BEST OF TANZANIA PHOTOGRAPHIC SAFARI
Max no. of guests:
5
Duration:
15 Days/14 Nights
Port of Arrival/ Departure:
Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Dates:
All year
Price:
Dependent on pax
Overview
Tanzania is often referred to as nature’s holy grail. It’s famous for its biodiversity and the sheer number of wildlife that roams the broadleaf forests and sweeping savannas. In fact, there are more than four million wild animals in Tanzania representing 430 different species, so it’s no wonder the East African nation attracts wildlife photographers and film crews from all over the world!
The country is home to some 20% of Africa’s large mammal population. Elephants, giraffes, hippos, zebra, buffaloes, wildebeest, antelopes and gazelles can be found in abundance as well as hundreds of bird species and reptiles such as the Nile crocodile. Iconic predatory animals like lions, leopards, cheetah and spotted hyena are also common residents.
Dive deep into Tanzania’s incredible areas of outstanding natural beauty where you will experience unique and intimate encounters with wildlife whilst learning how to capture incredible pictures under the guidance of an experienced tour leader.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport
Our driver will be waiting for you at the airport to transfer you to the beautiful Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge in Arusha before your safari starts the next morning. A member of our team will meet you upon arrival at your lodge to give you the briefing and all the necessary information regarding your tour and answer all the questions that you might have.
Day 2: Arusha National Park - Mount Meru Crater & Lakes
You’ll set out in the early morning to the beautiful Arusha National Park where you will ascend Tanzania’s second highest peak and active volcano, Mount Meru, before having the chance to stretch your legs during a guided walk through the bird-rich montane forest. Enjoy lunch at the beautiful waterfall. In the afternoon, you will do a bush walk accompanied by a ranger and your photographic guide where you will have your first opportunity to take pictures of elephants, giraffe, zebra and more. The day’s main activities will conclude with a scenic drive around the crater lakes before heading to your mobile camp in North Kilimanjaro where you will spend the night.
Days 3 & 4: Amboseli - North Kilimanjaro
Your campsite will be located in the Amboseli area, strategically placed for the best experience of trekking large elephants, zebras, gazelle, as well as nocturnal animals like leopards. You will rise with the sun and enjoy an early breakfast before a full day of game drives and bush walks where you will learn about the wildlife and natural ecosystems whilst being given more photographic tips from your tour leader. In the evening, you’ll set out for your first night drive on the trip, where you’ll get the opportunity to see the weird and wonderful creatures that come out after dark. Our overnight camp setting will offer spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro. Spend the second evening around a campfire where you will have one-on-one time with your tour leader for image review and advice.
Day 5: Amboseli - Lake Natron
Following a hearty breakfast, you’ll make your way on an eight-hour journey toward Lake Natron. Along the way, there will be stops to stretch your legs and take landscape photographs. Arrival at the camp will take place around sunset.
Days 6 & 7: Lake Natron
Spend a full day at Lake Natron, located in northern Tanzania at the border with Kenya. This a mineral-rich soda lake is a breeding ground for hundreds of thousands of lesser flamingos and pelicans. You’ll walk around the lakeshore where you’ll also have the opportunity to spot and photograph zebra and wildebeest. Enjoy the view atop Ol Doinyo Lengai Volcano ("Mountain of God" in the Maasai language) and the witness the fantastic landscape and surrounding areas. You’ll also visit the famous waterfalls and baboon caves, all in the company of your experienced guides. Ahead of the next part of the trip, you’ll join a group debrief with the tour leader to ensure you are well prepared for the most wildlife rich component of the trip.
Days 8, 9, & 10: Serengeti
You’ll rise early and depart from Lake Natron to nature’s holy grail – the Serengeti. Each day will be spent on full day games drives exploring a beautiful landscape and rich biodiversity the park has to offer. In Ndutu (South Serengeti), witness the Great Migration - one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth as well as calving. During this part of the trip, you also visit the wondrous Ngorogoro Conservation Area, home to one of the richest abundance of predators in all of Africa. Carnivores that are prevalent in this region include lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, wild dogs, jackals, serval cats and more. There are also over 550 recorded bird species. The Serengeti is also home to savannah elephants, black and white rhinos, giraffe, buffalo, hippo, zebra, antelope, crocodile, and many other iconic species. Here is the best place to capture stunning pictures of Tanzania’s wide array of wildlife under the guidance of your tour leader. You’ll spend each evening in a mobile camp and have more one-on-one time with your instructor for image review and advice.
Days 11, 12 & 13: Tarangire National Park Wildlife Management Area
In the morning you will fly to Manyara airstrip. After landing, you will then drive to the wildlife protected areas near Tarangire National Park, famous for its high density of elephants and baobab trees. The park is so named for the Tarangire River which runs through it and is the primary source of fresh water for the wildlife residing in the ecosystem. The landscape is composed of swamps, river valley and gigantic ridges. Your mobile camp will be set up for you within the strategically defined area for the best wildlife tracking and you will continue with walking safaris and both night and daytime game drives whilst being accompanied by your expert guide and tour leader.
