Safaris · See it through our lens
Photographer-led safaris for photographers and non-photographers alike. I create the safaris I wanted to go on, and I travel with you from the first morning to the last.
Where I take guests
Gorillas in the rainforest, or big cats on the plains. Pick a place, or tell me what you'd love to see.
Private, photographer-led safaris hosted by Amish Chhagan, a Zambia-raised wildlife photographer published by National Geographic and WWF.
Primate Trails
Classic safaris
Classic safarisPrimate Trails · plus Borneo, Indonesia
Featured safaris
Primate Trails is a series of small-group, photographer-led journeys to the great apes: western lowland gorillas in the Congo Basin, mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in Rwanda and Uganda, and wild orangutans in Borneo. Slow, respectful time in the forest, with expert trackers and good light. The first departure is the Congo Basin in October 2027, and I lead it myself.
3
Great apes
4
Countries
4–8
Guests a group
2
Continents
Departs October 2027
Republic of the Congo · Odzala-Kokoua
Track western lowland gorillas at Ngaga, then watch forest elephants at the baïs of one of Africa’s least-visited rainforests.
18–25 October 2027 · 4–8 guests
Rwanda · Uganda
An hour with a mountain gorilla family in Volcanoes National Park or Bwindi, with chimpanzee tracking alongside.
Year-round · private departures
Indonesia · Central Kalimantan
Upriver by boat into the forests of Tanjung Puting, to spend time with Asia’s only great apes.
Year-round · private departures
Classic safaris
Which one? Zambia for walking safaris and leopards, Kenya for big cats, rhinos and quiet conservancies, Tanzania for the Serengeti, the crater and the migration.
“Zambia doesn’t just offer sightings. It offers moments that stay with you, long after the shutter clicks.”
South Luangwa · Lower Zambezi · Kafue · Liuwa Plains
Where I grew up
Leopards and walking safaris in South Luangwa, canoeing on the Lower Zambezi, and the quiet wilds of Kafue and Liuwa.
Parks, photos and sample itineraries on the Zambia page.
“This is where Africa speaks loudest, through dust, light and life on the move.”
Masai Mara · Amboseli · Tsavo · Solio · Ol Pejeta · Samburu · Laikipia
Big cats, tuskers and wide-open plains
Big cats on the Masai Mara, tuskers in Amboseli and Tsavo, rhinos at Solio and Ol Pejeta, and the quieter northern reserves of Samburu and Laikipia.
Parks, photos and sample itineraries on the Kenya page.
“Space is the luxury here: endless plains, lion prides on ancient rocks, and a crater that holds a world of its own.”
Serengeti · Ngorongoro
The Serengeti and the crater
The open plains of the Serengeti and the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater, for scale, solitude and dramatic light.
Parks, photos and sample itineraries on the Tanzania page.
Why travel with me
A private safari means your own guide, your own transport and your own pace, with nobody to tell you when to leave a sighting. On mine, I travel with you as host and photographer, so you see Africa through a photographer’s eyes, camera or not.
I grew up in Zambia. That heritage, and local guides who know these places best, shape every trip.
I build each safari around places I’d travel to myself. If I wouldn’t go, I don’t offer it.
Private transport and small groups, with time to stay at a sighting.
Planned around you, and looked after from the moment you land.
Travel lightly
The wild places we visit are the reason we go.
Small, hand-chosen camps that run on solar power.
Guides from the area, who grew up with its wildlife.
We cut plastic as far as we can on every trip.
Where I can, I support the people doing the work on the ground.
#seamlessexperience
01
Fill in a short form and we'll arrange a time to talk. Not sure where yet? Tell me what you'd love to see and I'll suggest somewhere.
02
Camps I know by name, private transport, your group only, and days planned around the light.
03
Touchdown to takeoff. I travel with you from the first morning to the last, as host and photographer.
Rated 5.0
“Amish made our trip unforgettable. From the start, he assisted us with every detail, and once here, he became part of our family… Amish was right there with his camera, capturing the best photos.”
“Visiting the Masai Mara with Amish has been one of the most memorable and impactful experiences of my life. Amish is a great teacher, very patient, and I could really see I was improving.”
“His deep knowledge of the terrain and wildlife behavior in the Masai Mara is unmatched, which meant we were always in the right place at the right time for incredible photographic opportunities.”
“To be very honest, safari was never really on my list, but Amish asked me to join… 0.0 regrets that I did so. It was a world class unique experience – I keep telling family and friends about it.”
Before you travel
A private or small-group African safari hosted by Amish Chhagan, a published wildlife photographer. Days are planned around the light, animal behaviour and time at sightings, so you see Africa through a photographer's eyes, whether or not you carry a camera.
Yes. Chags Photography safaris are run by Endangered Encounters Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales (no. 16706809). We are registered with IATA’s Travel Industry Designator Service (TIDS) under code 96255084. TIDS is the travel industry’s standard way of identifying travel sellers, used by airlines, hotels and other suppliers worldwide.
No. Guests range from serious photographers to people who have never held a camera, and Amish photographs the journey so you can simply watch. If photography is the point, ask about a photography-focused trip, which runs more like a course in the field.
As a guide, a well-run safari staying inside the parks with professional guides costs from $800 per person per day. The country, season, camps, group size and permits such as gorilla trekking move that figure. Every safari is costed for you in a proposal before you commit.
It depends on what you want to see. Kenya has big cats on the Masai Mara and elephants in Amboseli; Tanzania has the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Great Migration; Zambia has walking safaris in South Luangwa and canoeing on the Lower Zambezi. For great apes, choose Rwanda, Uganda, the Congo Basin or Borneo.
For most of East and Southern Africa, the dry months from June to October. July and August are the busiest and most expensive. Gorillas can be tracked all year, and the green season brings newborn animals, fewer visitors and dramatic skies.
More answers in the safari FAQ · Safari terms
Updated November 2026.
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