ORYX. Greg du Toit In Collaboration with Wildlife Photographer of the Year Africa s Most Coveted Safaris

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1 ORYX Africa s Most Coveted Safaris travel@oryxphotography.com Greg du Toit In Collaboration with Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013

2 Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013 The conservation value of a wildlife photograph might at fi rst glance be subtle, but remember it is human nature to protect that which we love and appreciate. It is in our DNA, we do not need to be taught this. Every time a special wildlife photo is shared, an appreciation and love for wildlife increases. Eventually it will grow to a point where people will simply refuse to let these animals disappear. Greg du Toit

3 Introduction ORYX Worldwide Photographic Expeditions has joined forces with Greg Du Toit Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013, on a quest to create a collection of Africa s most inspiring safaris. Marius Coetzee, co-founder of ORYX, and Greg Du Toit have combined their knowledge from 30 years of African photographic experiences to tailor-make this fantastic collection of African photographic adventures for the upcoming 12 months. These specially selected ORYX photographic safaris are designed for both amateur and professional photographers, whether travelling alone or with a group, and offer prime predator and wildlife action. ORYX s customized/private tours utilize a range of accommodation, from simple to stylish and uber luxurious, all of which are chosen for their charm, exemplary guest services and locality to top photographic locations, hides and subjects. You will be personally hosted and guided by professional wildlife photographers and African experts, Greg du Toit or Marius Coetzee. With Greg or Marius as your photographic leaders they will unlock the secrets of your DSLR camera through one-on-one tuition; your photographic horizons are guaranteed to be expanded! They will not only be interpreting the region s wildlife for you, but also providing professional photographic tuition to ensure that you obtain your dream images. Our Custom Expeditions are one of our key strengths and we take pride in tailor-making the ultimate wildlife, landscape and cultural photographic safari to suit your needs. To provide the defi nitive photographic experience and results, these tours are researched and timed precisely, as seasonal changes make many species more visible and photographable during certain periods. Greg du Toit

4 January Ethiopia Ethiopia is undoubtedly one of Africa s most productive and rewarding photographic destinations. With awe-inspiring scenery, astonishing endemic mammals, photogenic birds, and ancient cultures; its no wonder that Ethiopia is a photographer s delight! This extraordinary photo safari showcases the breathtaking beauty of Ethiopia s rarely photographed wild landscapes, and the striking animals that live in the spectacular highlands of the Simien Mountains and Bale Mountains National Parks. These two parks are haven for the Ethiopian wolf (the world s rarest canid), the critically endangered Walia ibex, mountain nyala and massive congregations of Geladas (one of the world s great primate photography experiences.) These are just some of the unlimited photographic possibilities on this African safari with a difference. February Tanzania Explore the open plains of the endless Serengeti, the highlands of Ngorongoro Crater and Mahale Mountains, home to the world s most famous wild Chimpanzees. Capture the Great Migration, and photograph herds of plains game as they journey to the rich soils of the southern Serengeti-Mara ecosystem to give birth and continue the lifecycle of the Greatest Show on Earth - the Wildebeest migration. Enjoy the very best of the migration s calving season; in a private camp far away from the tourist crowds. This time of year has also been carefully selected for the Mahale Mountains as the Chimpanzees will practically be in our camp! We will photograph these highly intelligent apes exhibiting their remarkable behaviour.

5 March Tanzania Ruaha National Park in the deepest, wild bush country of southern Tanzania is known as the connoisseur s park! This is a true African wilderness, miles off the beaten tourist track, and so remote that our photographic adventure will primarily be a walking safari. Setting out on foot and using a mobile camp that will be assembled just for us on a daily basis, we will explore Africa in the style of the early explorers, with the exception of being armed with our DSLR cameras! This safari also offers a unique opportunity to photograph Africa s smaller creatures, so pack your macro lenses and tripods. The baobab trees in Ruaha make perfect subjects for star-trail shots and the plethora of big game that abounds will keep all our lenses busy. April Namibia Namibia is a country of startling contrasts. It straddles two great deserts: the sea of red sand dunes of the world s oldest desert, the Namib, along the Atlantic coastline, and the vast Kalahari covering much of inland Namibia. The nation s numerous national parks and game reserves boast a huge variety of wildlife and cultural opportunities: in Etosha National Park lions predate herds of thirsty game at waterholes and giraffes amble across the blinding white saltpans, gemsbok plunge headlong up impossibly steep red dunes at Sossusvlei, and fascinating Himba tribespeople cling to their traditional lifestyle in far northern Namibia. Namibia has rapidly become a wellknown safari destination with a difference, famed for its remote and intimate lodges, interactions with indigenous people and its unique wildlife encounters.

