African Big Game & Maasai Culture... PHOTO TOUR

Transcription

1 Celebrating 25 years of incredible photo adventures! - updated 4/14 E: julia@worldadventures.com.au W:

2 TANZANIA - the adventure... Tanzania is unique with its vast open grass plains and huge number of herding animals. We are targeting a special time of the year for young animals. Baby lions, zebra, birds and many species use the limited summer rains as the best time to give birth. For this tour, we are using beautiful lodges and famous Safari Tented Camps of a high standard. This is not camping, but has the feel of camping in the wild s of Africa. Our vehicles have limited numbers, this offering the perfect elbow room and window space to optimise your shooting opportunities. (Importantly, vehicles are also pop top!) 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 Tanzania with people who know this captivating land better than anyone. TOUR HIGHLIGHTS * Very friendly local people. * Fantastic expert local guides. * Exclusive group visit to living Massai tribe. * Lovely safari lodge and tented accommodation. * Stunning big game opportunities. * Amazing cats, from lions to Leopard, cheetah and... * Outstanding elephant encounters... 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 and Pearce Leal Tour dates: August/September, 2015 Event grade: Easy Transport: 4WD with pop top, limit per vehicle. Accommodation: 3 star lodge & Safari camp accommodation. Tour targets: landscapes, wildlife, creative, culture. PAGE 2

3 YOUR ITINERARY TO ADVENTURE... DAY 1: ARRIVE Dar Es Salaam August 20 We fly from Johannesburg to Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania. (Transfers and accommodation is included, International flights are not included.) Darran and Pearce will offer a workshop to maximise your adventures to come. Accommodation starts tonight - Hotel (B) DAY 2: ARUSHA TARANGIRE August 21 We depart early from Dar Es Salaam and fly to Arusha in Tanzania. (This domestic flight is included as a group.) We meet up with the local team of professional drivers/guides - the adventure begins! We continue out through the rolling hills of the Maasai to Tarangire N.P. 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 your other pre/post travel requirements. (Not including flights.) 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. After booking into our beautiful safari tent accommodation, we head out on our first game drive. Tarangire Safari lodge is a tented camp, offering the best views and location throughout the park. The rooms are very comfortable and supplied with nets and standard hotel features. You can enjoy pool side relaxation and game viewing from the terrace that overlooks a section of the Tarangire River. The view alone is worth the visit! We return to the lodge for sundowner drinks as our first day draws to a close. Accommodation - Safari lodge (L, D) DAY 3: TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK August 22 We head out for our first full day game drive, this offering excellent light for lions and other big game. Darran and Pearce will use their experience with the local guides to target and offer you the best photo opportunities. Bird life is in abundance around the camp and will also open up a wealth of shoot opportunities. This afternoons game drive will offer excellent elephant and lesser kudu in and around this quiet location set away from the main game routes. We begin the return safari as the colors of the bush turn to rustic gold s and reds - fantastic light to shoot new subjects. A chance again to enjoy sundowner drinks over the Tarangire River. Accommodation - Safari Tented lodge (B, L, D) PAGE 3

4 DAY 4: TARANGIRE NP TO ESILALEI MAASAI COMMUNITY August 23 We depart after breakfast today and transfer to the maasai community of Esilalei for a specially organised Maasai cultural experiences. We meet with your local Maasai guide for a short introduction to a village and a little in-sight into the Maasai way of life, beliefs and rituals. A chance to take in views of the Great Rift valley and Lake Manyara whilst listening to stories before dropping down with a traditional Maasai medicine walk to get a better understanding of the natural medicines still used on a daily basis. We take a look behind the scenes inside a Boma (Mud dwelling) as to the living arrangements to one of these mud huts. This will open up unique photo opportunities, with Darran and Pearce maximising these experiences for you. Accommodation - Isoitok Camp Manyara (B, L, D) DAY 5: NGORONGORO TO NDUTU August 24 Morning departure from the camp and transfer through to the Ndutu Area - but before we hit Lake Ndutu and Lake Masek, we have another short stop at a new Maasai village. The colour and unique nature of the surrounding mountains again offers you special shoot opportunities. Late afternoon game drives through to the lodge finish our days adventures. Have your wide angle lens ready for the shear number of animals. (And of course your long lenses...) Accommodation - Safari Lodge (B, L, D) DAYs 6&7: NDUTU AREA August 25/26 Two full days of game drives. We specially offer more time here as it is a private concession, this meaning we have more freedom to drive off road. This will allow us to track cheetah, lions and elephants, for up close person experiences. This will offer you rare photo opportunities! We head out early each morning on game drives in the local vicinity, with many game tracks to explore and good game populations present. Due to the migration being in full swing, the big cats should also be very active. We return for breakfast. We mix it with a lunch break in the heat of the day and the best game drives, using our local guides experience. Make sure you have a lot of cards ready! Accommodation - Safari Tented Lodge (B, L, D) PAGE 4

