Keen wildlife photographers are invited to join a small group led by Pui Hang for an extremely special seven-night Hungarian Winter Wildlife photography holiday in Pusztaszer, Hungary.

The seven-night photography holiday has an itinerary designed to capture images of Bittern, Black-headed Gull, Caspian Gull, Common Buzzard, Cormorant, Eurasian Otter, Great Bittern, Great Cormorant, Great Egret, Grey Heron, Kingfisher, Marsh Harrier, Moorhen, Otter, Pygmy Cormorant, Red Deer, Red Fox, Spoonbill, Water Rail, White-tailed Sea Eagle & any other species that appear in front of the hides.

What makes the photography hides designed by Bence Máté unique?

The photography hides designed by Bence are pretty special, & offer a unique take on wildlife photography. Using his skills as the ‘invisible wildlife photographer' & knowledge of the natural world, Bence has created hides that combine technological innovation with secret spots in nature. These hides, designed for different specialisations, meet professional & amateur photographers' needs.

The photography hides designed by Bence Máté are truly one-of-a-kind & give wildlife photographers an unbeatable advantage when capturing remarkable images. With a combination of quality construction, natural materials, & innovative design, Bence Mate's hides have revolutionised how wildlife photographers approach their work.

Winter Feeding Frenzy At Bence Mates Photography Hides During The Hungarian Winter Wildlife Photography Holiday

Which photography hides will be available during the Hungarian Winter Wildlife photography holiday?

The following are the photography hides on Bence's farm that will form the itinerary during the Hungarian Winter Wildlife photography holiday sessions – participants will be rotated through the hides on a custom-designed schedule.

The Theatre Hide

The Theatre Hide is suitable for 24-hour action photography during winter. Bence Máté has ensured that there are ideally situated natural & artificial lights, the background distance is perfect, & the hide itself is designed for a comfortable stay whilst photographing the visiting Hungarian wildlife.

The principal, frequent species are the Great Egret, Grey Heron & Great Cormorant. Other possible species: White-tailed Eagle, Common Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Caspian Gull, Black-headed Gull, Pygmy Cormorant, Spoonbill, Great Bittern, Otter, & Red Fox.

The Cinema Hide

Like the Theatre Hide, the Cinema Hide is suitable for 24-hour action photography during winter. Bence has ensured that there are ideally situated natural & artificial lights, the background distance is perfect, & the hide itself is designed for a comfortable stay. The most frequent species are Otter, Great Egret, & Grey Heron – other species that visit this hide may include Great Bittern, Water Rail, & Moorhen.

The Winter Drinking Station

At the Winter Drinking Station, Bence has set up an environment for stunning backlit photography of deer & birds.

The Kingfisher Hide

Bence Máté's Kingfisher Hide is the first Kingfisher hide where you do not need to use complicated flash systems but instead use a specially designed LED lamp system. This system allows you to shoot images of fishing kingfisher at 1/5000sec, ISO 4000, & f4.0 any time of the day.

The Hotel Hide

In 2021, Bence established a new wetland in front of the lodge, now known as the Hotel Hide & installed a similar backlight system to that found in the drinking station hide. This location is frequented by fish eaters such as herons, egrets, otters, etc.

Hungarian Winter Wildlife Photography Holiday Itinerary

The following is the proposed itinerary for this photography holiday, it should be considered provisional & subject to change.

Day 1 - Assemble Budapest Airport - transfer to Pusztaszer - overnight Bence's Family Farm in Pusztaszer
Day 2 - Photography of various species from the hides available on the farm & in surrounding areas - overnight Bence's Family Farm in Pusztaszer
Day 3 - Photography of various species from the hides available on the farm & in surrounding areas - overnight Bence's Family Farm in Pusztaszer
Day 4 - Photography of various species from the hides available on the farm & in surrounding areas - overnight Bence's Family Farm in Pusztaszer
Day 5 - Photography of various species from the hides available on the farm & in surrounding areas - overnight Bence's Family Farm in Pusztaszer
Day 6 - Photography of various species from the hides available on the farm & in surrounding areas - overnight Bence's Family Farm in Pusztaszer
Day 7 - Photography of various species from the hides available on the farm & in surrounding areas - overnight Bence's Family Farm in Pusztaszer
Day 8 - Transfer to Budapest Airport

The White-tailed Eagles are provided with fish to ensure their continued survival, even during periods of limited resources. In colder temperatures, these mighty birds of prey are particularly likely to come foraging for food during the day.

Hungarian Winter Wildlife Photography Holiday Highlights

We have taken care to refine the itinerary for this wildlife photography holiday; as such, we consider the following to be amongst the highlights of this tour.

Capture stunning images at Bence Mate's hides
Stay for seven-nights on a full board, non-shared basis
Great guide to client ratio of no more than 1:6
Guided by Pui Hang for NatureLens
Protected by package tour regulations as legally required for photography tour operators within the UK

Part of the itinerary will include a stay at the “Theatre Hide”, designed to accommodate three or four photographers comfortably. This hide boasts several creature comforts, such as sleeping quarters, a small kitchen, & amenities like electricity & wifi. To reach the hide, visitors must pass through a 15-metre tunnel.

When the sun sinks below the horizon, specially designed lighting illuminates several areas, resulting in a striking backlit effect. Birds, wading among the water, seem to come alive as they fling droplets everywhere with a shake of their catch.

On occasion, it has been possible to witness several birds embroiled in a battle, their wings spread wide & their silhouettes backlit by the lighting set behind them. The contrast of their action against the backlight particularly amplifies the intensity of the spraying water from their wings & the splashing of the water from the commotion.