6 May South Africa South Africa is, without a doubt, one of the finest destinations on the African continent. Our Rainbow Nation encompasses several extraordinary biomes harbouring a plethora of wildlife, flora and breathtaking landscapes, presenting endless photographic opportunities. The country also hosts some of Africa s premier national parks and private reserves, with magnificent lodges, fine dining and wines and the ability to provide the ultimate luxury experience for the discerning traveller. This safari promises that you will return home not only having furthered your personal photographic skills but also with incredible images of Africa s big cats, especially the sought-after leopard! It is unsurprising that South Africa is one of the most popular photographic destinations on earth. Being our backyard, we guarantee an unsurpassed adventure in South Africa. June Botswana Botswana is globally renowned as a photographic safari destination par excellence, offering true wilderness and arguably some of the finest landscapes and wildlife. Aside from the mind-boggling variety of iconic African birds and wildlife, the country is also one of the safest and most stable nations in Africa. Our Botswana photographic safaris visit the country s most famous parks; ranging from the lush waterways of the Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta, to the teeming waterfront of Chobe National Park, making this a photographer s playground par exellence! Exploring the best known protected areas in this amazing land will expose you to some of the continent s most exceptional mammals and birds, and promises to leave you with a bounty of unforgettable images.

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8 July Tanzania Our Tanzania Singita Safari combines incredible photographic opportunities with style and luxury, a perfect combination for photographers travelling with nonphotographic spouses. Singita Grumeti, situated adjacent to the Serengeti National Park, is an integral part of the Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem, and is situated along the route of the Great Wildebeest Migration. Further to the north, Singita Mara River Tented Camp is located on the northern banks of the world-renowned Mara River in the Lamai Triangle. This camp s unique location provides spectacular opportunities to view the famous Wildebeest river crossings. This area boasts one of the highest yearround concentrations of wildlife in the Serengeti including resident plains game, big cats and elephant, in addition to healthy populations of enormous crocodile and hippo in the Mara River. August South Africa South Africa is, without a doubt, one of the finest destinations on the African continent. Our Rainbow Nation encompasses several extraordinary biomes harbouring a plethora of wildlife, flora and breathtaking landscapes, presenting endless photo opportunities. The country also hosts some of Africa s premier national parks and private reserves, with magnificent lodges, fine dining and wines and the ability to provide the ultimate luxury experience for the discerning traveller. This safari promises that you will return home not only having furthered your personal photographic skills but also with incredible images of Africa s big cats, especially the sought - after leopard! It is unsurprising that South Africa is one of the most popular photographic destinations on earth. Being our backyard, we guarantee an unsurpassed adventure in South Africa.

9 September Zimbabwe Zimbabwe remains a richly rewarding African photographic safari destination. Our tour concentrates on private concessions in two famous national parks; Mana Pools and Hwange. Beginning at the breathtaking Victoria Falls, we next explore Mana Pools along the banks of the mighty Zambezi. Wildlife photography here is legendary with the full compliment of African big game and an incredible array of birds. Along the Botswana border the easternmost tongues of the Kalahari sands creep into Zimbabwe and mix with the teak forests of the interior, so that desert-adapted animals occur alongside woodland species. Hwange National Park is home to some of southern Africa s last great elephant, buffalo and sable herds. The Makalolo concession within Hwange is a true wilderness and specially selected for its unrivalled big game photographic opportunities. October Kenya Our Kenya Great Migration Safari is dubbed the world s best wildlife safari as it is especially timed to coincide with the greatest wildlife show on earth; the annual wildebeest migration. Our locations on this safari are handpicked by Greg du Toit & Marius Coetzee, offering you the optimum chances of wildebeest river crossings, superb predator action and sublime animal landscapes. Not only will you get the full migration experience but you will also photograph in a private concession away from the tourist hordes. Furthermore, off road driving is allowed here ensuring ultimate photo opportunities! ORYX utilize only the finest safaris camps in the Masai Mara offering absolute luxury in large Bedouin style walk-in tents with comfortable beds, private facilities, hot water and mouth-watering cuisine.

