Wildest Kruger Stories (Karolina Norée)

We're back in full swing after a little summer break, and in this episode of Wildest Kruger Stories we chat about the busy sightings in the national park. We answer questions such as; How does the cars in Kruger affect the animals? How do you best avoid the crowds in the park? What are the do's and don'ts when on self-drive safari in Kruger?

In this episode of Wildest Kruger Stories, we catch up on what we've been up to during festive season, rant a bit about economy comfort on airlines and talk about the importance of following your dreams and working with your passion.

Craig is back! And we're catching up on what has been going on in our lives lately!

Sign up for newsletter to not miss the updates on 2024 workshops HERE

In this episode Craig and Karolina gives you the full rundown of their top 10 favourite restcamps in Kruger, while on self-drive safaris. The tell you the stories behind the best sightings at these camps and tips and tricks on the best game viewing experiences in these areas.

In this episode of Wildest Kruger Stories we're joined by Guts Swanepoel, co-founder of Pangolin Photo Safaris and he's bringing us some great stories from his extensive time in the bush, building Pangolin to what it is today.

In this episode of Wildest Kruger Stories we answer the big question: Can a smartphone take as good photos as a professional camera? And go through the gear you would want to bring on safari to get the most out of the photographic opportunities!

More tips and details about gear and wildlife photography in my ebook HERE !

Going through the main differences between a safari experience in Southern Africa vs East Africa (in our personal experience).

Finf more all the info on Karolina's workshops for 2025 HERE

Time for a wildlife filled podcast episode with Wildest Kruger Stories! Here's our most memorable wildlife sightings through the years in the bush.

Karolina posted a few photos that upset people on instagram, and she discusses social media trolls with Craig and how she handles negative comments on her account.

The Wildest Kruger Team also just got back from a North to South trip through Kruger Park and tells you all about their adventure in a 1979 Datsun Safari.

Hope you enjoy!

Part 2 of our Q&A where we to the best of our ability answer all your questions, highs and lows!

When is the best time of the year to do a safari in Kruger Park? That's one of the most commonly asked questions to the Wildest Kruger team, and in this episode we're giving you the answer!

Instagram Links:

Karolina: @karolinanoreewild

Craig: @craig_reid_wildlife

Wildest Kruger Safaris: @wildestkrugersafaris

How do you become a wildlife photographer? And more importantly; how do you make money as a wildlife photographer? That's what we're chatting about in this episode of Wildest Kruger Stories, where Karolina is joined by fellow wildlife photographer Andrew Macdonald to chat all things wildlife photography!

Follow Andrew on:

Instagram @amac_photo

Youtube @AndrewMacdonaldPhotography

Want to learn more about how wildlife photography? Check out Karolinas e-book, for all her tips and tricks.

Catching up on all the adventures we've been on lately, from the bush to the city and everything in between!

Find Karolinas Youtube Videos HERE

Watch Karolinas Sony Alpha Femme Presentation HERE

Starting off this podcast by introducing our hosts Craig and Karolina, talking about what the reason is behind starting this podcast and what you can expect from coming episodes.

Hope you enjoy it!

In this episode of Wildest Kruger Stories Craig and Karolina tried to answer the question of how dangerous is it really to go on safari in Africa? They go deeper into the topic of habituation, how it works and why it can be good and bad. They also talk about snakes, spiders and scorpions, how often do you actually encounter them?

The second time we invite a guest on to Wildest Kruger Stories, this time Chris Schoeman joins Craig and Karolina for a whiskey chat while parked at a beautiful view spot in the middle of Kruger National Park.

Chris tells us all about what it was like growing up in the bush, how his grandfather and incredibly knowledgeable mom has shaped him as a guide, and how he feels taking over her role at Campfire Academy in the new year. We also discuss how the freelancing side of the lodge industry works, how Chris own safari company Down To Earth Safaris came about and the scariest moment he has experienced in the bush.

Hope you guys enjoy this episode!

