Register
Join the largest online community for nature
photographers. An account to participate in
our forums is free! We also offer other
membership options.
Join the largest online community for nature
photographers. An account to participate in
our forums is free! We also offer other
membership options.
This photographic safari will be conducted in the east African country of Tanzania, home to the Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater and Mount Kilimanjaro. It will combine an exciting photography workshop in one of the world's most outstanding wildlife, birding, landscape and cultural locations together with a luxury vacation in fascinating Tanzania.
Each location has been hand picked by Greg Downing as offering the best photographic opportunities for the season and luxurious accommodations.
“This is the ultimate all-inclusive photographic safari—and probably the best value around for an African photo safari!” –Greg Downing
There is no doubt that Tanzania offers one of the best environments in the world for an enriching wildlife and birding experience. The country's game and bird viewing opportunities are considered by many to be the best in Africa. Its game parks are populated with many of the world's most exotic creatures, including all of the "Big Five." Its lakes are huge and bountiful with fish. Its cities are relaxed and friendly. Yet, to a greater degree than is true of many of its neighbors, this sprawling county, the largest in East Africa, remains untouched by the vacationing hordes.
This workshop will be very informal and fun for all skill levels. We will have discussion and in-the-field assistance on photographic technique, composition, exposure and overall field craft and we will learn about African culture and animal and bird behavior from highly skilled professional safari guides. We will all work closely together, sharing our knowledge and experience as we enjoy the African Wildlife together. When instruction is needed I will be available to answer questions along the way and work with you individually so that you get the most out of your photographic safari without the high pressure of an intense workshop. We are there to enjoy the African experience together and as photographers chase the best light and capture the story!
Because of the unique location of this workshop, and the luxury accommodations, this adventure is open to spouses as well as photographers. Even non-photographers will find the locales visited and the wildlife viewing opportunities to be thrilling. The cost for non-photographers is the same as for active participants.
“In 2009 we were greeted by a large group of giraffe's as we landed on the grass landing strip - it was a wonderful way to start the trip!” –Greg Downing
Following is an itinerary, and some details on what we will be able to see and photograph.
Location: Arusha- Accommodations: African Tulip Hotel
Arrive in Tanzania at Kilimanjaro International Airport on KLM in the early evening for a VIP meet and greet by Unique Safaris and transfer to the African Tulip Hotel for dinner and overnight.
VIP arrival services include the cost of the Tanzania visa in your safari price. A private officer will meet you at the entrance to Immigration and will escort you to the desk to have your passports stamped, photos and fingerprints taken before you proceed to baggage claim.
Location: Tarangire - Accommodations: Kikoti Safari Camp
After an early breakfast, drive to Tarangire National Park (2 hours to the main park gate) and enjoy the next two days in this scenic park with wonderful opportunities for elephants among many other resident animals and plentiful birdlife.
Tarangire National Park, which is the "Baobab Capital of the World", is 120km and 2 hour drive from Arusha (75 miles). Tarangire is renowned for its wild landscapes and diverse habitats. The Tarangire River, from which the park derives its name, is the only permanent water source within 2600 square kilometers (1625 sq.miles) of protected wildlife area. In addition to numerous animals, the park has over 300 species of birds and has the highest recorded number of breeding bird species of any habitat in the world. Tarangire is most famous for its elephants. There are 3,000 resident elephants in the park and another 3,000 individuals migrate into the park during the dry season of July-October. Elephants can begin to migrate into Tarangire as early as May and June as they follow the long rains and love the tall swamp grass found in Tarangire National Park. Elephant watching is excellent in Tarangire all year round. Bird watching is amazing all year round as well and Tarangire boasts the largest number of breeding species in one park in all of Africa. During the dry season, herd animals of all kinds (elephants, wildebeest, zebra, gazelles and antelopes) migrate from the surrounding areas for the water found inside the park. This is the second largest migration of animals in Africa after the Serengeti Migration. Tarangire has a very large swamp, called Silali Swamp, which attracts animals and birds of all kinds. During the dry season, the famous giant rock pythons leave the swamp to avoid being stepped on by herd animals and live in the trees on the edge of the swamp. These are amazing creatures and some of the most unusual wildlife viewing is of rock pythons killing large animals of all kinds! Tarangire is also home to the last remaining pack of wild dogs in northern Tanzania. They remain an extremely elusive find. Visit www.SanctuaryRetreats.com.
