For wildlife photographer Julian Lane, Africa has been part of his story since childhood. Born in Uganda and now living in the UK, Julian has spent much of his life travelling, photographing and reconnecting with the African bush.
With more than 50 years of photography behind him, Julian recently visited nThambo Tree Camp, where he captured a remarkable collection of wildlife images while experiencing the magic of an unfenced camp in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve.
We caught up with Julian to hear about his lifelong connection to Africa, his experience at nThambo and the photography techniques and equipment he uses to capture the moments that unfold in the wild.
A lifelong connection to Africa
Julian’s love for Africa began long before he picked up a camera.
“My parents loved going on game drives and visiting the bush,” Julian recalls. “They encouraged us all to enjoy travelling, and I have wonderful memories of encounters with African animals whilst travelling to the various game reserves in East Africa.”
“It was thrilling and left me with a lifelong love for the African bush and travel.”
Today, Julian lives in the UK but returns to Africa whenever he can.
His passion for photography began at the age of 14, when he first picked up an old Kodak Ektra 110 camera.
“The results were pretty poor,” he admits, “but it got me interested in photography, and I have been a very keen amateur ever since.”
Five decades later, Julian is chairman of his local camera club, Northampton Camera Club, and has witnessed an extraordinary transformation in photographic technology.
But despite the advances in cameras and lenses, Julian believes that the equipment is only part of the story.
“It is not the camera that takes a good photo; it is the person using the camera that takes a good, or not so good, photo.”
For Julian, understanding light, colour and shadows is just as important as understanding the subject in front of the lens. And when that subject is wildlife, understanding animal behaviour becomes essential.
Why nThambo Tree Camp?
Julian and his companions had previously stayed at Sun Destinations’ Africa on Foot in 2024, an experience they loved. When planning their next safari, they wanted to experience somewhere similar, but different.
Their travel agent recommended nThambo Tree Camp, and several elements immediately appealed to them.
“We really liked the idea of being in accommodation on stilts, and it was very important to us that the camp was unfenced.”
“There is something very special indeed about an unfenced camp, knowing that any animal may wander through your camp at any time of the night or day.”
That feeling of being immersed in the wilderness became one of the highlights of his stay. Julian even set up a camera trap outside his lodge at night, capturing footage of animals moving close to camp after dark.
But perhaps the ultimate reminder that the bush is never far away came during dinner one evening.
When the wildlife comes to you
While sitting down for dinner, Julian and his companions noticed a large bull elephant approaching the swimming pool.
It was too dark to photograph, but that hardly mattered.
The elephant wandered over for a drink, just a few metres from where they were sitting.
“We just enjoyed watching him drink,” Julian says. “That is certainly something that I will never forget.”
It was a moment that perfectly captured the essence of an unfenced safari camp: no barriers, no separation, and no guarantee of what might appear next.
The wildlife wasn’t the only thing that stood out, however. Julian also remembers the people who helped bring his safari experience to life.
“Our guide, Conride, and our spotter Jan. Their knowledge and enthusiasm for the bush were infectious and amazing, and I really enjoyed their company.”
From the accommodation and welcoming boma to sitting on the balcony beneath the Milky Way, Julian found that nThambo offered countless opportunities to connect with the wilderness.
“The sounds of the bush at night as you sit on the balcony of your lodge looking at the Milky Way are fantastic.”
Seeing the bush in all its rawness
During his stay, two wildlife encounters in particular remained with Julian. The first was the bull elephant at the swimming pool.
The second was very different. The team came across the carcass of a bull elephant that had been killed during a fight with another bull. One of the elephant’s tusks had penetrated its thorax, killing it.
Although difficult to see, the carcass had become an important part of the ecosystem, providing food for predators and scavengers.
“Although seeing a dead elephant is not pleasant… it is nature, and witnessing nature in its rawest form is really special.”
That acceptance of nature in all its complexity is also reflected in Julian’s approach to wildlife photography. He isn’t interested only in beautiful portraits. For him, the most compelling images often tell a story about survival, behaviour and the sometimes-brutal reality of life in the wild.
Photographing wildlife: patience before pictures
For keen photographers, a safari can present a unique challenge. The perfect photographic opportunity doesn’t always happen when everyone else is ready to move on.
