Photographic Workshop   – 11 nights

IMG_2174.jpg

Elephant Trails Safari Co Photo Workshops are led by accomplished photographers who have an intimate knowledge about animal behaviour and the areas we cover during the safari. 

  • We usually spend 2 to 4 nights in one area. They are intense and educational, but still fun and enjoyable.

  • They are a great way for novices and advanced photographers to learn and share skills.

  • We are up early in the morning to get out just before sunrise to get the best of the light and the animal behaviour.

  • We return to camp for lunch and then we head out on game drives in the late afternoon until after sunset.

  • We have special vehicles with mounts for supporting the camera and lens and the vehicles are open on all sides to maximise visibility.

  • Each vehicle has inverters to keep camera batteries, laptops and other electronic devices charged.

  • We have tables and chairs available in camp as work areas for any post production work that may need to be done.

  • We are very flexible with our time, and if we are photographing something exciting we will not have to rush back to camp for any reason.

This photographic safari is ideal at the end of the rainy season (March/April/May) and is an excellent time of the year in the Kalahari and Moremi Game Reserve for photography.  This workshop includes serviced camping in Bow tents, allowing for maximum time photographing during the golden hours of dawn and dusk. Please contact me should you wish to book a photographic workshop

ITINERARY

Day 1

Arriving at Maun Airport you will be met by your safari guides who will assist you and inform you of the journey ahead. Once we have loaded our bags into the safari vehicles we will transfer to the Sedia Hotel to spend the night. (DBB) 

Day 2, 3, 4 & 5

After breakfast in the hotel we will load our bags on the safari vehicles begin the journey to the Kalahari for 4 nights

We drive from Maun to Central Kalahari Game Reserve via the small village of Makalamabedi. We will camp in the Deception Valley area which was made famous by Mark and Delia Owens in their book " Cry of the Kalahari".

We will spend these days exploring the Deception Valley and surrounding areas in our safari vehicle. The valley is a fossil remnant of an ancient river that would have flowed here in a much wetter time. We will be looking out for Gemsbok (Oryx), Springbok and of course the predators, with even the possible sighting of a leopard.

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is one of the largest unspoilt areas of Africa. At 52800 sq.km in size it is the second largest game reserve in Africa, slightly smaller than the Selous Game Reserve in southern Tanzania. During the early part of the year, while, and shortly after the rains have fallen, the reserve becomes one of the prime game viewing areas of Botswana. The wildlife is attracted to the protein rich short grass plains. They come from as far afield as the Boteti River in the north and the enigmatic Schwelle region to the south west. The large herds of springbok, oryx and sometimes wildebeest and hartebeest are a unique sight to behold. These herds are attended by predators such as cheetah, lion and wild dog. The reserve is one of the best areas to see the shy and secretive Brown Hyaena. Going to this reserve at the right time of the year provides one of the truly wild and memorable safari experiences in Botswana and indeed Africa  (BLD)

Day 6 & 7

We drive into the Makgadikgadi National Park and spend 2 nights camping and the better part of 2 days exploring this fascinating area. We will explore the Boteti River area and if weather permits explore the large salt pans. (BLD)

Day 8, 9 & 10

We drive from Makgadikgadi to Moremi Game Reserve today. Moremi is a wonderfully diverse area in which the 3 days we spend pass in a flash. This is an area where lion and leopard may be seen. There is a healthy population of plains game, including, kudu, impala, giraffe and zebra. 

Here we will spend our days on game drives and will have a chance to relax and catch up with our diaries during the siesta time in the afternoons. (BLD)

Day 11

We return to Maun to spend our final night in the Sedia Hotel before catching our homeward flights out of Maun Airport. End of Safari

 

Cost  -  US$TBC

This workshop is limited to 6 places only and is subject to availability

Please call Shareen  0408 938 008 or email hello@shareennash.com for more information on this safari and the terms and conditions,thanks.

 

 

ELEPHANT TRAILS SAFARI CO, BOTSWANA

MORE INFORMATION REGARDING OUR SAFARIS

Game Viewing

We place great emphasis on game viewing on this journey. We believe it is very important to spend time observing wild animals so that we may get a better insight into their behaviour and “ what makes them tick”. Our guides are fully committed to giving guests the finest possible wildlife experience and to this end we may spend more time out there than may be the norm with other operators. We feel that since you have travelled so far to experience our part of the world with us we owe it to you to do our best in providing you with wonderful memories of a very special part of our planet. Our guides will inform you of the, ecology, biology, geography and history of the area on game drives that are as much fun as they are educational.