Location: Tarangire - Accommodations: Kikoti Safari Camp
Full day exploring Tarangire National Park. Swala offers a 7 am walking safari ($70 per person) and a night drive ($80 per person) if you care to book when you arrive or book in advance.
Location: Ngorongoro Crater - Accommodations: Lion’s Paw Camp
Enjoy a last early morning game drive out of Tarangire, being sure to check out of the park no later than 11:00. Take a box lunch with you from Swala and visit Lake Manyara National Park for a game drive and picnic lunch. Continue to Lion’s Paw traveling along the rim of the Crater to the eastern side.
Lake Manyara National Park is 80 miles from Arusha town. It is a small park of only 130 square miles and 80 square miles consists of the soda lake. Manyara is bordered by the western wall of the Great Rift Valley (3,150 feet altitude) and the shallow alkaline Lake Manyara. The park derives its name from the Maasai word “manyara” which is a species of Euphorbia plant used to build the Maasai stockades for their cattle and goats. Lake Manyara National Park is notable for elephants, hippos and tree-climbing lions. Actually, it is quite hard to see tree-climbing lions in Lake Manyara, due to the brush and woodland. The behavior of lions climbing trees was first observed in this park, but lions do climb trees in Tarangire and the Serengeti as well. The park was first made famous by the elephant researcher Ian Douglas Hamilton and Manyara was established specifically to protect the elephants herds. This park has the highest density of elephants boasting 7 elephants per square kilometer. Manyara is a birding paradise more than 400 species are resident all year round. The species include a large variety of hornbill species including the huge and colorful ground hornbill, pied kingfisher, white and pink-backed pelicans, hamerkop, crowned eagle, long-crested eagle and a lovely variety of bee-eaters, sunbirds and whydah birds. The park is also known for its large troops of baboons and the famous Hippo Pool also providing over 40 species of waterfowl in the area. Lake Manyara is an excellent park to visit during the green season (November-June.)
Location: Ngorongoro Crater - Accommodations: Lion’s Paw Camp
Full day down in the Crater with a picnic lunch. Be prepared to leave the lodge by 5:45 am so you can be one of the first vehicles down on the Crater floor.
Ngorongoro Crater is one of seven World Heritage Sites designated in Tanzania, and it is the world's largest unflooded caldera. This means the entire rim of the old volcano is intact. The Crater is a memorable experience, while only 100 square miles in total, it also offers six distinct habitats: acacia forest, swamp, short grass, long grass, riverine and woodland. Each habitat attracts a variety of animals. NCA is also the world's first multi-purpose land use experiment, combining tourism, research, archeology, wildlife management, grazing rights and farming. The rim of the Crater sits at 7,800 feet in altitude and the Crater floor descends to 5,000 feet above sea leave. The Crater is home to almost 30,000 animals in an area naturally enclosed by the slopes of the volcano. The Crater is the best location for viewing black rhino and the huge old bull elephants. There is not enough vegetation to support the large cow and calf herds, but the old males "retire" to the Crater for the wonderful swamp grass and acacia forest. The only animals you will not see in the Crater are the impala and giraffe. It is not known why impala do not inhabit the Crater, but giraffe are unable to descend the steep grade without lowering their heads, which raises their blood pressure to dangerous levels.
Location: Central Serengeti - Accommodations: Sametu Camp
Cut down onto the Crater floor for another early morning game drive and then ascend on the western rim to drive to the Serengeti. Stop along the way to visit Olduvai Gorge, the site of Louis and Mary Leakey’s famous archeological discoveries. Continue to the central Serengeti and Sametu Camp.
