FAQ's

This internship program is aimed at assisting in the development of students who are interested in running their own independent photography businesses that can survive financially and thrive in any economy. Through our strategic partnership with a shark cage diving operator, students also have a unique opportunity to take photos of the great white shark, one of the most charismatic marine animals in the world. 

Anyone can come on this course. It is ideally suited to:

• Current or graduated students enrolled in academic institutes and studying towards a journalism, conservation, photo, design major
• Aspirant photographers
• Photographers who want to improve

Attendees will be asked to stay for a minimum of one month and maximum of two months (shorter or longer stays will be considered if special motivation is given).

Each program runs from the 1st to the 28th of the month, with arrival and departure dates being the 1st and 28th respectively. If you require to arrive earlier or depart later, then you will be asked a food and accommodation fee of R400/night

Yes, all international transfers attract fees that you will be required to pay. For paypal, fees equate to a 4 percent surcharge that will be added to your invoice. Fees on electronic bank transfers will be recorded and you will be required to pay these on arrival. They typically vary between 2 and 4 percent.

Due to the number of applications received and limited places, we unfortunately cannot accept all applicants to this internship. Therefore, we do not welcome cancellations or date changes after the final confirmation has been sent to us. Please, make sure that the dates you indicate in your application form suit your own schedule/budget before applying.

We request that a non-refundable deposit of $750 is paid within a month of being accepted into the program as confirmation (foreign and local bank fees are at the applicant’s cost). The remaining fee must be paid in full 1 month prior to arrival in South Africa. If you cancel, can change the date of your internship or postpone it. However, we cannot offer you a refund on your deposit.

Includes

• Transfer to and from the airport  (only on the 1st & 28th of each month)
• Local transport to and from photographic platforms
• Dorm room accommodation (2-4 interns/room, gender separated).
• Food (3 meals per day)
• Snorkeling equipment for all course expeditions
• Macro lenses on the macro tutorial practical
• All practical and theoretical training instruction
• All the trips listed in the syllabus
• Internet (moderate – slow speed by international standards)

Excluded (or optional add-ons)

• Additional days accommodation & food (R400p/day)
• Flights from your home country into and around RSA
• Optional photographic / tourism expeditions
• SCUBA diving training (i.e PADI Open water)
• Top end dSLR Cameras and lenses rentals
• Laundry service
• Extra food and beverages

Your home for the duration of the course will be in the beautiful town of Mossel Bay. Mossel Bay is located 400 kilometres east of Cape Town, and 400 km west of Port Elizabeth. You will be staying at the Africa Media student house, which can accommodate over 24 students and staff comfortably.

In terms of photographic gear, students usually bring their own camera, lens’s and tripod. There are additional lenses supplied by Africa Media for tutorial work only.  ‘Top-end” lens’s and camera bodies are available as rentals should a student require additional equipment. See our rental page for kit available. RENTAL PAGE

• Many students prefer to work with their own camera.  During set tutorials certain specialist lenses and filters are provided.
• Various cameras and lenses can be hired for the duration of the internship.  It is preferable to pre-book these to avoid disappointment.
• Computers: Please bring your own laptop if you have one. It must be pre-loaded with Adobe Lightroom and if possible Adobe Photoshop as we use these editing softwares, especially Lightroom, extensively on the course.

As an attendee on this internship you will receive tuition in both basic and more advanced stills photography and in software: lightroom and to a far lesser extent, photoshop and other applications.  You will attend ” in the field” trips with our staff.  We enjoy a good  relationship with various environmental organisations along the Garden Route and this offers a once in a life time opportunity to participate, not only in learning how to survive and make money in todays markets but, also how to prepare for a shoot and work professionally “in the field”/”on location”. Daily work will be split between tutorials and practical work in the field.

Travel arrangements must be made from your home town to George Airport, South Africa.

Pickups and drop offs from George Airport will be organised for the 1st & 28th day of the month as part of the program. If you arrive or leave outside of this time, we can arrange transport between the Airport and Mossel Bay at an additional cost of R500 per trip.

