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* An Itinerary Designed for Photographers
Early mornings and late afternoons for the best light and wildlife activity. Long
days in the field. Excellent driver-guides who are sensitive to the needs of
photographic groups. Time out of the vehicles, and great photographic
opportunities with plenty of time for you to explore on your own.
* Land Transportation
Travel will be by four-wheel drive Land Rovers, equipped with roof hatches for
game viewing. We put a maximum of only three passengers in a vehicle,
guaranteeing you plenty of space, something essential for photographers. Every
one has their own roof hatch and two seats for themselves and their camera gear
* Accommodations
Deluxe tented camps, which offer you the convenience and comfort of a lodge, but
give you the feel of camping.
* Predeparture Preparation
Extensive background readings and travel information will be supplied when you
enroll.
* Guides and Staff
In addition to John & Barbara Gerlach, you will be accompanied by professional
driver-guides, who know the best locations for wildlife and has years of experience
with serious photographers. John & Barbara have used these drivers for many
previous tours. They are good friends and know exactly what we want. Tented
camps and lodges have their own permanent staffs.
* Accommodations and Food
You will stay in deluxe tented camps. We much prefer tented camps; they offer the
convenience of a lodge, but give the feel of camping. Your tent is canvas but has
a thatch roof, a concrete floor, and is supplied with electricity. You sleep on
comfortable beds and are provided with fresh sheets and towels. Each tent has a
small room off the back where you'll find hot and cold running water, showers, and
flush toilets. Tented camps have separate dining rooms and bars, made of local
materials. Food is served at table d'hote meals and buffets. Nothing can compare
to the feeling of sitting around the campfire listening to the sounds of the African
night!
Day 1 August 24 Nairobi
Upon landing in Nairobi in the early evening hours, we will be met at the airport
and transferred to the Hotel BOULEVARD for the night.
Day 2 August 25 Nairobi to Mount Kenya - Mountain Lodge
Today we drive north toward Mount Kenya, past the town of Thika and then
through heavily cultivated Kikuyu farm land. The Kikuyu people, the largest ethnic
group in Kenya, inhabit some of the most fertile land, growing coffee, tea, sisal,
pineapples, and vegetables as cash crops.
Our destination is Mountain Lodge, located high on the slopes of 17,000-foot
Mount Kenya. Its waterhole is floodlit by artificial moonlight for night viewing. If
you want to see a particular animal during the night, you can ask to be awakened
should it appear. Here you can see a wide variety of forest animals, including
elephants, Cape buffalo, giant forest hogs (one of the last of the world's large
mammals to be discovered by scientists-in 1904), genet cats, the white-tailed
mongoose, and the elusive leopard. Overnight at MOUNTAIN LODGE. (All meals
included)
Mountain Lodge Photo Highlights: From the ground level viewing hide, this is an
excellent place to photograph the many animals that come to the waterhole.
Elephants, cape buffalo, and Bushbucks are normally plentiful. Syke's monkey is very easily observed and photographed here. Be sure to bring flash for full-frame
face shots of the monkey's. If you aren't careful, you'll be able to observe Syke's
monkey in your room looking for sweets!
Days 3-5 August 26-28 Mountain Lodge to Samburu Game Reserve
After breakfast, we travel to Samburu Game Reserve, located in Kenya's Northern
Frontier District. We drive north, crossing the equator near the town of Nanyuki.
We soon leave the fertile highlands, descending 1,500 feet to vast, dry plains that
stretch to Ethiopia and Somalia. Here we begin to see the Samburu people, who
still live as traditional pastoralists. Samburu/Buffalo Springs Game Reserves are
situated on either side of the Uaso Nyiro River, where herds of elephants come to
drink. Except near the river, the land is dry scrub interspersed with acacias and
doum palms, but it is some of the most beautiful in East Africa. Some special
animals here are the Beisa oryx, narrow-striped Grevy's zebra, Reticulated Giraffe,
Common Waterbuck and Gerenuk. Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, dik-dik, and other
animals can also be seen. Bird life at Samburu, according to John Williams, the
author of A Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa, occurs in "bewildering
abundance." We'll enjoy three nights at the deluxe INTREPIDS TENTED CAMP.