Serengeti National Park is one of the most famous wildlife areas in the world. The park's 5,700 square miles are part of the 9,600-square-mile Mara- Serengeti ecosystem, home to incredible herds of wildebeest and other grazing animals. It is the largest national park in Tanzania, with a staggering animal population of about 4 million within 14,763 km sq. It is the largest wildlife sanctuaries in the world and the site of one of the most breathtaking events in animal kingdom-the migration of more than a million wildebeest. The area consists of treeless central plain, savannah dotted with acacia and granite outcroppings called kopjes, and riverine bush and forest in the north. The park's name is derived from the Maasai language "SIRINGET" which means endless plains. The famous "Migration" that people dream to experience, is actually a dynamic process taking a full year to complete. There are different 'events' that happen at different times of the year and in different locations in this park. The basic migration occurs in a clock-wise direction, but it is guided by rain and the growth of grass, so at any time the animals can ignore "tradition" and just follow rain clouds in a more haphazard direction. There are three "seasons" in the Serengeti. They are short rains, long rains and dry season. During the start of the "short rains" of November and December, the large wildebeest and zebra herds leave the northern part of the Serengeti Eco-system (the Mara in Kenya) and travel east and south into the short grass plain of the southern and eastern Serengeti. The herd traditionally splits the migratory routes, with pregnant females and dominant males moving directly south, through the Seronera area and onward to the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti. The bachelor males move easterly around the Gol Mountains and then south through the Gol Pass, the Gol Kopjes and onto the southern plains. The female wildebeest need to be in this area to begin the calving, as they rely on this particular kind of grass for calving and milk production, that is high in calcium, potassium and magnesium. Wildebeest calving can begin anytime between January-March. More than 750,000 females will drop their calves within a 3-week period of time, so predator/prey activity is at a peak. The short grass plains also offer some of the best protection against predators, as they are more visible to the herd animals. Herd animals will remain in this area as long as there is decent rain that continues in the following months, although they only need short bursts of rain to be happy. April is usually the month of long rain, meaning it rains fairly constantly and heavy. At this time, the herd usually begins to move to the Central Serengeti and begins to prepare for the wildebeest rut of May and June. These are some of the most amazing herd sightings, as the male and females herd reunite for breeding. The herd movement continues both west and north between May usually to the end of July. At this point, the herd disperses a bit and males without females may migrate directly north to the Mara and some may move to the famous Western Corridor and remain year round in the Serengeti. If rains are normal, we can expect the majority of the herd to leave the Serengeti by the middle to the end of July. The dry season of July-October still remains excellent for viewing cats of all kinds. In fact, some cats are easier to locate because they must remain more active during the daytime to search for dwindling food. During these months, clients usually stay in the Central Serengeti, the Western Corridor or northern Serengeti-Loliondo. The famous "river crossings", which everyone hopes to see, are hard to predict and can occur in a short number of days. Visit www.TanganyikaWildernessCamps.com.
Location: Central Serengeti - Accommodations: Sametu Camp
Spend these next days following the massive female and dominate male wildebeest herds as they continue to move into the central and southern Serengeti.
Location: Northern Serengeti - Accommodations: Buffalo Luxury Camp
Game drive to the northern Serengeti, stopping to visit the Retima Hippo Pool and game driving the Lobo Valley. Arrive at Buffalo in the late afternoon and enjoy a night drive this evening. Your two nights at Buffalo allow you to enjoy a few activities that are not permitted inside the Serengeti, yet you are a mere 4 kms from the park gate with easy access to both the Serengeti and the Loliondo Game Management Corridor.
Location: Northern Serengeti - Accommodations: Buffalo Luxury Camp
Optional visit to an authentic, working Maasai village and activities this afternoon. You may choose to enjoy a bush walk in the hills of Loliondo, game drive with off-road access or re-enter the Serengeti. Sundowner and dinner under the stars (weather permitting) and enjoy a second night drive.
