FAQs

Not at all–that’s why you are going on a trip with Karen Blackwood of Blackwood Safaris! If you want to learn, she will teach you! It’s a good idea to read the manual and learn where the buttons are on your camera before you come on a photo workshop safari, but we will cover that in our camera classes. If you’re joining a photography safari without a workshop, Karen will coach you as much as possible to ensure you are getting great shots, even if she has to set your settings. No matter which type of trip you join, you’ll go home with improved camera skills and photos that make you proud.

Absolutely not! Going on a photo safari with Blackwood Safaris means that you will be in the middle of the action as much as possible. We don’t want to photograph sleeping lions or elephants behind bushes…we want to see something happening, and we need to be in the best possible position to photograph it. We’ve seen some insane videos and really good photos taken by guests with cell phone and tablet cameras–and those can also be adjusted to take fantastic photos! Have you thought about renting a camera and playing “pro photographer” for your safari? You can do that, you know! You might even discover a new passion and hobby. Let’s talk about it!

You can usually rent gear from your local camera shop or online, and get a short-term homeowner’s or renter’s insurance rider to cover it. LensRent and Mike’s Camera are a few good options, and you can easily Google other camera rental options. Just be sure to talk to your renter’s or homeowner’s insurance to be sure it’s covered, and pack it in your carry-on bag when you fly.

All Blackwood Safaris dates take into consideration temperatures, expected weather for the season, and the concentration of photogenic wildlife. We intentionally plan our scheduled trip dates so you have the best chance of getting great photos everywhere we go.

May, June and July are the dry season in South Africa, so African Big 5 safaris are planned when temperatures are mild, the risk of rain is low, and wildlife-concealing foliage is minimal. Animals congregate near waterholes and are easy to spot and photograph.

February is birthing season on the Serengeti in Tanzania, and late July is the start of the Great Migration, so we plan our trips for those incredible must-see events.

Our Mountain Gorilla, Chimpanzee, and Golden Monkey treks in Uganda and Rwanda are scheduled with our Tanzania trips so that you can do back-to-back safaris if you want. The treks are during the dry season so hikes are easier and primates are more active. 

May is the best time to see Lowland Gorillas in the Republic of Congo. There are 2 countries with “Congo” in the name, and this is the safe one. As a country that is just beginning to encourage tourism, this safari allows you to experience authentic Congolese culture, unspoiled by development.

October, November and December are spring and early summer in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s the best time to go to Antarctica because snow is still on the ground and everything is clean and beautiful. There’s a small window to attempt to see Emperor Penguins before they go out to sea for the rest of the year, so those trips are scheduled for October and November. South Georgia, Falklands and Antarctic peninsula trips are scheduled for November and December, when chicks are hatching and seals and whales have arrived. Go too early and there’s not much happening, go too late and you’re walking in penguin poop and watching gawky odd-looking youngsters. Trust me, you want cuteness and pristine snow for the best experience and photo opportunities.

October – April are the best time to go to Egypt and Jordan to avoid extreme heat.

October is a great time to experience Madagascar. While we will probably see some rain in the rainforests, we are outside of the downpour season. The rest of the country is generally dry at this time of year, and temperatures are warm and comfortable. Plus, lemurs have their babies in September and October, so prepare to be overwhelmed with cuteness.

June, July and August are the best time to see Polar Bears, Arctic Fox kits, and Walrus harems, plus whales and birds in the Arctic. 

Let us know what you really want to see and experience, and we’ll recommend the best safari for your goals.

Our 100% 5-star Trip Advisor ratings and testimonials can help you with this decision. As the owner of Blackwood Safaris, Karen personally leads every photo safari trip. She will make sure you have one-on-one attention to ensure you are ready for the best photographic opportunities. We want you to have a fantastic, memorable, fun safari experience. We love sharing the treasures of the world–-our wildlife-–with you. We want you to take home photos that will make you proud. You can learn more about Karen and her level of experience here.