10 November Zambia This friendly country is unquestionably one of the finest photographic locations in Africa, yet remains little explored. Our photographic expedition explores the heart of Zambia s most famous national parks, South Luangwa and Kasanka. Experts agree that South Luangwa is one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world. The concentration of game around the Luangwa River and its oxbow lagoons is amongst the most intense in Africa; an absolute feast for your camera lenses. Further to the north lies Kasanka, a wilderness of woodland, plains, lakes and rivers. At this time of year, Africa s largest mammal migration takes place here as eight million straw-coloured fruit-bats converge on the park s abundant fruiting trees. Our expedition is timed for the end of the dry season and there is no better time to photograph the spectacular wildlife that Zambia has on offer. December Congo Brazzaville Congo Brazzaville, better known as the Republic of Congo, is home to a spectacular evergreen wilderness protecting some of the world s most coveted wildlife. This is the ideal journey for those adventurous photographers who seek a completely different African experience. We will explore vast rainforests in the country s north, lying in the heart of the Congo Basin, the world s second largest forest expanse. Here secretive wildlife flourishes and traditional Pygmy cultures still persist. Key photographic targets include Western Lowland Gorilla, Chimpanzee, Bongo and Forest Elephant. This safari allows you a rare opportunity to explore and photograph this little explored pristine land, which is sure to leave you in awe of the earth s bounty. Wilderness Safaris

11 Left: Marius Coetzee; Middle: Marius Coetzee;

12 Greg du Toit Greg du Toit Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013 is a professional fine art wildlife photographer whose work is easily recognized by the tangible mood, primitive energy and vibrant colours that it portrays. This signature style has brought him international acclaim and he has recently exhibited with the National Geographic Society in London. He regularly places in the world s most prestigious photographic competitions and has delivered photographic presentations from South Africa to Finland. While his work is widely published, he has also been interviewed by the BBC World Service and has appeared on the NBC s Today Show. Greg is not only a passionate photographer, but also a passionate African who communicates his personal appreciation and awe for wild creatures through his work. Marius Coetzee Marius Coetzee is an African safari specialist and international award-winning wildlife photographer. His images have graced the covers and pages of numerous premier publications and with over 14 - years experience in the safari industry, Marius has become a highly sought - after photographic tour leader. His knowledge of animal and bird behaviour and his interpretation of the African savanna complement his photographic knowledge and greatly enhance his ability as a photographic guide. Marius is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience on both these subjects, and combined with his charm and witty sense of humor, he has understandably become a highly rated wildlife photographic safari guide. Marius has successfully led photographic and wildlife expeditions to 12 countries on 4 continents. He is the co-founder with Adam Riley of ORYX Worldwide Photographic Expeditions. Nicky Silberbauer Owen Stronell

13 Why Travel with ORYX and Greg? To obtain African images that are striking and different, one needs to visit locations that are not only fresh and dynamic, but that are also not part of the usual African safari circuit. Our safaris purposefully take you to places that are off the beaten track, areas that have not yet been comprehensively photographed. The images you capture on our safaris will be unique and inspiring. We have lived in Africa all our lives and are both professional safari guides with extensive guiding experience. This means that not only will you receive specialised photographic tuition but you will also enjoy a holistic safari experience, as you gain a deeper understanding and insight into Africa s fauna, flora and cultures. Allow us to welcome you to our home and provide you with a photo safari at a level never offered before. After living and working in the African safari industry for a combined time of 30 years, we have carefully selected both the time of year and the camps so that you are optimally placed in the best locations at the perfect time, and away from the main tourist traffic. We operate our safaris in areas where off-road driving is permitted and this photographic freedom is a vital factor, allowing you to capture award-winning imagery. We are African wildlife behavior experts and joining us on safari will mean that you are not only positioned close to the action but rather ahead of it, so that you are able to capture those special moments, the ones that make all the difference to your photographic safari. Our distinct specialty lies in helping you achieve excellent photographic results both in the field and with your camera. All Wildlife Images Greg du Toit Our safaris are not about ourselves, they are about you and our goal is to assist you wherever possible in building a portfolio of exceptional images. Our teaching style is one of the major factors that separate us from the crowd, we not only share our personal settings and techniques but we also welcome questions. We cater for photographers of all levels, please feel free to contact us for client testimonials from previous guests who have joined us on safari. When you travel with us, you are traveling with professional wildlife photographers who have garnered numerous awards in the prestigious Nature s Best and BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competitions. We have also been extensively published and our wildlife images have appeared in coffee table books, magazines and calendars the world over. To view a selection of our published work please contact us or visit our website

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