12 Day Photography Safari in South Africa including Sabi Sands

May 30 - June 10, 2012 Only 2 Spaces Remain

Join us for 12 days of wildlife encounters and breathtaking wildlife photography. Professional wildlife photographer Gregory Sweeney is your guide while on safari to private reserves in the Limpopo area of South Africa and Kruger National Park; one of the most game-rich areas of Africa. Each day you have two photographic sessions that will get you up close to the animals with emphasis on the Big 5. We will start this safari at our tree house lodge near Kruger then transfer for two days to Sabi Sands then on to a big 5 reserve. This safari has many opportunities for big cat photography as well as white rhino and the rest of the big 5. Down time is spent informally discussing digital workflow, animal behavior and how to use it in photography, and creative Photoshop techniques to enhance your photos. You will not only return with great photos, but new skills as well.

 

Where:	Limpopo Province: reserves in the Timbavati, Sabi Sands, and Kruger National Park
Who:	Great for any level of photographer who enjoys wildlife and nature and has a desire for adventure.
Hosts:	Professional wildlife photographer Gregory Sweeney and his wife Karen welcome you to their tree house lodge on a private reserve surrounded by African bush.
Cost:	$4,785 per adult sharing see our booking policies

 

We take a maximum of 6 guests to insure a personal experience and game drives are conducted from open vehicles to allow for off road driving and the most unobstructed views of the wildlife. The lodge is small and secure inside a gated private reserve. Each tree house has a full bath and meals are prepared and served in South African style.

 

HIghlights	Big 5 game drives in the morning and evening on Thornybush Reserve.
	2 days in Kruger in a private, open vehicle.
	2 nights at a lodge in the famous Sabi Sands reserve
	Canyon boat ride for scenery, crocodiles, and hippos. Visit an animal rehabilitation center and learn about conservation while getting close to raptors and other injured animals.
	An elephant backed safari and drives other private reserves with white and black rhino, wonderful giraffe populations, and buffalo.
	Stay 2 nights at a big 5 lodge where they have a lion breeding program and a morning walk with cheetahs.
	Have some fun on a zipline and haggling prices for handmade crafts.

Read more details about how we conduct the safaris

 

Read details about our 10 day safaris

 

Learn more about Bona Ntaba Tree House Lodge

 

Read Comments from our Guests

 

See Price Details and Payment / Cancellation Policy

 

What about Flights?

Is this for me?

 

This is the trip of a lifetime for you if you love taking pictures and observing animals. You don't have to be a professional photographer, just have the desire to learn and share with others who are passionate about wildlife and photography. We are active in the mornings and afternoon and spend most of the time out in the bush in open vehicles. You should be able to do moderate physical activity such as climbing into the vehicle and walking short distances.

Read Discussion of this Topic on my African Photography Page

 

What is the next step?

 

We only take a maximum of 6 people per trip in order to provide a personal and uncrowded experience (and our small family lodge only holds 8!). If you want to take part in this, do not hesitate because spaces will fill. We are happy to talk to you and answer your questions.

Gregory Sweeney's email: lion@africawildsafaris.net

Greg's Phone number: (239)283-0022

More Photography Safari Information

The Safari Fee Includes:

Transfers from Johannesburg airport (JNB - Tambo airport) and return

Lodging for 9 nights

Breakfast, lunch, dinner served at the lodge, coffee & tea

Safari activities

Admission to parks and reserves, transportation to safari activities, guides

Wildlife Photographer host and guide

Not included:

Airfare to and from Johannesburg and visa, exit fees, or airport fees, extra luggage charges

Soft drinks, bottled water*, bar tab, guests may bring their own liquor

Guests may wish to purchase snacks/meal when we are away from the lodge or during transfers

Laundry, gift shop purchases, phone or internet charges

Tips to drivers, guides, and lodge staff

Travel Insurance (optional but recommended)

Any surcharge necessary to meet medical or dietary needs (ie vegan diet)

Options:

Single Room - guest will enjoy a tree house to themselves $590 per person

Vegan Meals - guest will enjoy meals without the use of animal products for breakfasts, high teas, and dinners served at the lodge $47.00 per person additional

Africa Wild Safaris Payment Schedule and Cancellation Policy

Payment Schedule:

• $1,500 Deposit due at booking
• 75% of total trip cost 150 days before travel
• Balance due 90 days before travel

 

Credit card payments will be subject to a 5% processing fee

Late payments will be interpreted as a cancellation

All bank transfer fees are to be paid by the client

 

The lodges and other providers we work with have strict cancellation policies and advanced reservations are a must, therefore after a certain period of time we are unable to refund deposits and payments in full.

