WILD DOG AND LEOPARD PHOTO SAFARI: July 26-August 8, 2008 With Photographers Michael Francis and Suzi Eszterhas
Day 1, Saturday, July 26, 2008: USA/JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
Depart on your overnight international flight to Johannesburg .
Day 2, Sunday, July 27, 2008: JOHANNESBURG
On arrival, you will be met and assisted to your hotel, located right across from arrivals and departures at the airport and features a restaurant, bar, fitness center and indoor pool.
Overnight Airport Sun Inter-Continental Johannesburg (Breakfast Included)
Day 3, Monday, July 28, 2008: JOHANNESBURG/MAUN/OKAVANGO, BOTSWANA
You will return to the airport for your scheduled flight to Maun, Botswana and then connect with your private charter flight to the Okavango Delta. The Okavango, hailed as one of Africa’s last great wildlife edens, is a 6,000 square mile maze of lagoons, channels and islands and is known as “the river that never finds the sea”. With a superb diversity of wildlife, the Okavango yields fantastic opportunities to view great herds of antelope, zebra, buffalo and elephants as well as Africa’s large predators, including lions, cheetah, leopards, hyenas and wild dogs.
During our six day stay we will target maximum time photographing wild dogs at their denning sites. Our guide, Tico McNutt, the world’s leading wild dog expert and will accompany us in search of these fascinating predators. We will be working in Tico’s study area in Moremi Game Reserve and tracking his study groups via radio collars. Only a few of the adults are collared, therefore we will have plenty of opportunities to photograph adults and pups without collars.
Our dates in the Okavango are timed to coincide with peak denning times and the dry season. In the Okavango, as the drier season progresses it is easier it is to spot animals close to permanent water holes. At this time much of the Okavango dries out, apart from permanent rivers in Moremi Game Reserve and the northern reaches of the Okavango. The heat starts to build in earnest from October onwards.
On arrival at the airstrip you will be met and taken to our private mobile camp. The tents are large, with insect proof windows, comfortable single beds with fresh linens and duvets, private verandas and a private hot water "bush-bucket" shower/toilet tent for each sleeping tent. The tent dimensions are approximately 12ft x16ft. You have a full staff to prepare your camp, cook your meals and provide hot water for your showers. Accommodation: Private Mobile Tented Camp (Full Board)
Day 4-8, Tuesday- Saturday, July 29-August 2, 2008: Moremi Game Reserve, Okavango Delta
We will spend our days with maximum time in the field looking for wild dogs and their dens and photographing many other wildlife species in this rich game area. Our open 4-wheel drive vehicles allow plenty of room for gear and each photographer will have his or her own row of seats with access to each side of the vehicle.
Our time in the field will be dependent on the animals and quality of light. A typical day will include a morning and afternoon game drive. After a morning game drive you may have an excellent late breakfast or gourmet picnic lunch and then have time to relax on the veranda of your luxurious tent (or download images!). Afternoon tea and a further game drive is followed by iced cold drinks and a delicious dinner.
After dinner we will have time for downloading images, charging batteries and Photoshop tutorials given by our photographer leaders.
Accommodation: Private Mobile Tented Camp (Full Board)
Day 9, Sunday, August 3, 2008: OKAVANGO DELTA/MAUN/JOHANNESBURG
After a morning game viewing activity you will take a scheduled charter flight to Maun and connecting scheduled flight to Johannesburg. On arrival, you will be met and assisted back to the Airport Sun Inter-Continental Hotel.
Overnight Airport Sun Inter-Continental Johannesburg (Breakfast Included)
Day 10, Monday, August 4, 2008: JOHANNESBURG/PRIVATE GAME RESERVE NEAR KRUGER
After a morning activity (TBA) we will return to the airport for your scheduled flight to Mala Mala Private Game Reserve in the Sabi Sands area near the Kruger Park . The reserve is known as one of the very best places in all of Africa for viewing and photographing leopard.
Mala Mala comprises 33000 acres or 16000 hectares of pristine game viewing land, making it the largest privately owned game reserve in South Africa, with human density and impact on the land being kept to an absolute minimum. Another reason is the unfenced border between MalaMala Game Reserve and the Kruger National Park, which allows herds of animals to migrate unhindered to the perennial Sand River which flows north to south through the MalaMala Game Reserve for 20 kilometres or 13 miles.
A very important advantage to using private reserves have over national parks is that private reserves allow vehicles to pursue animals off road through the bush, which is critical to big cat photography.
Our safari lodge, Mala Mala Main Camp, offers first class accommodations and is composed of ochre colored buildings clustered amid shady trees and manicured lawns overlooking the Sand River . The 18 individually decorated, spacious and comfortable rooms under traditional thatching, enjoy spectacular views and are equipped with bathrooms. Despite the comfort offered, Mala Mala retains an authentic camp atmosphere.
