Cape Town to Kalahari

Transcription

1 Celebrating 25 years of incredible photo adventures! E: W:

2 CAPE TOWN TO KALAHARI - the adventure This will be our second specific tour of this location. We loved it so much in 2013, that we immediately organised a similar tour for The location is beautiful, the nature is amazing and the local people are so hospitable. From fields of colourful flowers, to rugged coastal scenery and the incredible game of the Kalahari Desert, this tour is specifically designed to offer you the very best of South Africa and its wild places. We utilise lovely accommodation from lodges to the perfect B&B. Add iconic locations like Table Top Mountain, Kirstenbosch Gardens and the Kalahari itself - you are in for the adventure of a lifetime! Join us on this great life experience adventure... AFRICA - the adventure... Africa is a destination offering endless exploration experiences. Immerse yourself in the heartland of uniquely captivating images. In 2015 we invite you to photograph Africa through your choice of three magnificent tours: 1. Gorillas of Rwanda - August Tanzania - August/September, Cape Town To Kalahari - September, 2015 There are many reasons our African tours have been sort after for over 10 years. Here are just a few... UNTAMED QUALITY AND EXPERIENCE With over 64 years of combined experience in tailoring premium travel quests, our team ensures you never settle for less than the best. We offer lovely 3/4 star accommodation for your comfort and enjoyment. EXCEPTIONAL END-TO-END EXPERIENCE We work towards delivering the time of your life. Our office gem Julia, helps you with all your pre- and post-tour needs. Once you are out in the field our professional local drivers and guides are right by your side. Your personal photo guides are the best in the world! You will discover Africa with people who know this captivating land better than anyone. GREAT TOURS COME IN SMALL GROUPS Small group travel gives you flexibility and the ability to follow your interests. That s why we keep tour group sizes small so you can savour your travel experience. FIRST TIME ON TOUR WITH US? We ll happily answer your questions, offer advice or connect you with the experiences that will satisfy your wanderlust. Contact Julia at: julia@worldadventures.com.au. ESCORTED BY: Darran Leal TOUR DATES: September, 2015 EVENT GRADE: Easy to Moderate TRANSPORT: Game vehicles & mini van. ACCOMMODATION: 3/4 Star B&B, lodge and tented camp accommodation. TARGETS: Landscapes, Wildlife, Creative, Culture. PAGE 2

3 YOUR ITINERARY TO ADVENTURE... DAY 1 Cape Town September 4 As a group, on arrival at Cape Town International Airport, a World Photo Adventures-representative meets you from where you are transferred (group transfer) by road to your overnight accommodation. Late afternoon, we leave for Noordhoek beach, for excellent sunset photo opportunities. We are based at our lovely accommodation for the next 3 nights. Accommodation: Guest House. (D) PRE TOUR We suggest that you arrive in Africa at least 24 hours before tour departure. Arriving early will give you a chance to relax and acclimatise to the new time zone. We do not include your international flights. Julia can book all of your other pre/post travel requirements. We generally commence booking pre/ post tour accommodation/flights about 8/9 months before departure. FINAL ITINERARY Note that a final itinerary will be sent to you about one month before departure. DAY 2 Cape Town September 5 An early morning start for the best light possible. Today is a scenic drive with lots of photographic opportunities. After breakfast we drive to The Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. En route, we stop at Boulder s Beach for a visit to the penguin colony. A fantastic photographic opportunity is possible, once again, to take close-up pictures of these odd looking birds! After filling up a couple of memory sticks at the penguin colony, our final destination for the day is The Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, which also forms part of the greater Cape Peninsula National Park. The reserve was established to protect the fragile and beautiful Fynbos flora. Wildlife within the boundaries of the reserve includes Bontebok, Cape Mountain Zebra, Steenbok, Grysbok, Rock Hyrax and Chacma Baboon. We leave the picturesque Cape Point lookout late afternoon and retrace our route back to our overnight accommodation. Accommodation: Guest House. (B,D) DAY 3 Cape Town September 6 Early morning we leave for Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Founded in 1913 and lying on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch covers an area of 828ha, of which 60ha is cultivated with indigenous flora with the remainder uncultivated areas, protected as a natural floral reserve. Kirstenbosch is a living display featuring almost 5000 of the indigenous floral species of the South African flora. Macro-photography is the bonus today and several unique flowers and unique plants are awaiting you to be photographed! Late afternoon, we leave Kirstenbosch and travel via the breathtaking and photographic Chapman s Peak. Several areas are demarcated for parking along this route where we can stop and set up our camera equipment! Accommodation: Guest House. (D) PAGE 3

