ETOSHA & SECRETS of the KALAHARI · ETOSHA & SECRETS of the KALAHARI DESERT N A M I ... Silver Fox, Honey Badger, African Wildcat, White & Black Rhino, Cape Bu!alo, Gira!e, Ground

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ETOSHA & SECRETS of the KALAHARI DESERT N A M I B I A & S O U T H A F R I C A

N A M I B I A & S O U T H A F R I C A!1

DOCUMENT CONTENTS

DESCRIPTION

DETAILED ITINERARY TRANSPORT & LODGING BOOKING PROCEDURE

FAQ's

Type to enter textFAX:+27(0)866167818|JustynaTEL:+27(0)610102880|StuTEL:+27(0)610106817|EMAIL:[email protected]

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TOUR LEADER & PHILOSOPHY

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ETOSHA and SECRETS of the KALAHARI N A M I B I A & S O U T H A F R I C A A W I L D 4 P H O T O G R A P H I C S A F A R I

INCLUDED & EXCLUDED

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DESCRIPTION

This 13 Day Photo Safari begins & ends in Johannesburg, South Africa. The main focus of this very different photo safari is to spend time in two arid environments, namely Etosha National Park in Namibia and the Kalahari Desert in South Africa. These arid environments offer very different settings and backgrounds to your photographs. They also have great potential for you to see and photograph the regular species of animals found on most african safaris, such as elephant, buffalo, Lion, Giraffe and Zebra, but it will also offer wonderful opportunities to photograph the more elusive, secretive and shy animals that have adapted to these very harsh and dry environments. We will be on the look out for the Aardvark, Pangolin, Roan & Sable antelope, Meerkats, Red Hartebeest as well as the highly endangered Black Rhino and African Wild dog. !I will meet you at Johannesburg (OR TAMBO Int Airport) for a morning flight to Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia. Here we will be met by our Ultimate Safaris guide and vehicle. We immediately depart on a 3 hour road trip to Frans Indongo Lodge where we stay for the night. This is a convenient half way stop on the way to Etosha and the final 3 hour drive to Etosha is done the following morning so that we can arrive at Etosha at around 08:30 in time for a morning game drive. Etosha National Park is just over 20 000 sq km or nearly 8 000 sq miles in size and is a vast wilderness area. We have timed this safari to coincide with the middle of the dry season in Etosha where large numbers of animals make their way to the remaining water sources to quench their thirst in this dry arid environment. We spend a total of 6 days exploring both the western and eastern sides of Etosha. Our first 3 nights are spent in the West at Okaukuejo Camp and our final 3 nights are spent in the east at Onguma Tented Camp, a camp that is just outside the National Park in its own private reserve. We will be doing all our game drives inside the national park at both locations. !Etosha is well known for its Lion population, and it consistently produces some of the best "general game" photos of Zebra, Giraffe, Wildebeest, Oryx, Black Faced Impala, Kudu, Jackal, Spotted Hyaena, Elephant, Springbok and Black Rhino, along with a fantastic variety of birds. Photographing the great variety of "general game" in the dry arid environment as well as when these animals come to drink at the waterholes will be the focus of our stay whilst in Etosha National Park.!We spend a stop over night in Windhoek on the way to our second destination. We fly back to Johannesburg on a morning flight and arrive in time to catch a 1hr 30 min flight from JHB to Tswalu Kalahari Reserve arriving in time for a late lunch and our first afternoon game drive. Tswalu is a 1000 sq km or 600 sq mile Private Reserve (the largest in South Africa) and its habitat consists of vegetated rolling Kalahari Dunes, semiarid grasslands and open savannah. The Korranaberg Mountain range offers a stunning backdrop to this "green" part of the Kalahari Desert. With only 10 safari vehicles and a maximum of only 28 guests at any one time on the reserve, this reserve offers exclusivity like no other in Africa. Together with our experienced ranger we will build our own schedule and over the next 4 days we will explore this picturesque landscape in search of the more elusive and shy animals of the Kalahari. High on our list will be a photo shoot with the habituated group of Meerkats, early morning and evening game drives to search for the Aardvark and Pangolin, looking for the endangered Wild dogs & Black Rhino as well as searching for the rare antelope species found here, namely the Roan and Sable. The reserve also has two Lion prides, Cheetah and Leopards. These 4 days will be very busy and filled with great photo opportunities with the wildlife, landscapes and the clear Kalahari night sky. All the skills of night photography and how to capture the nocturnal world will be explained. This is one of our most exclusive small group photo safaris with a maximum of only 3 participants in 1 private vehicle. There is plenty of space for equipment and guaranteed access to BOTH sides of the safari vehicle. Stu Porter will lead the tour and offer photo tuition and guidance. Each photographer will have the complimentary use of a Visual Echoes panning plate & WILD4 Professional beanbags.


