At long last our 2025 Manyeleti Magic photographic safari and workshop, hosted in conjunction with Hannes Rossouw Photography, was about to start. A year of planning finally culminating in us and our guests meeting at the entrance gate to Manyeleti Nature Reserve at the agreed time of 11:30 on the 12th of June.

Entry formalities completed we set off for Buffelshoek Camp. Given that Buffelshoek is located in a remote corner of Manyeleti it would take us at least an hour to get there, soaking in the wonderful Lowveld atmosphere again while keeping a lookout for game and birds along the way.

African Elephant

Blue Wildebeest

Hippos and a crocodile sharing a corner of Manyeleti’s biggest dam

White Rhino

Guests can arrive at Buffelshoek from 13h00, which allows ample time to settle into your tent before lunch is served an hour later. Buffelshoek is entirely off-the-grid and very comfortable despite its rustic nature, with the 5 guests tents – with en-suite bathrooms! – spaced well apart from each other for privacy and to allow animals to move through the unfenced camp unhindered (over the next few days we’d have elephants, hyenas, impalas, giraffes, jackals and hares in our midst, and those are just the ones we saw!).

The central building at Buffelshoek has a lapa, viewing deck, lounge and dining room where guests can relax

One of Buffelshoek’s five very comfortable furnished safari-style tents in which guests are accommodated

After lunch we excitedly set off on our first drive, with expert tracker Elvis showing the way while Hannes gave photography tips to our guests and I explained the finer details of the environment and wildlife we encountered. We had regular encounters with various kinds of animals and birds, including some elephant bulls that came very close to our vehicle.

Plains Zebra

Giraffe

Giraffe

Giraffe

Elephant Bull

Damaged ivory

Elephant tusk close-up

Eager photographers

Fork-tailed Drongo waiting for insects flushed by the feeding elephants

Water lilies

The highlight of our first afternoon drive was an encounter with two beautiful male lions just as the “golden hour” descended on Manyeleti. At first they were very lazy but thankfully one of the males – the one with the darker mane – decided to give us some nice poses and scary stares. What a highlight on our first day!

Lion male

Lion male

Lion male

Lion male

Lion male

Lion male

Lion male

Lion male

Heading back to camp in the dark showed us many fiery-necked nightjars in the road. We also stopped so that the photographers could try their hand at shooting the moon in the dark of night (though my own attempt was a mess it was still great fun to hear everyone’s excitement when Hannes’ suggestions gave them results they could proudly show off).

Fiery-necked Nightjar

Moon over Manyeleti

In the next post we’ll show you everything we encountered on day 2 of our 2025 Manyeleti Magic photo-safari and workshop. The 2026 dates are yet to be confirmed, but do get in touch with us if you’d like us to keep a spot for you!