5 DAY 8: NDUTU TO SERENGETI PLAINS August 27 We enjoy a final game drive, before lunch and then head off and traversing across to Naabi hill gate where we will enter into the Serengeti eco system. More game driving heading through to Moru Kopjes and our tented camp located nearby. Accommodation - Safari Tented Lodge (B, L, D) DAY 9: SERENGETI PLAINS August 28 Our final full day on the plains, starts with the optional chance for a balloon ride. While not cheap, we guarantee that this is a very unique and special chance to see Africa like no other way. (It was voted one of the best experiences on the last Tanzania tour. Those who do not book will be offered a late departing game drive.)price includes champagne breakfast on the landing site. Priced around US$550 - (includes a photo guide) please confirm your interest with Julia. We are picked up by our local guides and head out on a game drive. Look out for hippo, lion, elephant and perhaps a leopard. After lunch, we continue game driving - maybe lion this time? Accommodation - Lodge (B, L, D) DAY 10: SERENGETI NGORONGORO August 29 Morning departure from the Serengeti and transfer via the NCAA to the Ngorongoro Crater. We descend into the crater around noon for half a day of game drives, with picnic lunch. There are copious amounts of large animals residing in the crater floor. Elephants are mainly bulls, with females staying out of the park due to the largest predator population in Africa. Black rhino also make their home on the grassy plains which offer the best chances of viewing them. The crater is estimated to have about 20. This is a special day with our goal to retrace some tracks where we have already seen lions and other key targets. The wildlife will amaze even the most experienced African visitor! Accommodation - Lodge (B, L, D) DAY 11: NGORONGORO CRATER August 30 We again descend into the crater for a full day! This is truly one of the most amazing wildlife locations on earth. Darran and Pearce will work with the local guides to maximise the many unique photo opportunities. Accommodation - Lodge (B, L, D) PAGE 5

6 DAY 12: SERENGETI TO ARUSHA August 31 The journey is almost over. After a breakfast, we leave the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Arriving at Arusha, we drive to Shanga River house for lunch and a visit to the crafts centre that is predominantly run by local Tanzanian s, all with varying disabilities. Eventually, we continue back through busy Arusha heading to KIA lodge where we relax and overnight. Keep an eye out for Mt Kilimanjaro - it is a top photo from our accommodation. Final night dinner and the chance to recap on the many adventures of your holiday. Accommodation - Lodge (B, L, D) DAY 13: ARUSHA TO DAR ES SALAAM September 1 We transfer to the airport and fly to Dar Es Salaam to overnight. The tour is over, but we include a final nights accommodation and transfers. (B) DAY 14: DAR ES SALAAM TO JOHANNESBURG September 2 Transfer to the airport is included as a group. (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHTS * Incredible big game from elephants to dozens of species on the Serengeti plains. * Outstanding cats - lions, cheetah, leopard and more... * Ngorongoro crater * Special cultural shoots. We meet the Maasai and experience village life. * Small photo group size and expert local guide. * Expert photo guide who works hard to optimise your photo interests. Why not join 1 or 2 of our other photo adventures, linked to this fantastic holiday? (B,L,D) - Confirms if Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner - are included that day. Itinerary and price is subject to change. Inclusive: * Park fees, Conservation and Community Development fees * Midrange lodge and tented camp accommodation as stipulated * Meals as stipulated B Breakfast, L Lunch, D Dinner * Complimentary mineral water x1.5 liters per person in the safari vehicle * 4x4 game viewing vehicles plus driver guide (window seat guaranteed) * Unlimited game drives * Emergency Evacuation Cover * All transfers and activities as mentioned above Exclusive: * Tips suggested: Driver guide $5-$10 per person sharing the vehicle per day * Drinks apart from 1,5 liter mineral water during the safari * Pre & Post arrangements * Visa and airport departure tax - Visa is required. * Items of personal nature and not mentioned in the above itinerary 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 TANZANIA PRICE - AU$8,995 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. TO BOOK: Please ask for our booking form. SINGLE SUPPLEMENT - AU$1,190 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. 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: