We think our safaris offer a fabulous experience for enthusiastic wildlife photographers, but don’t take our word for it, read what our guests have to say.
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Photographer feedback on our safaris
Thank you both for a fantastic trip and experience. We all thoroughly enjoyed our time in Zimanga. And a big thank you to all the rangers and staff at Zimanga who were all immense. We could not have wished for better
Thanks to Ann and Steve for another outstanding workshop. Quite the adventure! You two are so good with people. You both put on absolutely the best photo workshops! I learned a lot
I’ve just come home from my first wildlife photography safari and I’m over the moon that I chose to visit Zimanga with Steve and Ann Toon. Their knowledge of wildlife photography, the reserve and the fantastic relationship they have with the reserve’s staff, and particularly our guide, has helped deliver an exceptional trip and memories to last a lifetime. I have already booked another trip with them
A great trip. Thank you Ann and Steve for your very hands on help. It was very much appreciated
Another great experience with Ann and Steve
Being my first safari I had nothing to compare but I’m certain that Ann and Steve will be a very hard act to follow
Very enjoyable, fun-filled trip as always, to a great location. Ann and Steve are simply the best at what they do, combining extensive knowledge of Africa with their photographic expertise. They are totally selfless and dedicated to their guests compiling a portfolio of outstanding photographs
A fantastic trip, but only made possible by Steve and Ann’s understated expertise, experience and thoughtfulness
This was my first safari adventure and so I was understandably a little nervous prior to the safari. I needn’t have worried. Ann and Steve have years of experience visiting and organising trips in Africa. The information they provided prior to the trip was excellent and when I did have any questions, they were always available with a detailed response to put my mind at rest. Everything about the safari was extremely well organised. We were greeted, as arranged, at Nairobi airport and all transportation and hotels were very well organised, making the whole trip so much easier than trying to do it on your own. Accommodation at both Amboseli and in the Masai Mara was excellent and most importantly, both the lodges were sited in excellent positions within the parks, meaning you were always in pole position for the sunrise and sunset, to make the best of the wonderful African light. Ann and Steve are always on hand with photography advice and tips, but it is very much geared to your ability and I always found it helpful. Together with the two local guides/drivers, they were able to predict animal behaviour and get you in the best position to grab the shot. That said, everything is always done with safety and animal welfare in mind and I never felt uncomfortable at any of the sightings. I came away with a huge database of shots, many of which are better than anything I have ever taken in the past. I have also learnt a huge amount about my camera and wildlife photography in general. Finally, Ann and Steve are great company, do not take themselves too seriously and are excellent hosts. I would have no hesitation in recommending them for any kind of photography adventure and I hope to go on more African adventures with them at some point in the future.
Thanks for making our first photo safari such a wonderful experience. Fantastic to spend time with such a lovely group in such an amazing place.
It’s always a magical experience made more special by you two and the awesome packages you put together and the teams you link with. Fills your head with memories that never fade.
Had such an amazing time. I’m still on cloud nine.
Thank you for a stunning holiday. It exceeded my expectations massively.
Thanks to both of you for your support and excellent guidance throughout our tour which was both successful and enjoyable.
A fabulous holiday. Great wildlife, hosts and company to share the experience with. The trip really exceeded our expectations and we would highly recommend your photo safaris to others
A wonderful trip – up there with some of the best experiences we have had.
A first class trip. Largely due to the wide range of wildlife – and of course yourselves.
You are both brilliant. Your comments and pearls of wisdom have turned my shots from grabs to well-composed, thought-out images.
A phenomenal trip. I loved the time spent with everyone, but loved the photography even more. You guys are the best and I can’t wait to join you on the next Toon photography adventure.
My thanks once again to you both for making the trip so special and successful. The thought, time and effort you put in to ensure everyone was relaxed, had a good time and got the absolute most from their trip did not go unnoticed and was very much appreciated. A truly exceptional trip.
An amazing time on Zimanga!
I cannot begin to express my gratitude for this wonderful experience. I have so much more to take home than pictures.
I wanted to thank you personally for a lovely holiday. I had my doubts about joining such an illustrious group of photographers, but I needn't have worried! I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and learnt a lot too. Your organisation was perfect and you made me feel very welcome, I would certainly like to join you on a future trip.
I want to thank you both again for what was definitely an unforgettable experience. Once my wife had seen some of my photos she understood why I told her it was the best thing I’d ever done although it probably wasn’t the most tactful thing I’ve ever said!
What a phenomenal trip - thank you! It was wonderful in so many ways. We really couldn’t have asked for anything to be better!
Amazing trip to Botswana with Ann and Steve. We have to thank Ann & Steve for encouraging us to try something different when the light was not in our favour or the subject was not cooperating. Thanks also for the suggestions of different techniques and camera angles. Until this trip I had thought I was pretty good at photo composition. But this was a game changer for me. The mornings were spent on the river, quietly drifting in and out of inlets as the sun rose, with no agenda except to see what was around: a malachite kingfisher teasing us as he hopped from pampas to reed; a darter wrestling with his catfish breakfast; a male baboon stealing a baby; a fish eagle in flight. On previous safaris we would move on, having captured our moment. But this type of trip is focused: on turning a nice picture into a fantastic image. By its very nature, it offers countless opportunities to try again. Or take a different perspective. But, for me, it became much more than that. For possibly the first time ever on a safari, I felt my world slow down. I started to really appreciate watching everyday life, with no urgency.
