BEST OF TANZANIA: AN AFRICAN SAFARI

March 3 – 14, 2020

Location: Arusha, Tanzania

Leader(s): Adam Jones

Pricing: $11,300

Deposit: $850

Participants: Maximum 14

Jambo, and welcome to magical Tanzania. Tanzania during the wildebeest birthing season should be on every wildlife photographers bucket list. The wildlife spectacle in southern and central Serengeti is simply astounding. This exclusive African safari is designed by a full time pro for photographers who want to capture images of a lifetime. You will want for nothing, friendly professional leadership from me, best guides/drivers in the business, luxurious comfortable camps, and great food.

I’ve lead tours to Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia) for over 25 years and nothing prepared me for the difference between Tanzania and Kenya: staggering numbers of wildebeest, topi, zebras, and Thompson’s Gazelles occupying the Serengeti of Tanzania. The immense sense of wildness is unique to Tanzania. Even though we are going during peak season, we are often the only photographers on location.

Our safari is designed to coincide with the birthing season of the wildebeest herds in the southern and central Serengeti. With calving in full swing predators and scavengers are quite abundant like no other season. We concentrate on all the big cats, tons of grazing animals, hippos, elephants, birds, crocodile and so much more. We can easily film 35 species of birds without much effort. Caracal and serval cat, rare to photograph in many African countries, but often photographed at close range on the Serengeti. On our last safari we had a caracal hunting within 30 ft. of our vehicle to everyone’s filming delight. We are never in a rush, waiting when necessary to record incredible images. We photograph everything, birds, mammals large and small, reptiles, landscapes, anything of interest to serious photographers.

This safari offers unlimited mileage. We have the dual permits necessary to travel inside both the National Park and the Conservation Areas. My Safari Driver guides are veterans and the most experienced and well respected in the country. Each safari vehicle is limited to 3 photographers to ensure unrestricted filming in all directions. We rotate photographers from vehicle to vehicle each day, ensuring everyone benefits from my experience and driver/guides experience as well. Rotating photographers and drivers daily, ensures everyone experiences the best of everything this safari offers. Previous clients unanimously appreciated the rotating strategy.

Our tour includes the two most exciting and productive photo locations: The Ngorongoro Crater is a world famous destination and World Heritage Site, offering some of the finest wildlife photography on the planet. At Lions Paw Camp we are only 15 minutes from the Crater floor, with easy access to a wide variety of wildlife with the beautiful blue green walls of the crater as our background. The crater is lush and green during this season.

Our primary destination centers around the south and central Serengeti, during prime wildebeest birthing. Nothing can prepare you for the breathtaking size, scope, and wildlife interaction of the world’s greatest ecosystem. Unlike Kenya, the Serengeti is dotted with rock kopjes offering opportunities for beautiful landscape photos as well as great wildlife. The vast plains and scattered acacia trees are home to greatest spectacle on earth. Countless wildlife shows are filmed in the same locations we visit. The vast openness of the grasslands means the daily life of a wide variety of animals is right out in the open for our cameras. Our safari is scheduled to be during the prime wildebeest migration/birthing, in one of the wildlife wonders of the world that tops every list of safari experiences. Imagine the daily interaction between an estimated 1.5 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebra, and 400,000 gazelles and the big cats such as cheetah, leopard, and lion.

This safari is for anyone serious about wildlife photography: only three photographers in each vehicle, luxury lodges, all meals, and park entrance fees. Our outstanding local guides fully understand the needs of serious photographers. Enjoy your safari with an award winning and friendly photographer, having led 20 previous wildlife safaris to Africa.

Past participants, many of them on safari with me 4 and 5 times, describe the experience as life changing. The tremendous wildlife photography, the sights, sounds, smells, camaraderie, the friendships with our guides, all go into creating unforgettable memories of a lifetime.

Everything is taken care of for you on this luxury safari.

THE DETAILS

WHAT IS INCLUDED

  • All meals and accommodations from dinner upon arrival to dinner upon departure
  • All park, camp and concession fees including double permits while at Woodlands Camp and a special permit for two excursions to
    the Gol Kopjes
  • All current VAT on accommodations, park fees, camp fees, concession fees and vehicle fees.
  • All local travel including transfers to/from Kilimanjaro International Airport (on the official arrival and departure dates)
    and a bush flight from the Serengeti to Arusha with one extra seat for the weight of all the camera equipment
  • All game drives with private vehicle/guide and unlimited daily mileage
  • Bottled water and soft drinks at all Karibu Camp properties (Lions Paw, Woodlands and Sametu Camps)
  • Free WiFi at all Karibu Camp properties
  • Bottled water, soft drinks and snacks in the vehicle on all game drives
  • Beans to fill photography bean bags
  • VIP arrival service including the cost of the Tanzania visa pre-paid and a private security officer to assist with
    Immigration, Baggage and Customs on the official arrival date,VIP service is available for separate arrivals at an extra
    charge.
  • Membership in AMREF Flying Doctors for emergency evacuation to Nairobi Hospital if needed
  • Porterage at all accommodations

*Please note that the pricing listed is an estimate for 2020.  Tanzania’s fiscal year is July 1-June 30 and the government releases the national budget in the middle of June 2019.  If the government implements new tariffs that impact the tourist industry, prices will be adjusted shortly after July 15th, 2019.  If any increases impact your decision to participate in the safari, your deposits will be refunded as long as you inform us by Aug 31st   Last year the increase was very nominal, with virtually no impact on pricing.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED

  • International air or travel insurance (Travel insurance is highly suggested for everyone)
  • Tips/gratuities for guide or accommodation staff
  • Beverages in Arusha
  • Items of a personal nature such as alcoholic beverages, laundry, communication needs or souvenirs
  • Any changes made to the program once in Tanzania
  • Any costs associated with flight delays or cancellations
  • Any new taxes imposed by the Tanzania government prior to your arrival

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Participants are instructed on fast and slow speed action panning techniques, following and framing fast moving subjects, and stop action photography.
  • Learn to use manual exposure for consistently perfect exposures
  • Learn to use flash indoors and out for natural looking results
  • Explore camera setup and ISO considerations as we photograph in and out of historic buildings.

ITINERARY

TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATIONS

NOTES OF INTEREST

Feel free to give me a call or e-mail me if you wish to discuss this tour or if additional information is needed.

References provided upon request. Past clients rave about our previous photo safaris in Tanzania.

RESERVE YOUR PLACE NOW

For more information, or to register by mail, please email me: adam@adamjonesphoto.com