Day 14: Back to Arusha
Drive back to Arusha and overnight at Ngare Sero mountain Lodge. Join your tour leader for a debrief session including image review and post-processing tips that will help you to edit your images to perfection.
Day 15: Departure
Unfortunately, your trip has come to an end. You will be transferred from your hotel to Kilimanjaro International Airport in time to make your flight back home.
Accommodation
Your first and last nights on the trip will be spent in the beautiful Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge.
During the tour, you will stay in mobile tented camps which allow for the most intimate encounters with wildlife. The mobile camps allow us to go off the beaten track and enjoy low tourism density. They also provide the opportunity for more walking safaris as well as nighttime games drives. Each of the luxury, lightweight tents offers a comfortable bed, panoramic views with privacy curtains, electricity for lights and charging, as well as an en suite shower, toilet, and sink.
Is this safari for you?
This tour is suited to beginner and mid-level photographers, but all levels are welcome. Our tour leader has excellent experience guiding across East and Southern Africa as well as in photographic instruction. You will visit the best spots for photographing wildlife and every tour offers a low client-leader ratio which allows for increased personal attention and customized guidance to help you enhance your photography skills.
Throughout the trip, you will be taught all the ingredients that contribute toward the highest level of wildlife photography. Our experienced tour leader will show you the creative techniques that will help set your images apart from the rest. Furthermore, we’ll also cover traditional techniques like focussing, action, portraits, and composition.
Following our game drives, you will also learn about post-processing and take part in image review sessions. The purpose of our tours is to maximize your experience and ensure you leave us with the pictures you’ve always wanted.
What’s Included?
Included
Airport transfers in a private vehicle
4WD safari vehicle and driver (includes open rooftop, window seat, A/C, fridge, WiFi, power outlets, and fuel for the duration of the trip)
Domestic flights (if applicable to the tour)
Photographic guide and tuition
Accommodation
Meals (breakfast/lunch/dinner)
Soft drinks (coffee, tea, water, juice)
All fees (park, activity, camping, concession, crater, ranger, local guiding, and Wildlife Management Area (WMA))
At least 3 pairs of binoculars in the car
Field guide books
Pre-trip brief and post-trip debrief
Lightroom presets
18 % government tax
Not Included
International flights to/from Tanzania
Visa fee upon arrival
Personal medical insurance
Telephone bills
Laundry service (available upon request)
Items of personal nature
Souvenirs
Alcoholic beverages
Tipping to the driver, guide, and chef
DOMESTIC FLIGHTS
For small in-country flights, passengers are permitted a maximum luggage allowance of 15kgs (33lbs) per person including carry-on luggage. Soft bags are strongly recommended but are not obligatory.
These small carriers do not have sophisticated RFID baggage tags like large airlines; however, they can assist you in carrying your luggage but it is advised that you keep track of the loading and unloading of them at the various airstrips.
Excess luggage carried will be charged at the prevailing freight rate. The final decision on load allowable or any flight condition is solely at the pilot’s discretion.
Our Values
While our tour leader also takes pictures during the trip, the photography of our guests always comes first, and we will always ensure that you have the right of way.
As a responsible tour operator, we respect the natural environment, and the welfare of wildlife will always come first. We abide by guidelines that make sure the animals are not disturbed or impeded by our presence.
Reservations and payments
The reservation is considered formalised with the deposit payment of 30% of the tour price. Final payment must be made 30 days before the departure date of the trip.
We accept the following pay method: Bank transfer
Travel contract
When the reservation is considered formalised (payment in deposit), we will send a travel contract for you to return signed.
Cancellation policy
A deposit of 30% of the total cost is applied if the booking is made more than 30 days before the trip. For the bookings made less than 30 days before the trip, the price is charged in full amount.
The following penalties will be applied if the trip is canceled by the traveler:
31 or more days before the trip: No penalty. Deposit returned.
15-30 days before the trip: Loss of deposit
3-14 days before the trip : 50% of total trip cost
0-3 days before the trip: 75% of the total trip cost
If the cancellation is made by the company, all payments will be refunded.
Financial Protection
The payments for this tour are made through The Image of Africa meaning you have the financial protection of booking through a registered tour operator. Please download our terms and conditions here.
Covid-19 Guarantee
We understand the global pandemic scenario, that's why we want to bring security to all our guests when booking a trip. If there is any COVID-related cancellation The Image of Africa compromises to do their best to refund all the payments made. Even if we can't guarantee a 100% refund due to the cancelation policies of some lodges and camps, we will return all payments that are not compromised with cancelation fees made by third parties. Also, when possible, we will actively work for rescheduling trips with the least costs possible for our customers. We highly recommend our guests upgrade their travel insurance in order to cover all COVID-related cancellations.
Bookings
Our tour groups are small, allowing for a maximum of 5 participants so space is very limited.
Single supplements are optional for those who wish to have their own room or tent. Alternatively, single travelers of the same gender will be paired with one another.
To reserve your spot on this incredible journey, please fill out the contact form below.