"My first trip to the Pantanal with Oryx…"

My first trip to the Pantanal with Oryx and Dale Morris was terrific. Dale and the wonderful local guide Sergio Freitas knew nearly everything I asked about the local wildlife, and if they didn't, they found out. Dale and Sergio went out of their way to find reclusive and camouflaged animals, able to do so through knowing the animals' behavior and the Pantanal itself so thoroughly.

The trip was well-planned -- except for the weather, which dropped fifty degrees F one night and brought torrential rain. (We dried out in a few days.) Food was plentiful and delicious, the lodges and the boat hotel were comfortable, and the group of photographers was companionable and pleasant.

I was using a new camera and shooting in manual for the first time. Every now and then, as I aimed at a potoo or a coiled anaconda, Dale would whisper, "If you use this ISO and that shutter speed, and stand exactly where I am standing now, Alison, you will get an excellent shot." And lo! he was exactly right: I'd get a sharp photo with open eyes and no stick coming out of the animal's head!

I enjoyed the trip to the Pantanal very much, and would urge anyone to travel with Dale Morris.

"Dale Morris was our Oryx guide on a…"

Dale Morris was our Oryx guide on a recent trip to the Pantanal in Brazil. This was either my 5th or 6th trip with Dale and I have 3 more with him in the works. It is hard to imagine there could be a better guide than Dale. He is extremely knowledgeable about the wildlife, a miracle worker with his camera and advice, and he can do some great animal impressions. You will be in excellent hands should you decide to travel with Oryx and Dale. I highly recommend him regardless of your level of photographic expertise.

"Review of 2022 Pantanal tour"

I very much enjoyed my time on the 2022 Pantanal tour as I had when I was on the one in 2017. Both times Dale Morris was our the guide and photo expert. As always, Dale was a gem, and he was clearly happy and enthusiastic to be leading a tour after many months of COVID lockdown. I must add that the tour was made particularly enjoyable and educational with the participation of Sergio Freitas, PhD who served a most excellent and affable Brazilian language/logistics facilitator and fauna biology expert.

This year (2022) was much drier than 2017 with vastly less water along the Pantanal highway. Therefor, there were considerably (thousands?) less waterbirds (herons, egrets, terns, skimmers, etc ) as well as caimans near the road. Even so we had plenty of wildlife photo opportunities. All the lodge accommodations were very good, and the Brazilian food was plentiful. Our first lodge was particularly comfortable and provided twice per day drives in open safari-like vehicles that provided wonderful transits of the varied environment of the lodge's vast property. On the first day at this lodge - to everyone's surprise, we came upon a jaguar resting next to the dirt track. This was the first of more than a dozen (17?) different jaguars seen on the tour.

All but the first of jaguars were seen and photographed on the Rio Sao Lorenco river and several of its tributaries during the last five days of the tour. Our time on the Jacare - our boat hotel - was very pleasant in spite of the extremely atypical weather. Instead of 100F and bright sun on the river, we experienced several days of 50F with driving rain! It was certainly a macho/macha test to have rain pelting our bodies as we hunkered down in our open 4 meter uncovered boat as it sped at more than 30 mph along the river to get to our next jaguar photography opportunity. All in all, the outboard boats we rode in were very comfortable, stable and astonishingly fast. Our boat driver was highly skilled both on our sprints and in holding steady while maximizing our photographic opportunities.

To sum up, my friend Alison and I very much enjoyed the 2022 Pantanal tour. It was well planned and conducted with successful innovations adapted to the weather. The other participants were very friendly, courtious, and interesting to talk to. I have not counted up the number of separate species that I photographed and videoed, but there were a lot. I did get lots of good shots and video clips of my favorites - giant otters, a loping giant anteater, jaguars, and even two pairs of long-legged seriemas in a loud, pre-dawn territorial battle.

"Kenyan Family Safari"

We contacted Oryx to arrange a special Kenyan holiday to celebrate my husband’s 40th birthday. We wanted to incorporate my husbands love of wildlife photography and a family friendly safari for our daughters (aged 10, 7 and 4) first trip to Africa. They expertly put together an itinerary of a week at Diani beach followed by a night at Giraffe Manor then culminating in a 4 night safari at Sala’s Camp in the Masai Mara.

From the moment of first contact the Oryx team were incredible. Vanessa answered our millions of questions quickly and comprehensively. We emailed her about everything from Covid requirements to local currency and she always replied pretty much immediately and with a knowledge that demonstrated her experience within the travel industry.
Once we landed in Kenya it became even more obvious of the work that went on behind the scenes in the Oryx office. Each transfer was greeted by representatives on the ground and we could really relax into the holiday safe in the knowledge that everything had been taken care of.

Marius guided us for our safari and proved once again he truly is the best in the business. Nothing was too much trouble and he not only provided extraordinary photo opportunities and guidance but his endless enthusiasm and energy meant the girls were constantly amazed and entertained by all the Masai Mara had to offer.

