Penny Robartes 
I find it deeply freeing when flying in a bush plane to look out of the window and see the landscape change from human-occupied land to more wild, remote and untouched wilderness. Nature has a way of instilling a peace that settles deep into your bones and opens your eyes to new attractions and experiences. … Read more
2018 saw the creation and execution of ORYX’s first scheduled photo safari to Botswana, my Savute & Khwai Photo Tour. With it being such a well-designed photo safari with stunning accommodations and locations, combined with excellent wildlife sightings and photo opportunities that exceeded all of our expectations, you can guess how excited I was to … Read more
Documenting the Spiritual Capital of India Prelude: Before I met my guests for the Ranthambore section of our tour, and therefore the beginning of our Tigers & Varanasi Photo Tour 2019, I arrived a few days earlier in India to visit Varanasi for 2 full days to familiarize myself with the city in order to … Read more
Into Tiger Land I walked down the hall towards the lobby. It was nearly time to meet my guests and having personally travelled with 2 out of the 4 ladies, and knowing the 3rd, I knew that my guests would be at the designated meeting place earlier than the confirmed time. Rounding the corner and … Read more
A Private Photo Safari with Penny Robartes It started with a message on my Instagram account. A message filled with curiosity, hope, and a lot of commitment and excitement. My soon-to-be guest is an Elephant lover and had a desire to visit Botswana to witness and photograph the gentle giants that are found in this … Read more
The Mara North Conservancy is really a “one in a million” destination that is teaming with wildlife. I don’t ever think that I have heard of a guest returning to either Serian’s Original or Ngare camp and have had an uneventful game drive. Yes, it is that special! There are a collection of Lion prides … Read more
South Luangwa National Park in Zambia is a destination that needs to be experienced by wildlife lovers, and I was not let-down by my recent week-long stay there in the beginning of this July. My safari took me to both ends of the Park, South to North, which enabled me to experience a good … Read more
“Africa is mystic; it is wild; it is a sweltering inferno; it is a photographer’s paradise… an escapist’s Utopia.” ~ Beryl Markham There is much to be said for this tour of visual and experiential contrasts. I have just returned from leading ORYX’s brand new tour offering to Botswana and I am still in a … Read more
“Africa is mystic; it is wild; it is a sweltering inferno; it is a photographer’s paradise… an escapist’s Utopia.” ~ Beryl Markham Many first-time travellers to the African continent visit the famed Masai Mara National Reserve, targeting the months of July to November. During these months, Africa’s greatest natural spectacle occurs and it is a … Read more