The wonderfully different environment at Tswalu is home to the following animals which we will hope to photograph during our stay at the reserve: !African Wild dog, Cheetah, Lion, Leopard, Pangolin, Aardvark, Hartman's Mountain Zebra, Meerkats, Bat-EaredFox, Silver Fox, Honey Badger, African Wildcat, White & Black Rhino, Cape Buffalo, Giraffe, Ground Squirrel, Eland, Oryx (Gemsbok), Impala, Springbok, Greater Kudu, Tsessebe, Red Hartebeest, Sable, Roan, Brown Hyaena, Black Backed Jackal, Giraffe, Warthog, Caracal and a good variety of birds.

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FAX:+27(0)866167818|JustynaTEL:+27(0)610102880|StuTEL:+27(0)610106817|EMAIL:[email protected] to enter textPOSTALADDRESS:Postnetsuite#301|PrivateBagX11326|Nelspruit|1200|SOUTHAFRICAwww.wild4photographicsafaris.com

DETAILED ITINERARY

DAY 1 Arrive in Namibia at Windhoek, meet our vehicle and guide and drive half way to Etosha where we overnight at Frans Indongo Lodge

DAY 2 Arrive at Etosha for mid morning game drive. Lunch and check in followed by afternoon game drive. Overnight at Okaukuejo Camp inside the National Park (3

nights)

DAY 3 Morning & Afternoon game drives in Etosha. Overnight at Okaukuejo Camp

DAY 4 Morning & Afternoon game drives in Etosha. Overnight at Okaukuejo Camp

DAY 5 Depart the western side of Etosha and have a full day in the park driving towards the east, arriving at our camp in the early evening. Overnight at Onguma

Tented Camp (3 nights)

DAY 6 Morning & Afternoon game drives in Etosha. Overnight at Onguma Tented Camp

DAY 7 Morning & Afternoon game drives in Etosha. Overnight at Onguma Tented Camp

DAY 8 Depart Onguma and drive back to Windhoek for an overnight stay at Galton House

DAY 9 Transfer to Windhoek airport for morning flight back to Johannesburg (flight time approx 2 hrs) arrive in JHB and catch connecting flight to Tswalu Kalahari

Private Game Reserve (flight time approx 1hr 30 mins) Arrive at Tswalu for a late lunch followed by afternoon game drive. Overnight at the Motse (4 nights)

DAY 10 Morning & Afternoon game drives at Tswalu. Overnight at the Motse



DAY 13 Final morning game drive followed by breakfast and then catch our flight back to Johannesburg arriving at midday. Connect with your international flight home.

FAX:+27(0)866167818|JustynaTEL:+27(0)610102880|StuTEL:+27(0)610106817|EMAIL:[email protected]


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MAP ETOSHA and SECRETS of the KALAHARI N A M I B I A & S O U T H A F R I C A A W I L D 4 P H O T O G R A P H I C S A F A R I

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INCLUDED & EXCLUDED

Flight from JHB to Windhoek and from Windhoek back to JHB

All road transfers as detailed in the itinerary

1 night Frans Indongo Lodge (Namibia)

3 nights Okaukuejo Camp Etosha National Park (Namibia)

3 nights Onguma Tented Camp (Namibia)

1 night Galton House (Namibia)

Local flights from JHB to Tswalu & from Tswalu back to JHB

4 nights at the Motse in Tswalu Kalahari Private Game Reserve

Selected local drinks (water, sodas, fruit juice, beer & local wine)