Follow Chris adventures on Instagram: @downtoearthsafari

Back from holiday season, the Wildest Kruger team goes through the past year and reflect on some of their favorit moments on safari.

It's time for Craig to tell his story of how he ended up working in the Kruger National Park and eventually starting his own company. Craig has 10 years of guiding and lodge experience, not only in South Africa but also Dubai, and in this episode he tells us all about it.

In this episode of Wildest Kruger Stories, Craig and Karolina chat about the ethical questions behind using a drone for wildlife photography. Is it possible to do it in an ethical way and if so, where is the line drawn?

Photographic workshop dates for South Africa 2024, coming out very soon! Stay up to date by signing up to the newsletter HERE!

Giving you our top 5 wishlists for safari destinations, wildlife photos, sightings and reserves, hope you enjoy this one!

Finally back with another episode, sharing what we've been up to the past couple of weeks, Karolina has been hosting back to back photo safaris, while Craigs been doing admin.

We also tell you our thoughts on the recent viral video of a leopard jumping up on the bonnet of a game viewer.

We're back again, after a little break being busy with differently projects and planning for the year ahead!

In this episode we're talking about the reality of being a couple in the lodge industry, the good , the bad and the in between.

Stay tuned for Karolinas editing course, launching 29 Feb!

In this episode of Wildest Kruger Stories Karolina tells us the story of how she ended up moving to South Africa, all the way from Sweden, at the age of 20 years old, altho the thought of doing so never had crossed her mind before that.

Wildest Kruger Stories is finally doing a Q&A! We asked you to send in your questions and in this episode we're answering them all!

From highs and lows to big and small, we appreciate every question and enjoyed answering them all in this episode. Our DM's are always open for more questions if you feel like we missed something.

In this episode of Wildest Kruger Stories Karolina and Craig are joined by their first guest on the podcast! Callum Perry is not only a dear friend of theirs but also the head of research and monitoring at Marataba Conservation Camp. He brings us along on his journey from the UK to the South African bush, the ups and downs and he tell us about some of the craziest things he has got to experience during his time at Marataba.

Follow Callum on: @callumjperry

Marataba Conservation Camps Website

Contact Craig on craig@wildestkrugersafaris.com for bookings.

After a little break with life things just getting in the way, we're back with a new episode! In this episode of Wildest Kruger Stories we talk all about what it's like being a young nd newly qualified guide in the safari industry, and Craig shares stories and advice he had to learn the hard way as a young guide.

Hope you enjoy this episode!

In this episode of Wildest Kruger Stories Craig and Karolina are talking about what goes on behind the scenes at a lodge. How does the staff unit work and what issues between the different departments can be. They also go through the pro's and con's with living and working at a lodge, is it all just fun and glory?

In this episode of Wildest Kruger Stories, Karolina takes us through her journey of becoming a professional wildlife photographer and gives her best advice to those who are looking to go down a similar path. We also talk about what actually makes you a professional photographer, and how much can you 'fake it until you make it'?

Access Karolina's new Lightroom Editing Course HERE

A few good resources to check out if you're interested in learning more about the business side of photography:

The Photographer Mindset Podcast: Click HERE for the whole show, and especially recommend THIS episode on licensing and pricing.

Chas - @through.the.llyns is a GREAT Instagram account to check out, she has endless of tips on how to make a living as a creator and photographer.

She has a blog, which you can check out HERE, that talks more about how licensing and photography pricing works.

In this episode Craig takes you through the private reserves of Greater Kruger Park, how they differ from each other and the pro's and con's with all of them. You'll also get examples of lodges we recommend, both from a budget and a high end option.

The day is finally here, when Craig and Karolina tell you all their funniest stories from the years they worked at the lodges in the Kruger region. They tell us about everything from guests who made false allegations of theft to when leopards sneaked into the lodge.

Hope you enjoy this episode of Wildest Kruger Stories!

