recipe is simple; small group departures, visit the world’s finest photographic locations, at the best time of the year, and ensure that it’s all about our clients, their needs, their experiences.
Malamala Photo Safari
A behind the scenes look at what makes an ORYX private photo safari to South Africa’s MalaMala Game Reserve so special! Take a look at this amazing new video on safari with ORYX Photo Tour Leader Kirsten Frost.
Antarctica Photo Tour 2020
Antarctica is the ultimate destination for photographers that are looking for a portfolio filled with captivating landscapes and wildlife interactions that are found no where else on the Planet! ORYX has journeyed to the always-inspiring destinations of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula annually for the past few years.
Photo Tour Leader Kirsten Frost
An inspiring video on South African Nature Photographer and ORYX Photo Tour Leader Kirsten Frost. From a young boy that photographed birds close to his home, to becoming one of Southern Africa’s top rising talents in wildlife photography, Kirsten is an inspiring photographer with a passion for the wild and sharing it with ORYX guests.
In search of Snow Leopards
As the winter sets in and the snow line descends, these shy and fleeting big cats move down to lower altitudes in search of their prey, the bhairal, urial, and the arghali, the mountain sheep and antelope of this region. We will explore Hemis National Park or the ridges around Ulley on daily treks with our expert spotters to spot and track Snow Leopards on this once-in-a-lifetime photo tour.
Oryx Surma Photo Camp
After more than 2 years of fine tuning our ORYX Surma Photo Camp in the heart of Surma Territory in Kibish, we are truly delighted and genuinely able to confirm that we have the finest mobile tented camp in Surma Territory. A photo tour to Ethiopia’s Suri Tribe is a true expedition! It’s so far off the beaten track that it really does feel like you’re exploring uncharted territory.
Introducing Penny Robartes
Heralding from Cape Town, South Africa, she has emerged as one of Africa’s great nature photographers and is moving her Tour Leading expertise and portfolio to incorporate destinations abroad. Her stunning creations breathe life into natural encounters with the deftness of an artist’s brushstrokes and the enthralling narrative of the best storytellers.
ORYX Madagascar
Madagascar is often referred to as the “Eighth Continent” due to its size and isolation. Its exceptional fauna and flora have uniquely evolved over millions of years in this appropriately named “laboratory of evolution”.
Time-travel to Lake Turkana
A behind the scenes look at what makes ORYX’s photo tours to Kenya’s Lake Turkana so special. Located in northern Kenya, Lake Turkana is truly an ‘off-the-beaten-track’ destination which offers amazing cultural photographic opportunities.
Mashatu Hide Photo Safari
A sneak peek into what a journey to Mashatu in Botswana with ORYX Photo Tours is all about. Wildlife photography at its best with underground hides/blinds offering the opportunity to photograph animals including elephants at ground-level with Photo Tour Leader and Mashatu specialist Kirsten Frost.
Journey to Namibia with ORYX
Explore and photograph the remote cultures, incredible dune landscapes and unique desert-adapted wildlife as we journey into Namibia. Are you ready to be inspired?
South American Odyssey
Explore South America’s beautiful biodiversity, dramatic landscapes and captivating culture with ORYX Photo Tours as we venture to the very best photographic locations the continent has to offer!
Kenya & Tanzania Photo Safaris
Truly a wildlife photography paradise. Experience and document the beauty and wonder of East Africa’s wildlife with ORYX Photo Tours as we explore the ultimate destinations for nature photographers.