A family's first 8-week safari with Classic Escapes led to two photos being captured and showcased at the Smithsonian Museum. This put a young man on the map as one of the best amateur photographers in the United States. As their longing to explore and capture unknown territories of Africa grew, a deep desire sparked with a need to tread where no one else had been before. Determined to take adventure-photography to a new level they asked Caroline, “What’s next?”

It was off the back of the trust and understanding from their previous expeditions with Caroline that the family became curious to see what Classic Escapes could conjure up next. Caroline knew she had to think outside of the box and keep in mind that this trip needed to allow for them to travel with their photography equipment - all 90kg’s of it. Challenged to craft a nearly-impossible adventure, Caroline set about choreographing the tricky expedition for a family who had completely entrusted her with designing their experience.

Elevating the challenge was a set of practical constraints. These adventure-photographers were also working professionals and required internet access. Furthermore, they needed an experienced and specialised guide who could communicate clearly, anticipate animal-behaviour, and then assist in perfectly positioning the family and their cameras to best capture images of rare African moments.

Taking into consideration their requirements and constraints, Zakouma, a place described by many as Eden, surfaced. At Zakouma you can drive for hours and not see another vehicle; a destination with limitless skies, and a habitat where you can witness Africa’s wildlife in its most integrated state. This paradise is abundant with birdlife - roughly 380 species - and the territory is home to over 60 species of mammals. It posed an incredibly ideal landscape for spontaneously perfect moments and surreal scenes to be captured on film.

‍

However, the rare and remote brought its own challenge - accessibility. In order for the family to gain entry to the world-renowned mobile camp, Camp Nomade in Zakouma National Park, they would need to travel via a charter flight with a private guide. The exceptionally short season (only 4 months a year) combined with the fact that there are only a handful of guides that are qualified to guide in the National Park made securing the booking all the more impressive an accomplishment for Classic Escapes.

Packing is often a daunting task for most, and in this case each traveller was limited to 15kg’s. With camera gear as their first priority, that didn’t leave much room for underwear or a toothbrush. Caroline knew that this safari was to be centred around photography and so she arranged for vehicles to transport their 90kg’s of equipment from the capital of Chad all the way to Camp Nomade without impacting their time on the ground.

When planning a trip for a family wanting to visit remote destinations, it’s essential to have close relationships with the people on the ground. You need to know exactly what your clients are going to endure, their desired experiences, and the logistical limitations. Classic Escapes in partnership with a guide at Zakouma made it possible for this family to get a private safari in the National Park. This experience ultimately left the family requesting their next connection with the unknown to be made as soon as they returned home.