Tour dates
From
To
Condition
Group size
Pricing
4595 euro
Schedule
Departure Brussels/Amsterdam – Budapest – Kiskunsági
Kiskunsági National Park: we spend the entire trip photographing from several of Bence Máté’s world-famous hides, designed for the most comfortable and high-quality wildlife photography.
Return Kiskunsági – Budapest – Brussels/Amsterdam
Partnership
Perfected Photo Hides
In the surroundings of his guest farm, Bence Máté built dozens of photography hides. They are located close to our accommodation and positioned within reach of the magnificent marshlands. We stay at Bence’s guest farm near Kiskunsági National Park.
We do this trip in late winter to capture the giants of the wetlands: great egret, grey heron, white-tailed eagle, pygmy cormorant, cormorant, and many more. You can choose between seven different hides, each with varied backgrounds and different lighting conditions. Depending on the time of day, you can capture spectacular action shots of birds courting, mating, or flying in with various types of prey.
You photograph freely through one-way mirror glass, making you invisible to the birds. They won’t even notice when you change your camera or lens.
Nature as a Stage
Two of the hides (the Theatre and the Cinema) are located by shallow water. With an ingenious system, fish are supplied here. These luxury hides are equipped with even more innovative features. In the Cinema, you can not only operate a mirror-reflection screen, but also switch on artificial light. This allows you to continue photographing in the evening — even in complete darkness. The Cinema may well be the best place in Europe to photograph otters.
The larger Theatre hide, on the other hand, is the place to photograph all kinds of herons and waders up close. In both underground hides you sit in comfortable luxury seats. Each photographer has a swing arm with two tripod heads for two cameras, allowing you to switch setups in seconds.
Telephoto or wide-angle shots of swimming, feeding or squabbling birds—complete with elegant splashing water and perfect framing—are all guaranteed! We photograph from early morning until late in the evening. Depending on your preference, you may spend three to six hours in a hide per session.
Unique European Birds and a Small, Charming Mammal
Expect to see many spectacular waterbirds. In the forest we also have three hides with drinking stations. These are placed by a small pond where many species come to drink and bathe. You may find yourself face to face with hawfinches, sparrowhawks, and goshawks. Black woodpeckers, roe deer and pine martens are also possible visitors.
The Theatre is the place for spoonbills, great egrets, pygmy cormorants and more. In the Cinema, we often see bitterns, kingfishers and grey herons.
In the Footsteps of Bence Máté
Hungarian wildlife photographer Bence Máté has twice won the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. He received the bronze award in the ‘Nature’ category at the World Press Photo Contest.
He pioneered the use of one-way mirror glass in photo hides, perfected the concept, and has constructed hides over the past fifteen years in Hungary, Costa Rica, Brazil, and South Africa. One evening during our stay, Bence will personally speak to us and share specific tips on how to capture unique images from a hide.
Accommodation, Transport and Flights
We stay in the fully renovated lodge owned by Bence Máté. Bence’s team serves a warm and delicious dinner every evening. In the mornings, we prepare our own breakfast in the main building. Lunch is usually simple and enjoyed whenever it fits into the day’s photographic schedule. At any time of the day, you can help yourself to fruit, bread, and spreads. Fruit juice, soft drinks, coffee and tea are also included.
This trip includes single rooms. If you are a couple, sharing a room is of course no problem.
International flights to and from Budapest are not included in the price of this trip. For a guaranteed group departure, STARLING can arrange suitable flights (usually from Charleroi / Brussels South, for cost-efficiency). Expect flight prices to range between €300 and €500 per person. You are also free to book your own flights independently.
Climate and Clothing
The weather varies greatly at this time of year, with temperatures ranging between -5°C and 10°C. Snow is possible, but you will always be inside a (heated) hide, and it stays dry. Warm clothing (hat, scarf, gloves, etc.) is therefore essential. Before departure, we will send you a detailed packing list.
We recommend wearing black or dark clothing with long sleeves while in the hides, to avoid reflections and remain completely unseen.
Nature Photography
Beginning and experienced photographers alike will enjoy this trip. We focus mainly on bird photography, but there are also beautiful opportunities to photograph mammals.
We recommend bringing as many lenses as possible. Besides a super telephoto lens, a 200–300 mm is a must. Standard zoom lenses and even wide-angle lenses are useful for photographing birds in these hides. Macro fans: don’t forget your macro lens! The insect life here is incredibly varied.
We use our time on location to the fullest, so there is little time to review images. I’m always available to help and advise you during the photography sessions. Each evening, we select the hides for the next day. A rotating schedule ensures everyone gets access to the best hides at the right moments. Local guides transport us to and from the hides at the times chosen for you.