Private Safari

Tailor-made safari’s

If none of the afore-mentioned Photography Expeditions apply to your wishes, or you do prefer to travel privately rather than in a group, I am more than happy to custom-build your own photographic safari of dreams.

Send an email to info@pieaerts.com to inquire

Based on 10+ years of experience in photographic story-telling and conservation across the entire African continent and beyond, I will personally craft your dream itinerary for you. In the past 3 years only, I have spent 60+ weeks in Kenya, Zambia and Botswana and I know the countries and its people inside out. This has generated an in-depth understanding of seasonality, geography, animal behavior, photographic opportunities, light, and of course wildlife conservation.

You tell me where you want to go, and I make sure you will not only return home with an incredible collection of images, but even more so with a story to tell your grandkids one day.

Building your own privately guided itinerary allows you to travel into the most remote corners of Africa, where almost no one goes. But it also allows you to stay at the most high-end luxury destinations, away from the crowds. You travel at your own time schedule without taking into consideration other expedition members. So whether it’s a Family Safari with a photographic twist to it, a group of friends, a father and a son, or just yourself, I’m ready to build your expedition of dreams.

Having a personal professional photographer to guide and tutor you during your trip, is the best possible way to improve your skills and return home with mind-blowing images.

To get you in the right mood, here’s a wonderful video testimonial created by Yash, one of my previous guests on an expedition to Kenya, watch the full video to get an impression of what’s it like to join one of my expeditions.

Where

My main focus in Africa centralises around a few countries: Kenya, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Uganda and Rwanda. But I’m also very experienced in Patagonia, on the Argentinian side as well as the Chilean side, focusing on a combination of landscape and wildlife photography.

Next to wildlife oriented photographic safaris in Africa, I also custom-build human-interest photographic safaris to India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

I do have an extensive network of aerial safari operators & pilots with whom I have been working for almost a decade. So if you are looking for aerial adventure in one of the above-mentioned African countries, you came to the right place.

Who

Pie Aerts is a Dutch documentary and wildlife photographer with a sincere interest in human/wildlife coexistence stories. Through his lens, he examines the intricate relationship between animals, humans and nature and, as we become increasingly distant from each other and ourselves, he uses photography to search for the cause of this disconnect.

He’s the founder of Prints for Wildlife, a fundraising platform that since its inception in 2020 has generated 2.1mio dollars for conservation and believes art can be an incredibly powerful tool to restore the disconnect. Pie also serves as Canon EMEA Ambassador, Gitzo Ambassador and Hahnemuhle Ambassador.

Testimonials of previous participants

After each expedition, I ask participants to write a short testimonial about the trip and what it did to them. You can read some of their comments below.

Heather (USA) - This was not my first safari, but it was going to be the first time to Africa for my father, who is 82 years young. He had waited many decades for the stars to line up, for this opportunity to arise, and had high hopes of seeing all that could be seen, but realized it was a big ask. But not for Pie - this trip surpassed any and all expectations. Honestly, absolutely nothing could be improved. It became a running joke — everyday Pie would ask my father what he wanted to see the next day, and low and behold, the request would be fulfilled. Pie’s resources, connections and his ability to bring together a small group of strangers into a harmonious family are undeniable. I have been on many group travel trips in my lifetime, but never have the dynamics of all, worked so well together. This was a trip of a lifetime, and I can’t wait to go back.

Sasha (USA) - I just got back from a life changing expedition with Pie in Kenya, and literally had the time of my life. The thoughtful care and effort Pie puts into planning these trips was evident every day, and it was clear he has spent years building meaningful relationships with everyone involved in Africa. The Kenyan people were kind and genuine beyond words and truly added to the overall experience. I felt safe and taken care of the entire trip. I made tons of new friends with fellow photographers, witnessed endless sightings of incredible wildlife and landscapes, ate some of the best food of my life, and walked away feeling inspired, full of emotion, and ready to take my business to the next chapter. Throughout the trip, Pie shared his knowledge and expertise whenever he could - during workshops, meals, even during jeep drives! The connections made during our time together became apparent during our goodbye’s, especially when the tears started flowing… haha. Overall, it was unbelievable how much education, life experiences, and joy were packed into 10 long days. It’s an investment for sure, but also the trip of a lifetime, and one that everyone should experience!

Michelle (USA) - Where to begin, Pie’s expedition was a trip of a lifetime! One that will have me buzzing for a long, long time. Amboseli and the Masai Mara are two very unique and magical places that stole my heart from the beginning but what was extra special was the amount of knowledge I took home from hours upon hours of being in the bush and learning from Pie. To add to that, the lodges were absolutely incredible as was the heaps of delicious food we had at every meal. I had tears in my eyes on the final day knowing I was leaving such a special country and even more special group of people that came together from all over the world to learn about photography and be immersed in the African bush for 10 days.

Tobias (United Kingdom) - This is the third time I have been on a trip with Pie and every trip seems to get better and better. It’s more than just a photography trip, you almost seem part of a family. The relationships Pie builds with the people in his groups is what really makes these trips so special. The wildlife is mind blowing and Pie works with the best guides that do everything they can to get you in to the best positions for photography. This specific trip opened my eyes more than ever to the challenges that wildlife and humans face in Africa during climate change and droughts, and witnessing this first hand has had a huge impact on me personally. I can’t thank Pie enough for making a trip like this possible and I also can’t thank everyone who was there enough for making it so unforgettable.

Noortje (South Africa) - This Kenya expedition was about so much more than just taking photos. It gave us an insight into Pie’s adventurous spirit and way of living, his view on the planet, our place on it and how we coexist with the natural world. Understanding that is what ultimately results in taking great images and we certainly achieved that! It was a beautiful and wild adventure, and Pie’s enthusiasm, commitment and honesty made the trip unforgettable! Thank you for your knowledge, the laughs, the chases, the fantastic food (!) and all the in-between moments!

Send an email to info@pieaerts.com to inquire

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