Yes, the wildlife and travel program is designed to accommodate media students who are passionate about environmental media, both above and below water and you need not be able to SCUBA dive as we do the UW shoots using free-diving/snorkeling equipment. Should you wish to learn how to dive then you can join a course with PADI instructors at Africa Media.

For most countries no. You will not be employed by Africa Media nor paid. As a photography student you are entitled to enter on a temporary visitors permit (e.g. tourism permit). Tourist visiting visas are usually issued for three months/90 days upon entry in South Africa. However, we do recommend that you contact the South African Embassy or Consulate in your country and confirm this fact. Some countries, e.g. India, New Zealand and China, require that you apply for the visitors permit before departure from your home country.  If your application period is for a period longer than three months, or if you plan to travel in South Africa prior or after your internship for a period extending 90 days, you will have to apply for a Volunteer VISA application through your home embassy.

All media (photographs, video etc.) collected by you during the internship will belong to you. Africa Media will be entitled to use media collected for clients and also use media for company marketing. Interns will be required to sign contracts on arrival at the internship program.  If you would like to see a copy of the agreement before you come over, then let us know.

Yes. When you are accepted into this program, you will have to sign liability, copyright documents, as well an agreement that you are knowingly partaking in potentially dangerous activities. You will not be covered for accidents or illnesses, so please do organize your own medical and health insurances. You may apply for a normal travel insurance policy. Chances that you will be injured by a predator are very slim if you follow the safety guidelines, and do not try anything foolish of which we would not approve. However, you will be working on a boat or game viewing vehicle in conditions which can, on occasions, be less than comfortable. Accidents may occur, so it is important to be covered in case of an emergency or accident. Be sure to have an insurance cover for your entire stay in Southern Africa. For SCUBA divers, you also need to be insured by the Divers Alert Network (DAN)

No, we are far from malaria areas, and there are no strange African diseases which you could pick up (that is if you respect the same safety rules as anywhere else in the world).

Clothing

• Work clothes. Bring what you are comfortable in, but ensure that you have warm, strong work clothing of neutral colours, solid work shoes such as hiking boots or trainers, a good sun hat with a wide brim and a warm hat/beanie. Gloves can be helpful for early mornings. Bring a tracksuit or something similar to lounge around in during the evenings, which can get cold.
• Social clothes. Mossel Bay is a small town, so social clothing should reflect a casual, non-formal style.
• A swimming costume.

 Essential Photographic and electronic gear

• DSLR Camera.
• Lens (please have one long lens of between 300 – 500mm).
• Tripod.
• ND filter and CPL that fits your main lens.
• Basic shutter release cable or similar.
• Minimum of 1TB storage hard drive.
• Laptop.

Note: If you do not have any of this equipment, you may rent pieces from Africa Media for the month, save for the HD and the Laptop. Pre-booking is essential to avoid disappointment. Please note: our filters and shutter release cables may not fit your lenses and camera, so it is preferable you also bring these.

Editing programs

• Adobe Lightroom CC or min LR 6 standalone;
• Photoshop – even a trial valid for 1 month is OK.

Miscellaneous 

• Toiletries &  strong sunscreen (there are also plenty of shops to purchase from).
• Prescription medication.
• Passport & photocopy of passport.
• Bank cards (inform your bank of your travels).
• Spare cash.
• Phone & cables.
• Sunglasses.
• Africa Media address – 182 Aalwyn Way, Aalwyndal, Mossel Bay.

The info provided in the costs section should give you a good foundation from which to work this out. If you need to do a SCUBA course then R10 000 would take you up past advanced level, plus extra for off-course dives if you wish (approx. R400 per dive). It is probable that you may wish to do a weekend trip or two, and many activities are available on such trips including diving with sharks for example. We recommend you have around R4000 extra per weekend trip you wish to go on. Please note you do not have to go on any of these extra trips. This is simply for your information and you can join in should you wish to.