All food

All park entrance fees

Private use of safari vehicles with qualified guides

Professional photographic tuition

Complimentary use of a visual echoes panning plate

INCLUDED

Tips / gratuities for camp / lodge staff and for your

drivers / guides

Laundry

Personal medical, travel & equipment insurance

Visa fees if applicable

International flights to and from Johannesburg

Any extra nights of accommodation before or

after the safari - we can arrange these for you and

add it to your statement

EXCLUDED


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TRANSPORT & LODGING

Flight time from Johannesburg to Windhoek is approx 2 hrs. Upon arrival in Namibia we travel a few hours to our first overnight stop at Frans Indongo Lodge, a convenient half way point between Windhoek

and Etosha. The lodge is very comfortable with en-suite rooms and great food. http://www.indongolodge.comWe then continue and reach the Etosha National Park where we will make use of the National Park Camp in the west called Okaukuejo. This is one of the Camps run by the National Park and has comfortable

and clean en-suite accommodation. We spend 3 nights here. http://www.etoshanationalpark.org/accommodation/okaukuejoOur next stop is the Onguma Tented Camp which lies just outside the eastern gate of the Etosha National Park. We will leave the park to access the Onguma Private Reserve on which the Tented Camp is

situated. This is a luxury small tented camp with beautifully appointed permanent safari tents that overlook a waterhole. We spend 3 nights here. http://www.onguma.com/tented-camp--additional-info.html We continue back to Windhoek for a final night at Galton House in Windhoek. We have an early flight to Johannesburg so that we can link up with our midday flight to Tswalu Kalahari. We arrive in Tswalu in

the early afternoon after a 1hr 30 min flight. http://www.galtonhouse.comAt Tswalu we will be staying in spacious and very elegant suites at the "Motse" http://www.tswalu.com/accommodation/the-motseAt all locations we will have the private use of safari vehicles complete with photographic beanbags. With only 3 photographers in the vehicle there is plenty of space for your equipment and you will have

guaranteed access to BOTH sides of the safari vehicle.


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http://www.indongolodge.com

http://www.etoshanationalpark.org/accommodation/okaukuejo

http://www.onguma.com/tented-camp--additional-info.html

http://www.galtonhouse.com

http://www.tswalu.com/accommodation/the-motse

http://www.indongolodge.com

http://www.etoshanationalpark.org/accommodation/okaukuejo

http://www.onguma.com/tented-camp--additional-info.html

http://www.galtonhouse.com

http://www.tswalu.com/accommodation/the-motse

FAX:+27(0)866167818|JustynaTEL:+27(0)610102880|StuTEL:+27(0)610106817|EMAIL:[email protected] to enter textPOSTALADDRESS:Postnetsuite#301|PrivateBagX11326|Nelspruit|1200|SOUTHAFRICAwww.wild4photographicsafaris.com

TRANSPORT & LODGING

En-suite room at Frans Indongo Lodge

Frans Indongo Lodge &

Okaukuejo Camp

The deck at Frans Indongo Lodge

Okaukuejo Camp inside Etosha National Park En-suite rooms at Okaukuejo Camp

FAX:+27(0)866167818|JustynaTEL:+27(0)610102880|StuTEL:+27(0)610106817|EMAIL:[email protected]


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TRANSPORT & LODGING

En-suite safari tent at Onguma Onguma Tented Camp on the eastern side of Etosha

The Motse Lodge at Tswalu Kalahari in South Africa En-suite room at the Motse - Tswalu Kalahari

Onguma Tented Camp

&The Motse at

Tswalu


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FAQ's relevant to this specific safari

> How long are the flights and road transfers ? The flight from Johannesburg (JNB) to Windhoek takes approximately 2hrs The flight from Johannesburg (JNB) to Tswalu Private Game Reserve takes approximately 1hr 30 mins Road transfer from Windhoek to Frans Indongo Lodge is approx 3hrs 30 mins Road transfer from Frans Indongo Lodge to Etosha is approx 2hrs 30 mins Road transfer from Onguma to Windhoek is approx 530km (330 miles) 6 hrs !!> What are the luggage restrictions ? On this safari you must use a soft duffel type bag for your main luggage (not hard suitcases) as these are easier to pack into vehicles and planes. The normal luggage restriction as far as weight goes are 20 kgs for hold luggage and 8 kgs for Cabin Luggage. We all know that as photographers 8 kgs for camera equipment is not enough ! However you will find that the size of the bag is more important. A normal Think Tank type camera bag (airport accelerator) should carry the amount of equipment you need for your safari. The weight allowance for the flight from JHB to Tswalu is LESS than the normal allowance described below but we will arrange for extra allowance for our group. !!> Can I hire Camera Equipment from you ? Please ask us for more details about this.Each participant will have the complimentary use of a visual echoes panning plate !!> What "stable shooting platforms" do you offer ? I firmly believe that having a stable shooting platform on the safari vehicles is a crucial element to the success of a photo safari. You need to be comfortable when shooting so that you can concentrate on the image and not how to balance a telephoto lens on a wobbly monopod or your knees ! We will often sit and wait patiently for long periods of time for a shot to present itself - being comfortable is paramount. !For the Etosha National Park section we will be using beanbags from the safari vehicle !For the Tswalu Kalahari section we will also make use of beanbags from the vehicle