Our Policy

Deposits are nonrefundable

75 % of Tour fee is retained if cancelled between 89 - 60 days before tour date

100% of Tour fee is retained if cancelled 59 or fewer days prior to travel

We must receive formal written notification of cancellation. Late payment is concidered to be a cancellation.

 

* Travelers are advised to look into travel insurance policies that will refund trip costs should you need to cancel

* Special medical dietary requirements can be accommodated if we are informed before travel. A surcharge may be necessary in order to meet these needs.

* By paying your deposit you are indicating that you are willing to sign the release and assumption of risk document, and you confirm that you are of reasonable fitness and good health and will not in any way knowingly create a risk for yourself or other tour members.

Getting to Your Photographic Safari

Flights to Johannesburg

Guests should plan their travel to arrive at the Johannesburg (OR Tambo) airport the morning of the first published trip date.

We recommend guests fly to JNB through New York Kennedy (JFK) airport. This flight offers several advantages over the other options: (see below for other options)

• Non-stop flight. From our years of traveling to Africa, New Zealand, and Australia, it may seem like a long time in the plane, but layovers are far more taxing and add days and dollars to your travel.

• It arrives in Johannesburg in the morning which allows the group to get to our lodge by afternoon and start experiencing wildlife. It also minimizes your time in the less secure city and gets you out into the country where it is more worry-free.
• Easy connections to and from your home city

South Africa Airlines code shared flight with United Airlines / Star Alliance

Date	Flight	From	Depart	Arrive	Destination
April 16	SA204	JFK	11:15 am	8:35 am April 17	JNB
April 26	SA203	JNB	20:35	6:40 am April 27	JFK
12 Day Safari Travel Dates
May 29	SA204	JFK	11:15 am	8:35 am May 30	JNB
June 10	SA203	JNB	20:35	6:40 am June 11	JFK

The return trip is also non-stop and leaves conveniently in the evening. You will be able to enjoy the morning at the lodge and do some activity before departing for the airport

The flight arrives back in New York in the early morning which will allow you to catch onward flight home.

 

Other ways to get to Johannesburg:

From Australia: Please choose a flight that arrives before 9:30 am in order to meet up with the group or else we can assist you with a clean, safe, and economical hotel in JNB for the night. We can meet you at the hotel after picking up the guests from the USA/JFK flight

 

Delta Flights from ATL (Atlanta) or SAA/United Flights from IAD (Washington Dulles)

These flight leave in the evening which is convenient for connected from your home city, but they arrive in JNB in the late afternoon and will require you to arrive a day early and overnight in Johannesburg. We can recommend a safe, economical hotel which is convenient for us to pick you up the next morning after we have collected the rest of the group.

PROS: The advantage here is that you can sleep off the long flight and you will be picked up mid morning with the other guests

CONS: Not a nonstop flight. The stop either on the return or outbound flight will add an hour or more to your time in the plane (and disturb your sleep) You will need to arrive a day before the rest of the group and stay in an airport hotel in Johannesburg.We will then pick you up on our way from the airport around 9:30 am.

Flying through Europe: if you do this I recommend taking a few days in your layover city to break up the flight. Please choose a flight that arrives before 9:30 am in order to meet up with the group or else we can assist you with a clean, safe, and economical hotel in JNB for the night. We can meet you at the hotel after picking up the guests from the USA/JFK flight

Guests who are planning to experience other parts of South Africa or Africa either before or after our safari should look into flying to our regional airport of Hoedspruit (HDS – Eastgate).