Tiger Canyon Lodge Trip Report

June 12, 2026

Let me start by saying WOW! Tiger Canyon Lodge is a first-class destination. I say destination because it immediately felt like we had arrived somewhere very special. The accommodation, guides/ drivers, food and staff were all five stars! Plus, the photo opportunities were endless and the tigers were amazing.

I’ve always wanted to photograph tigers in the wild but have not wanted to visit India. Nothing against the country, I just haven’t felt the draw to go. After learning about tigers in South Africa, I couldn’t wait to go— and believe me, I am so glad I did. This conservation area is a vast wilderness with free roaming tigers that have all been born in the wild, with the exception of one tiger (now very old), he was brought in at the early stages of the conservation efforts. There are currently eleven tigers at the reserve. Hopefully there will be some more tigers with hopes of cubs in the near future! At least that is the rumor.

“Our work advances cheetah population recovery and global tiger conservation through responsible tourism revenue, education, research partnerships, and a commitment to wildlife welfare and ecological integrity.”

— Tiger Canyon Lodge

Each morning and late afternoon we headed out in our safari vehicles searching the expansive reserve for tigers. I can’t tell you how thrilled I was on day one with our very first sighting, a six-year-old tigress under a tree waiting for the rain to stop. Our group was lucky in that every day we located tigers, sometimes we got lucky and found them before the morning light faded. But all of our sightings were a real treat. One morning we watched a tigress as she chased a herd of zebra and antelope only to come up empty, but it was still a great experience watching her hunt.

In this photo, the adult is fighting with one of the sons while the daughter grabs the meal while they are not paying attention and makes off with it.

Our best or maybe most exciting tiger encounter was with a family of four (father, daughter and two sons). We came upon them as they were fighting over a half-eaten warthog carcass. Our guides were pretty sure that the three-year-old female made the kill and then the father and male liter mates took it away from her. The two sons stay pretty close to dad. Remarkably, they still allowed their aging father (he didn’t have any teeth and could not make a kill on his own) to feed first. Apparently, he still held the power, but I don’t think that will last much longer. The father fed for far too long making the young ones go crazy! They continually growled at each other and at him trying to take the warthog for themselves. None of them got seriously injured but you would never have known that as they looked and sounded like they were fighting for their lives. At one point the father was challenged by one of his sons who was trying to get a last piece of meat for himself. Once the two tigers started to fight the young tigress came in and grabbed what was left of her kill and snuck away with it.

On another of our game drives we got a “proof of life shot” of the female White Bengal Tiger. She claimed the part of the reserve that was difficult to traverse, so spotting her was a real treat. She is the last remaining White Bengal Tiger in the world living free in the wild. And she is a fierce tigress. Our guides said that she killed her own sister, all the tigers stay clear of her. She lost her vision in her right eye after a terrible fight when she was younger. Still, she is a beautiful creature commanding respect that is no doubt well deserved.

We ended up having a couple more brief, photo sessions with the white tigress. She was very elusive but that just peeked our interest. I’m looking forward to another chance with her. Donna and I are returning next year with most of the group—we all loved our time with the tigers. I do need to clarify that this is not a game farm. The animals are not trained, fed or handled in any way. The reserve does not step in to assist the tigers with medical needs or food. These are wild animals, born on the property, living and roaming free.

In addition to the tigers, there is also an expansive wilderness area dedicated to the conservation of cheetahs. Here we photographed a family of four. One female with her three male sub adult offspring. This area is sectioned off from the tiger wilderness, and the cheetahs roam free and are completely wild. We watched the adult chase a Springbok, after successfully taking it down. The entire family ate the prey quickly. Their bloody faces and full bellies warmed our hearts. But it was our first sighting of the cheetah family that will be a memory I’ll cherish. We were able to get out of our vehicles and watch the family of four at a safe distance, as they sat together under a tree. I loved my photo from that morning.

It is worth mentioning that we were the only photographers at the 6,000 hectares private reserve. The lodge only accommodates 8 people, so we had the entire place to ourselves! Imagine that, only 2 vehicles and each client with their own row!

Fingers crossed that next year when we return, there will be tiger cubs!!

Magnolia Madness

May 24, 2026

This year I spent a few extra days in South Carolina with a private client, but she felt more like a best friend than a client. We will be chasing more images in the near future, I am sure of it.