After great feedback on our last 'Funny Stories' episode, we decided to do a part 2! Hope you enjoy it!

Sign up for Karolinas newsletter and be the first to find out about future workshops HERE

Have you ever wondered what a 10-day safari in Kruger National Park looks like? Here's your answer! Karolina and Craig have just come back from a 10 day safari in Kruger with a photographic client, and in this episode they take you through what a safari like that can look like. What they saw, where they stayed and the extra special sightings!

After many requests we're doing another episode talking about our most memorable sightings and wildest stories from our time in the bush. This time we have a return guest with us as well; Callum Perry! You can find our previous podcast episode with him HERE and highly recommend follow him on Instagram HERE to keep up with the great conservation work he is doing.

The Wildest Kruger Stories Team is back from a couple of busy weeks hosting guests on safaris and we want to tell you all about it! They have all been very different types of safaris in their own unique way, so we thought it was a great time to tell you more about what types of safaris you can do with us and the pro's and con's between them.

Workshops for 2024:

Kruger Park, Nzumba, Klaserie Private Nature Reserve - (12-16 August)

more info HERE - only ONE seat left

Tanzania, Great Migration, Serengeti - (26 Jul-02 Aug) more info HERE

Follow us on social media:

@wildestkrugersafaris

@karolinanoreewild

@craig_reid_wildlife

After a few weeks apart, Craig in South Africa and Karolina in Sweden, they now catch up on the past weeks events and Craigs experiences with guiding in several different reserves around Kruger Park.

They also talk about the OSV's (open safari vehicles) in Kruger and answer the question of if it is okey to take a gin bottle from a lodge?

Answering all your social media related questions!

In this episode of Wildest Kruger Stories, we're diving deep into answering questions about how to grow your audience as a photographer on social media. Karolina give you all her tips and tricks, and exact strategy that she has used for her self.

We're back, let's catch up!

Check out Pangolin Photo Safaris HERE

Watch Karolinas Youtube from Botswana HERE

2025 Workshop info HERE

After being very nervous before his first course as principal instructor 6 months ago. This is a catch up episode with Chris Schoeman on just how his students and himself handled the course this year at Campfire Training Academy.

The Wildest Kruger Team coming to you with some of our favourite stories and memories from living along wild animals in the Greater Kruger.

Check out Karolinas Editing Course HERE

Follow us on Instagram:

Karolina

Craig

Wildest Kruger Safaris

Website

Karolina has just come back from a 7 day photographic workshop in Tanzania, exploring the Serengeti and Ngorongoro conservation area while teaching her guests wildlife photography and helping them get the best shot while on this adventure of a lifetime. In this episode of Wildest Kruger Stories, she takes us through everything they saw and experienced while on this fantastic safari.

Next year's workshop dates are:

10-16 February

Exploring Ndutu, Southern Serengeti, during the great migrations calving season, and the Ngorongoro Crater.

03-10 November

The same itinerary as spoken about on this podcast, however with an extra day in the Central Serengeti.

Maximum 10 guests on each trip. Make sure to reserve your seat by contacting Karolina on karolina@noree.se or DM on instagram at @karolinanoreewild

Going through our do's and don'ts for packing for a safari. Do you really need only khaki and green clothing? Are hiking boots necessary? What camera gear should you bring on safari? All of these questions answered in this episode of Wildest Kruger Stories!

More photography tips & tricks in Karolinas e-book HERE

This episode of Wildest Kruger Stories we're joined by another Karolina! We talk to her about how she moved across the world to fulfill her dream of guiding in Africa, but also about her experience being a female guide in a male dominated industry. Karolina also tells us about some of her funniest and scariest experiences in the bush!

You can find Karolina on the links below!

Instagram: @karolinalasse

Tiktok: @karolinalasse

Big news from the Wildest Kruger Team, we are engaged! Listen to the whole story of how Craig proposed to Karolina in this episode.

We also chat about our time in the Drakensberg Mountains, hiking and exploring a beautiful part of South Africa.