(All meals included)
Samburu Photo Highlights: The game here is typically abundant and varied. It's
a great place to photograph large herds of impala and elephants in the river. This is the best place to photograph the unique mammals of the arid scrub land which include gerenuk, Grevy's Zebra, and Reticulated Giraffe. Dik-dik, tiny antelope not
much bigger than a jackrabbit, are plentiful and easiest to photograph here. The birdlife is abundant and rather easy to photograph. We'll photograph as many kinds as we can. Photo opportunities are superb in this park!
Days 6-8 August 29 - 31 Lion Hill - Lake Nakuru National Park
We leave Samburu today and drive south into the Great Rift Valley, an immense
geological fault in the earth's surface that stretches from Jordan to southern Africa.
Morning and afternoon game drives allow us the opportunity to explore Lake
Nakuru National Park, described by Roger Tory Peterson as the greatest
ornithological spectacle in the world. Certainly, the thousands of pink flamingos
and fishing fleets of white pelicans are a testament to his claim. Although birds
are a major attraction-over 400 species have been recorded here-we also expect
to see Rothschild's giraffe (rarely seen elsewhere), both Grant's and Thomson's
gazelles, impala, common zebra, African buffalo, eland, waterbuck, and several
other species of plains game, as well as leopard. Recently declared a rhino
sanctuary, Lake Nakuru is one of the best places in Africa to observe critically
endangered black and white rhinos. We overnight at Lion Hill Lodge. (All meals
included)
Lion Hill Photo Highlights: While the huge concentration of flamingos at the lake
is the main draw, this park is packed with other birds and mammals. It's one of
the best places to photograph warthogs, large herds of impala, waterbucks, and
cape buffalo. We'll photograph Rothchilds Giraffe, a rare subspecies that we feel
is the prettiest of the three types we'll see and photograph on this tour. White
rhinos are especially easy to photograph here, often at very close range like 10
yards.
Days 9-12 September 1-4 Maasai Mara Game Reserve
This morning we journey to Maasai Mara, one of Africa's best game reserves. This
northern extension of the Serengeti ecosystem, one of the world's most rewarding
wildlife observation sites virtually throbs with life. The rich savannah is famous for
its concentration of plains game and their predators, including leopard, cheetah,
and hyena. We drive through the Rift Valley, past the extinct volcanoes of Mount
Longonot and Mount Suswa, sighting giraffe, gazelle, and other plains animals
along the way. We'll also begin to see Maasai people herding cattle, and finally
reach Narok, an administrative and trading center for the Maasai. The Maasai,
perhaps the best known and most colorful African group, still follow their
traditional ways as semi-nomadic pastoralists. Young warriors carry spears and
decorate themselves with red ochre, and the women wear elaborate and beautiful
beadwork. The social life of the Maasai makes them a fascinating and special
people, and we shall see their herds and villages among the plains animals
throughout much of our journey.
From Narok, we take an all-weather dirt road to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve.
The Mara is part of the Serengeti ecosystem, which extends southward into
Tanzania for over 150 miles. The Reserve's 700 square miles of parkland
savannah and acacia woodland are the home of large numbers of wildebeest,
hartebeest, topi, giraffe, and gazelle. It also has perhaps the highest density of
lions of any place in Africa. Prides of more than forty have been seen here.
Cheetahs are also commonly seen, as are hyenas, jackals, and bat-eared foxes.
Fifty-three species of birds of prey have been recorded. We will go on morning
and afternoon game drives and photograph it all. We'll overnight at the charming
Mara Intrepids Club. (All meals included)
Maasai Mara Reserve Photo Highlights: It's no wonder professional and amateur
photographers come here from all over the world. The "Mara" may be the most
productive place for wildlife photography in the world. Our chances are excellent
here for getting great photos of leopard, lion, and cheetah. The plains in the Mara
are full of Thompson's gazelle, Grant's gazelle, Masai Giraffe, Common Zebra,
Wildebeest, Topi, Impala, Defassa Waterbuck, Elephants, jackals, bat-eared foxes,
hyenas, mongoose, and many others. Plenty of colorful birds are found here too.
We'll photograph many of them which will likely include lilac-breasted rollers,
crowned cranes, saddle-billed storks, and Masai Ostrich to name a few. This is
the best place for making silhouetted images of acacia and perhaps wildlife against
the red dawn sky. We believe in saving the best for last! It's tremendous!