4 DAY 4 Langebaan September 7 En route to Langebaan, the world famous silhouette of Table Mountain, from the Blouberg-side, gives you the opportunity to capture this classical shot on sensor. We stop for further opportunistic shoots of flowers. Late afternoon we check in at our overnight accommodation in Langebaan and prepare for dinner. We are based at our lovely accommodation for 2 nights. Accommodation: Hotel. (B,D) DAY 5 Langebaan September 8 After breakfast, we board our exclusive mini bus and head for West Coast National Park. Proclaimed in 1985, this Park represents a unique niche in the conservation programme of the National Parks in South Africa. This is the only National Park incorporating a portion of the West Coast and only the second coastal park in the country. The coastal area contains a variety of habitats and is home to fauna and flora endemic to the area. Ungulates that might be encountered on our visit to the park include Eland, Oryx, Bontebok, Kudu, Springbok, Common Duiker, Steenbok and a few more. We also visit (in season) the northern part of the Park, which is occupied by the Postberg Nature Reserve, which is enlivened by sensational profusion of wild flowers in the brief springtime months. Late afternoon we return to our overnight accommodation. Accommodation: Hotel. (B,D) DAY 6 Nieuwoudville September 9 After an early breakfast, we leave for Lambert s Bay. We arrive Lambert s Bay late morning. At Bird Island, you have the opportunity to photograph Cape Gannets, whether in flight or static, the choice is yours! Mid afternoon we leave for Nieuwoudtville, to arrive at sunset. Accommodation: Guesthouse. (B,D) DAY 7 Nieuwoudtville September 10 We leave, before sunrise, for the Quiver Tree Forest, to exploit excellent light for these odd-looking trees. This is the biggest Quiver Tree Forest and these interesting trees, family of the aloe species, offers creative photography, both standard, panoramic and macro photography. Flowers and other scenic opportunities keeps us busy the whole day, after which we return to the Quiver Tree Forest, late afternoon, for more photography. We are based at our lovely accommodation for 2 nights. Accommodation: Guesthouse (B,D) PAGE 4

5 DAY 8 Kamieskroon September 11 After breakfast, it is once again time to pack the vehicle(s) for our next destination Kamieskroon. The town of Kamieskroon is a small farming community in a region known as Namaqualand named after its early Nama inhabitants. Each spring, usually between mid-august and mid-october, this semi-desert area is transformed into one of the world s most colourful natural displays, as small hardy low-growing plants burst into flower. Then, the landscape is covered in great carpets of purple, yellow, orange and white blossoms. And it is not just the small plants that rush to flower, the Aloes, Flax, Lilies, Azalias, perennial herbs and other species of the region add their bright hues to the intricate tapestry. Late afternoon, we check in at Agama Tented Camp, ±30km west of Kamieskroon. We are based at our lovely accommodation for 2 nights. Accommodation: Tented Camp. (B,D) DAY 9 Kamieskroon September 12 A full day in the area to experience and photograph this very special natural phenomenon. From flowers to scorpions, beach scenes to birds, a great diverse day of subjects that your guides will help to maximise. Accommodation: Tented Camp. (B,D) DAY 10 Upington September 13 Today is a long drive towards Upington. En route we stop for several semi-desert scenery pictures to arrive Upington late afternoon. A travel day to experience new landscapes and nature and to get us to a new photo hot spot! Accommodation: Lodge. (B,D) DAY 11 Kgalagadi National Park September 14 After breakfast, we transfer by road to South Africa s best kept wildlife-secret - The Kgalagadi National Park. No fewer than 215 bird species more than 400 plant species have been recorded. This Park is well known for its sightings of Kalahari Lion, Oryx, Blue Wildebeest, Eland, Springbok, Red Hartebeest, Duiker, Steenbok, Spotted Hyena, Black-Backed Jackal, Springhare and Meerkats. The rarer African Wild Cat, African Wild Dog, Aardvark, Bat-Eared Fox, Caracal, Cheetah, Honey Badger, Leopard, Pangolin, Porcupine, Cape Fox, and Genet can also be seen. Keep an eye out for BIG Cats. We are based at our lovely accommodation for 3 nights. Accommodation: Lodge. (B,L,D) PAGE 5