Customer service skills and personally led photo safaris! Karen is there to personally answer questions, help you with logistics, let you know what to bring and wear, advise you about camera gear, and suggest gratuity guidelines for staff. It’s your vacation, and it’s our job to make it as stress-free as possible. She takes that seriously and strives to do her very best for every client. Everyone is welcome. By that, we mean EVERYONE. Our business relies on word-of-mouth, and our goal is that you are happy with your trip in every respect.

Karen is an award-winning, published wildlife photographer with a passion for teaching and over a decade of experience. Personal photography coaching, camera instruction, and Lightroom instruction are included on almost all safaris, time permitting. On trips where we don’t have breaks during the day for dedicated workshops, she offers as much individual coaching and camera instruction on location as she can, and if time allows, help with Lightroom editing.

We keep groups small, with as much extra space on the vehicles for your cameras and bags as possible. Most safari companies stuff 10 people into the vehicle to maximize profit. We don’t. We always try to limit the number of people per vehicle so you have room to do your thing.

We are happy to offer as much advice about your trip as possible. Karen can chat with you via Skype, WhatsApp, or phone calls to discuss your plans, and we strive to answer emails quickly.

This is one you’ll have to answer on your own, because you alone must determine the value of your time and money. Here are some thoughts and questions that can help, though, including the uncomfortable ones:

Karen did not grow up with family money or financial assistance. She paid her own way through college and flight school while working a full-time job, plus up to 3 part-time jobs at once just to make ends meet. She knows the precious value of money, and she knows how long and hard one must work to accrue a small amount of vacation time. She isn’t going to waste yours.

Questions that might help determine your answer are:

Who is actually leading your safari? Are they farming you out to an independent contractor?

Karen leads EVERY safari herself. She is not a travel agent or middle-person. She IS the company.

How experienced is the photography instructor? What is included in their instruction, specifically? Do they enjoy teaching, even at your level?

Brand-new photographers often give up before they get started without patient guidance. There are “photography instructors” who consider new snappers as time-wasters. Karen started Blackwood Safaris because she loves making a difference. She’s been teaching photography for decades. She loves seeing eyes light up when someone gets the relationship between aperture and shutter speed or when to use exposure compensation, or sees a story and captures it. She’s going to teach you all about your camera’s buttons and functions—from how to insert the battery and memory card to how to get the photo you’ve dreamed of and everything in between—in a way you’ll understand and retain, because she is a natural teacher who enjoys the process.

When they claim they are an “award-winning” photographer, what do they mean? How long ago and how many times? Nationally and Internationally recognized?

Karen has achieved and continues to achieve honors on every stage, every year including this one, and you’ll find a partial list of her awards on the “About Karen” page.

How many people are they going to stuff into a vehicle to maximize profit?

Safari vehicles can fit 10 people. Karen limits hers to a maximum of 6 so that everyone has an end seat and elbow room and can shoot without obstacles. Obviously, the more people in the vehicle, the more money the operator makes, but at what cost to you and your enjoyment?

How many people are going on this trip? Am I really going to get personal attention?

Karen limits attendance on her photo safaris so that everyone gets personal attention in the field as well as classroom time during Photography Workshops. Most of her Photography Workshops and Photo Safaris are limited to 6-8 clients. Antarctica and Arctic trips are the exception because there’s plenty of time available for each person; she can manage 15-20 photographers depending on the length of the polar excursion.

Are you being treated like a person or a “profit margin?” When you talk to the photo safari guide, how do they make you feel? Can you talk to the actual photo safari guide or just the middle-person? Are they listening to you, including “reading between the lines?”

Karen is the company—there is no “middle person.” Karen takes the time to get to know you, learns about what you hope to see and what you’d like to accomplish, and finds ways to exceed your expectations. She reads between the lines, understanding that “for our 50th Anniversary/birthday” means that this is a special trip and you need to be specially celebrated, or “my flight lands at 4 am” means that you’re worried you might be all alone in the airport in the dark in a strange city. She’s going to make sure that the things you didn’t even know you needed or were hesitant to voice are taken care of so that your trip is effortless.

Does the photography guide “check the settings” by taking their photos first, before helping you or putting you into a good position for photography?

Yes, there are photo safari “guides” who supplement their portfolio while you pay for their opportunity, leaving you with the backside of a leopard as a shot every time. Karen will never do that; she will have already determined settings before we’ve even stopped for the sighting. YOUR photography opportunities are her priority. Will she take her own photos? Absolutely—but after she’s ensured that you have the right position and settings you need for your shots and that you are getting good snaps, not before. She’ll take the “leftovers,” not you. You get the good parts!

What about after the safari? Can I get help if I have questions?  

Find out whether or not the company will offer support after you leave. You can always reach Karen with questions and she will happily answer them. She knows you aren’t going to remember every detail about every single thing you saw or learned. You aren’t “just a client” to her, you are a relationship who most likely became a friend. She’ll “like” and comment on your photos on social media and celebrate your accomplishments with you, check in to see how you are doing, and welcome you as a returning guest because face it—you’ll go on another trip with her after your fantastic first experience.

And finally—the elephant in the room (Karen’s favorite animal, by the way)—yes, Karen is making a small profit on each photo safari. However, as a retiree operating Blackwood Safaris as her “fun retirement gig,” she doesn’t depend on you for her living. Your safari cost, split among the minimum number of guests, covers her costs with a little left over as profit. That’s how business works. When you compare her costs with that of other photo safari operators, use our questions to find out why they are cheaper. Ask yourself if the money you might save is worth being stuffed in a vehicle with a lot of people, having an “award-winning” photographer who hasn’t actually won anything, is building his own portfolio and  isn’t interested in teaching you anything, and whether being treated like a “profit-margin” is worth the exchange of your hard-earned cash and time off.

“Cheaper” can be a lot more expensive in the long run—but again, this is a question you must answer on your own. We hope we’ve given you additional tools to do so.

The Big 5 are: Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino, and African Buffalo. The trackers will do their best to find the wildlife you want to see, but we can never guarantee an animal will cooperate and allow itself to be seen. We operate in private reserves in South Africa, which share completely open borders with the Kruger National Park. The advantage is that we can go off-road for more intimate encounters with wildlife. We are in areas with high concentrations of leopards, the hardest of the Big 5 to spot, and we see them frequently–sometimes 2 or 3 a day!So far, almost every Big 5 Safari group has seen the Big 5, and we hope to continue that success long into the future.

The private reserves sponsor their own anti-poaching teams, so we often see rhino, the most endangered animal of the Big 5. We frequently see cheetah and wild dogs, both of which are endangered. We aren’t only concentrating on the Big 5, though. We will see lots of other wildlife too, such as hippo, zebra, giraffe, mongoose, hyena, impala, kudu, duiker, wildebeest, gorgeous brightly colored birds, vultures, raptors and more, and we’ll spend quality time watching and photographing them. They are part of the ecosystem and the Big 5 wouldn’t exist without them, so let’s enjoy them just as much.  

Please check your country’s travel recommendations for additional health recommendations, and definitely talk to your doctor about your travel plans. We highly recommend discussing a current tetanus booster with your doctor.

Bottled water will always be provided when tap water is not safe to drink, and we will make sure that you know when water is safe or not.

Yes, everything served at the Lodges has been cooked properly. Vegetables and salads have been washed with clean water and are safe to consume, whether cooked or uncooked. Every place we go can accommodate all dietary needs and choices with adequate notice.

There are bars at the Lodges, on the cruise ships, and at the hotels. If you have special requests, please give us a few weeks’ notice so that we can try our best to be sure your choice is stocked. There is a corking fee if you bring your own alcohol.

When traveling, American Express and MasterCard are not widely accepted on the continent of Africa, so plan to use VISA. We recommend leaving debit cards at home, and arranging with your bank to have a PIN associated with your credit card for cash withdrawals from ATMs. Credit cards are accepted at most of the Lodges for personal purchases, spa services, and gratuities. We’ll let you know well ahead of your trip if any accommodations can’t accept cards. You’ll want cash for craft markets and small purchases, and we will suggest a reasonable amount to withdraw based on the length of your trip. We’ve written a Travel Tips document with useful information. You can see it HERE.

We do everything we can to help you ensure your safety when you travel. We recommend common-sense precautions—don’t travel with large sums of money, leave expensive or sentimental jewelry at home, don’t show off your camera equipment, don’t walk alone at night, and don’t wander away from tourist areas. There are dedicated drivers who will pick you up and drop you off at the airports for our trips, plus instructions of what to do and who to call if they are not there when you arrive–it’s rare, and we always have a contingency plan in place. The Lodges, Hotels, and Guest Houses that we use are known for being safe, friendly, family-owned businesses. For South African Safaris, opting for our Big 5 Ground Transportation Package takes the guesswork out of your lodging and your travel to and from the Lodges.

Travel and Medical Evacuation Insurance is required on all Blackwood Safaris trips. Your credit card and homeowner’s or health insurance may offer short-term policies, and you can Google to compare rates with public companies. Blackwood Safaris will cancel a trip if there is political or civil unrest in any location to which we go, or if we feel it is unsafe for any other reason (see Blackwood Safaris’ Terms & Conditions).

We designed the Ground Transportation Package for South Africa Big 5 Safaris as a convenience to minimize stress during your vacation. The drive to the Lodges averages 7-8 hours and half of it is not on highways. Getting up at 4am, driving straight through to the Lodge on the left side of the road, then jumping onto a safari vehicle for a 3-hour game drive is a long, exhausting day for most people. That’s no way to start a long-anticipated bucket-list trip. Our GTP package includes a B&B night in Johannesburg so you can get a good night’s sleep after your long flight to Africa, a B&B night in Nelspruit so you can start safari fresh the next day, all ground transportation, the 2pm tour of Chimp Eden the day before safari, and round-trip ground transportation to the Safari Lodge. (see the GTP for inclusions/exclusions). You’ll just have to book the flight to Nelspruit, and we’ll tell you which flights to book.

You can make your own arrangements to get to the Lodge, too. Our GTP is an option for your convenience, should you want assistance with travel arrangements. It is not necessary to book the GTP to go on safari in South Africa. Other options include renting a car and driving, or flying via a private charter flight.

Our safaris are casual. You’ll want good walking shoes such as tennis shoes for bush walks and game drives, deck shoes for Arctic and Antarctic cruises, flip-flops or sandals for around the camp, and a pair of slippers for nighttime comfort. Bring layers: short sleeved, long sleeved, a hoodie or sweatshirt, and a rain jacket. You’ll need a safari hat and sunglasses on any trip.

Our printable Travel Tips and Packing List (click here) include detailed lists and good suggestions for all trips. Certain trips, like Antarctica and the Arctic, have specific madatory clothing requirements and we’ll advise you of those. We’ll let you know about a week before you travel what the expected weather will be so you can edit your packing list.

For our South African Big 5 Safaris, Lodges have level pathways with a minimum of steps into buildings (2-4). Bush walks are on moderately level ground and are slow paced. Anyone over the age of 14 of average fitness can participate. Age 65+ must bring a doctor’s note of fitness. We will be looking at tracks, markings, and learning about plants that are useful to the local people. There are some shallow washes and logs when we get off the road, but we can remain on the road if our group includes people who need a less strenuous walk. Can’t go on a walk like that? You won’t be left out. We can do a mini-walk right around the Lodge, and we will stop during the game drive to see many of the interesting things seen on bush walks.

Gorilla & Chimpanzee Treks are strenuous and you need a moderate level of fitness, but even if you can’t manage that, you can still go. We will be hiking on steep terrain that may be slippery, through jungles. You will have a porter, and your porter’s job is to ensure that you get to see the Gorillas, even if they have to lift you up and carry you. Some of the Lodges are built on hillsides and in those Lodges, there are quite a few steps to your bungalow. Definitely plan to spend time hiking or at the gym prior to a Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trek–it will be worth it! If that level of hiking is something you absolutely can’t do, but you still want to see gorillas, you can hire a team of dedicated porters who will carry you in a chair for about $250-300. Your physical ability doesn’t have to limit your dreams.

There’s not a lot of walking on our Kenya, Tanzania, and Pantanal trips.

Our hikes in search of lemurs in Madagascar can include steps up hillsides and trails with loose rocks or sand. We consider them moderate hikes. There’s a lot of stopping to examine insects, plants, and reptiles while we watch for groups of lemurs.

We’ll do a lot of walking on uneven cobblestone streets and pavement in Egypt and Jordan. Pyramid corridors are sloped and sometimes narrow.

You can expect lots of hiking in Patagonia and Galapagos. Terrain varies from easy to moderate.

Arctic and Antarctic trips include hiking and snowshoeing to see scenery and wildlife. Snowshoes are provided. Bring slip-on wire grips for your shoes where snowshoes aren’t needed. The expedition team makes sure even those in wheelchairs get to experience as many landings as possible. As long as you stay in bounds (marked boundaries), you can hike as much or as little as you like.

You can contact us at info@blackwoodsafaris.com to ask specific questions about any trip. We want you to enjoy your trip without unwelcome surprises!

If Karen can’t lead your custom dates, we can steer you to a few safaris companies that we trust. Email us at info@blackwoodsafaris.com with your dates, number of people, and where you’d like to go, and we’ll do what we can to assist you.

Well-behaved children are welcome on safaris. However, children under 7 cannot go on game drives, and under 14 cannot trek Gorillas or Chimpanzees. Your child should be able to take direction from Karen and our rangers/drivers, to not scream when excited, to sit quietly around animals for an extended time while people are photographing, and to be able to sit on the Game Vehicle for 3 hours morning and evening. Please fairly assess your child’s level of interest and ability, and bring them when they are at an age where they will enjoy and remember this amazing experience. Baby-sitting is sometimes available for an additional cost.

Karen LOVES making special occasions memorable, whether it’s a private candle-lit bush dinner, champagne and roses on the safari vehicle for your proposal at a beautiful spot, or a decadent birthday cake complete with candles! This is YOUR trip—we are here to make it incredible!

If you are going to take advantage of our included editing classes during Photography Workshops, yes.  Karen teaches her Wildlife Workflow editing process using Adobe Lightroom Classic for photo processing. She will teach you how to download, organize, and edit your photos. Please pre-load Adobe Lightroom Classic from Adobe Creative Cloud. Choose the subscription that includes Lightroom and Photoshop. Be sure to download Lightroom CLASSIC, not “CC.”  Blackwood Safaris may have an affiliate relationship with Adobe at some point, and may make a small commission if you subscribe through our link.

Your laptop also enables you to download photos from your memory cards to supplemental SSDs or external hard drives. You are going to take more photos than you think, and you won’t have an unlimited supply of memory cards, so having a couple of TB’s of external memory solves the “what do I delete?” scramble. Karen usually brings only 6 memory cards and downloads photos to external drives every night. That way, she never runs out of memory.

Our Rangers and Trackers are highly trained, and work around wildlife daily. Their job is to read the animal’s behavior, and we never put an animal in a position of stress. We can often get close, but only as close as the animal dictates. Sometimes we are right next to an animal, and sometimes we must stay quite far away. As much as we want to see an animal, if the Ranger, Tracker, or Karen ever think that the animal feels stressed or threatened, we will leave and find something else to watch. Conservation, safety, and wildlife welfare are our first priorities, always.

Yes. If you are coming on a Blackwood Safaris trip, Travel and Medical Insurance are mandatory. Some trips require Medical Evacuation insurance. Life happens, and a little preparation goes a long way. Medical insurance offers coverage for unforeseen medical expenses if you get sick on your trip. When choosing an insurance company, PLEASE read the fine print! That will help you choose the best company for your insurance needs.

Antarctica and Arctic trips always require $500,000 evacuation insurance. Evacuation insurance is mandatory or you can’t board the ship.

Blackwood Safaris has an affiliate relationship with GeoBlue travel insurance company and may earn a small commission if you use our recommendations. Under no circumstances are you required to use our vendors. You may purchase insurance from any provider you choose, and if your credit cards or homeowner’s policy includes adequate insurance, you may use that to meet our “insurance required” policy.

Click HERE to check out GeoBlue.