Optional balloon and fishing trips in Maasai Mara:
Imagine soaring over herds of African animals in a hot-air balloon. You'll have the
opportunity to make an exciting hour-long balloon ride in Maasai Mara. Also,
available is an optional half-day trip to Lake Victoria to fish for giant Nile perch.
Catches of up to one hundred pounds are not uncommon. More details on these
options will be sent when you enroll!
Day 13 September 5Maasai Mara to Nairobi
All participants, except those staying on for the Mara extension will leave late in the morning on a forty-five minute flight back to Nairobi. You'll have the afternoon in Nairobi to shop, pack, and make further explorations. You can visit the National Museum, the Snake Park, city markets, and fascinating arts and crafts
shops. This evening there will be a group farewell dinner, then we are off to the airport for our flight to Amsterdam. Day room at the HOTEL BOULEVARD.
Day 14 September 6Amsterdam-USA
You arrive in Amsterdam early in the morning. After a short layover for stretching
and visiting the duty-free shops, you will connect with your flight back to the
States.
MARA EXTENSION
September 5-8 Maasai Mara
We have three additional days to photograph the magnificent Mara Reserve.
Overnights at the MARA INTREPIDS CLUB. We strongly urge you to join the
extension and nearly everyone does. We only offer the shorter safari for
participants who just can't quite swing it due to money or time limitations. There
is so much going on in the Mara that every day could be totally different from all
the other days. The Mara is the best and our carefully chosen camp is right in the
middle of all the wildlife. It's also a short distance away from some of the most
likely wildebeest crossing points along the Mara River.
GENERAL INFORMATION
SAFARI COST: $5,995 LAND-ONLY
MAASAI MARA EXTENSION: $1,595
THE SAFARI INCLUDES
* Air and Land Transportation All flights and ground transportation in East
Africa. You will be escorted by a driver guide in East Africa.
* Accommodations and Meals All hotel, lodge, and tented-camp
accommodations based upon two people sharing a room. Single rooms may be
available at a supplementary cost, but are not guaranteed. Please consult the
reservation form for the rate for a single-room supplement. American breakfasts
and farewell dinner on last night in Nairobi and full-board table d'hote meals
(some picnic lunches) are included while on safari.
* Miscellaneous Fees and Tips All porterage fees and meal tips, service
charges, hotel taxes, and park entrance fees are included.
* Flying Doctor Society Membership in the Flying Doctor Society is included,
in the unlikely event that emergency transportation to a hospital facility is
required.
* Pre-departure Information
You'll receive information on all aspects of the safari, plus readings on the history,
culture, and ecology of East Africa.
THE SAFARI PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
Passport and visa fees; international air fare, foreign airport taxes; excess baggage
charges; personal and baggage insurance; all items of a personal nature such as
laundry, medical expenses, and room service; beverages (coffee and tea are usually
provided with meals); film and processing. Any activities not specified in the tour
itinerary, or those activities listed as optional; meals in Europe and lunches and
dinners in Nairobi; Upon the completion of your safari, a gratuity to your driver-guide is customary. John & Barbara Gerlach, your photography instructors and
tour leaders, do not accept tips for their services so don't budget anything for this.
Your safari cost includes a driver guide in East Africa. The Gerlachs' will
accompany the group from Amsterdam to Nairobi, otherwise, you will not have an escort on international flights.
FITNESS & HEALTH
The trip is not strenuous, and anyone who is reasonably fit and in good health
should be able to participate. You will, however, have long international flights
and will be spending many hours in a vehicle on game drives. Land travel will
sometimes be over very bumpy and dusty roads. The maximum altitude you will
reach on this trip is about 8,000 feet above sea level at Mountain Lodge. If you
have any questions about your ability to participate in this trip, please contact
International Expeditions for more information.
HOW TO ENROLL
Please contact our tour packager, International Expeditions / One Environs
Park/Helena, AL 35080. Call Jonna Jones at (800) 633-4734 ext. 143 or fax (205) 428-1714. Our
contact at IE is Jonna Jones. You can reach her at jjones@IETRAVEL.com You may
also call our office at (906) 439-5991 or E-mail gina@gerlachnaturephoto.com
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