From Stockholm to the savannah, Karolina Norée’s story is one of courage, passion, and an unshakable love for wildlife. What began as a short volunteer holiday in South Africa turned into a life-changing journey that reshaped her path forever. Now, nine years later, she calls the African bush her home, working as a wildlife photographer and photographic guide.

In this interview, Karolina shares her inspirations, the challenges of building a life far from home, and the moments in the wild that have transformed her perspective. From pre-dawn game drives to unforgettable encounters with nature, her story is a reminder of the deep connections we share with the natural world—and why conservation is more vital than ever.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what first inspired your journey into working with wildlife?

I’m born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden but came to South Africa in 2016 for what was supposed to be a two month volunteer-holiday, but I remember so clearly thinking to myself on my very first day that "two months will never be enough”. Something inside me was telling me so strongly that this is where I need to be. I fell in love with the country, its culture, people, lifestyle and especially the wildlife and nature. I already had a passion for photography, but it solidified when I started photographing wildlife.

After a long journey with many challenges and ups and downs, I’m now here nine years later living and working in South Africa as a wildlife photographer and photographic guide.

What does a typical day in your life look like when you’re out in the wild?

When out in the field I’m mostly hosting guests on safari, so a typical day starts before sunrise with a cup of coffee before we head out on morning game drive, where I help my guests with camera settings and composition ideas to get the best photos of the wildlife we find.

We then come back to the lodge for breakfast and a short break before I usually hold a presentation or editing session for my guests. We then head out for our afternoon game drive looking for more photographic opportunities and come back after sunset for dinner.

What has been one of the most memorable or transformative moments you’ve experienced in your work?

There are so many different moments it’s difficult to choose, but one that comes to mind is from very early on in my photographic journey. I was working at a lodge in the Greater Kruger, and at this point didn’t really know what I was doing with my camera settings, but loved taking photos and would bring the camera with me as soon as I had a chance to join one of the game drives.

But one afternoon I decided to go down to the lodge after work, while all the guests were out on game drive, to see if I could photograph the giant kingfisher that often hung around there. I waited for a while without any luck with the kingfisher, but eventually a group of monkeys came to feed on the flowers of a Weeping Boer Bean, and I started taking photos of them instead.

The photos turned out great with the beautiful afternoon light, striking colours of the Boer Bean flowers in contrast to the grey monkeys and their cute expressions while feeding on the flowers.

Those photos became a huge turning point for me, since they made me realise what was possible to capture when you put the effort in. They made me start considering the importance of light and environment in my photographs, rather than just cool animals, and they made me start thinking of what difference the settings I choose make to the photos.

All in all they made me realise that I was capable of capturing really beautiful photographs when I was more involved in the whole process rather than just ‘pressing the button’ on my camera as I spotted an animal.

What challenges have you faced along the way, and how have they shaped your perspective?

Living far away from home is never easy. As much as I love South Africa, a big part of me is still so strongly connected to Sweden, and I’ve had to give up a lot to make life work here. Time with friends and family is at the top of that list, but also things that I don’t think many people think about are the language and culture which is such a big part of you. After nine years of living in South Africa I still encounter so many culture clashes and situations where I don’t feel confident in how to act and what’s culturally appropriate.

This has taught me so much about myself and my own culture, to be grateful for it and appreciating the small things when I’m in Sweden. But it’s also taught me to be respectful to other people's culture and understand that we all grow up in different ways and although we tend to think of our own way as the right way, simply because that’s what we know, we need to be humble to the fact that we have so much to learn from each others cultures and way of life.

If you could share one message with the world about the importance of wildlife and conservation, what would it be?

Everything in this world is connected, which is the big beauty about it all. But that also means that the butterfly effect is a real thing and if we upset the fine balance of the natural world, it has consequences.

There are certain situations where the damage is done, and all we can simply do is try to help nature manage it as well as possible. But there are also situations where we can turn around and make sure it doesn’t get too far.

However, most importantly, conserving our natural world is not only necessary for the sake of the wildlife, but at the end of the day also for the sake of humanity. Because without our natural world we are doomed.

Do you have a favourite species or place in the wild that holds special meaning for you? Why?

My favourite animal is Kudu, and funny enough that’s also the logo for South African National Parks and therefore Kruger National Park, which is truly a special place for me. It’s the place that made me fall in love with wildlife, photography and South Africa and it truly changed the course of my life, which I’m forever grateful for.

How can people best support or get involved with the work you’re doing?

I’m mostly active on instagram @karolinanoreewild where I share my work, behind the scenes and loads of tips and tricks for wildlife photography to inspire people to go out and explore the wild.

On my website karolinanoree.com I share information about the photo safaris I host, but also sell my prints and educational resources such as my editing course and e-book, to help people in their wildlife photography journey throughout the world.

Karolina’s journey is a powerful example of how following your instincts can lead to extraordinary paths, and how photography can become a bridge between people and the wild. Her work not only captures breathtaking moments in nature but also inspires others to connect with and protect our planet’s wildlife. To continue following her adventures, insights, and conservation efforts, you can connect with Karolina on Instagram @karolinanoreewild or visit karolinanoree.com to learn more about her safaris, prints, and educational resources.