ORYX in a Nutshell

I thought I needed to drop you a line to inform you of my satisfaction with the high quality service that I have received from Kirsty in the past few days! I am very happy that she has been able to assist me with my changes to my trip. I am very greatfull to her for her fantastic attitude and outstanding service!

Andries and I would like to thank the ORYX team for a memorable India tour. The tour was exceptionally well planned. The only hassle we as guests were left with was to try and get the best photo of a Tiger. We can only but highly recommend ORYX and will not think twice about using their services again in future.’

“My partner Dee and I and two friends from the UK Jan and Max have
recently returned from an outstanding two week safari in the Maasai Mara with Marius Coetzee of ORYX Expeditions. I have been going on safari in Africa for 40 years and I can honestsay that this was the best organized and planned safari that I have ever been on. Marius travelled with us and I have to say he was the perfect host.

He was always enthusiastic, pleasant, on time and nothing was ever too
much trouble for him. Marius is an award winning photographer but for me his best attribute was the fact that he was keen to pass on his knowledge. He was much more intent on us getting the “perfect shot ” than on getting
the ” perfect shot ” himself. I can assure you that this is unfortunately not always the case with professional photographers. Marius chose outstanding camps for us and because of his unique relationship with the camp managers and guides we always received VIP treatment. As anyone who has been on safari a number of times knows the positioning of ones vehicle makes all the difference. Due to Marius’ experience and innate understanding of the animals we always seemed to be in the ideal position for photography and game viewing. For anyone who wants a safari of a lifetime and is keen on improving their photographic skills I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Marius and ORYX Expeditions.” 

“My wife and I were in Kenya at the beginning of August 2012 for ten days with Marius Coetzee of ORYX Photographic Expeditions. Although he could not have organised that the two million wildebeest migrate into the Masai Mara, we were lucky that they arrived three days before we did!  He organised everything else. We spent an amazing ten days taking pictures every afternoon and evening.

Marius is a consummate host. His happiness in the wild is infectious and his knowledge of animal behaviour insightful and very useful in anticipating things for a picture. He has the patience to wait for it to happen. ORYX makes high quality travel arrangements. All transfers and internal flights were facilitated with the greatest of ease, and the lodges chosen were top notch. I had the most amazing holiday, and took some really fantastic photographs.

My non photographer wife had a fantastic time. She did not spend every photo shoot with us, but her every whim was catered for at the lodges and she recharged her batteries. Marius paid special attention to her to ensure she was not left out and checked regularly at the lodges that she was looked after.

Thank you, Marius and ORYX. I will definitely recommend you to my photographic colleagues and will no doubt become a regular client!” 

‘As a working journalist, I travel for a living and Madagascar is one of the most logistically challenging places to travel to. It is a world unto itself, in every sense of the word. When given a recent book project on Madagascar and in need of some photographic work there was only one person I knew who could help me. Marius Coetzee has been a guide for over 11 years, and there is no one I could feel safer with in a country as challenging as Madagascar.

Marius is patient; he is kind, and above all inspiring!! If you are going to Madagascar, he is the guy. If you are going any place else, he is probably the guy too!’

‘Marius we just wanted to let you know how impressed we were with ORYX and yourself as leader. We felt comfortable the whole time and appreciated very much your photographic help and organizational skills and enthusiasm.’

We had a GREAT time with Dale. Everything was as expected as we have learned to expect the unexpected. We would go with Dale and your company without any hesitation. We have NOTHING to complain about. Olive learned a lot of things from Dale. How not when you get such a crazy guide.

“I became interested in ORYX because some of the other outfits who advertise photo safaris don’t really appear to be very strong photographers. ORYX stands out in that regard.”

‘The trip was awesome – the whole family really loved it! As for Greg himself, he was a total hit! Greg is another level. So very happy he could join us, and I doubt it will be the last time either. He certainly helped me out a lot, and also had incredible patience with my mum & sister who were beginners. Thanks so much for organizing this for us – ill definitely give ORYX a shout for our next safari.’

I’m not sure if I can adequately express my enthusiasm for our tour through South Africa. Sharing time with some of the most exotic animals on the planet will continue to be one of my most treasured memories. What I loved most, was the proximity and intensity of the experience with leopards. Although I am not a wild life photographer, I am an adrenaline junkie, and hearing the hiss of an adult leopard is one of the most exciting times I can remember. In my most spectacular day dreams, I could not have thought up lodges like Kings Camp or Leopard Hills. ORYX group put together a trip that was virtually bespoken to both my husband and my tastes. We were able to share an adventure together, and this was possibly the best trip we have taken together. This was achieved by a seamless set of logistical operations, not a hint of a problem with travel, accommodation, food, or even photography opportunities. Mother Nature may be unpredictable, but ORYX seems to have managed a way to make her a little happier.

King’s Camp (Timbavati) rank among the best wildlife watching and photography places I have experienced, not only in Africa but in the World. The abundance of Leopard and the quality of the sightings is just amazing. Drivers and trackers do a fantastic job, and the avoidance of “game jams” thanks to the policy of only two vehicles allowed at a sighting is a great advantage. Leopard is clearly the main attraction at Timbavati, but there were great sightings of Buffalo, Elephant and White Rhino. Accommodation and the entire infrastructure around King’s Camp is just wonderful. The rooms are a delight, food excellent, very nice birds around the gardens, great bar and library, and some of the very best service I’ve experienced anywhere. We were pampered in every way imaginable. As a wildlife enthusiast and photographer who has been around, I certainly recommend King’s Camp and Timbavati as a superb, rewarding and very productive destination. I hope I find the time to go back some time soon.

‘Just wanted to thank you again for a great wildlife experience, especially your
professionalism in providing information, photography advice and special care
in positioning the Landrover to give us all a chance to maximise the pleasure
of the bush…..not to mention your great sense of humour!

‘Marius Coetzee is one of the most knowledgeable and experienced safari (field) guides I have met on my more than 30 trips to Africa. His knowledge of the bush and ability to work with his tracker to find animals is unique and appreciated. As an accomplished photographer, Marius knows how to position his vehicle to get the best photograph and has the patience to make sure that his guests see what they need.’

“ORYX did us proud, from Kirsty’s exceptional logistics management, your own support & Help, and mostly Greg’s complete professionalism, looking forward I must admit to June & Tanzania”

‘Spitsbergen was incredible. None of us expected to love it as much as we did and I definitely need to go back one day soon. Elliott was great and a lot of fun, and certainly helped me loads with my technique.’

‘Elliott
was fantastic to have along. He has an unassuming way of helping people take
better shots. It felt as though he was always there for advice, without any
kind of forced structure.’

“We have to thank our guide Elliott Neep, an amazing wildlife photographer who works with ORYX Photographic Tours, for such a great trip. Without Elliott our trip would have been that much poorer!  The ORYX group was certainly a class act. Of course, we also have to thank Joshua, our driver for our time in TZ. With x-ray like vision and deft driving, Joshua made sure that we were the first on scene for all of the best moments of our trip”