Capture the magic: Unveiling Marataba's Creative Lab for safari photography

Coming to Marataba Safari Lodge is an experience that has no rival. With mountains that surround us and a river that sustains the life of many animals – from hippos to leopards, and kingfishers to cormorants ­– it is a reserve that simply takes your breath away and imprints its wonder and magic onto your heart.

Capturing these magical moments has become easier and much more accessible for all who chose to spend their time at Marataba. With the introduction of our on-site Creative Lab and photographer, we have opened a new avenue to those with a heart for adventure.

The Creative Lab provides an opportunity for every guest who visits Marataba, to try their hand at wildlife photography. With cameras available to rent, a dedicated photographer to guide you through your photography and to help with editing, creating magical safari memories has become much easier for you to do.

On arrival at Marataba, you will meet the Creative Lab consultant and be shown the Creative Lab space, nestled in the corner of the lounge area. With an iMac, Adobe Lightroom Classic and Photoshop, the Creative Lab is well equipped to help you with all your photographic needs.

If you haven’t brought a camera from home, you can rent an on-site camera. The Creative Lab consultant will take you through the breakdown of how to operate the camera, so you will be fully equipped to capture all the amazing sightings Marataba has to offer.

Tailored photography lessons

Should you wish to deepen your knowledge of how to operate the camera, our Creative Lab consultant can take you from zero to hero – helping you understand automatic and semi-automatic modes, to better capture your safari trip memories.

If you are an intermediate photographer who understands the basics, our consultant can take you on a more in-depth journey, explaining the full manual modes and how different settings affect the photos you take, and how to quickly identify what is wrong with your settings if your photo isn’t what you envisioned.

Once you gain an understanding of the intricacies of your camera, you will be a step closer to capturing the majestic mountain, magnificent lions, the starry African sky and Milky Way, birds in flight or portraits of your favourite animals.

Should you have a specific piece of equipment you would like to use, that is not on-site, be sure to let us know. We have a very good relationship with one of South Africa’s best rental houses, and we will do our best to get the equipment you would like to use during your stay at Marataba.

The art of photo editing

Once you capture the shots, the in-lab fun begins. Our consultant will sit with you and filter through all the photos you have taken. As a rule of thumb, it’s always better to capture more than you think you will need. You can always delete photos you don’t want, but trying to recapture a photo of a moment you missed is next to impossible.

After filtering through the photos and picking out your favourites, you can begin to engage your creative brain with editing. Shaping the light of your photo is one way to direct the viewer to where you want them to look. Changing the brightness, a colour, and the sharpness of a photo will also aid you in creating a captivating piece of art that you can display back home.

With our editing facility you can either edit your own photos under the guidance of our consultant or you can ask our consultant to edit the photos for you, while you spend your time swimming, having a drink or enjoying games with the family.

From black and white to dramatic, or high key to vintage, your imagination is the limit when editing images. Should you prefer the more natural look or a completely stylised image, our consultant can help create a work of art for you.

Preserving your memories

To truly immortalise your memories, we offer the option to print your photos on site using Canva’s glossy or matte paper. In a world that is moving to digital more and more every day, the photos we take risk being lost in the cloud or only seen by the annual notifications on our phone. Printing select photos is one way to preserve the amazing memories of your Marataba stay.

Be sure to speak to your travel agent or get in contact with the lodge itself to arrange your perfect photographic safari experience with Marataba Luxury Lodges and MORE Family Collection.