Our open sided 4 x 4 vehicles are fully equipped to enhance your experience. We will always try to ensure that every passenger has a window seat to maximise viewing and photographic opportunities. This also allows more space for, cameras, binoculars, etc.

Meals & Drinks

Our meals are wholesome and hearty. After a long day in the bush a fresh "home cooked " meal is very welcome indeed. We use fresh produce as much as possible, and we also bake fresh bread over the coals in camp on a daily basis

Early morning breakfast consists of a choice of tea, coffee, hot chocolate, toast, a variety of jams, cereal, oatmeal porridge and sometimes pan cakes.

Morning tea is served while we are out on safari and there is a choice of tea, coffee, hot chocolate and biscuits or cake.

Lunch is served as either a picnic on travelling days or as a hot meal in camp when we are not moving to another camp site. A typical picnic consists of fresh bread, tomatoes, onions, pickles, cold meats, tuna salad, beet salad, etc. The hot lunch in camp could vary from a stir-fry to shepherd’s pie and is usually served with fresh bread and salad. Our main meal of the day is supper. It is usually a 3 course meal and varies from soups to roast brinjal salad for starters,  casseroles to roast chicken and Barbeques for the main and melva pudding to chocolate fridge tart for desert. Vegetables and starch are also plentiful with these meals.

The only drinks that we supply as part of the package is tea, coffee, hot chocolate, fruit squash and water. Any other drinking requirements can be purchased in Maun or Kasane prior to departure or a list can be sent to us which we will purchase on behalf of the guest.

We will cater to special dietary requirements if we are informed in good time.

Accommodation

 Bow tents are spacious enough to accommodate 2 persons comfortably and are tall enough to be able to stand up in. We provide a camp bed with mattress, sheets, duvet, pillow and extra blanket for the colder months, plus a lantern. The toilet and shower facilities are separate.

Toilets are enclosed pit latrines, and showers are enclosed bucket showers with warm water.

Guides & Staff

Our guides are passionate about what they do. We feel a great responsibility to show our guests this magnificent wilderness to the best of our ability. We strive to be as sensitive to the people, culture, and fauna and flora as possible. To this end we have some of the most experienced guides in the country. They are certainly one of the most important aspects of conducting a successful safari.

Our loyal and dedicated camp staff will take care of your needs in camp. They are friendly and open, so please feel free to engage them in a conversation or go see what they are cooking up in the kitchen at any time.

Daily Life in Camp

As you can, imagine, life in the wilderness starts early (5 am in summer and 6 am in winter). You will be given a wake-up call by one of the camp staff who will at the same time pour warm water into a basin by your tent.

This water can be used to brush your teeth or rinse your face or even to have a shave. After breakfast we set off on our morning game drive. If we are moving camp we request that guests have their bags packed and ready before breakfast so that the camp staff can start breaking camp. During the course of the drive we will stop for morning tea , and when we are not moving camp we return there at around midday for lunch and a siesta , departing once again after afternoon tea, at around 3 pm.

Returning to camp at sunset we will have time for a shower to freshen up before dinner (in the colder months the shower will also be available in the afternoon for those who prefer it then).

Please understand that this is just a guideline to daily activities. It is not unusual to spend more time away from camp because of wildlife viewing opportunities.

Included in the Price

-Services of a professional guide

-Services of a support crew including chef and waiter

-All transport while on safari

-All meals 

-Tea, coffee, fruit squash and water

-National Park entry fees

-All camping equipment

-Laundry service twice while on safari

 Excluded from the Price

-All flights, international and domestic.

-All passport and visa fees.

-Any drinks not listed on the included list.

-Staff and guide gratuities.

-Optional activities in Maun.

-Compulsory travel insurance that includes a medical evacuation and repatriation plan

DO NOT FORGET

-TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

-TRAVEL INSURANCE

-ANTI-MALARIA MEDICATION

-SOME CASH (US DOLLARS ARE THE SAFEST)

- MOST IMPORTANT , COME WITH AN OPEN MIND!

 Philosophy

We are committed to providing highly memorable safaris that are safe, fun and educational. Our primary goal is to share the unique beauty of exquisite wildlife with those who are looking for the true African experience. Africa is a continent like no other and should be visited at least once in your lifetime. A safari to Africa will spiritually enlighten you and have you longing to come back time and again.