> Are we able to go off road to get closer to the animals ? !ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK - NO OFF ROAD DRIVING is allowed in any of the Namibian National Parks. Personally I never find that this has a negative impact on the photographic experience, in fact it makes one appreciate wildlife even more and how we should have a respect for it. Despite not being allowed off road, you will be pleasantly surprised at what Etosha produces in terms of different photographic opportunities. !TSWALU KALAHARI PRIVATE GAME RESERVE - yes we are allowed off road but at the discretion of the ranger who will be driving our vehicle. It is not a simple case of crashing off into the bush after wildlife. The ranger has to assess each situation before going off road. Some areas are more sensitive to damage than others and some trees and bushes are more vulnerable than others. You can be assured that the ranger wants to show you the animals and get you as close as possible but on some occasions we will have to respect the rules of the reserve as well as the environment and the comfort levels of the wildlife.!> What do you expect the weather to be like ? The Southern African winter months run from June through to late August, it will be cold in the mornings and in the evenings, especially when travelling in the open safari vehicles. This often catches people by surprise. The days generally warm up to a very pleasant temperature of around 25 C (or 77 F) Skies are often clear at this time of year and rain is very rare. In the Kalahari we can expect the night time temperatures to be close to zero or below. !> What clothing & equipment would be relevant ? Warm clothing is necessary especially in the early morning and evening. I would recommend a warm fleece as well as a wind breaker jacket. Long trousers, a beanie (woollen hat) and gloves are remarkably useful too. !As far as camera equipment goes, we have a more detailed kit list which we will send out to you at time of registration. !> Is there a laundry service available ? Yes there is a laundry service available at all locations. This will be for your own account !> How do we recharge camera batteries and laptops ? All the accommodations you will be staying at on this safari will have electric points for recharging your batteries and laptops. A detailed Plug & Voltage document will be sent out to you at the time of registration.


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FAQ's relevant to this specific safari

> Is there internet access / mobile phone reception ? There is free wifi internet at all places EXCEPT for OKAUKUEJO CAMP in Etosha Cell phone / Mobile reception at all locations is very patchy with not very good coverage. !> How early can we leave camp and how late can we return ? Entry into Etosha National Park is always at Sunrise - this varies according to the time of actual sunrise. The park gates close at sunset.At Tswalu we have a lot more flexibility with our departure times and we will also be able to do night drives. We normally arrive back at camp with some time to prepare for dinner, which is normally around 8 o'clock !> What is a typical day "in the field" ? !ETOSHA We usually meet up at around 05:15 for a quick cup of coffee / tea and some cookies / rusks on the main verandah before heading out on our morning drive. We take packed breakfasts with us and will eat these at a suitable time. We then return to camp just before lunch. Lunch is enjoyed at the camp. We then meet up at 15:00 for and head out for the afternoon game drive, returning to the camp at the end of the day. We will then have time to download images and freshen up before meeting for dinner at around 8pm !TSWALU KALAHARI PRIVATE GAME RESERVE When we arrive at Tswalu we build our own schedule with our ranger and we will most certainly make use of this flexibility to ensure we have the best times out on drive to take into consideration the light. We will also be doing photography at night and will most certainly photograph the clear Kalahari night skies. !!!** Being a private photo safari we can be flexible with these arrangements and adjust to accommodate the needs of the group and what the wildlife sightings are like at the time of our stay. Photo tuition such as workflow, photoshop or Lightroom sessions can be squeezed in at any time that is convenient to you.

> What is the recommended Tipping Policy on this safari ? Tipping is a safari tradition in Africa. You are welcome to stick to your regular personal tipping policies but we politely recommend you try to follow our guidelines regarding tipping as it helps to set a standard. Firstly, even though it is expected, it is not compulsory. If you feel that you have not been given excellent service then you do not have to tip. I personally feel that if somebody goes above and beyond their job description then it is polite to tip them and I am more than happy to do so. !Please ask us to send you our detailed recommended tipping policy for this specific photo safari. It will also be in your Arrival Information Document, which will be sent to you 2 weeks before the start of your photo safari.


