Safari 104 Workshops - 2024
Wildlife 105 Photography Safari Workshop
Date to be advised soon!
We have designed this photography safari to give you the highest possible photographic experience. We have a flair for finding photo-rich environments to Photograph wildlife at an affordable rate. In this workshop, you can expect a smaller group of photographers to keep the group intimate so that you can get the ultimate tutorship and attention from your host. We aim to enhance your experience in wildlife photography to take your images to the next level and enjoy the company of other eager wildlife and nature photographers in the group.
Where: Mabalingwe Nature Reserve And Private Game Lodge
When: Check-In:
Check Out:
Time: 15h:00
Cost:
R14,900-00 incl. pp - USD 1200pp
Discount for DPC & camera club members
Duration: 4 nights
The Workshop price includes the following:
- Seven game drives, five nights in air-conditioned suites with en-suite showers in Magalingwe Game Reserve. Brunch and dinner included. We have exclusively booked the entire Lodge with a private Chef to cater our needs.
- We cover the most important aspects of wildlife photography, from creative to optimising your camera and settings. You can use time in each session to review materials and practice what you have learned during our daily game drives.
- Practical session: The group will meet every morning and afternoon for a practical session and game drive. This session aims to gain insight into Bruna’s thought processes when creating wildlife photographs and to allow you to test your new camera settings and skills.
- Class materials: Reference guide with cheat sheets.
Wildlife & Nature 105 Photography Safari Workshop
Date to be advised soon!
Thaba Bolyai and Mapungubwe Game Reserve
This is a exspectional experience at Thaba Bolayi Lodge:
- Accommodation in a luxury en suite with air-conditioning.
- Breakfast, and dinner, and teas/coffees.
- Tutorship with hands-on training daily on every drive or bush walk.
- Qualified guide
- Filtered water
- Lightroom workflow and general discussions regarding wildlife/bird photography and landscape daily.
- Let's talk photography sessions around a fire pit next with the most amazing unpolluted bushveld sky, where you can still enjoy the fresh air, silence, absolute darkness, and the sounds of the African bush. "Good for the soul stuff."
- Daily theoretical sessions with questions and answers.
- Mapungubwe Game Reserve Drives.
- More more....
Where:
Thaba Bolayi and Mapungubwe Game Reserve
Check-In:
Check Out:
Cost: R14,500 -00 incl per couple USD 1980
(Discount for DPC and camera club members)
Time:
15h00
Duration:
4 nights 5 Days
________________________________
Where:
Thaba Bolayi and Mapungubwe Game Reserve
Check-In:
Check Out:
Cost: R14,500 -00 incl pp USD 1980
(Discount for DPC and camera club members)
Time:
15h00
Duration:
4 nights 5 Days
PLEASE CONTACT US ON WhatsAPP for your booking:
- +27 82 809 1918
Bush Fire Wildlife 105 Photography Safari Workshop - Date to be advised soon!
Manyane Resort - Pilanseberg Game Reserve, North West Province.
This is a camping experience at Manyane Resort: our conference room, underneath a big tree at the campsite, is also one of nature's best conference rooms.
- Electricity, water and ablution facilities at the campsites.
- For those who don't like camping, the Resort offers two bed-tented units situated near the campsites at an additional cost.
- Two game drives and daily self-drive practical sessions at the Pilanseberg Game Reserve, North West Province.
- Meals: Coffee and rusks before departure in the mornings, brunch after our morning game drive. Bring your meat and drinks for our evening bush braai; we will add the salads or pap and gravy daily.
- Small and friendly classes for seasonal, professional, or absolute beginners; there is a place for everyone.
Where: Manyane Resort - Pilansberg Game Reserve,
North West Province
Check-In:
Check Out:
Cost:
Option 1: Camping and Caravan R 5 150.00
Option 1: Tented Carlet R 6 100.00
(Discount for DPC and camera club members)
Time: 10h00
Duration:
2 nights
The price includes the following:
- Your caravan, camping site or tented campsite option.
- Brunch and salads, pap for evening braais.
- Tutorship with hands-on training daily after every game drive.
- Entry into the game reserve - twice a day.
- Braai facilities and wood
- Daily theoretical sessions with questions and answers.
- Basic editing of your images captured during your game drive.
Big Five Chobe River 105 Photography Safari Workshop - Date to be advised soon!
Pangolin Chobe Hotel, Kasane, Botswana
As an African-based professional bird and wildlife photographer and safari operator, I have had the privilege to know and work with some key industry players who, like us, strive to offer services that go above and beyond the standard "out of the box" photographic safari offerings.
