East African Photo-Tour
February 2008
Having led photo-tours to both East Africa and Botswana, I am planning to lead another East African Photo-Tour, targeted for a February 8th, 2008 departure. This tour will cover 19 days and 20 nights. Cost is approximately $7,800, excluding airfare of about $1,700. Destinations will include both Kenya and Tanzania. The Itinerary: Nairobi Kenya: We will fly into Nairobi Kenya, and will visit Nairobi National Park, the next day.. Nairobi National Park hosts many of the typical African Plains animals, and may feature the best Black Rhino shooting in East Africa. We will also visit a store featuring some of the best carvings in all of East Africa. Amboseli Park: The next 3 nights/days will be spent at Amboseli Park, in the south of Kenya, and situated at the base of Kilimanjaro. Our goal will be to photograph elephant, giraffe, lion, cape buffalo, and many of the other large mammals, with Kilimanjaro as the backdrop.. Amboseli's Marshes also host a great variety of birds, including high populations of African Fish Eagle. We will stay at an excellent safari lodge with great access to the best wildlife viewiig areas. Tarangire Park: The next 3 nights/days will be spent at Tarangire Park, in the northern part of Tanzania. Tarangire is famous for its vast elephant herds, but may feature the best bird photography of the safari. Giant Baobab Trees (thousands of years old) also provide a stunning backdrop for photos of the large mammals. Ngorongoro Crater: Ngorongoro Crater is often referred to as "The Eighth Wonder of the World". This ancient volcanic caldera hosts populations of nearly every major bird and animal species represented in East Africa. The Lerai Forest, Lake Magadi, Gorigor and Mandusi Swamps, and the high plains host Flamingo, lion, jackal, hyena, cape buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, eland, and the largest bull elephants in all of East Africa. The Flamingos are usually present at Lake Magadi, and the opportunity to photograph them is wonderful. Ngorongoro Crater is simply incomparable, and the views are beyond belief. We will spend 4 nights/days here. The Serengeti Wildebeest Migration: Four nights/days will be spent camping in a Hemingway-style camp among the Acacia trees, at the edge of the southern Serengeti Plains. This will be a true tent-camp, but with modern flush-toilets, daily showers, and great amenities. Game drives will originate at sunrise, and begin again in late afternoon, terminating at sunset. Evenings will be spent around a campfire, sampling before-dinner appetizers, before the evening meal is served. There will be approximately 1.7 million Wildebeest in this area, and the females will be giving birth.. Photographic opportunities will be fantastic, featuring newborn calves and the predators that follow the herd, as subjects. Seronera area of the Serengeti: Our final 3 days/nights will be spent in the Seronera area of the Serengeti Plains. Waterholes are abundent, which will afford exceptional Hippo photography as well as a great chance for leopard and other plains mammals and predators. Our safari will culminate with a sunrise balloon ride about the herds of the Serengeti Plains. Mammals we are likely to photograph include, Lion, Cheetah, Serval Cat, Elephant, Rhino, Hippo, Wildebeest, Zebra, Impala, Giraffe, Grants Gazelle, Thompson's Gazelle, Eland, Topi, Cape Buffalo, Giraffe, Hartebeest, Waterbuck, Wart Hog, Hyena, Baboon, Vervet Monkey, Bat-Eared Fox, etc. Please check my African Mammals page for photos. Native Culture: We will visit at least one Masai Village. There will be ample opportunity to photograph the native people in the village, and their homes. There will also be opportunities to shop in local stores and open-markets. Photographs are possible here, although one must always ask, before photographing anyone in East Africa. The number of bird species and the opportunities to photograph them are fantastic, and many will pose at nearly eye-level. Please check my African Birds page for photos. Amboseli is the best place for photos of Kilimanjaro, with elephants or other large mammals in the foreground, and Jan/Feb. is the best time of year. Summary: This is a photo-tour for serious amateur or professional level photographers, and accommodations will be planned to maximize photographic opportunities. We will begin photographing at sunrise each morning, and will shoot until the light becomes harsh. Boxed breakfasts will be packed, and we will eat breakfast in the field, nearly every morning. Afternoon shooting will commence at approximately 3:00pm, and will last until sunset.. Some days will include a full day in the field, with breakfast and lunch packed and served in the field. There will be plenty of time for rest and organizing photos, during mid-day or evening. Safari duration will be 19 days on the ground, and 20 nights. For details, please call or email.. If you have questions, please email me at ty.smedes@smedesphoto.com or call 515-270-9086 ! Ty Smedes Phone – 515-270-9086 |
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For inquiries:
Phone 515-270-9086, email:
ty.smedes@smedesphoto.com
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