Julian found that the team at nThambo was particularly helpful in understanding his photographic goals.
“The guide and tracker were keen to try and help me achieve what I wanted.”
One particular example was his quest to photograph a lilac-breasted roller in flight. Conride and Jan repeatedly gave him opportunities, patiently waiting until Julian eventually captured the image he was looking for.
The guide also manoeuvred the vehicle to help Julian find the best angle and light, while the tracker pointed out animal tracks, plants and spoor along the way.
For Julian, this collaboration between photographer, guide and tracker is an important part of the safari photography experience.
Julian’s advice for first-time wildlife photographers
So, what should aspiring wildlife photographers know before heading out on safari?
Julian’s first piece of advice may be the simplest, and perhaps the most important.
Don’t immediately pick up your camera.
“Firstly, just observe, enjoy the behaviour and experience, and watch. Only then should you begin to take photos.”
It’s advice that applies beyond photography. A safari is about being present in the moment, and sometimes the best way to experience a sighting is simply to watch it unfold.
When it is time to photograph, Julian recommends using a camera rather than a phone, ideally paired with a versatile zoom lens.
He also stresses the importance of shutter speed.
“You will need a fast shutter speed to capture sharp images. There is nothing worse than finding all your photos are blurred because your shutter speed was too slow.”
For anyone looking to invest in equipment, Julian also recommends considering the second-hand market. With photographers frequently upgrading to the latest models, perfectly capable cameras and lenses can often be found at significantly lower prices.
“Much of my gear I buy this way.”
Inside Julian’s camera bag
For his nThambo safari, Julian kept his setup relatively versatile.
His main lens was a 100–400mm zoom, which stayed on his camera for most of the trip. He also carried a 24–120mm f/4 zoom for wider scenes and camp photography.
The decision to use a zoom lens was partly practical. Changing lenses inside a dusty safari vehicle can allow dust to reach the camera sensor, so Julian preferred having one versatile lens that could cover most wildlife situations without needing to be changed.
His kit also included:
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- A Nikon Z8 camera body
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- Three spare batteries
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- Two CF-Express cards and two SD cards
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- An external 1TB SanDisk Extreme SSD
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- A card reader and cables
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- A small bean bag for camera support
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- Lens cleaning cloths and cleaning liquid
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- A sensor cleaning kit
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- A tabletop tripod for photographing the Milky Way
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- A battery charger
Rather than carrying a laptop, Julian transferred his photographs from the memory cards to his external SSD each day. This meant he could safely clear his cards while keeping his luggage relatively compact.
His entire camera kit fits into a camera rucksack that can be stored in the overhead luggage compartment when flying.
For wildlife photography, however, his favourite piece of equipment remains his 100–400mm zoom.
“It’s fast enough, and it’s sharp, and it didn’t break the bank. It’s also light to hand-hold and carry around.”
The moment that stopped the shutter
With five decades of photography behind him, asking Julian to name the most spectacular moment he has ever captured is no easy task.
But one recent sighting in South Africa stands out.
Sitting in the Land Cruiser, Julian watched a Brown Snake Eagle feeding on a Mozambican spitting cobra.
The scene was dramatic and raw. Even after the snake had been killed, its body was still wriggling as the eagle fed.
“Harsh to watch, but Africa is a hard place, and nature is brutal.”
And perhaps that is exactly what makes wildlife photography so compelling for Julian.
A photograph can capture beauty, but it can also capture struggle, survival, behaviour and the untamed reality of the natural world.
“That’s what I love about it.”
Experience the wild through your own lens
Julian’s time at nThambo Tree Camp offered far more than photographic opportunities. From an elephant drinking beside the swimming pool to the sounds of the bush beneath a star-filled sky, his stay was a reminder that some of Africa’s most memorable moments cannot be planned.
Sometimes they happen in the middle of dinner. Sometimes they happen through the viewfinder. And sometimes, the best thing to do is simply put the camera down and watch.
For photographers and wildlife enthusiasts alike, nThambo Tree Camp offers the opportunity to experience the bush in an intimate, unfenced setting, where every game drive and every moment around camp holds the possibility of something unexpected.
Ready to experience nThambo Tree Camp for yourself?
Come and discover the wildlife, wilderness and unforgettable encounters of the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, and perhaps return home with a few extraordinary images of your own.