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I was born and raised in Africa. From a young age I spent many family holidays enjoying Africa's diversity of

wildlife and wild places. As a family we have lived in Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia and South Africa, which we

now use as our home base from which we personally organise and lead authentic small group photographic

safaris. !In 1999 I became a qualified FGASA Field Guide and THETA Tourist Guide and in 2003 I obtained a BA (Hons)

Degree in Wildlife Photography at Blackpool & the Fylde College, an associate college of Lancaster University

in the United Kingdom. !The combination of these two passions helped me to achieve my long-held dream of operating my own

photographic safari tour company. My images have been published in Outdoor Photography, Getaway, Africa Wild, Photo Comment, 50/50 Veld

Focus TV show, Fuji Film awards and National Geographic Website. They are also for sale through a number of

online stock libraries.

My wife, Justyna, was born and bred in Poland and is a handy photographer herself as well as a qualified tourist

guide. Justyna worked on first class cruise liners, the world famous Harrods in London and as a top seller for the

UK's largest travel consolidator. Customer service is just one of her many strong points. !Justyna looks after the office and all the important administration of our business. We have two daughters,

Molly and Jenny and my parents, John & Ann offer us tremendous support and help out with background

logistics and catering whilst in the Kruger National Park.We are a small family business with a sincere and genuine passion for our company and our clients.Through our experiences, we have built a strong product that offers our clients the best opportunities to

photograph African wildlife.

Stu Porter


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After 14 years of leading many successful tours, we feel strongly that the following principles and photographic details are crucial to the success of a photo safari:!> Quick response to clients' enquiries and personal attention to each client's travel needs

> Specialisation in small groups of only 3 to 6 photographers per tour > Never more than 3 photographers per safari vehicle

> Careful planning of logistics to ensure maximum time in the field

> Use of locations that, through experience and over time, have consistently offered excellent photo

opportunities

> All scheduled tours are personally led by myself

> Specially designed photographic platforms on the safari vehicles we use at all locations

> 24/7 tuition available, tailored to the individual needs of the client. In the field workshops and WILD4 tuition

booklet provided

> Regular use of the same local driver / guides, who are familiar with the needs of photographers through our

training manual and who operate to our specific guidelines > An ethical approach to wildlife photography and genuine respect for the animals we photograph and the

environment they live in. Sticking to the above principles and details has been the number one reason why we have a high percentage of

repeat clients and clients who approach us via word of mouth.

Stu, Molly, Justyna & Jenny


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BOOKING PROCEDURE

BOOKING PROCEDURE: !> First contact us to confirm that there are spaces available on the photo safari that you are interested in.> Once confirmed, you will need to complete our Photo Tour Booking Form and we will send you details of how to make the deposit payment > To secure your place on the safari we will need a completed Photo Tour Booking Form per person as well as proof of payment of the tour deposit. > You will then receive a statement from us indicating that you have paid your deposit. The statement will also detail the outstanding amount and the due date for this payment (90 days prior to departure). We will also send out the following documents: - Wild4 suggested clothing & equipment lists - Wild4 plug & voltage info - Wild4 pre-safari camera setup- Wild4 Photographic Safaris tuition booklet!Please note that it is compulsory for you to take out your own travel insurance to cover unexpected trip cancellation, medical, personal and photographic equipment. WILD4 will not be held responsible in any way for the loss of or damage to any photographic equipment or personal belongings, nor for any medical expenses. Our medical insurance will only cover you for evacuation from the field to the closest most appropriate medical facility, at which point your medical insurance would take over. !CANCELLATION POLICY: We must receive a formal written notification of your cancellation. Deposits are non-refundable. If for any reason a participant ends a tour early or does not make use of a service that has been included in the price of any scheduled tour, tailor-made tour or tour extension, no refund for this unused portion or service will be made. Tour fees are not transferable. !All tour deposits are non-refundable. Full payment of the tour fee is due 90 days prior to the departure date. We must receive written notification of your cancellation, at which time the following fees apply: 89 to 60 days before departure: 75% of tour fee 59 or fewer days before departure: 100% of tour fee

Wild4 Photographic Safaris TUITION BOOKLET"seven top tips"

Wild4 Booking Form Wild4 suggested Clothing & Equipment Wild4 Plug & Voltage info

Wild4 pre-safari Camera setup


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Documents

ETOSHA & SECRETS of the KALAHARI · ETOSHA & SECRETS of the KALAHARI DESERT N A M I ... Silver Fox, Honey Badger, African Wildcat, White & Black Rhino, Cape Bu!alo, Gira!e, Ground