Loliondo Game Management Area, The Serengeti eco-system is much larger than just Serengeti National Park. The park is actually just the center of a vast natural ecosystem, which includes the area known as Loliondo, or more specifically, the Loliondo Game Management Area. Loliondo encompasses a vast area, from the north to the south, along the eastern border of Serengeti National Park. Although it is part of the Serengeti ecosystem, it is not subject to the same rules and regulations of the National Park system. This offers many benefits to visitors because there is more freedom of activities here, such as night drives, escorted walking safaris, and more authentic interactions with the Maasai. This magnificent area contains breathtaking scenery and a vast diversity of landscapes, including beautiful mountains, deep gorges, rivers, acacia and riverine woodlands, rolling hills and lush valleys, grassy plains dotted with rocky outcrops (called kopjes), and even a volcano (Ol Donyno Lengai). There is abundant resident game which enjoys the region’s many waterholes and river areas, as well as seasonal migratory herds, which pass Loliondo areas on the trek to the southern plains. Visitors who are here when the herds decide to cross the Mara River are in for a memorable sight, as thousands of wildebeest and zebra swim for their lives while crocodiles lie in wait for them to try to make this very dangerous crossing. In addition to the luxury of being able to enjoy walking safaris and night drives, visitors also enjoy the fact that there are fewer tourists in this more remote region of Tanzania. People who venture here experience a more private and intimate experience with the wildlife, and people who live in this spectacular region. Wild dogs have been populating this area as well, but they remain highly endangered. The population fluctuates but continues to survive, despite the threats from local pastoralist who have killed the dogs to protect their livestock. There are areas in northern and southern Loliondo that the wild dogs use for their dens when they have puppies, but they remain an elusive find.
Location: Arusha (depart) - Location: Mount Meru Hotel dayroom
Enjoy one last early morning game drive as you travel to the Lobo airstrip and fly back to Arusha. The flight leaves at 9:45AM and arrives in Arusha at 12:15PM. There is time for some shopping and a hot buffet lunch at the Cultural Heritage Center. Continue to the African Tulip for a dayroom and time to shower, pack and relax. Farewell dinner and transfer to Kilimanjaro for return flight.
This African safari will feature all the stunning wildlife viewing opportunities that Tanzania has to offer, with one special bonus: you will be traveling in the company of a professional photographer familiar with the African landscape and wildlife and experienced naturalist guides. Suitable for all levels of photographic experience, this safari will encourage you to ask questions, try out different techniques, experiment with dramatic lighting and learn from not only your leader, but from other members of your group.
We will travel by Land Rover (with a maximum of three photographers per vehicle to ensure access to both sides of the vehicle at all times and ample space for your equipment), and we will spend each night in comfortable safari lodges or luxury permanent camp. This will allow us to relax and savor our beautiful surroundings, but it will also afford us the ability to clean or recharge our gear as we go. The instruction will be casual and flexible taking into account everyone's level of skill and bearing in mind that Africa and its wildlife are by definition wild and unpredictable!
All of the accommodations are clean, and provide private en suite bathroom facilities. On our luxury tented camp location, each private tent comes with beds and bed sheets, private restroom facilities (with a real toilet) and a permanent hot shower. All lodging is extremely safe and luxurious, and our guides and staff are there to please. All of our digital camera electrical needs are handled, as we will always have facilities for recharging our laptops, cameras and iPods!
The cost of this all-inclusive trip is U.S. $9,495 per person all inclusive (minus airfare to Tanzania). The same rate applies for each participant regardless of whether they are doing photography and participating in the workshop, or not. This fee includes all in-country ground and air transportation as well as hotel accommodation (double occupancy) and all meals and guide services.
Accommodations are two persons to a room. If you will be traveling alone and would like a private room there will be a supplementary charge of $1,500.
Our group will be small and most spots are spoken for already, so space is very limited. If this exciting trip has your name on it; if you're excited by the thought of becoming a member of this trip, then now is the time to register. Remember, there will be limited space available for this workshop. When they're spoken for, that's it. If you have any questions before registering, contact Erin Masters with any inquiries. Please note: We will attempt to adhere to this itinerary as much as possible. However, certain conditions (political, climatic, environmental, cultural, or wildlife migrations) may necessitate changes in the itinerary. We reserve the right to alter any itinerary at any time, if necessary. We will attempt to notify participants of changes as far in advance as possible.
Greg has been traveling the world teaching professional and amateur photographers for more than 15 years hosting his instructional workshops and seminars. Instructing photographers of all experience levels Greg has earned a reputation for his gracious and generous teaching style.
Greg's images are known for their unique style, exacting composition and strict attention to detail. As an internationally recognized photographer, his numerous publishing credits include books, advertising campaigns and editorial publications such as Birding Magazine, Outdoor Photographer Magazine, Birder's World, National Geographic and many others. Continue reading »
Subscribe to RSS feed
Email to a friend
Print
