Overview

“This was the experience of a lifetime. Visionary Wild provided a terrific photo safari. The educational value of this workshop was unparalleled, and I have participated in many workshops. Justin Black and Lou Coetzer were both terrific in facilitating the photography learning experience and in finding the best locations to maximize the opportunities.” –2013 African Vision Safari Participant

Join award-winning wildlife photographers Lou Coetzer and Justin Black for this superlative African safari experience for a small group of five, designed to exceed a passionate photographer’s wildest dreams. South African pro Lou Coetzer is simply the best there is at teaching the anticipation of animal behavior, timing, and camera handling skills that empower you to capture successful “decisive moment” wildlife images.

We will visit Africa’s very finest wildlife destinations at an ideal time of year: Masai Mara, Kenya during the Great Migration, and Chobe River, Botswana, with mammals and birds concentrated along the river by the dry season.

• Includes loan of big telephotos – 600mm f/4 and 500mm f/4 – so you don’t have to travel with them. Full-frame Nikon DSLR bodies available for free loan too!

• The best photo safari vehicle set-up in the business, both on the land and on the water, complete with photographer’s chairs featuring fully adjustable 360-degree revolving Wimberley camera mounts. This makes it a breeze to work with big lenses and photograph dynamic wildlife behavior.

This package is designed to deliver a superb overall experience, and includes first-rate lodging, all meals, beverages (including fine wine and beer at dinners), expert guides, photographic instruction, loaner Nikon telephotos and cameras, park entry fees, ground transfers, and in-Africa flights during the itinerary.

Conceived as a unique wildlife photography experience that delivers the best that east and southern Africa have to offer, this experience for a small group of only five passionate photographers focuses on the incredible biodiversity accessible via the Chobe River in Botswana, and the peak of the great migration at Masai Mara. Masai Mara is famous for its August migration of millions of wildebeest, zebras, and Thompson’s gazelles, accompanied by an abundance of lion, cheetah, leopard, and other African species. At Chobe, animals congregate along the river in the dry season to drink and feed on the lush greenery on the banks and flood plain. In addition to Chobe’s population of over 50,000 Kalahari elephants, opportunities include hippos (with young at this time of year), Nile crocs, buffalo, waterbuck, kudu, impala, giraffes, fish eagles, lions, hyenas, African wild dog, baboons, and countless bird species.

At both locations we have arranged use of new photo safari vehicles with innovative custom features that deliver an ideal photographic experience. The two 4WD vehicles we will use at Masai Mara seat three photographers each, and the custom-built photo boat at Chobe comfortably accommodates our whole group. Both on land and on the water, each photographer will have his or her own rotating photographer’s chair with fully adjustable revolving Wimberley-equiped telephoto lens mount.  Included at no additional cost is loan of Nikon super-telephoto lenses (600mm f/4 and 500mm f/4) and pro camera bodies, so there is no need to carry big glass to Africa.

Click “read more” below right for the itinerary and more information…

Our itinerary makes the most of the incredible photographic opportunities, and offers attentive hands-on photographic instruction and expert guiding throughout:

Day 0: August 1st

Optional early-arrival day for those who wish to rest up and get over jet-lag. Accommodations as per “Day 1.”

Day 1: August 2nd

Arrive at O.R. Tambo International Airport. You will be met at the airport and transferred to Chez Coetzer Guest House to rest and de-jetlag after flight.

AV presentation on Masai Mara and Chobe safaris. Dinner and Overnight at Guest House.

Day 2: August 3rd

Early morning breakfast at Guest House before departing for a morning photography session at the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre. There, we will get your wildlife photography skills and camera set-up dialed in before starting the safaris.

Afternoon safari orientation. Traditional South African Braai dinner and overnight at Chez Coetzer.

Day 3: August 4th

Transfer to O.R. Tambo Airport and depart on Air Botswana flight nr. BP214 at 11:30 for Kasane Airport. Quick transfer from Kasane Airport to Chobe Safari Lodge. Afternoon photography session on custom-built photography boats.

Day 4 – 7: August 5th – 8th

6 am meet up at jetty for coffee and rusks, and depart for photography session on Chobe River until 10:00. Return to Lodge for a well-deserved brunch. Thereafter, we’ll meet in the classroom for downloading, editing, and constructive critique of images with an eye toward improving your wildlife photography technique and optimizing your camera setup so it works best for you. At 14:30 we return to the Chobe River for an afternoon photography session until 18:00.

After freshening up, meet for sundowners and dinner.

Day 8: August 9th

6 am meet up at Jetty for coffee and rusks, and depart for Photography session on Chobe River until 10:00. Return to Lodge for a well deserved brunch. Last image review and critique of Chobe Safari images, followed by some free time to pack bags and/or relax. Transfer to Kasane Airport for Air Botswana flight BP 213 departing at 14:40 for Johannesburg. Arrive in Johannesburg at 17:00 and relax at airport before Kenya Airways flight KQ 765 departing at 00:40 for Nairobi International Airport.

Day 9: August 10th

Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 05:50. Meet and greet for transfer to Lodge. The meet & greet at Jomo Kenyatta Airport is at 07:30 and road transfer to Wilson airport departs at 08:00. Charter flight from Wilson Airport to Kichwa-Tembo Tented Camp departs at 10:00 and arrives at  at 11:00. You will have a few hours at leisure before the first photography session in our custom-built photography vehicles at 14:30 and arrive back at lodge at 18:00. After freshening up, meet for sundowners and dinner.

Day 10 –  15: August 11th – 16th

6 am meet up at reception area for coffee and rusks, and depart for photography session in the Masai Mara until 10 am. Return to Lodge for a well deserved brunch. Thereafter, we’ll gather in the board room for downloading, editing, and critique. At 14:30 we return to the Masai Mara for a afternoon photography session until 18:00.

After freshening up, meet for sundowners and Dinner.

Day 16: August 17th

6 am meet up at reception area for coffee and rusks, and depart for photography session in the Masai Mara Park until 10 am. Return to lodge for a well-deserved brunch. Last debriefing on Masai Mara Safari and relaxing. Meet at reception for transfer to Wilson Airport at 15:15 and arrive at Wilson Airport at 16:00. 40-minute road transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.  Kenya Airways flight KQ 764 departing from Nairobi at 20:35 and arriving in JHB at 23:50. Transfer to Chez Coetzer and overnight.

Day 17: August 18th

Breakfast at Chez Coetzer Guest House and transfer to O.R. Tambo Airport for international outbound flight.

The single-occupancy rate for this deluxe all-inclusive package is $18,500. Double-occupancy is $17,750 per person. 25% deposit required upon booking, 25% due February 2nd, 2014, and balance due by April 2nd, 2014.
For more information, please contact Justin at justin@visionarywild.com or 202-302-9030.

Not included: international round-trip flights from your point of origin to Johannesburg, South Africa (currently between $1,700 to $2,300 for economy class from the US), and incidental personal expenses.

TRAVEL NOTE: A visa and yellow fever vaccination are required to enter Kenya. As both Masai Mara and Chobe are low-risk malaria areas, malaria prophylaxis is recommended.