Tour
Tanzania Wildlife Safari 2023
| Starts | Feb 4th 2023 |
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| Ends | Feb 15th 2023 |
| Leader | Steve Gettle & Nicole Sudduth |
| Price | $11,000 |
| Deposit | $2,500 |
| Participants | 7 (FULL- but 2024 is Open!) |
Tanzania is one of the premier wildlife viewing destinations in the world and this luxurious photo safari will take you into the very heart of this epic location! We will be among the animals, completely accepted as just another part of the landscape. Imagine the life and death thrill of a hunt unfolding before your lens, lions lounging in the shade of our vehicle, giraffes gazing down at us, elephants strolling calmly yards from our vehicle. Warthogs, zebras, Cape Buffalo, Hyenas, Jackels – they are all here. Throughout this trip, you will be completely immersed in wild Africa and all her majesty. Each day as we begin our game drive you will be filled with excitement and anticipation as you imagine the wonders that await!
Logistics
Going to Africa and experiencing the epic wildlife that live there is a once in a lifetime experience and you definitely want to do it right! We will meet you at Kilimanjaro airport and take care of everything from there!
We have been leading this trip to Tanzania for years and have the best locations, timing, guides, and accommodations nailed down to give you that trip of a lifetime experience that you are looking for. We have structured the itinerary to maximize your time in the field, enabling you to experience life with the majestic animals that call this place home and create images under the best circumstances possible. Wild experiences and amazing memories await!
The Lodges
Our luxury lodges are in the wild habitat giving you an incredible Africa experience! It is not unusual to hear lions at night or see elephants stroll through the grounds during dinner. The views are incredible, the appointments of the rooms put you in the lap of luxury, and the food is delicious. We visited many different lodges and locations across Tanzania and hand-picked these particular lodges based on their proximity to our shooting locations, comfort level, security, services offered, cleanliness, as well as the various types and frequency of wildlife and nature photographic opportunities they offer.
The Guides
All of our guides are hand-picked and are people who we have worked with for years. Each has a great deal of knowledge and a deep connection and understanding of these animals, their locations, and their habits and behaviors on an intimate level. They also understand our special needs as photographers, getting us into position for the best light and behaviors possible.
Safari Seating
We will be travelling in “photographer friendly” safari vehicles. Unlike many overcrowded safari vehicles, we only have three photographers per vehicle. Limiting the number of people we have in each vehicle is a critical difference from most tours and is the make or break between having a great experience and one where you are climbing over other people.
In our vehicles, you will have a FULL ROW all to yourself. You will be free to make yourself at home and spread out your photography gear. And, most importantly, you will be able to photograph from both sides of the vehicle! You don’t ever have to worry about missing photographic opportunities because you are on the wrong side!
***Note non-photographer spouses or partners have the option (for an $895.00 discount) of sharing your row or riding up front with the driver on game drives. When in the front seat they will certainly see everything and be able to photograph most things out the roof. This is a wonderful trip to share with your partner and a great way to do it!
Itinerary
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Travel Day
Friday, February 3 – Depart from home and head to Kilimanjaro (JRO)!!
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Day 1
Saturday, February 4 – Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Private transfer to Arusha for overnight.
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Day 2
Sunday, February 5: Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, we depart with picnic lunches and proceed to Tarangire National Park, home to herds of as many as 500 elephants and a variety of plains animals. We will enjoy a full day game drive. Dinner and overnight at our lodge in Tarangire.
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Day 3
Monday, February 6: Tarangire National Park
Full day game drive in Tarangire National Park as we look for elephants, giraffes, lions, leopards, eland, wildebeests, and zebras as well as the incredible bird species that live here. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the field. Dinner and overnight at our Tarangire lodge.
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Day 4
Tuesday, February 7: Tarangire National Park/Ngorongoro Crater
We’ll enjoy a morning game drive in Tarangire National Park and then depart for the wonderland of the Ngorongoro Crater. Dinner and overnight at lodge on the eastern edge of the crater.
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Day 5 and 6
Wednesday, February 8 and Thursday, February 9
The excitement builds! Following breakfast, we will descend 2,000 feet for an all day crater tour. This ancient collapsed volcano has a variety of environments that includes grasslands, swamps, forests and lakes, giving us a wild variety of wildlife to encounter: lions, zebras, cape buffaloes, rhinos, elephants, gazelles, wildebeests, warthogs, and more. Because the grass is short, it is easy to spot wildlife here. Dinner and overnight at our lodge along the crater.