After working with Margie for 2 days, I went back home to prepare for my group. Magnolias were on the ticket and wow did they provide us with countless hours of inspiration and photography. One in particular made my excitement level off the chart. Because it was the very first full bloom from the small 4 foot tree I had planted when I moved in. I won’t tell you which one of the images below it is— but it is definitely going on my wall. I’d love to hear which of the magnolia shots below you like best and which one you feel is worthy of a print (for my SC home).

My group and I spent one morning at my house drinking iced tea on my porch and working on images in my small event space (perfect for 8 photogs). And yes, they got to photograph my first bloom too! It was the best day of the trip in my opinion, we had lots of laughs and shared all kinds of stories. During our Magnolia Madness time we also visited other places and shot a few different scenes. I’ll try to share some of those in another post.

For all of my flower images in this post, I used natural light, handheld, manual mode and manual focus. I used a combo of my Voitlander lens (linked below) and my 12-40mm f/2.8 Olympus lens. I love the Olympus system for my flower photography because of its lightweight and manageability. The image stabilization is fantastic and allows me to shoot handheld without ever worrying about sharpness. The fully articulating screen helps me get into odd positions. I use reflectors to help direct or block the light. I also manually focus stack when needed but I do appreciate the softness that comes from shooting wide-open.

When I get back to NJ in a few days, I will head out to South Africa for tigers, wish us luck on our scouting expedition!

I love the addition of color that the stamen scars provide. For this image (above) and many others, I used my Voigtlander 17.5mm f0.95 Nokton Micro Four Thirds Lens with my Olympus system. I varied my apertures between 0.95 and f/4. This is a (manual focus only) lens and it does not beep when focus is achieved, it is a bit of a challenge to use but I have grown to love the challenge and the visual effect that the lens helps me capture. Of the many shots I took of this magnolia, I liked the photo directly above the best, the bokeh in the background really added to the overall image.

The pollen grains that have fallen remind me of matchsticks.

A bit of an abstract, cropped to a square and converted into a B&W. I revealed a hint of color.

Plans are underway for another Magnolia Madness workshop next May, exact dates to be determined. If you are interested, let me know. Thanks.

New Book- A Work in Progress!

May 13, 2026

It’s About the Journey ~ My Life on the Road

by Denise Ippolito

My newest book reads like a journal. It is a compilation of my favorite blog postings, some of my interesting short stories and of course some of my best images. Right now, it is a work in progress with 190 pages and over 9,000 words. But at this point I have really just started the outline, added a few blog posts and dropped in a few images. I am writing at least one page per day, at least that is my goal for now.

Surprisingly, I get a lot of writing done while I am on an airplane. I often say, while everyone else is reading a book, I am writing one. Being on a plane with my noise cancelling headset gives me the ability to concentrate on my writing without any phone interruptions. I wait until everyone is settled in and the flight attendants are finished with their meal service.

Anyway, keep an eye out for my new book. It may end up being my first coffee table book…who knows.

*Above image copyright Michael Zajac, this is not he cover of the book but I liked the shot, from the Dolomites at sunrise.

Namiri Plains, Serengeti, Tanzania 2027

April 26, 2026

Serengeti Safari - Namiri Plains Tanzania – 10 days, April 11-April 20, 2027. $14,999 with Denise Ippolito and Paul McKenzie

Join Denise Ippolito and Paul Mckenzie on a luxury African Safari in what is arguably Africa’s greatest wildlife destination, Namiri Plains in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Reserve.

If there was a prize for an African safari camp that combines a luxury experience with exceptional game viewing and photo opportunities, Asilia Namiri Plains tented camp would be an extremely strong contender.

From our experience, there is nowhere quite like Namiri Plains. The immensity of the savannah, the dramatic big skies, the sense of wilderness, the abundance of wildlife and the seclusion from other vehicles and tourists, are unmatched in Africa.

It has one of Africa’s largest concentrations of big cats, especially lions and cheetahs, thanks to its history as a closed, conservation area, where for two decades the area served as a cheetah research center, closed to tourists, allowing its wildlife, especially cheetahs and lions to thrive. The area is located in a private concession with very few other vehicles and guests. From our base at the luxurious Asilia camp, it offers an exclusive and secluded safari experience in the remote eastern Serengeti, minimizing crowds and allowing for intimate game viewing.

The area benefits from fertile plains that attract large herds during the great Wildebeest migration. Our trip is timed to coincide with the passage of these herds. The area is also rich in various plains game. All of this maximizes our chances of witnessing predation-prey interactions.

