ULTIMATE AFRICA SAFARIS
Imagine: Africa’s vast plains teeming with wildlife. You are in an open 4x4 LandRover...there is no rush as you wait for the right light...the action. This is an Ultimate Africa ProPhoto Safari. In the company of an expert photo guide, join a set group departure or plan your own private photo safari. Ultimate Africa’s 55 pound luggage limit (on most southern African ProPhoto safaris) will allow you to bring all the gear you desire (most safaris limit you to 26 lbs. of luggage). Guests are limited to 3 to 4 per vehicle (many photo safaris have 6 or more people in one vehicle which is absolutely unacceptable if you are serious about photography). Why Ultimate Africa ProPhoto Safaris: There are basically two types of photo safaris available - There are safaris that are marketed as photo safaris with 6 or 8 people per vehicle with a basic driver / guide and a luggage limit of 26 pounds per person (Most companies refer to their standard safaris as photo safaris as travelers from Europe and America bring their point and shoot cameras and take wildlife photos). These trips offer no real benefits to serious photographers. The second type of photo safaris are those offered by well known professional photographers who travel to Africa once a year (or once every other year) and invite groups of 4 to 12 guests to join them on their specific departure. Most of these trips offer serious photographers great photographic opportunities however the professional photographer / trip leader often has very limited hands on knowledge of Africa's different wildlife and wilderness areas. In addition you must travel on the dates they suggest. At Ultimate Africa we have specific hands on knowledge of Africa's numerous and varied wildlife and wilderness areas (All our employees have either lived and worked in Africa. We spend 6 to 8 weeks each and every year inspecting lodges, camps, hotels, and exploring Africa's wildlife and wilderness areas so we can offer our clients the latest, detailed information). In addition we have hands on photography experience as we are serious photographers ourselves (managing director Ian Proctor shoots with a D60 and numerous lenses including the Canon 100-400L IS, Sigma 17-35 and Canon 28-105 IS). We are able to offer both set departure photo safaris (for those of you who wish to join a group) and private tailor-made photo safaris based on your own departure dates. Both types of trips include the services of a professional photographer and local guides and the 55 pound luggage allowance. Where to go: The number one question we are asked is "which African country offers the best photographic opportunities?" The answer is not solely Kenya or Tanzania as many will tell you. Botswana is the perfect destination for a specialist photo safari. Not only is it one of Africa’s most stable and safe countries; it is home to Africa’s most abundant wildlife (Botswana's Okavango Delta is home to the highest density of lion in Africa / Chobe is home to over 50 to 60 thousand elephant - more than Kenya as an entire country) and Africa's leading wilderness areas (Chobe, Moremi, the Okavango, Savute / Linyanti). Unlike in east Africa where safaris are often limited by park regulations saying you must be inside your lodge or outside park borders between sunset and sunrise and where you must stay on roads (as an example at Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater you have to wait until sunrise and commute over an hour into the crater following in other vehicle's dust...in the afternoon you have to leave before the best light to be back at your lodge by sunset) at most camps and lodges in Botswana you may start and end your days as early or as late as you wish and your guide is not restricted to roads. This helps in positioning the vehicle for the best light and getting you close to the action. The Kenyan and Tanzanian governments have allowed mass tourism and it is not uncommon to find a pride of lion or herd of elephant and you are unable to take a perfect picture due to the large number of vehicles also viewing the animals. In Botswana the government has a policy of low volume / high revenue tourism and, outside of the Chobe National Park which has some busy areas, you rarely see other vehicles. Although professionally guided walks are possible (especially on tailor-made photo safaris designed around your needs), our photo safaris focus mainly on drives as on walks animals are more wary and tend to keep their distance. A walking safari is generally not a productive photo safari. General information: Each guest will be allowed to bring 55 pounds of luggage and equipment (this is double the amount of most African safaris). We limit each open 4x4 vehicle to 3 to 4 photographers with your professional photographer tour leader / guide and driver up front. Group trips are limited to 8 or 9 guests in total in 3 vehicles (many other photo safaris have 6 or more photographers in one vehicle which is absolutely unacceptable if you are serious about photography). Your guide will offer detailed information on techniques and equipment based on 1st hand experience. In the evenings you will go over your day's photos learning how best to capture Africa's wildest moments. Scheduled Prophoto Safaris: For 2005 we are offering two set group departures - one in March with professional photographer Ron Lucas and professional photographer / guide Dave Christensen and one in October, to Botswana, also with Ron and Dave. Tailor-made ProPhoto Safaris: We are also able to tailor-make itineraries for individuals, couples, or small groups (preferably no more than 8 with one professional photographer). From the world's oldest desert - the Namib, to the endless plains of the Serengeti, Africa offers serious photographers an endless array of opportunities. To plan you own private Prophoto Safari phone our Seattle office toll free 1 800 461 0682 anytime between 10 AM and 6 PM weekdays. From outside the USA please phone on 425 793 8877. Tanzania - Focus on Africa Autumn 2005 group departure with professional photographer Ron Lucas and professional photographer / professional guide Dave Christensen Premier / Platinum Collection 12 days, US $TBA per person Visit: Johannesburg, Victoria Falls, Savute / Linyanti, the Okavango Delta and Moremi Highlights: all inclusive, exclusive tented camps and lodges, transfers by air with 55 pound luggage limit (twice what most safaris offer), services of professional photographer's Ron Lucas and Dave Christensen, private day and night wildlife viewing from open sided 4x4 vehicles with a maximum of 4 guests + tour leader and guide per vehicle, optional sleep out, professionally guided walks on request, Okavango Delta excursions in traditional dug out mokoros or by boat on request, excellent wildlife and birding, Chobe River boat cruise, private guided tour of Victoria Falls. Links to other pages: ULTIMATE AFRICA
SAFARIS Send mail to info@ultimateafrica.com |