Check-In:
Check-out:
Cost: To be advised (Special price agreement)
About the Big Five Chobe Wildlife Photography 104 Safari Workshop:
We firmly believe that The Chobe is one of the best wildlife photography destinations in Southern
Africa – if not the whole continent. This 7-day photo safari is the perfect opportunity to learn new
wildlife photography skills under the supervision of your DPC Photo Host. Our accommodation, where
will be staying, is the award-winning Pangolin Chobe Hotel. If you are travelling without a camera, then
the Pangolin Team can also supply you with cameras and telephoto lenses free of charge for the duration.
This unique Five Star Lodge is situated on the Botswana side and has access to the Chobe National
Park for game drives and the Southern Channel, inaccessible from the Namibian side. We will divide
our time between game drives and a couple of cruises on the channel so that you can experience the
entire river.
If you have ever wanted to learn or improve your wildlife photography skills but have yet to find one,
this is the safari for you in the most excellent classroom in the world! All the vehicles and river boats we use in the Chobe National Park and the Chobe River all seat eight photographers, with everyone having a window seat and camera rest to support the lenses. Your Photo Host will be there for all the activities to help.
You can relax at the eco-pool or use our air-conditioned editing room between the activities. Your
The photo Host will be on hand during the day to help you with image review sessions. Once you have
improved your photography, you will feel confident shooting on the manual camera settings, allowing
you more creative control over your images and spending more time at sightings perfecting various
photographic techniques. (We suggest you bring a laptop for image review sessions (Computer access is limited). By the end of this safari, you will be a far better photographer than when you arrived. You will fully
understand the camera functions and how to employ them in different situations for maximum creative effect. You will also have a fistful of memory cards full of beautiful images and memories you will treasure forever.
Presenter:
Award-winning photographer Bruna Mentrup will present this workshop. Bruna is a professional wildlife and nature photographer. Her philosophy is that anyone can acquire technical skills. Still, the prerequisite for becoming a wildlife photographer is a deep connection with nature.
Who is this course for?
This workshop is for intermediate and advanced photographers who want to master the most
essential fundamental creative and technical aspects to take their wildlife photography to the next
level.
Key aspects:
Your Classroom In Nature
• Ethics and philosophy of wildlife photography.
• Connect with Nature as a wildlife photographer.
• What makes a good wildlife photo?
• Accurate exposure to wildlife photography.
• Accurate focusing techniques.
• Focus point selection and focusing techniques.
• Tracking Modes - capturing fast action.
• Freezing action - Motion blur - Creative wildlife.
• Various camera modes suitable for wildlife photography.
• Optimal camera settings for speed in low-light situations.
• Panning and tracking techniques.
• Advanced composition - Visual storytelling.
• Depth-of-field for different focal lengths and subjects.
• Dealing with busy backgrounds, shadows and highlights.
• Photograph wildlife with artificial lighting (Off-camera flash).
• Understanding and optimising your gear.
• Take control of your camera in manual mode.
• Basic recap: ISO - Aperture(Av) - Shutter(Tv) - Manual modes.
• Creating pre-sets in-camera.
• Travel logistics.
• Hands-on practical and theoretical sessions with feedback.
• Basic Lightroom editing.
• Essential digital workflow aspects for wildlife and nature photographers.
Course duration:
- Six Nights
- Cost per person, incl. R35,000-00
- Please take a look at our websites for this information. www.bruna.co.za or www.digitalphotographycourses.com Included in the price.
Included in the price:
• Game drives and boat cruises.
• Luxury accommodation - all suites are fitted with air-conditioning.
• (Please note: sharing two photographers per room - large and spacious two queen beds
per room, with an extra charge of 50% for a private room).
• Park Entrance.
• All meals and teas/coffees.
• Alcoholic and soft drinks (Local brands only).
• Morning and afternoon game drives with a qualified guide/skipper and Photo Host.
• Tutorship and hands-on training on every outing.
• Filtered water will be provided.
• Private training room - theoretical classes.
• Basic Lightroom editing and workflow.
• Daily photo downloading and discussions.
• Airport transfers.
Not included in the price:
• Travel costs.
• Mini-bars in the rooms.
• Extra meals.
Wildlife Photography 105-Day Excursions - 2025
Wildlife Photography 105-Day Excursions 2025
Learn how to photograph wildlife when you join Bruna for a wildlife photography excursion to the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve by mastering the ideal composition, camera setup and settings for optimal results.
For your convenience, we'd like to include an online class the Thursday before the day excursion so that you know what you could expect during your game drive.

