Ingrid Vekemans

After the difficult flight I landed in Nairobi in the middle of the night and there was an angel  waiting for me ... Ingrid. With a warm hug and a smile she brought me to our hotel. Take a deep breath when you land in Africa and the adventure can begin. Dreams come true and new discoveries happen almost a la carte. Wonderful to experience the birth of a Topi baby. Wonderful to stay with a lioness while the 4 babies were suckling. Wonderful to see the leopard playing and cuddling with her little one. Wonderful to discover the wildlife high in the air with the helicopter. Wonderful to laugh and joke with the other safari friends. Thank you Ingrid for your smile and until next time ... in your beloved Africa.

Our 10-day trip to Masai Mara and Lake Magadi exceeded our expectations! We photographed many cats thanks to Ingrid's eagle eyes and her highly motivated drivers. The hide and helicopter flight in Lentorre was a completely new and fantastic experience! Nothing is too much for Ingrid, she is always ready for the group with a smile. When does this woman - who knows how to organize and solve everything perfectly - sleep? Our next safaris have already been booked with Ingrid. We look forward to experiencing future safaris with her!

As far as I'm concerned, there are three reasons to go on safari with Ingrid. First of all, Ingrid is a very good photographer with a style that appeals to me. Even if you are already somewhat experienced, like me, you can still learn a lot from her. Secondly, Ingrid is constantly busy for the group from very early in the morning until late at night. She tries to help everyone and does that well. And last but not least, Ingrid is just a very nice, sociable woman who always ensures a good atmosphere during the trip.
In any case, I have loads of beautiful photos to go through.

Just returned from my first photo safari trip Maneaters and Red Elephants 2024 with Ingrid Vekemans and I was literally and figuratively speaking looking forward to it. Also my first trip to a 'real' African country. I can only say that this 'excursion' met all expectations. You really step out of your daily routine and enter a new world. A world full of beautiful colors, elegant movements, supernatural sounds, special smells, a pleasant climate and an occasionally moving silence. All this under the expert guidance of Ingrid, not only on a photographic, but also on a human level. Her great respect for African people and nature is inspiring. In short, a real recommendation and added value for the traveling (photographing) person!

This was my 8th safari with Ingrid, it was also the third time 'Maneaters'. And yet it was different again. We visited new parts of the parks, the animals are never the same in the same place,… So it certainly does not get boring! This time we also stayed in the middle of Amboseli, which was a clear plus. And in the end you can not do anything else than repeat how well everything is organized, how Ingrid is always ready to give information about photography and animals in her unrivalled way, how comfortable the transport, how professional the driver, how fantastic the lodges! Number 9 is also already fixed for next year!!!

As a non-photographer and not a morning person, I decided to go on this trip with my (photographer) husband. It was an intense but fascinating and educational trip. Thanks to the eagle eyes of the driver/guide and the alertness of Ingrid, no lion, cheetah, zebra, giraffe, elephant, ... or smallest bird escaped the camera lens. I also received useful tips for taking pictures with my mobile phone. I can now frame like the best of them! And with my binoculars I spotted the wildlife even better than the huge telephoto lenses :-) I also really enjoyed the unique accommodations. A carefree holiday thanks to the perfect organisation and guiding.

I had a fantastic trip with Ingrid. She has the patience and expertise to teach you everything about Africa and (wildlife) photography. The groups are small, so that everyone (who wants) can enjoy personal guidance and feedback. The entire trip was planned and taken care of down to the final detail. I will happily join one of her group trips again and definitely recommend it to others!

Africa continues to fascinate, even if it is not the first time you visit it, certainly with a guide like Ingrid. The Tarangire park is relatively unknown but offers so many (photographic) opportunities. The lodges are truly sublime, especially the camp situated on a hill with a view of the Tarangire river that reminds one of the Garden of Eden. The guiding, accommodation and meals and the flawless organization make one look forward to more. (For some images you can visit my website www.LUCDESMET.photography)

Trip to Masai Mara, Aug 23, my first with Ingrid, not quite finished yet (I'm still waiting in Nairobi for a delayed flight, but already time to reflect and feel homesick).
Do you want to know what adorns Ingrid so much?
Among other things : She listens to all the remarks and, with an eternal smile, grabs the bull by the horns: “I heard you, but what can we solve now?” And that concerns practical things about the car, the planning, medical ailments - which have been very limited - or camera problems. In the shaking jeep, she took my camera and looked for what I asked. And in the evening she continued searching online, unseen!
When does that woman sleep?
What a commitment! And she remembered the ailments or discomforts of every one of us!
An extremely punctual, yet fun, driven, skilled, efficient, talented, no-nonsense, self-effacing guide! Learned a lot, laughed, enjoyed...even without crossing.
I look forward to the next one…

As “porter” of Pierrette's material and non-photographer, I was also there, and I would like to have my say. All the good things about Ingrid, in terms of photography, tour guide, etc., have already been wonderfully highlighted by the 'phrenetic' photographers. (see all feedbacks) After a short introduction to the jeep, I was immediately appointed “Chief Walkie Talkie”. When leaving the lodge, the connection was always tested with the words: 'hello Ingrid, test 1,2, over!' At the end we were already at 999, so there was already an atmosphere of fun from early in the morning! But it was also (sometimes) serious and all the advice regarding ISO, aperture, shutter speed, etc. etc. was expertly passed on from one jeep to the other. This way everyone remained well informed and could respond immediately to certain situations. In the afternoon and evening, especially, the ISOs were put aside and a glass of wine or two (3) was enjoyed (so nonsense was allowed). So as a non-photographer you don't get bored and you are still part of the group, because those photographers are strange creatures, (Pierrette included)!! One afternoon at the lodge, Ingrid even took the time to review my cell phone photos. Apart from a bent horizon and a better composititon, my photography was not too bad. Next time I'll try to get the entire elephant in the frame! ;0) . So, every photographer in the group who is ready for it will have a turn to have some photos assessed and possibly improved! What a service!!! I'm already looking forward to the next safari with Ingrid, because it looks like Migration is back on Pierrette's list.

