Africa Big Five, Part One: Exploring Photography with Mark Wallace

In this two part series Mark Wallace travels to Fairy Glen game reserve in search of the African Big Five: Lion, Elephant, Buffalo, Leopard, Rhino. In this episode Mark encounters wild baboons, and zebra before he even arrives at his destination. Mark gets some gear guidance from photo tour organizer Elsa Hoffmann of Photo Tours Cape Town, and he gets dangerously close to wild lions.

Special thanks to Elsa Hoffmann of Photo Tours Cape Town and Fairy Glen game reserve.

Related Products at Adorama:

Nikon D810 Digital SLR Body Only

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR Lens

Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G AF-S VR II Nikkor ED-IF Lens

Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E ED AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens

Leica M Typ 240 Digital Rangefinder Camera Body

MeFOTO GlobeTrotter Aluminum Travel Tripod Kit

Voigtlander 21mm and 25mm Metal Viewfinder

Leica 35mm f/2 SUMMICRON-M Aspherical

Leica 50mm f/1.4 SUMMILUX-M Aspherical -Black

Leica 135mm f3.4 APO-TELYT-M

Leica 21mm f/3.4 Super Elmar-M Aspherical Lens

Photos by Mark Wallace

Like, share, and comment on the video below...let's get the conversation started!

If you have questions, please share them below.

[chantellesymes]

Thanks for sharing your adventure with us. Love the photos and the video.

[HoppeTravelDiaries]

oh man that looks like so much fun Mark! Cant wait for the next episode

[AlistairRoutledge]

Hi, Mark, I'm a long-time fan from SA and have been keenly following your adventures and learning from your videos for ages. I'm so glad to see how much you're enjoying being here in beautiful South Africa! I must, however, implore that you make a plan to visit the Kruger National Park while you're here. Fairy Glen is all well and good, and a perfectly lovely place, but it is in fact, a very sanitised and watered-down experience. The Kruger Park (as well as Kgalagadi National Park) is the real deal... An unspoilt and unmoderated African wildlife extravaganza. It will literally blow your freaking mind! Anyway, keep up the good work, can't wait to see where you end up next!

[ericreiter]

Hi Mark,
You should go to the Kruger National Park too. You will be so close to the lions as here but without any fence!!
A really incredible experience!!

[JoshuaBoldt]

I kind of love how excited you are about this :)

[mircomoscardini]

Hi Mark...amazing shots with an amazing equipment by an amazing photographer...I have been in SA for my honeymoon and went to a game reserve for a photo-safari...and I felt in love for these amazing places...
Greetings from Italy

[DonnaCouture]

Really enjoyed your video Mark and I'm looking forward to more of these posts. Stay safe as we all know things can turn sour really quickly when coming into contact will free roaming animals.

[donlefresne]

Great work! Love your images and always look forward to seeing your videos!

[scottabergermd]

Great video Mark!! Question: as someone who is considering switching to Leica from Nikon, do you feel somewhat limited by the choices of Leica lenses, as Nikon or Canon seem to offer much more mainstream longer zooms at prices that are more affordable? And If you were to switch, would it be to Nikon, or Canon, or Sony, or some other brand and why? Thanks again and keep making these they are AWESOME!!

[MarkSamuels]

Really good video, namesake :-) Being in the wild can change for the worse quite quickly, so safety first, I say! Ignore the negativity from those who can't (or won't) do what you do!

[tct]

Mark,
Big 5 are African elephants, rhinoceros, Cape buffalo, lion & leopard, no zebra

[IWBVS]

which park was this that allowed you out of the car?

[SkarmerBillias]

I think all Poachers should be thrown to the Lions

[kanukster]

This was lame. LOL, he goes to Africa and doesn't bring a long lens or by the looks, much of any gear....? Photographs animals in a fenced in compound...?