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Day 7
Friday, February 10
Following breakfast, we will depart for the Serengeti and enjoy a game drive en-route as we photograph our way to Ndutu!
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Day 8, 9 and 10
Saturday, February 11 through Monday, February 13
Each day will be filled with adventure as we head into the wild areas that Ndutu and the Serengeti have to offer! Departing before sunrise, we will look for lions, cheetahs (especially cheetahs!), giraffes, elephants, incredible african birds, herds of wildebeests, impala and more. This is an exciting area as we are allowed to go “off track” and really explore the area!
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Day 11
Tuesday, February 14
After breakfast, we will enjoy our last game drive through the Serengeti. Then, we transfer to our last lodge located near Ngorongoro. Spend the afternoon at your leisure photographing the interesting birds that are all around the property. Optional activities offered on the Farm – coffee plantation tour, organic farm tour.
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Day 12
Wednesday, February 15
After breakfast, we will transfer to Arusha for lunch and a leisurely afternoon visiting an excellent souvenir shop and cultural museum before heading on to Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight home. Due to the flight time, you will arrive home on February 16.
Booking
Deposit of $2,500 due with registration
Payment #2 of $5,500 due August 15, 2022
Final Payment of $3,000 due November 1, 2022
* Pricing based on double occupancy
*** Single supplement (if available) add $1,050
* Non-photographer spouse/partner (sharing a seat or riding up front with the driver) discount of $895
Included
– All lodging while in Tanzania
– All meals
– All ground transportation
– All safari treks and guides
– All park entrance fees
– Air travel to and from Kilamanjaro
– Gratuities
– Travel Insurance
– Any alcoholic beverages
Optional Extension
Serengeti Kopjes – Tanzania Extension
| Starts | Feb 14th 2023 |
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| End | Feb 18th 2023 |
| Price | $4,425 |
| Deposit | $1,000 |
| Participants | 7 (Registration Just Opened!) |
| Register |
For those who can’t get enough of Tanzania, we are excited to offer and extension into the Central Serengeti Kopjes. This habitat and terrain provides unique opportunities to see and photograph wildlife in a completely different setting. Spectacular granite outcroppings weathered smooth over eons punctuate the plains, creating a special ecosystem that wildlife ranging from lions, leopards and cheetahs, and more call home.
What makes this area so attractive to wildlife is the rainwater that puddles in the rocky formations, providing a constant source of refreshment for the wide variety of animals. The Kopjes are loved by big cats, such as lions, leopards and cheetahs, but they are especially enjoyed by lions which lie in wait, ready to ambush unsuspecting prey, or lounge in the shade of the cliffs.
In addition to this, the cats, we may see elephants, giraffes, wildebeests, and quite possibly the Black Rhino as this is the last remaining place in Serengeti National Park where this species still lives.
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Logistics
Just as with the main part of our trip, we do this right!
Our adventure continues with the same guides, vehicles and vehicle seating that we enjoyed during the main part of the trip.
As with the main part of the trip, we place a priority on the seating so we will only have three photographers per vehicle so you have a full row all to yourself.
We will stay at one lodge during this extension.
Itinerary
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1
Tuesday, February 14 – Off to the Serengeti and the Kopjes!
Today we drive directly into the Central Serengeti and enjoy a game drive as we head into the land of Kopjes.
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2 and 3
Wednesday, February 15 and Thursday, February 16 – Game Drives through the Kopjes and the short grass plains of the Serengeti
Each morning we will head out for an early game drive, looking for wildlife in this unique habitat. We will typically take lunch into the field with us to maximize our time in this great place, heading home in the evening to relax and regale each other with stories from the bush!
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4
Friday, February 17 – Return to Ngorongoro
Today we will enjoy our final morning game drive and then head back to Ngorongoro where we will stay at an exquisite lodge. Spend the afternoon at your leisure photographing the interesting birds that are all around the property and enjoying your final day in Africa!
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5
Saturday, February 18
After breakfast, we will transfer to Arusha where we will visit the famous cultural museum and souvenir shop before heading on to Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight home. Please book flights for after 6pm. Due to the flight time, you will arrive home on February 19th.
Deposit of $1000 due with your reservation
Balance of $3425 due November 1, 2022
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Included
- – All lodging
- – All meals
- – All ground transportation
- – *Pricing based on double occupancy; Single Supplement, add $715