Meet our Mentors

I am 23 years old. My grandparents worked in Kruger and my mom grew up there as well, so Kruger and the bush has always been in my family and I have been going since I was only two years old and that ignited a love and passion for wildlife like no other. I started taking photos when I was about 12 years old with a normal “mik en druk”. As the years went on my photography started to progress and with this my passion just became more and more.

I am know a qualified and photographic guide, mostly in Kruger as this is the place I know like the back of my hand.

If you have any questions or want advice regarding photography or about a photo or about Kruger or anything, always feel free to personal message me on whatsapp (0798606048) or dm me on my instagram (@deon_wildlifephotography).

People tend to take this industry very seriously which is fait but I just want to say that you should never compare yourself or your photography to anyone. We are all on our own photographic journeys and just enjoy it! You will learn and become better as you go and this will shape you into the best photographer you can be, just trust the process and take your time, there is no rush!

Having been introduced to nature, wildlife and conservation through the likes of both Irwin and Attenborough documentaries and supplemented with frequent family trips to the Kruger National Park, it’s no surprise that a deep-set love and respect for all things wild would find itself etched into John’s very being from his period back in diapers already. A qualified Apprentice and National bird guide through the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) and LLB graduate at the University of South Africa, John’s fearless pursuit for all things wild has seen him travel to various corners of the globe in an attempt specifically target quenching his seemingly unquenchable thirst for all things avian, biodiversity and conservation. Among the comprehensive list of destinations he’s travelled to feature the likes of Antarctic waters, parts of Europe, Israel, Australia, China, USA, South East Asia (Singapore), Indonesia (Bali, Sulawesi, Papua), Australia, Mauritius and the vast majority of southern Africa. Fresh out of school, John became only the sixth ever person to record 800+ bird species within southern Africa’s boundaries within the space of a calendar year, doing so by the age of 19 and claiming the record for the youngest person to ever successfully achieve this massive milestone (2014). John’s ‘big year’ and subsequent travelling/twitching has also given his regional list the opportunity to grow at a truly exponential rate which now sees it in excess of 870 bird species.

Conservation is at the forefront of John’s main mission in life which is to help protect and conserve the worlds wildlife whilst sharing it with others. He has formed part of three historic bird race teams (2017-2019) to have participated in the globally acclaimed Champions of the Flyway bird race for conservation which addresses the unnecessary (and often illegal) slaughter of birds on migration across the globe, his team’s participation raising a combined amount of over R300,000 over two years for the respective BirdLife International partners involved.

Having a keen interest in the criminal and criminal procedure field of law, John hopes to use his legal background and experience to help him bring about much needed change when it comes to the environment and how we as a race deal with wildlife crime.

Passionate, driven, focused, dedicated, and enthusiastic, John takes pride in helping others and acting as a voice for the voiceless.

Karolina was born and raised in Sweden and first stepped foot onto South African soil back in

2016. As with many, she instantaneously fell in love with the wildlife. Two years later, she made one of the biggest leaps of her life, and moved to the country in pursuit of her dreams.

After completing her nature guide training that same year, it was evident that her new-found knowledge complemented her passion for nature and this is where Karolina’s journey truly began. Her experience of learning about the bush sparked the fire growing in her heart, and she was quickly fascinated to capture the wonders of South Africa’s wildlife.

Her main mission with her story is to inspire others to follow their dreams and to bring a little piece of Africa into your home. She believes in the necessity of conservation through education and raising awareness, and believes her work can bring you that understanding.

By capturing a variety of animals, she hopes to paint the picture of the diversity of wildlife and the importance of each and every single role these individuals play.

I am 19 years old and from Gauteng. I have had a passion for wildlife my entire life and took up photography in July 2019. I am also a SANParks Junior Honorary Ranger in my 4th year. Some of my other hobbies include golf, cycling and more recently birding. 

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My favorite animal to photograph is the leopard because of their unique mysterious personalities, beauty, as well as their elusiveness. My favorite destination without a doubt is the vast tract of diverse bushveld, the Kruger National Park, for reasons that could fill an entire book.

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Our wildlife is under continuous threat, and so by photographing these animals in the wild, I can create everlasting memories as well as create awareness to hopefully make an impact on people by showcasing our beautiful wildlife especially to my peers.

I hope to carry this passion throughout my life and hopefully inspire many others along the way.

My name is Adarsh Nagda, I am 14 years old and from Nairobi Kenya.

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When I moved to Kenya, I instantly fell in love with the country's rich wildlife, especially in Nairobi National Park - just 15 minutes away from my house. I saw my first ever wild lion pride on the road at Nairobi National Park, and borrowed the family camera to take photos. Soon after, I got my first DSLR and went to many different national parks in Kenya, taking photos of the unique wildlife every destination.

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My photographer friends inspire me in photography and I really enjoy going on wildlife photography or birdwatching trips with them. I also love helping in conservation such as cleaning up national parks, or getting involved with local conservancies to educate the local communities on why wildlife is important with my friends.

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Leopards are my favourite subjects to photograph. They are elusive creatures, so when you get to see them in the wild, it is truly a special sighting. I also love trying out new photography skills.