6 DAYS 12 to 13 Kgalagadi National Park September 15/16 Two full days of game drives in the park. This can mean anything from lions to African wildcats, cheetah and many more small to medium game animals. You never know what is around the corner... Darran, Pearce and our local expert guides will maximise this experience for you. We use open game vehicles for free shooting space. Accommodation: Lodge. (B,L,D) DAY 14 Kgalagadi National Park to Upington September 17 After our final morning game drive, we return to the lodge for breakfast. We leave the lodge mid-morning, and check in at our overnight accommodation, late afternoon in Upington. Our final dinner tonight is a chance to tell a few tall stories from our adventures. Accommodation: Lodge. (B,L,D) DAY 15 TOUR ENDS September 18 Depending on your time of departure, you are dropped off at Upington Airport, in time for your departure flight. (B) AND... Are you interested in another adventure? You can link up with our other adventures in Africa. Ask Julia... (B,L,D) - Confirms if Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner - are included that day. Itinerary and price is subject to change. TOUR HIGHLIGHTS * Incredible game from gemsbok to ostrich. * Outstanding cats - lions, cheetah, leopard and more... * Stunning flowers, quiver trees and nature. * Special Cape Town experiences, including Table Top Mountain. * Small photo group size and expert local guide. * Expert photo guide who works hard to optimise your photo interests. PAGE 6

7 MEET YOUR TOUR TEAM WHO ARE WE? At World Photo Adventures, creating marvellous and memorable journeys is our mission. Our tours give you impressions and experiences you ll cherish for a lifetime. We re more than travel and tour specialists we re your complete photography adventure solution. We take you straight to the photographic heartlands of your chosen tour region. That s why we are Australia s only licensed travel agency specialising in photography tours and workshops. As a family business, personalised service is close to our hearts. STAND-OUT SERVICE Stunning Norfolk Island set the stage for our first photo tour in Since then our tours have gone from strength to strength and continent to continent. Wherever you travel with World Photo Adventures, our superior service levels are a mainstay. Claim the ultimate tour experience for you and your lens with our guaranteed: Small group tours with like-minded travellers World-class photo guides to put you in the right place at the right time with the right photographic know-how Knowledgeable guides who ensure you never miss a key photographic or experiential opportunity Premium locations with stunning visual delights From our friendly helpful office, you ll enjoy the peace of mind and exceptional experience that only comes from working with one of the world s most experienced photo travel companies. WHO BOOKS OUR PHOTO HOLIDAYS? From animated point and shoot amateur photographers to seasoned photographic veterans, we get a broad crosssection of photo enthusiasts on every tour. Not super keen on snapping? No problem. You are still guaranteed a great time. Whether your finger never leaves, or never hits a camera all tour, you will have an unforgettable experience. Our unique locations, top guides and small travel groups make sure of it. While our clients vary in age and experience, all attend with the same goal to have a fantastic holiday. We ensure every client gets exactly that. We make memorable journeys. You capture incredible images. DARRAN LEAL Professional photographer and guide With over 400 successful photo tours/ workshop and seminars worldwide and counting, Australian-born Darran s lifetime loves are travel and outdoor photography. He combines these with vast experience in delivering global photo tours, workshops and seminars. Darran is one of the world s few full-time professional photo guides. He leads photographers of all levels to many of the world s most captivating locations. As a natural born photographer, educator and adventurer, Darran s career inevitably led him to help others explore and capture their world. Now Darran spends his time up to his arm pits in crocodiles, cuddling gorillas or herding photographers. Check out Darran s work first-hand at: JULIA LEAL Professional travel consultant Exploring new territory is an adventure Julia has been savoring since childhood. Julia was born in Liverpool, England yet soon migrated to New Zealand with her family. She launched her travel career in 1979 in tropical Noosa, Queensland where she managed one of the first resorts in the region. Then it was back to Auckland, New Zealand to take up the role of travel consultant. Before long, Go International snapped Julia up as a travel rep. While leading an educational tour on Norfolk Island in 1989, Julia met Darran. Though her career remained trans-tasman for several years after, Julia is now in her element as a travel consultant extraordinaire for World Photo Adventures. When it comes to securing an extraordinary photographic adventure tour founded on unrivalled service, Julia has it covered. PEARCE LEAL Professional photographer/guide No photographer could wish for a better guide to getting remarkable destination shots than a fellow photographer. Pearce is the man to get you weaving incredible lens magic because he does the same himself. As an AIPP member, Pearce takes other photographers on amazing photo adventures all around the world. With over 30 tours and workshops under his belt, Pearce has traversed incredible image opportunities in Africa, the USA, South America, Asia and Australia. In addition, his own photographic work has been featured in magazines and media around the globe. Check out Pearce s work first-hand at: PAGE 7