Where: Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve, 520 Kromdraai Rd, Kromdraai, Krugersdorp, 1739
Dates: TBA
Online Zoom Session: Thursdays
Practical Sessions:
Saturdays
Times:
- Zoom Class starts at 19h00 on a Thursday Evenings
- Practical Sessions on Saturdays: Meet at 08h00 (Reserve gates open at 08h00 and close at 17h00)
Cost:
R2500-00 incl. per person - (DPC and club members: R2,100-00 incl. per person)
Included:
Online session, Practical session, Game drive, Water, Sunny-boy breakfast, Coffee and Tea. The entrance fee tutorship and hands-on training are by Bruna Mentrup-Nortje.
Bird Photography 105 Day Excursion - 2025
Where: Marievale Bird Sanctuary - Pretoria
May - 2025
Dates: TBA
Online Zoom Session: Thursdays
Practical Session: Saturdays
Times:
- Zoom Class starts at 19h00 on Thursday Evenings
- Practical on Saturday at 07h15 for 07h30 - 11h30
Cost: R2400-00 incl. per person - (DPC and club members:
R2,100-00 incl. per person)
Included:
Snack box, Coffee/Tea, Zoom session, Practical session, Suitable Hide and gate fees.
Wildlife 105 - Image Enhancement & Workflow In Lightroom Course - 2025
Online classes for Wildlife Photographers With Lightroom Classic Experience, Wanting To Learn How To Edit Wild Animals and Birds
We are excited to announce that our wildlife and nature image enhancement and workflow Lightroom course now consists of a 2-day online training.
About the Online Course:
We cover all the critical aspects of editing wild animals and birds, digital workflow and portfolio management, from importing, sorting, managing and retouching to exporting images for print and online applications. Learn how to edit different types of wild animals and bird species without making your image look artificial.
Enquiries: +27 82 8091918 {Call or WhatsApp us)
Dates: TBA
2025
Online Zoom Sessions: Thursdays
2025
Online Zoom Session: Thursdays
2025
Online Zoom Session: Thursdays
Starting Times:
Zoom Sessions @ 18h00 to 21h00
The most important aspects covered in the Course:
- A complete overview of the interfaces regarding the art of painting with light.
- Setting up editing preferences suitable for editing wild animals and birds.
- Importing, image, culling and selection process.
- Sorting, categorising and finding your images quickly.
- Advanced workflow and backup system when travelling.
- Manage and show off your portfolio using Lightroom Classic and Lightroom web-based together.
- Retouching: wild animals and birds.
- White balance and working with accurate colour selection for editing birds and wild animals.
- Preparing your images for output: printing and social media
- Resizing your images without losing quality
- Q&A session.
Course details:
Small classes with a maximum of 8 people.
Learn how to edit delicate feathers and eyes of wild animals step by step and under the guidance of an expert.
Course duration:
The course consists of two three-hour online sessions.
Presented by:
Award-winning photographer Bruna Mentrup presents the course. Bruna is a professional wildlife photographer, traveller and adventurer.
Her philosophy is that anyone can acquire technical skills, but the prerequisite for becoming a wildlife photographer is a deep connection with nature.
Online Wildlife 105 - Photography Course - 2025
Essentials For A Great Wildlife
and Nature Photographer
2025 Online Courses
The course consists of three two-hour online sessions.
First Course Starting 2025 - Date to be advised
Day 1 -
Day 2 -
Day 3 -
Day 4 -
Day 5 -
5
Cost Per Person: VAT included.
* For the complete package of 5 sessions: R2500 .00
Zoom Sessions Times: @ 18h00 to 20h00
Presented by:
Award-winning photographer Bruna Mentrup.Bruna
About the online Course:
We are excited to announce our "Essentials For Great Wildlife And Nature Photography." Course now consists of 5-day online Zoom training Sessions. Presented by Bruna Mantrup-Nortje.
As a wildlife photographer, I’m always asked what equipment I use and which accessories I rely on most in the field. I usually carry many odd bits and bobs that can help make life easier.
In our session, we will discuss all aspects of what a wildlife photographer will be needed. I am starting with photography equipment and ending with technology.
The most important aspects covered in the Course:
- Ethics and philosophy of wildlife photography.
- What makes good wildlife photos.
- Visual storytelling in wildlife/nature photography.
- Photography equipment like cameras, lenses and tripods.
- Understanding and optimising your gear.
- Accurate exposure to wildlife photography in various settings.
- Depth-of-field for different focal lengths and subjects.
- Optimal camera settings for speed, focus in low light
- Focus point selection and focusing modes.
- Capturing fast action
- Panning and tracking techniques.
- Simplification in wildlife photography.
- Creative wildlife photography: Composition, impact, drama, action, storytelling and lighting techniques.
- Photographing wildlife with artificial lighting (Off-camera Flash)
- Creating pre-sets in-camera for moving and static animals, small, medium and large
- How to deal with busy backgrounds and dark shadows when capturing wildlife and birds.
