Special photographic Tours with Paul Goldstein

After numerous sell-out departures in Kenya, Antarctica, Spitsbergen, Sri Lanka and India in 2009, 2010 and 2011, Paul Goldstein's special photography departures are clearly as popular as ever.

If you would like to join Paul on one of his special photographic departures in 2012 or further in the future, it is a good idea to register your interest as soon as possible. Paul's trips regularly become fully booked over a year in advance!

Our special photographic holidays and safaris will be done on a strictly first come first served basis, please register your interest as early as possible by emailing groups@exodus.co.uk.

Land of the Jaguar (AAH) - led by Paul Goldstein
Search the Pantanal wetlands for the largest feline predator in the Americas. This enigmatic and elusive big cat is one of the most beautiful creatures on the planet, and feline enthusiast Paul Goldstein will be putting his photographic expertise to excellent use in this new trip to Brazil.

Kenya - Migration Photo Safaris (AYX)
In his heartland, Paul's 14 hour game drives in search of catching the perfect moment are legendary. He has done 17 of these safaris in the last two years, all were full, most guests coming back for more. Exclusive camp in the middle of the most prolific wilderness in the world.
2012 Departures - minimal places left

See the Big Cat Diary news pages from 2009 safari trips led by Paul.

Spitsbergen in Depth (PND)
Specialist Photographic Departure: 19 June 2012 - Led by Paul Goldstein on the Vavilov

See the video clip from the 2011 departure.

Exodus guide and award-winning photographer Paul Goldstein has often said that he is happiest on the plains of the Masai Mara or the decks of The Vavilov. He has led over 20 trips to this remote Norwegian location, making the most of the 24-hour daylight to get some truly extraordinary photographs. Spitsbergen in Depth – Exodus Exclusive Voyage is the only photographic charter with Paul Goldstein in 2012.

Photographers and wildlife fans: this is an unmissable departure.

For more information or to book a trip, please call 0845 330 6009 or e-mail: groups@exodus.co.uk and ask for Paula.

Sri Lanka
Whales & Leopards of Sri Lanka (AIY) – New departure dates with Paul Goldstein in 2012 tbc. Please register your interest with our special groups team. 

Led by Paul Goldstein, you will spend time in Yala National Park to watch and photograph its plentiful wildlife. Yala is home to sloth bears, spotted and samba deer, elephant and crocodile but the main goal will be to find leopard. Yala has one of the highest concentrations of these beautiful predators anywhere in the world. The other focus of this trip will be on marine life. Blue and Sperm whales arrive in some numbers off the south coast of Sri Lanka each year and the area is also home to several species of dolphin. Three boat trips are included to give you the best chance of spotting these magnificent cetaceans.

Read an article by Paul Goldstein about this trip

“I first picked up a camera when I was about 10 in 1975 and my first job in this industry was in '83. I started photographing seriously about 16-17 years ago. I was working in travel and I loved wildlife, so it evolved naturally. Now I lead photographic expeditions to the Polar Regions, Kenya, Namibia, Sri Lanka and India with Exodus.

During game drives I like to push people hard so they can get the most from their cameras, but without the camera dominating the safari. I don’t want them to just record species. There’s a huge difference between a snapshot and a photograph. A photograph suggests diligence, graft and imagination. I want clients to think composition, to question, to try techniques that will make things interesting. It’s my job to get them half a dozen dazzling photos that they can take back home and put up on the wall. I tell anyone coming on any expedition or safari that we could be out all day; 14-hour game drives are not uncommon.

Ethics with photography - especially with endangered species in the developing world - is massively important, therefore every penny of every photograph I sell goes to one of two foundations: one in India to a tiger foundation at Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh, where we’re building schools and supporting the reserve, and one in the Masai Mara, where I’m co-owner of three traditional safari camps.

People often ask me my favourite destinations; it is very hard to answer although Kenya, Namibia, Sri Lanka and the Poles would be right up there. I am happiest on the decks of the polar expedition ship Sergey Vavilov or the plains of the Mara, although my best ever tour in 14 years with Exodus was to Snow Hill Island in Antarctica to see emperor penguins. There is only one ship capable of making this voyage and that’s the icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov. Carving through the ice during a protracted six hour sunset was the best thing I’ve done in 25 years travel.”

Paul Goldstein