What Do You Need To Bring With You?

If you have any questions about the following, please contact us, the lists are ‘recommendations only’ & you do not need everything on the list(s).

Recommended Clothing

Recommended Camera Equipment

The photography is primarily focused on a select few photography hides built at the farm; however, the wildlife in these areas is particularly active at this time of the year.

There is a reasonable chance of snow & ice and plenty of chilly temperatures. But think of the awe-inspiring light & all the beautiful misty breaths that are likely to be seen!

What will we be capturing images of?

Please note that we cannot guarantee that any photography subject matter or specific behaviour will be present at any given location or time this is the nature of wildlife photography.

What Is Included & Excluded on the Hungarian Winter Wildlife photography holiday?

If you have any questions about the following, please contact us prior to making a booking.

What We Include

What We Exclude

Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance – it is a requirement when booking on any wildlife photography holiday scheduled by NaturesLens that you have adequate travel insurance, we suggest a policy from TrailFinders or Campbell Irvine.

Camera Insurance

Insuring your camera equipment before embarking on any wildlife photographic holiday is crucial. Our trips often involve venturing into remote, & sometimes unpredictable environments where accidents & unexpected incidents occur. Insuring your camera gear provides financial protection against theft, loss, or damage, ensuring your investment is safeguarded.

Wildlife photography involves capturing unique & irreplaceable moments, & without proper insurance, any unforeseen mishap could result in significant monetary losses. By insuring your equipment, you can enjoy peace of mind, knowing that you’re covered in case of any unfortunate events, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring world of wildlife & capture stunning photographs without worry.

We recommend PhotoGuard for amateur photographers or Glover Howe, who we use.

The Kingfisher Hide

Bence’s Kingfisher hide has revolutionized how photographers can capture images of diving & fishing kingfishers. Using a custom-made LED system, photographers no longer need to use cumbersome flash systems to take photos. This system allows photographers to take perfect images of kingfishers at speeds of 1/5000sec, ISO 4000, & f4.0, regardless of the time of day.

A backlit photograph draws attention to the subject’s form & shape with the light source behind them.

The backlit technique creates contrast & vibrancy in the image, bringing out its features and making it stand out.

The Hungarian Winter Wildlife photography holiday is a seven-night duration event, that costs £3749 & takes place in Pusztaszer in Hungary, between the dates of 27th January - 3rd February 2024. It is ideal for photographing Eagles, Buzzards, Otters, Cormorants, Egrets, Herons, Kingfishers & other species. This photography holiday is led by Pui Hang Miles for NaturesLens.

The Hungarian Winter Wildlife photography holiday is offered on a full board, single occupancy with no single supplement payable basis.

Group size for this photography holiday is a minimum of 6 participants & a maximum of 6, plus Pui Hang.

We consider this to be a photography holiday requiring medium effort or exertion, if you have any questions about your suitability for this photography holiday, please contact us before making a booking enquiry.

The Hungarian Winter Wildlife photography holiday starts & ends at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport. Transfers are included between Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport & Pusztaszer.

The Hungarian Winter Wildlife photography holiday requires a deposit of £750 to secure a place.

The Hungarian Winter Wildlife photography holiday is offered on a full board, single occupancy with no single supplement payable basis.

Group size for this photography holiday is a minimum of 6 participants & a maximum of 6, plus Pui Hang.

The Hungarian Winter Wildlife photography holiday requires a deposit of £750 to secure a place.

NaturesLens photography holidays do not include flights unless it is explicitly stated on the event page. When it is time to book your flights, we will send you the details in plenty of time to allow for bookings at the best available price.

The photography holiday itinerary is subject to change & is to be considered provisional.

NaturesLens photography holidays require a minimum number of participants in order to be viable. If this minimum number is not met, the photography holiday may not go ahead.

In the event that the minimum number for a photography holiday to go ahead is not reached, NaturesLens reserves the right to cancel any given photography holiday. In that event 100% of monies received will be returned. However, NaturesLens is not responsible for expenses incurred by its customers.

Not all mentioned wildlife can be observed & photographed at all times of the year, thus some activities may be considered seasonal & not available.

Please note the cuisine on many of the NaturesLens photography holidays is authentic & typical of the region in which you are travelling. International or western cuisine is often NOT available. If you have any concerns over the food arrangements or have any special dietary requirements, please contact us prior to making a booking.

All personal luggage are the responsibility of the owner & we request that photography holiday participants limit their luggage to the equivalent of one suitcase, one flight bag, one camera bag & tripod. We do not wish to appear dictatorial in this matter & the request is made to ensure space & comfort for everyone in our vehicles.

NaturesLens & its agents act only as agents for the passenger in all matters relating to travel arrangements, & as such, do not assume responsibility for injury, accident, damage, loss, delay or irregularity which may occur via defect of transportation or any other cause.

NaturesLens reserves the right to substitute hotels, & other previously outlined arrangements as necessary, to either improve or equal the travel experience.

NaturesLens reserves the right to pass on to photography holiday participants any additional & unplanned expenditure incurred during a photography holiday, via events beyond the control of NaturesLens. NaturesLens reserves the right to accept or decline any person as a member of any photography holiday.

Payment of deposit by photography holiday participants or their representative constitutes their acceptance of all conditions contained herein.

All bookings are made subject to our terms & conditions.

Hungarian Winter Wildlife

27th Jan. - 3rd Feb. 2024 - £3749 per person excluding flights

Hungarian Winter Wildlife

What makes the photography hides designed by Bence Máté unique?