8 LIBERATE YOUR LENS AND YOUR SENSES Our end-to-end tour takes you on a journey of incredible discovery. So put yourself in the big picture with prime travel information and inspiration... GET TO KNOW THE DESTINATION You can begin your exploration of the tour destination without leaving home. Visit Simply type in the locations on your itinerary and explore to your heart s content. It s a great idea to embark upon your adventure well informed on this rich natural wonderland. WE OFFER YOU... Great guidance every step of the way... A vibrant travel itinerary that never misses a beat. Local knowledge to fully immerse you in the richest offerings of the region. Professional photographic support is provided to ensure you secure superlative images. You will have it all thanks to our professional photographer and local guide. Both are with you throughout your tour. Small group sizes for big personal advantage... You want to maximise your photographic and experiential opportunities. We want you to as well. So we keep tour groups small with a maximum of six travellers per guide. You will benefit from utmost flexibility and personal attention, with an experienced guide on-hand too. Fantastic accommodation... Comfort is an important part of all travel. So we ensure a high standard of accommodation throughout your tour. That means you will always be well rested to make the most of every tour day. Marvellous meals... Eating on the job can only be planned to a certain extent. After all you would not want to miss incredible photographic and travel opportunities because you were busy dining. So we provide a selection of meals as detailed in your itinerary. Your guides will arrange all other meals to ensure you never miss a chance to enrich your tour memories and books or albums. WEATHER It should be mild to warm. Please google temperatures for that time of the year. We will offer more information in our - Final Itinerary. WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN OUR TOUR PRICE We aim to provide a convenient price for almost all your travel and tour arrangements. Yet some additional costs do fall outside our tour prices. Your airfares are an extra cost unless your itinerary specifies otherwise. All transfers, laundry, tips, drinks and sundries not listed in the itinerary also fall outside our tour price. Please note: it is vital that you do not book any flights or other travel services for your tour before speaking to our office first. No tour is ever a done deal until minimum numbers and other key logistics are confirmed. ITINERARY AND PRICES CHANGES Tour prices are correct at the time of printing, but these are subject to change. Please use your itinerary and associated pricing as a guide only. KITTING OUT YOUR CAMERA COLLATERAL No matter what your photographic level or style, World Photo Adventures maximises your image interest. Our clients use everything from top line D-SLRs with pro lenses to mid-range kits. We even have a wealth of non-photographically inclined partners come along with basic compact cameras. Your equipment is personal to you. What matters is that you know how to use it and how to get the most out of your tour. That is why we offer a workshop at the start of all tours. Plus you ll have a professional photographer on-hand to give you personal assistance while you re in the field. You can even benefit from mini photography workshops during the course of your tour. In short, we give you everything possible to help you capture lasting images of the world s most breathtaking location in a way that matches your style, desires and photographic equipment. WHAT IS CATO? World Photo Adventures is a member of CATO. Membership of the Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO) is a hallmark of competence and integrity. CATO is the representative body for wholesale tour operators who supply travel and tour packages to domestic and international destinations. For more information, go to: PAGE 8

9 CAPE TOWN TO KALAHARI PRICE AU$8,495 Twin Share per person As per itinerary, with local guide/driver and professional photo guide. EVENT DEPOSIT REQUIRED - AU$1,500 pp. Please read our terms & Conditions and fill in our booking form. Julia can offer travel insurance, including deposit protection insurance. SINGLE SUPPLEMENT - AU$1,590 pp. We will try our best to find someone to share with you. However, part of the booking conditions is that a single supplement is applicable if no one is available to share. TO BOOK: Please ask for our booking form. FLIGHTS We do not include your international flights. (Or any other flights, unless included in the itinerary.) We are happy to help you! We are happy to check your flight itinerary, before you have tickets issued, to make sure you will be arriving and departing at the correct times for the tour. (Julia will need a copy of your flight itinerary, for her records). IMPORTANT - To make sure you book the correct dates and times, we would request the following: 1. Don t purchase any air tickets, until Darran s flights have been booked, which we will do approximately 8-9 months prior to the tour departure. We will advise you when Darran s flights are booked and you can then use his itinerary, as a guide. This will also coincide with confirming the tour departure, making sure we have met minimum passenger numbers for the tour and the logistics of the tour have not changed. 2. We suggest you arrive a minimum of 24 hours prior to the tour departure, to help with jet lag and in case of airline delays. PAGE 9 E: julia@worldadventures.com.au W: