Panthera Photo Safaris

Had the pleasure of going on a Photo Safari with Lance. He is very knowledgeable on both the fauna and flora in addition to the photography. He also kept us entertained with all his little anecdotes from his adventures.Kirstin was a great hostess and ensured that our special dietary requirements were fully catered to.

I was fortunate enough to travel with Lance and Kirstin to the Sabi Sands.Kirstin was efficient , friendly and highly organised , which made our stay and meals outstanding. Lance was amazing during the safari,sharing his knowledge of the bush, animal behaviour and photography. At the lodge he helped with post processing tips. Highly recommend team!

Had the privileged of being hosted by Kirstin and Lance at Djuma on a number of occasions. Kirstin has great attention to detail, and is just a kind caring sole, she ensures that you feel welcome and cared for and never misses a beat. Kirstin does an amazing job hosting at the lodge and definitely takes your overall experience to another level. Kirstin is such a professional and you just know you in good hands. Lance is the other half of great team, an extremely knowledgeable guide and professional photographer. I have been extremely impressed with Lance’s naturalist and guiding expertise, which as a fellow photographer come in to play in understanding animal behaviour, a big part of wildlife photography and being able to position for the best possible shot. I have no reservation recommending this dynamic duo of nature enthusiasts to share their enthusiasm and knowledge of Djuma, a place they know better than most, making it an unforgettable trip.

I've had the pleasure of going on a Safari with Lance and Kirstin in one of the private Safari camps in South Africa.Lance is an excellent photographic guide and willingly shares with you his expertise knowledge to ensure you capture the best photos possible.He takes the time to talk you through which settings to use on your camera and when to change the settings (like the changing lights throughout the day,) how to take more advanced photos (like panning) and how to do some basic editing. He also has exceptional knowledge of the native wildlife and plants and animals behavior because of his past experience as a guide. Lance ensures that his guests always get the best possible views of each of the sightings - even if it means that he himself cannot see at all from where he is seated in the car - and gives each guest equal opportunity to take photos.Kirstin is an excellent front-of-house, she is always warm and welcoming and makes sure you have what you need whilst on Safari and makes your stay very special. She always ensures that she is readily available if her guests need her and also plans and helps to cook all of the meals for each trip (the food is absolutely amazing and it's had to believe you're eating that well out in the bush).Both Lance and Kirstin take genuine interests in all of their guests and it is nice having dinner with them each night and sharing stories and the photo's we've taken that day.I absolutely highly recommend to go on a Safari with Panthera Photo Safar's if you have the opportunity to, you won't regret it!

I met Lance and Kirsten at Djuma in 2019 and immediately loved them. With my little point and shoot and thanks to Lance and his assistance, I got some great pics. We enjoyed beautiful sights, sounds, friendships and needless to say loved my experience with them. Lance was a great guide. In addition to this knowledge of the camera, he can identify the cats in and around Djuma. Do I recommend? YES, YES, YES!

Lance and Kirsten are professional, friendly, knowledgeable, welcoming and engaged with their clients. Lance was our fabulous photographic guide. Not only did his knowledge of the animal world help us anticipate where to be for the best views, his photographic knowledge also helped us to capture (and process) the best safari photos! Kirsten is the perfect hostess....from that welcoming smile, to the extra decorations in our room, and an uncanny ability to preempt a need for hot chocolate! Kirstens attention to detail, and obvious organisational skills, make them a true package deal. They made my first safari a 5 star experience and I can’t wait to join them again on my next one. Thanks guys!

I have been on photographic safaris with Lance Van de Vyver since 2018 when my husband, Andrew and I visited Djuma for the first time. Since then we have been to Djuma every year as well as a spectacular trip to Mashatu in the green season in Botswana. We thoroughly enjoyed our trips, as Lance, with his extensive guiding experience,combined with that of the lodge guides, found us incredible sightings.We have had the most amazing sightings; from leopards, to beautiful sundowner spots, special elephant encounters and exciting wild dog chases! As a photographer it was important to Lance that he got us into the best possible positions to get great shots. Lance's knowledge of animal behaviour meant that he often anticipated what might happen in the sighting and he would tell us when to be ready to take the shot. Advice on camera settings in the sighting such as exposure, shutter speed, aperture were invaluable and it was incredibly rewarding to come back from drive and download photos that were better than any I had ever taken. In 2018 I was relatively new to wildlife photography, using a DSLR properly and I had never used any editing software before. I learnt a lot from the editing workshops held after drive and left each safari with new skills. There is always so much to learn. I have seen my photography improve over the years through what I have learnt on these safaris.Apart from the amazing sightings and great photographic tuition, Andrew and I enjoyed Lance’s enthusiasm, his sense of humour and passion for what he does. On all our trips there was much laughter and fun had. We both enjoy the way Lance and Kirsten manage to make us feel relaxed and comfortable in the group in a short space of time. This makes for an enjoyable safari experience with others newly met.Kirsten hosted us on all the Djuma safaris with amazing attention to detail, ensuring we were well looked after and made to feel at home. On arrival back after drive we were always met with her infectious smile and a friendly chat. I can highly recommend going on a photographic safari with Lance and Kirsten, which is why Andrew and I keep coming back! Looking forward to Djuma 2021!

My sister and I have been on safari with Lance as our photography guide and Kirsten as our host on three different occasions in the Sabi Sands in the past 2 years and we have absolutely loved ever second of every moment with them. We are always looking for ways to go back with them.Kirsten is on top of everything, it runs like clockwork. She's always there for a chat and incredibly down to earth. Nothing is impossible for Kirsten.Game driveS with Lance is aways a great time and always more than just photography. There are so many laughs and stories going around. Lance has taught both of us an incredible amount about photography in such a short time. Every time we meet up with Lance we come back with so much more knowledge and the confidence to try different techniques and settings, in many different situations. On Lightroom, Lance can do anything! It's fascinating to watch him process his photos. You are always learning and improving when Lance is around.Together Kirsten and Lance are unstoppable. They are very professional yet welcome you like they've known you and you've known them for years!If you are looking for a great experience and some incredible photography moments, Lance and Kirsten are the way to go!We can't wait to join Kirsten and Lance back on Safari in the near future!

I highly recommend traveling with Kirstin and Lance. I have personally taken two trips with them, eight days each. Lance taught me everything I know about wildlife photography. Not only is he a fantastic photographer, but he is also an excellent instructor. You will learn so much, and have a lot of fun doing it. Kirstin is highly organized, warm and personable. She will make you feel right at home and ensure sure your entire stay runs smoothly. Both have incredible knowledge about the areas and wildlife you will see. You'll get up close and personal with the best sightings. I can't wait to travel with them again!Kristin BoggsAtlanta, GA