A seasoned guide and passionate nature advocate, illuminating the wonders of the wild through her expertise, fostering a deep connection between people and the natural world.
Jackie BadenHorst
23
years experience
38,000
social media followers
25
countries visited
23
years experience
38,000
social media followers
25
countries visited
“Sharing the wonders of nature with like-minded individuals brings me immense joy!”
I am Jackie Badenhorst, a passionate wildlife photographer and nature enthusiast.
Sharing the wonders of nature with like-minded individuals brings me immense joy, particularly when I witness them capturing shots they once deemed impossible.
I find my greatest fulfillment in encountering wildlife in their natural habitats and exploring untouched wilderness areas. I’m a strong believer in the power of the 10,000-hour rule and the invaluable lessons gained through field experience.
When embarking on my photographic adventures, my camera bag usually contains at least three camera bodies, a versatile range of lenses spanning from 14mm to 400mm.
Among my treasured experiences with Tusk, one that stands out is capturing an awe-inspiring photograph of Craig, a magnificent tusker from Amboseli, set against the majestic backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. It required many days out in the field to get the background I was after but the resulting image filled me with great satisfaction.That said, my days in the Pantanal, Rwanda, Mana Pools and all the other wilderness areas I’ve visited have been special. As important as the wildlife and photography is to me, so too is the guest experience – having fun, learning a trick or two and leaving with a portfolio of special images is what I hope for each of my guests.
A quote by Baba Dioum deeply resonates with me: “In the end, we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught.” This quote serves as a constant reminder of the transformative impact we can make by instilling love and appreciation for the natural world through the art of photography.
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Through the following questions, we hope to give you a clearer insight on your Tusk Photo Host
While Jackie appreciates any animal in a good setting and good light, she particularly enjoys photographing big elephant bulls and lions.
Jackie’s photography tip is to “work the scene.” This means using different lenses, exploring various angles, and capturing as many different shots as possible during a sighting. This approach allows for a diverse and compelling collection of photographs.
One of Jackie’s most memorable trips was her visit to Rwanda, where she had the incredible opportunity to observe gorillas up close. Another standout experience was encountering Craig, a majestic Tusker at Amboseli.
Jackie aimed to capture the essence of Africa in one photograph, featuring the majestic tusker named Craig with the breathtaking outline of Kilimanjaro in the background. Achieving this shot required meticulous planning, searching for the perfect open area, ideal cloud cover, and trees in just the right positions. When she finally captured the image, Jackie felt a sense of fulfilment and happiness.
Jackie’s camera bag is always equipped with three camera bodies, a versatile array of lenses ranging from 14mm to 400mm, sunglasses, sunblock, and Craghoppers nosilife clothing.
Jackie typically leads around 10 tours per year, providing ample opportunities for participants to join her on unforgettable wildlife photography adventures.
Jackie has a diverse range of interests beyond photography. She loves design, including graphic design, interior design, and branding. She also enjoys tea, being active, and has a passion for music ranging from ’90s grunge to house.
Jackie uses a wide range of lenses from wide-angle to telephoto. However, her most frequently used lenses are the 70-200mm and the 400mm 2.8.
Jackie currently uses the Nikon Z9 and also finds the Sony A7RV to be a great camera for her photography.
We are a great group of people, we are lots of fun, and we know what we’re doing when it comes to photography.