First photo safari with Ingrid and it was a unique experience (with a perfectly timed leopard during the last hour of the very last game drive). Everything was top level: the lodges, the meals, the jeeps, the drivers/spotters, the tour group and the accompanying photographer. The individual photo discussions with Ingrid were extremely educational and always made me want to try things out afterwards. Ingrid is not the type of photographer who, when something exciting happens and the light is right, abandons her clients because she wants to photograph herself. On the contrary, those are precisely the moments when she goes the extra mile and gives extra instructions (also via the walkie-talkie to the people in the other jeep). Well, of course she already has a portfolio of phenomenal images of all the animals that we often saw in front of the lens for the first time in the wild. After the trip I only regret one thing, and that is that I didn't do this much sooner. I'm already looking forward to the next photo safari with Ingrid.

It was exciting looking forward to this very first safari photo trip with Ingrid Vekemans. But not only did it meet all expectations, but it far exceeded them. The trip was perfectly organized down to the smallest detail, with exceptional driver-guides and enchanting lodges. Yet it was mainly the constant enthusiasm and endearing warmth with which Ingrid guided the trip that made me return home with the most wonderful memories. Without a doubt a bull's eye! Truly incredible!

On safari with Ingrid, is that a good idea? Last August I participated in the safari tour “Maneaters and Red Elephants” organized by Ingrid Vekemans. If, like me, you enjoy photographing wildlife and want to come home with special photos, I can only recommend this trip. I could say it's all about photography, spotting wildlife by experienced drivers, advice on how to use your camera from Ingrid, etc. but that's too limited. The trip was also very enjoyable, with people with similar interests. And finally: for “Dutchies” like me: a course in Flemish is included in the trip!

Under Ingrid's always professional guidance, this time we went to Tanzania ... Once again everything was well organized: the lodges (usually luxurious in prime locations), the parks (various landscapes, but each impressive in itself) and the guides/drivers (perfect 'spotters' with a lot of knowledge) ... All this supplemented with a driven and passionate guidance from Ingrid. What more could you wish for? ... We are already counting down to the next one .

5 years ago I went on safari with Ingrid for the first time, and when I was back in Belgium I thought I'd repeat that again... only leave arrangements and a pandemic have meant that it was now 5 years later. And looking forward to something for 5 years raises expectations. And look, the expectations were not only met, but even exceeded! The nature parks followed one after another, and seemed to be going in an ascending line. From beautiful, wonderful, impressive, to breathtaking. A perfectly organised trip, good food and top lodges (from basic to luxury), friendly and helpful people everywhere, again the necessary tips regarding photography from Ingrid, a few super motivated and top drivers/guides, and equally enthusiastic and cool travel companions . If the previous trip hadn't already made me fall in love with Africa, this one absolutely did.

January 2023. Eagerly looking forward to the “primate journey” in Uganda. A small club of friends and Ingrid. A beautiful green country and friendly people. Somewhat intimidated by the stories surrounding the infamous “trail walks” we, with the help of the local porters and guides, managed to maneuver our way smoothly and safely over tree roots, rivers and the dense foliage of the forest. The reward: a unique introduction to the socially interactive world of the great apes with whom we share more than 98% of our DNA. Unforgettable. Wonderful photo opportunities thanks to the efforts of Ingrid, the local guides and our mere 2% modified DNA. Accommodation and atmosphere as usual perfectly fine. 48-hour days would have been better to fully experience all of this. Tanzania already beckons in the distance.

Ten days in the Mara, with an abundance of photo opportunities and expert advice. The trip fulfilled its goals: we were treated to lions, cheetahs and leopards on a daily basis. But the other wildlife of the Mara also showed itself and with enough time and guidance we were able to take those impressive photos: the crossing of zebras, hyenas having a feast, a family scene of baboons. The hide in Lentorre provided another dimension, a wonderful infrastructure with opportunities for night photography in ideal technical conditions. Lake Magadi at sunrise with masses of flamingos remains an unforgettable moment. This trip delivered more than what it promised. Staying there was absolute glamping, food was deliciously prepared meals. The peace and beauty that came with it, was free. Only one big problem: which photos to select, they all tell their story.

After 4 long years of waiting I could join Ingrid for the 6th time. And because it was so long ago, I could exceptionally afford a little more... And it was well worth the money! The first 5 days in the Masai Mara were like the previous “classic” Ingrid trips: fantastic game drives, super explanations about both photography and animals,… There was a clear upgrade in accommodation and jeeps, and they were already very good before!
But then Lentorre came with the private flight to get there, the posh tents (almost as big as my home here in Belgium), the breathtaking helicopter flights and especially the hide! And the freedom to either spend the night spotting animals or sleep in… ! And the daily splashes in your own private pool… Thank you Ingrid, for another unforgettable trip! Number 7 has long been booked

The Africa virus struck again (very contagious and luckily there is no vaccine for it). Another adventure with Ingrid. This time to South Luangwa. High expectations because it would be teeming with leopards, lions and elephants. And as icing on the cake, carmine bee-eaters. They were all there too, and more! Hundreds (actually thousands) of pictures were shot again under the warm and enthusiastic guidance of Ingrid. No effort is too much, that has now become her trademark. Our group was great, with a lot of interaction. The drivers never failed to amaze us time and again with new finds, including phenomenal night drives. Beautiful memories for life….