The landscape is the quintessential Serengeti, with vast grassland savannah dotted with acacia trees and kopjes (rock outcroppings). The latter are a magnet for the big cats, and we will have excellent opportunities to photograph the cats on these rocks.

The camp contains a swimming pool, library and spa with an exceptional fine dining experience and the highest service levels.

We will be bringing our own drivers/guides and vehicles from Kenya who will work in tandem with local Tanzanian guides. All have intimate knowledge of the area. Our vehicles are top-of-the-line Toyota Land Cruisers that have been specially modified to provide an optimal photographic platform. Each guest will have a full row of seats to themselves.

Itinerary

Day 1 (April 11, 2027) – Guests should arrange to fly into Kilimanjaro international airport. The airport has many direct international connections from Europe and the Middle East. Tourist visas can be obtained either online, prior to the trip, or upon arrival.

Transfer to Arusha (a 40-minute drive) and overnight in an upscale hotel.

Day 2 (April 12, 2027) – After breakfast, we will transfer as a group to Arusha domestic airport for the scheduled flight at 10am to Seronera airstrip in the Serengeti national reserve. Our vehicles will meet us at the airstrip for the transfer to Asilia, Namiri Plains camp. After lunch and time for unpacking, we will embark on our first game drive, coming back to camp after the sun has set, to maximize our photographic opportunities.

Day 3-9 (April 13-19) – Morning and afternoon game drives. Typically, we will leave camp at 5:45am each morning, carrying a packed breakfast with us. We will usually return to camp by 11am, have time to relax in camp including lunch, before departing for our afternoon game drive at 3:30pm. Dinner will usually be at 7:30pm. We have flexibility with our schedule, and should a sighting prove exceptional, we might choose to stay out later than our normal.

Day 10 (April 20) – Morning game drive, followed by a camp breakfast before transferring to the Seronera airstrip for our 11am flight back to Kilimanjaro International airport, landing at 12:30pm. Most international flights depart in the late afternoon or early evening. If any guest has a long wait, they will have the option of taking a day room at a nearby hotel (not included in the trip).

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We hope you can join the adventure!!

Once Upon a Time in Africa

April 23, 2026

It’s been literally ten years since I first stepped foot onto the African continent. I was immediately struck by the earthy, warm evening scent in the air as my cab drove me to a remote camp about 45 minutes from the airport. I must admit; I was a bit nervous as we drove farther away from civilization, especially since it was after midnight. As a woman, I have learned over the years to be cautious. To always keep an eye out and to never let my guard down. Looking back, I may have been a little too cautious.

Soon we pulled into our camp in Nairobi, the driveway was long and lined with trees. The camp had a tropical feel, and I was welcomed by a woman wearing a colorful African inspired dress. My tent was beautiful, at least what I could see of it at night.

In the morning, I met up with everyone at breakfast. The camp was in a lovely setting. Peaceful and quiet with only the sound of birds calling. Flowers and foliage lined the pathways, and everyone was so helpful and kind. Apparently, I was worried for no good reason.

After a short bush flight, we got to the Maasai Mara, where we met our main guide, Simon. Simon is an actual Maasai warrior and the leader of his village. Simon and Paul McKenzie (my co-leader) showed me around the Mara. I will always be grateful to them both for sharing their wisdom with me.

I learned a few phrases from my time in Kenya. One of them is “TIA”- This is Africa. It’s a gentle reminder to slow down and relax, things are done differently in Africa, they have their own pace. It’s best to accept that early on so that you can enjoy your time there.

The safari drives are all very different, no two drives will ever be the same. My first safari was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I loved all of it, but most especially the cats. Of all the cats, cheetahs are by far my favorite. But I also have a deep love for the lion prides. I love watching the young cubs interact with the adults. The lionesses are so patient with the little ones.

Our camp in the Mara was situated along the Mara River. It was a bush camp, and it was pretty basic, but it had everything we needed—it had Simon. Simon made sure that we had fantastic sightings and that every day was filled with new experiences. Maybe because it was my first experience, but I fell in love, I fell in love with Africa and all the cats. Yep, the cats! Not the birds, not the antelope, not the elephants or giraffes but the cats! The cats ruled the Mara and still do for me. So, once upon a time in Africa, I fell in love…

Click on the images to see the larger version. They are arranged in no specific order.