DRAKENSBERG FOOTHILLS
12-16 April 2026
R16 800 pps*
4-day workshop
The Drakensberg Foothills workshop is set against one of South Africa’s most dramatic backdrops. Towering peaks, rolling valleys, and ever-changing light make this the perfect place to grow your landscape photography skills. With a focus on composition, light, and creative techniques, Kyle and Jon will guide you through capturing the scale and beauty of this incredible region while enjoying a relaxed, fun learning experience in the mountains.
Our Drakensberg Foothills Workshop takes place in one of South Africa’s most captivating landscapes. The foothills are a place of contrasts; sweeping valleys that stretch into the distance, jagged peaks that catch the first and last light of day, and ever-shifting weather that can transform a scene from soft, dreamy mist to dramatic skies in a matter of minutes. It’s this constant change that makes the Drakensberg such a paradise for photographers — no two days, or even two hours, are ever the same.
For landscape photographers, the region is a playground. Wide-angle lenses allow you to pull viewers into the frame, capturing the immense sense of scale between sky, mountain, and valley. Telephoto lenses, on the other hand, open up an entirely different world; isolating ridgelines, picking out textures in the rock, or compressing layers of light and shadow across the rolling foothills. Even a standard zoom becomes a versatile storytelling tool, letting you shift easily between sweeping vistas and more intimate details in the landscape.
Throughout the workshop, Kyle and Jon will guide you in balancing the technical and the creative. It’s not just about getting the exposure right, but about seeing, noticing how light spills across a valley floor, how cloud shadows carve patterns on the slopes, how a lone tree or winding river can anchor your composition. The foothills invite both grand, sweeping panoramas and subtle, quiet studies of shape, line, and atmosphere.
Equally important is the experience itself: being out in the fresh mountain air, waiting for the light to break over the ridges, and learning alongside fellow photographers in a relaxed and supportive setting. The Drakensberg foothills don’t just offer breathtaking scenery; they offer space to slow down, observe, and grow as a photographer while immersed in one of South Africa’s most awe-inspiring regions.
Group size:
6-8 people. Non-photographers / partners / spouses are also welcome at a reduced rate.
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This workshop caters to beginners and advanced shooters. However, we do recommend photographers are familiar with their camera settings and layout and are comfortable shooting in manual mode. If you are unsure about your skill level or gear please feel free to contact us and ask any questions.
What's included:
Landscape, mountainscapes, nature photography
Amazing accommodation
ALL Breakfasts & Dinners
Two professional photographers
Photographic assistance for the duration of the tour, including composition, best times to capture the light and help with correct gear settings
Post-processing assistance and presentations
What's excluded:
Travel to locations - you will need to drive in your own vehicle
Expenses of a personal nature
All personal snacks and drinks
Accommodation
Accommodation:
Thendele - Royal Natal
Didima - Cathedral Peak
Price is per person sharing (pps*)
(single supplement extra 30%)
Gear We Recommend For This Workshop
CAMERA GEAR
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DSLR or mirrorless camera body
Wide angle, mid range and telephoto lenses (16-35mm / 24-70 mm / 70-200mm / 100-400mm)
TRIPOD
Leofoto LY-284C + LH-30 Carbon Fiber Kit
FILTERS
NiSi Neutral Density and Polarising Filters
BATTERIES
Hähnel Lithium Ion Batteries
MEMORY CARDS
Delkin Memory Cards
BAGS
ThinkTank Backstory Camerabags
A 50% deposit is required to confirm your booking. The balance is required one month prior to the commencement of the workshop. Cancellation 30 days prior to the workshop is 100% refund, 15-30 days a 50% refund, 15 days or less 0% refund.
This workshop has been planned to coincide with the best possible photographic conditions for its intended purpose. These conditions however cannot be guaranteed.
Our workshops are hosted in outdoor environments where conditions cannot always be predicted and where terrain can pose hazardous risks.
By choosing to join this or any of the workshops or events hosted by VentureKJ these risks must be accepted by the attendee, and Kyle and Jon accept no responsibility or liability for injury or loss of any nature. On acceptance of participation in this workshop you will be required to sign a liability waiver/s.