I wanted to thank you both for a superb trip. I thought the whole experience was carefully thought out and presented very professionally. The quality of the facilities was extremely high. Doornhoek was an ideal venue and so well run. Alice’s bright smile and Blessing’s excellent food really made for a welcome stay. The whole set up on Zimanga is excellent. Calvin was a bonus - a great character with excellent wildlife knowledge and a good photographic eye - (must send him some better jokes though!). Despite having been to Zimanga many times before, you both presented the experience to newcomers with a good measure of ‘freshness' and an obvious desire to help your guests get the most out of the photographic opportunities available. I personally gained a lot from your experience and guidance and am much better informed about my own camera and also much happier in Lightroom now. I’ve got lots of ideas for photographs that I want to take in future - just need to save up for another trip.
Thank you for a superb holiday. Your pre-trip information was very complete, and accurate, the choice of accommodation was perfect, and your chosen local guides, Dan and Calvin were very gifted naturalists. I really appreciated your photography advice and it was a real pleasure to travel with you.
A huge thank you to you both for an amazing trip to Zimanga! We expected it to be good, but it exceeded expectations. You both worked so hard to make it all work and ensure that the group atmosphere was good. It was great to have Hendri as our driver and as another viewpoint on how to get the best from our photography. The trip gave us a chance to improve our photography skills in a most enjoyable environment and the Doornhoek Homestead was a perfect base for the week.
Thanks for such a fabulous time in Africa – the memories will live with us forever.
I think you already know how much we both enjoyed our trip with you, but just in case, it was one of the best experiences we’ve had, never to be forgotten.
Thank you for a great experience. I think your Zimanga tour was the best of the 10 photographic trips I have been on. You went that extra step. There was great emphasis on not only getting to the right place at the right time but also positioning to make the best of the available light at every location. This combined with your understanding of the animals’ behaviour, advice on camera setup and checking settings as light levels changed, allowed people to prepare for those special events and get the best possible photographs. My advice to other photographers would be do a Toon Tour.
Many thanks for a fabulous time and for all your help and encouragement. I had a super time.
Thank you so much for making our trip such a wonderful success. My expectations really were met and I now have a very happy experience to reflect on - and a mass of potentially lovely images to play with. I enjoyed many new and really exciting sightings and photo opportunities. I thought that all the hard work you put into preparing us for the safari was the best I have experienced on many previous trips. My lasting impression, however, will remain the mixture of warmth, kindness and professionalism which you both provided for us.
I spent my last morning at Zimanga 'shooting' lions. A pair of males at first light provided an excellent conclusion to a wonderful week. My thanks to Steve & Ann Toon and all the wonderful staff at Zimanga for making this possible. A most exceptional venue for any photographers wanting a unique opportunity to photograph Africa's wildlife in their native setting.
A super trip
Thanks for the wonderful experience in Chobe and Zimanga. We had an excellent time and learnt so much about photography and photographing wildlife
Your joint photographic expertise combined with a great passion and knowledge for South Africa and its wildlife make for a winning combination. A superb, unique bush experience while getting some great images too. We had a fabulous time and won’t hesitate to recommend you. Of the four trips we have been on, designed, organised and run by the tour leader, yours was simply the best!
I promoted the Chobe - Zimanga wildlife photography safari to C as the trip of a lifetime and it certainly did not disappoint. It was the 'trip of a life time' and gave us both many wonderful experiences and memories. I never expected to see C standing within feet of a cheetah and then wild dogs. Needless to say, we both had the chance to get close to wildlife and bird life and to take amazing photos. As a relative beginner C said how much she had learned and enjoyed the whole experience. For myself there was so much material and continual practice that I couldn't help but improve - and I did. I know that over the ten days I have gone up a level and got some wonderful images. Thank you so much for being such great hosts, friends, and imparting your experience and knowledge to make this wildlife trip a never to be forgotten trip.
We are both still buzzing and would go back to do it all again tomorrow. We would like to say thank you for giving us a wonderful time. Even without a photograph being taken we have had a great time with such wonderful hosts, but we have got photographs as a bonus and I’m sure one or two of those will even impress the meanest of competition judges! We feel lucky to have met you both and shared such wonderful experiences together. You two are both absolute stars!
Thank you for an absolutely fantastic Zimanga trip. Not only the outcome from the amazing photos I got but more importantly your contribution to making everything such a success. The organisation from start to finish was impeccable and the atmosphere generated by yourselves within the group was an important factor in making the whole trip so pleasurable. Plus of course, your photographic advice and wildlife knowledge which is second to none. Thank you for all that.
I very much enjoyed the Zimanga trip, lovely house-party style group. The help and encouragement from both of you was super, you do look after your clients and prioritize their needs.