As a wedding photographer based in Williamsburg, VA, most of my days are spent capturing beautiful love stories. But every now and then, I trade in bouquets and veils for something wildly different—like a safari vehicle and the roar of a lion echoing across the savannah. My recent trip to Kenya’s Maasai Mara Reserve was one of the most unforgettable experiences I’ve ever had, and it reminded me just how powerful and exhilarating Africa travel photography can be.
From the moment we arrived in the reserve, it felt like the animals had planned a personal welcome party. One of the most incredible moments happened on day two, when a pride of lions casually strolled across the road right in front of us. Not just a few lions—an entire pride, complete with females, cubs, and one very regal male bringing up the rear. It was so close I could count their whiskers. And hear my heart beating! As someone who loves storytelling through images, moments like this are what make Africa travel photography so thrilling.
Later, we came across a herd of elephants crossing between our team’s two jeeps. Among them was a newborn baby elephant, so fresh that its umbilical cord was still attached. Seeing something so new to the world, completely unbothered by our presence, was a humbling reminder of how raw and real life is in the Mara. It’s scenes like this that make Africa travel photography not just visually stunning, but emotionally unforgettable.
Each drive out on the reserve brought something new—towering giraffes stepping gracefully across the plains, buffalo in the beautiful grasses, zebras grazing under breathtaking African skies, even the rhinos which are more rare! Every image felt like a postcard from a world I never wanted to leave.
On our last morning, we had breakfast beside a hippo pool. Yes, an actual hippo pool—complete with grunting, splashing, and more than a few nervous glances. Don’t worry, we had a guard with us, keeping an eye on the hefty residents while we sipped tea and soaked in the wild beauty of it all. It was the kind of surreal moment that reminds you exactly why Africa travel photography pulls you in and doesn’t let go.
Though my heart belongs to weddings and the beautiful connections I get to photograph here at home, adventures like this fill me with fresh inspiration. There’s something about being in such an untamed and majestic environment that resets your creative soul.
Africa travel photography isn’t just about animals and landscapes—it’s about the thrill of being present, the joy of discovery, and the privilege of witnessing life in its most natural form.
– Mattie Wezah
Wedding Photographer | Williamsburg, VA