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Masai Mara Game Reserve is definitely in my Top 3 safari destinations that I've been to in Kenya. The big cat sightings I've witnessed at the Mara have been truly amazing, and I've experienced many of my best sightings in the Mara. I loved the Porini Hide in Ol Pejeta Conservancy. We viewed lots of different game species - especially hundreds of elephants from a close distance, herds and herds kept on passing through, drinking water and mud-bathing. Enasoit Conservancy's waterhole also holds a special place in my heart. 

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My current gear is the Nikon P950, 2000mm My future aspirations are that I would love to develop my wildlife photography into a career in the future, and present for other National Geographic or wildlife related shows, like my show Team Sayari.

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You can follow my journey on Instagram @adarsh.nagda

Hey, I’m Mark, I’m 23, based in Johannesburg, and I spend most of my time working in KZN.

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I shoot primarily fine art black and white. I’m a lot more interested in light, contrast, and form than I am in colour or overly busy scenes. For me, it’s about stripping things back and creating something that feels clean, intentional, and timeless.

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Elephants and lions are what I focus on the most. There’s a certain presence to them,something quiet but powerful…that I keep coming back to. I’m not really chasing chaos or action, I’m looking for moments that feel real.
Moments that leave a story and a message.

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Everything I’ve built has come from time in the field. Being out there consistently, learning behaviour, making mistakes, adjusting, and slowly refining how I see and shoot.

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With mentoring, I bring that same approach. It’s not about quick wins or copying trends. It’s about slowing down, understanding what you’re doing, and building a style that actually means something.

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My name is Liam Botha, I am a 15 year old wildlife photographer and artist from Pretoria, Gauteng.

I have been in love with wildlife from a young age and enjoy spending most of my time out in nature. I enjoy most to photograph reptiles, amphibians and birds, I also love photographing mammals when I get the chance. I hope to one day be able to turn my art and photography into a full time career.

I enjoy sharing my art and photography through my YouTube channel. I strongly believe that art and photography is one of the best ways to approach wildlife conservation and awareness. I hope to one day make a change to the perception of people, especially when it comes to reptiles and amphibians.

My name is Alex Werth, I am 20 years old and I am from Cape Town, Western Cape.

I’ve always loved photography and finally decided to buy myself a DSLR at 17. After discovering that my dad had a Sigma 150-500mm stashed away in his cupboard, I tried wildlife photography for the first time in the Kruger and never looked back. My favorite photographers include Mark Dumbleton and Gavin Thurston. They are huge inspirations to me.

My favourite animals to photograph have to be hyenas. I really love capturing hyenas, because they’re misunderstood and very underrated. My favorite places to take wildlife photography are definitely the Kruger and the Kgalagadi. I absolutely love the Satara area of Kruger for its open plains (S100 is the BEST!) and crocodile bridge for the stunning camp. The kgalagadi on the other hand is just stunning. The sightings tend to be quite far away sometimes, but it’s nothing a teleconverter can’t solve. The landscape and especially the sunsets are gorgeous.

I am currently using the Sony A7riii. In the future I aspire to do marketing and content creation for hotels and lodges. Thus, I’m currently studying business administration in Germany. In my spare time I invest in stocks and hope that they will one day pay for a lodge of my own.

Follow me on my journey on Instagram @alexwerthza.

My name is Luzaan Large, I am 24 Years old and from Tzaneen, Limpopo.

Wildlife has always been close to my heart and for as long as I can remember, I visited Kruger National Park. Growing up in Phalaborwa, with the Kruger at my doorsteps, was where my love for animals all started. About 2 years ago I borrowed a friend's camera as we went to Kruger for the weekend. From that weekend on, my love and passion for wildlife photography started. Each year my passion grew more and more that I am now certain this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.

My inspirations in photography and nature conservation are most certainly Villiers Steyn , Deon Kelbrick , Zali and Moosa Varachia

When asked what my favorite subject is to photography, I must say to be totally honest, it has to be Leopards, there is just something about their spots and their ability to hide.

Kruger National Park is my absolute favorite game park and my favorite place to stay is Berg-en-dal. The weather is always cooler down south.

I am currently shooting with a Canon Eos 77D and a Sigma 150-600mm lens. My dream job would be to go into Field Guiding and produce Wildlife Documentary Films.

You can follow my journey on Instagram @luzaan_wildlife_photography

Menrad Holm is a Cape Town–based wildlife and landscape photographer with a passion for storytelling through imagery. With a keen eye and a distinctive perspective, he captures the raw beauty and emotion of the natural world, bringing each scene to life through his lens.

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As a co-founder of the Youth Photographer of the Year competition, Menrad is deeply committed to creating fair and meaningful opportunities for young photographers across Southern Africa. His work has been recognised through various awards and publications, and he has collaborated with platforms such as Go Magazine.

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As a mentor, Menrad is dedicated to guiding and inspiring emerging photographers, encouraging them to develop their own voice, refine their technical skills, and focus on creativity, storytelling, and authenticity in their work.