- Gear, travelling and logistics.
- Essential digital workflow aspects for wildlife and nature photographers.
We will include discussions such as:
- Cameras
- Telephoto Lens
- Wide Angle Lens
- Extend that Focal Length With a Teleconverters
- Tripods And Or Mono Pods
- Fast Memory Cards – A Must-Have
- Batteries And Chargers
- Best Backpacks For Professional Wildlife Photography Gear
- Extras – Non-Camera Gear
- Clothing
- Lamps And Torches
- Bean Bags
- Ground Covers For Added Comfort
- Rain Covers To Protect Your Camera Gear
- Technology For Wildlife And Nature Photography
- and more .......Know The Power Of His/Her Equipment
- Passionate About Wildlife
- Respectful Towards Subject
- Safety And Clothing Conscious
- Positivity, Perseverance And Patience
- Imagination And Creativity
- A Good Sense Of Detail
- Patience And Adaptability
- Good Interpersonal Skills
- Excellent Communication Skills
- Passion
- Tell Your Story
- Technical Abilities
- Ambition
- Business skills
- Subject expertise
- Hand-Eye Synergy
- Perseverance
- Technical Proficiency And Artistic Vision
- Inventive Frame Of Mind
- Constant Training
- Sharp Eye For Detail
- Planning
- Love What You Are Doing
- and more.......
Our Favourite Reviews And Testimonials For The Past Year
FAVOURITE REVIEWS AND TESTIMONIALS FOR THE PAST YEAR
My Photography Journey
I have always been the one taking the family and holiday pictures … trying to capture memories.
My late husband bought me my first ‘serious’ camera, a Canon Powershot SX70.
He sadly passed away in 2012- rest in peace my dear Heart.
A couple of years and several cameras later, I was still snapping pictures and decided to attend DPC’s Basic Intermediate
(Digital Photography Courses), at Ascot Mews in Alberton. Danie Bester was instrumental in starting my incredible photography journey.
More courses followed – Adobe Lightroom, Advance, Newborn and Wedding, just to mention a few. I soon realised that my journey
with photography is not only a passion but also a way of making new friends, such as Bruna Mentrup-Nortje.
Bruna, your passion for Wildlife and Nature expeditions will always be forever memories.
Bruna introduced me to Southern Suburbs Camera Club (SSCC). I later joined Brandpunt Fotoklub in Alberton as well.
Proud to say that I have received my Licentiateship (LPSSA) from Photographic Society of SA (PSSA) recently.
I love this continuous journey of learning and growing. I am forever grateful to this community for generously
sharing their knowledge, inspiration, encouragement, and friendship. Thank you!
- Judy Joubert
It's been a brilliant session today and very informative. Also gives a lot in terms of the logic behind how the
camera works. Quite informative
- Mike Remano-
It's been a brilliant session today and very informative. Also gives a lot in terms of the logic behind how the
camera works. Quite informative I found sessions very good.
The logic that you shared as to why specific settings as well as your own examples of why other settings
don’t work were great. The use of your images to give context worked very well.
Thank you
- John Hoskins
Thanks for a very informative zoom session. Always enlightening.
Thanks Bruna for a great session
- VE
Was amazing! Really enjoyed it.
- Andrea Scheffer
So exciting Bruna. It’s the first time I really want to know my cameras.
Lots to learn Bruna, having to change ISO and dynamic focus points in between shots feels
overwhelming. A practical session will definitely help.I am so glad I did this online course before the outing.
- Noma
The session was well presented. It was very practical andfocused on important principles that can be applied on a day to day
photography. There is always a good interaction with the audience and both the pace and the duration of the session was great.
Thanks for sharing the knowledge.
- Oscar
Was very informative cause , really educated my ignorance!!
- Tsymy
I relish my time in lectures and out in the bush with students so eager to learn. My teaching leaves me feeling that
the further I go, the more my students teach me. It's wonderfully exciting.
As an educator, mentors and friends have taken my photography full circle, and teaching and mentoring have brought
me into contact with such talented and fabulous people. It is bliss to watch someone start awkwardly and
blossom into a confident photographer, proud of their achievements.
Private Sessions
A private mentorship session with Bruna will enhance your photography skills and encourage you to seek more of yourself than expected.
Mentorship/Innovational Sessions: Bruna helps and guides you with her mentorship programs and videos. She enhances your skills and knowledge of wildlife and so much more.
Mentorship/Innovational Sessions
Work with me as I share what Mother Nature offers wildlife photographers. You will also have the opportunity to tap into the technical skills I have learned over the years in my profession.