We have returned home with our hearts full of the most amazing memories and plans to book our next adventure with Oryx as soon as possible!!

"Mashatu, Botswana photo trip"

The photo trip organised by Oryx to Mashatu, Botswana, included a scheduled tour with Mike Dexter and a private extension. Mike is an excellent wildlife photographer with significant experience in wildlife behaviour. He always pointed out photo composition opportunities and camera settings at every sighting, which made it so easy to get great photos. He shared his photographs back at the camp, and how he touched them in Lightroom; these opened me to possibilities to consider on the next drive or hide session. The hide sessions were exceptional with huge herds of elephants, the giraffes, elands, impalas, warthogs, squirrels and several birds. Mike, having originally built the Mashatu, again pointed out compositions as they unfolded. It was an exceptional photo trip with several great images to show. It was a trip that was originally booked pre-covid, but organised very well and with great communication through-out, thanks to Nicolette. It was a trip I wish never ended because of Mike and Nicolette's fantastic support to making this so good in terms of overall experience and the great photos they helped me get.

"The best (only?) way to go"

Can there be a better way to enjoy an experience like Africa? Maybe, but I'm not convinced. With Oryx every aspect of our trip was coordinated expertly, what a luxury to have so much handled - really relieves the stresses of travel planning. Marius is the best of the best as a guide - he makes sure everything gets done on travel days and is generally just a great guy to be with during game drives (and the trip as a whole). Africa is filled with amazing beauty and experiences, being under the guidance of people who can not only make travel easy but also help you get the perfect camera shot to capture it all makes the experience all the better.

"A dream for wildlife photographers!"

it was my fourth time with Oryx Photo Tours: There is no better way to enjoy wildlife and to improve the own photographic skills. A small international group - all dedicated wildlife photographers - with a professional wildlife photographer. I learned a lot and saw amazing wildlife: Leopards was our main target - and we saw them every day! Hunting, stalking, resting, loving...
My pictures are now more interesting and breathtaking than ever before! The Oryx guides - in my case Penny Robartes (Inyati) and Mike Dexter (Madikwe) have been very inspiring and supportive.
I already plan my next wildlife photographic tour with Oryx!

"I booked a tour in Chile through Oryx…"

I booked a tour in Chile through Oryx in April 2022. I paid over $10,000 for the tour. Only upon my personal inquiry did I find out all other guests cancelled due to Covid. I had received an email saying I would be reimbursed some of the money due to the photo expert Dale Morris being unable to go because it was not monetarily possible (it was a photographic tour). That was taken back once they found out I was traveling solo, although I paid the solo supplement (I received no refund). I was the only one on the Chile Pumas of Patagonia tour. My local guide David from Far South Expeditions was beyond wonderful, and I have nothing but great reviews for him. But when I looked on the Far South Expedition tour I found the same tour was offered for almost $5000 less. Oryx has terrible email communication; Nicolette is terrible. They even told me that they weren’t making a profit off sending a solo traveler to Chile, a straight up lie because they charged more than $4000. They had nothing to do with my hotel pre and post travel. I do not recommend Oryx at all. They rip you off. Look to travel with local companies. I travelled twice with Oryx and regret both times.

"ORYX photo tours does it again in spades"

This private ORYX South Africa safari exceeded my expectations with amazing big cat sightings at MalaMala and Ngala. We chose to do this trip with Penny Robarts at the end of our private Kenya trip just before COVID 19 erupted across the world in February 2020. ORYX rescheduled our trip twice and we made it in May 2022.
It was worth the wait, and fantastic to travel and be guided by Penny who patiently coached my stumbles with my new camera to take images I could not have imagined possible.
We had fantastic lodges and driver/guides Pete and Barney. The local guides knowledge is brilliant and they work so hard to get us to see amazing fauna and flora of the area.
At the ORYX behind the scenes, Nicolette kept us well informed of changes in travel plans and rescheduling until Australia reopened its borders.
Thank you all at ORYX, especially Penny, and your partners for another fabulous safari and amazing more pinch me moments.

"Simply the Best. Oryx in a league of One."

Third safari arranged by Oryx and with Marius. Went to Botswana with our two adult children and their spouses. Honestly, each time even more extraordinary than before. The team’s hard work planning the adventure and communication before and throughout the trip makes it easy to relax and appreciate the experience without any concern. That is very much appreciated with all the difficulties and uncertainties of long distance travel today, especially when off to Africa. And, the safari itself is turned into a meaningful, educational and fun experience by Marius’ knowledge, photo and guide skills and, even more so by his relentless good nature and real sense of friendship. He cared enormously that we had a great time and an experience we all could treasure forever. I would not even think of a photo safari with any other company and always will hope to coordinate so that we can be led by Marius. If I sound biased I admit I am: Completely prejudiced now by three of the greatest trips and adventures of my life, without any difficulties (the bumps are smoothed by Oryx and team before we even learn of them) and crowned by what I feel is a new and sincere friendship.