Are there direct flights to South Africa?

At the moment, both Delta and South Africa Airways fly to Johannesburg from Atlanta, JFK, and Dulles with only a short refueling stop. Passengers do not leave the plane during the refueling. Though the flight is long, it is a much less stressful option than flying via Europe and spending more time in airports and with layovers. 

What is a private reserve?

Private reserves are large tracks of land whose owners have created a safe and natural habit for wildlife, sometimes for a specific species such as white rhino. These areas are fenced on the perimeter so the animals do not wander into farms where they will be unwelcome. They also protect the animals from poachers by controlling access to the land. The area where we safari is a collection of many private reserves all working together. The owners have eliminated fences between their reserves and Kruger Park effectively expanding the park by thousand of hectares.

Does each room have their own private bathroom?

Each tree house is unique. Each tree house is designed for 1-2 people and has a bathroom with sink, toilet, and shower. Some of the tree houses have a tub.

What is the food like at the lodge like?

The lodge serves a large breakfast, light lunch, and full dinner. The breakfast is eggs, sausage or bacon, and grilled tomato and potato, accompanied by fruit, yogurt, cereal, juice, muffins. The afternoon tea is a hot plate such as quiche and a sweet with fresh fruit always on offer. Dinner starts with a soup (cream of spinach, potato) with salad and bread. The mains range from lamb stew, grilled beef, to baked chicken. Each entree is cooked on open fire pits or clay ovens with African flavorings and accompanied by rice, beans, or local yams, vegetables, or pasta. A special treat would be stewed impala or ostrich kabobs. Vegetarians can be accommodated, but vegan diets are difficult for chefs from this very meat based culture to accommodate.

Can we stay longer? Are there any other site seeing activities etc. Are you the guide or do we have local guides.

You are welcome to extend your stay in a number of ways. Each game drive is different so staying on with us when the next group arrives gives you many more photo opportunities. In 2009 we are offering a special extension week where we will visit different reserves, rehab centres, and scenic areas. You can also journey to another region in South Africa such as Cape Town. We can help by offering to arrange transfers and suggesting operators.

Can my kids come on the safari?

The safari is not recommended for children younger than 10 for several reasons. The first concern is that a the other guests are photographers who want to spend a long time in the field and when there are quietly sneaking up on the animals and taking a lot of patience to get their photos. Another concern for children is unpredictable nature of the wild animals. Common sense and safety is needed at all times even at the lodge. Many lodges and game reserves do not welcome young children because of such risks. Some lodges specialize in a safe experience for kids and we recommend this over our more adventurous experience.

Do I have to be a professional photographer to go on this trip?

No, you do not have to be a professional photographer, just serious about taking the best pictures you can and learning and interacting with others who share this interest. Those wishing to just observe the wildlife are a good match as well since photographers want to be in the action and are patient and observant when waiting for the best moment to snap a photo. People with only a mild interest in animals, those afraid of animals and nature, or who have short attention span would not fit in with the other guests.

My wife has diabetes and I was wondering about a place to store insulin and medical supplies.

The lodge has refrigerators where guests can store medications. If you need, a cooler can be taken to the guest room or on the vehicle with us.

Will I get malaria or some other disease?

There are few mosquitoes at our lodge due to the dry season in which we visit and spraying and other controls. If you change to socks and long pants in the evening (you want to do this anyway because of the temperature) and carry some insect repellant you should be pretty safe. The lodge has mosquito nets, though I rarely feel the need to use them. A smart traveler will have vaccinations for Hepatitis A and B no matter where they are headed. Typhoid is not common, but the vaccination a series of tablets easily taken. Yellow fever is not in South Africa.

What kind of weather will there be?

Rain is very unlikely at this time of year as it is dry season. Days are usually sunny and get up into the mid 80’s wear shorts and t-shirts is comfortable. The temperature drops after sundown and overnight can be between 55- 70 degrees. The humidity is low and comfortable.