Craig also gives us three fun facts that you probably don't know about South Africa!

Our photographic workshop in Kruger in September 2023 is now fully booked. So we have decided to create an additional workshop for the 20-24 August! You can find all the details HERE and contact Craig on craig@wildestkrugersafaris.com to enquire, don't wait because the seats are limited and sell out quickly!

There is also still seats available for Karolinas workshop to Tanzania the 3-10 November, access the itinerary HERE!

Today we sit down and chat to Maggie Samijlenko about her experience being on safari for the first time and traveling with Wildest Kruger Safaris. We talk about what it's like seeing the African animals in the wild for the first time, that feeling you get when a wild lion walks past your vehicle and looks your straight into the eyes, and how monkeys steal your food if they have the chance.

Hope you guys enjoy this episode of Wildest Kruger Stories!

In this episode of Wildest Kruger Stories Karolina chats to Janine and Sabine, two photo-hosts and incredible photographers from Pangolin Photo Safaris !

Follow their work below:

Janine Krayer

Sabine Stols

Pangolins Youtube Channel

Releasing this episode slightly delayed, but when it was recorded, Karolina had just got back from four days of filming in Madikwe Game Reserve for Pangolin Photo Safaris and Sony. In this episode she tells us all about the experience.

Meanwhile one of Craigs photos went viral on social media and we chat about if photos are still relevant in todays highly video focused day and age.

In this episode of Wildest Kruger Stories we have some crazy stories for you from our trip with to clients to Kgalagadi and Namibia, and they have joined us for this episode to tell you all about their experience. Hope you enjoy this one!

This week we're talking about an important but complex topic; rescue centres, animal interaction and canned hunting, and how they are connected.

We want to reiterate that there IS good places out there, that do things right and ethical, however we find it very important to shine light on the fact that others hide behind the name of conservation, purely to profit from innocent animals. To spread information about that, is our focus in todays episode.

Recommended film to watch for more information on this topic: Blood Lions

Link to the video of the Craig talks about in the beginning HERE

In this episode of Wildest Kruger Stories, we talk about the ethics of photography and guiding, how close can you get to animals and why is it important to respect their space and sense of comfort?

In todays episode of Wildest Kruger Stories we're join by young wildlife photographer Cathan Moore (@bush_maniac) as we're visiting him at Kings Camp in Timbavati, Greater Kruger.

Hope you enjoy this one!

Craig and Karolina explains how to see the difference between animals that to the untrained eye looks identical and how to recognize individual leopards, lions and other animals. They also talk about the importance of being able to identify animals in conservation and research work, but also the dangers that come with naming animals and human attachment to the wild.

This will be a slightly different kind of episode of Wildest Kruger Stories, but probably our most important one.

We went to visit the Rhino Orphanage and met with their owner and founder Arrie Van Deventer, who will be the one talking in todays podcast episode. It was an incredible experience being there and seeing first hand the incredible work they do to give these orphaned rhinos a second chance to life.

We want to bring the word out there and share these stories of the people working in the front line of conservation and the fight against rhino poaching, because we strongly believe it is incredibly important for people to know about.

If you want to help, check out the links below. Every little bit counts, and makes a difference in the life of the rhinos.

Donations directly to the rhino orphanage HERE

Read more about their work on their website HERE

Follow and share them on social media INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK

Volunteering programs you can find HERE

Thank you!

The Wildest Kruger team have had a busy week for sure! Karolina got invited to a NatGeo and Disney+ event, which she tells you all about in this episode. Craig spent time at Thornybush, before Karolina joined him for site inspections at Dulini and Ximuwu, two top luxury lodges in the Greater Kruger. Hear all about it in this episode of Wildest Kruger Stories!

Sign up for Karolinas newsletter HERE for updates on future workshops!

Thornybush: Instagram - Website

Dulini: Instagram - Website

Ximuwu: Instagram - Website