The spacious, beautifully decorated Buffalo lounge displaying bronzes, works of art and animal trophies leads onto an expansive wooden deck which provides an elevated view of animals watering in the Sand River .
Accommodation: Mala Mala Main Camp (Full Board)
Day 11-13, Tuesday-Thursday, August 5-7, 2008 -MALA MALA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE
During our time at Mala Mala we will focus on photographing leopards but will also have opportunities to photograph elephant, buffalo, Burchell's zebra, greater kudu, giraffe, impala, white rhino, black rhino, hippopotamus, lion, leopard, cheetah, and wild dogs, among others.
Our open 4-wheel drive vehicles allow plenty of room for gear and each photographer will have his or her own row of seats with access to each side of the vehicle. Again, our time in the field will be dependent on the animals and quality of light. A typical day will include a morning and afternoon game drive, with time to rest and download images during the midday hours. We will also have the opportunity to take walking safaris if desired.
Our guides will also take us out on night drives, providing an opportunity to spot nocturnal animals rarely seen during the day.
Dinner, where one may enjoy venison specialties and haute bush cuisine, is served in the grand old African manner, under the stars in a reed enclosed boma, a MalaMala tradition for over 60 years. Seated around a log fire, under the starry African sky, enjoying superb food and outstanding South African wines is yet another highlight of the Mala Mala experience.
Accommodation: Mala Mala Main Camp (Full Board)
Day 14, August 8, 2008: MALA MALA/JOHANNESBURG/USA
After a morning game drive you will take a scheduled charter flight back to Johannesburg to connect with your international flight to USA.
*Tour Price: $12,669 based on double occupancy
Tour price includes:
- Accommodations as stated
- All meals and game activities on safari (Full Board)
- Inter-Africa Airfare and land transportation
- Meals as stated breakfast (B) in Johannesburg
- All road and air charter transfers
- Park and guiding fees
- Local drinks and laundry in the mobile camp in Botswana
- Donation to Botswana Predator Conservation Program ($1000.00 per person)
Tour price does NOT include:
- Optional tours
- Tips to staff and guides
- Airport departure taxes
- Other drinks and laundry
- International Airfare to Johannesburg
- Travel insurance
GUIDES ON YOUR SAFARI
Dr. John "Tico" McNutt
Tico McNutt, world renowned wild dog expert and founder of the Botswana Wild Dog Project, will personally accompany you on safari in Botswana in search of wild dogs and their dens. Heading up the longest running project on wild dogs, J.W. ("Tico") McNutt has been using radio telemetry and an ultra-light airplane from his remote research camp. He monitors a sub-population of 150-180 African wild dogs. Running Wild: Dispelling the Myths of the African Wild Dog was written by Tico and his wife Lesley Boggs.
Professional Guide Nic Polenakis
Nic was born in Zimbabwe and lived in Bulawayo, where his junior education was obtained. From 1990-1995 he worked on a rhino conservancy. Here he did an extensive study of black rhino and was also involved in the anti-poaching, tracking, darting and trans-locating of the rhino. He was appointed co-ordinator for the San Diego Zoo study of black rhino. At the end of these five years he passed his full Professional Guide License.
In 1996 he joined a mobile safari operation as Head Guide and these trips took him through Zimbabwe. He also introduced wilderness trails, backpacking with groups of up to 6, walking through National Parks and sleeping under the stars in big game areas. During the off-season he assisted with camp management and guiding at Camp Amalinda .
In 1999, he became Head Guide of a Botswana mobile safari operation. More recently he spends his time between, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia .
Naturalist Guide Brian Gibson
“I've grown up in the Southern African bushveld and from a very young age, it has always amazed me. Some say I know the African Bush, but I learn something new every day!”
Brian trained as an operational medic and then has been fortunate enough to guide for several well- known Botswana companies before starting his own company. He started a small mobile operation in the Okavango and surrounds in 1997. With his wife, Hildrene, the company has grown from strength to strength. With Hildrene being an extremely capable operations manager and brilliant chef, things seem to always run smoothly. Brent does most of the guiding and has almost 10 yrs experience guiding in Botswana and looks forward to more.
Naturalist Guide Brent Reed
Brent Reed was born in the rural community of Muldersdrift, South Africa in July 1972. Whilst growing up he explored the Magaliesberg mountains near his parents home and developed a deep love of the bush and all things wild. Through his father and grandfather he was introduced to the fascinating world of snakes and other reptiles. Along with birding this has been his passion ever since childhood.
After finishing school Brent followed a career in Information Technology, a path which took him overseas for three years working in London , Paris and Edinburgh . Finally the call of the bush was too strong and he returned to Africa in 1997 to pursue his lifelong passion.
After arriving in Botswana he obtained his professional guides license and has been guiding since 1997. He has also worked in Namibia , Mozambique , Zimbabwe , Zambia and Malawi during his guiding career.
Professional Guide Dave Carson
David Carson has been in the safari industry since 1990 and after completing a four year apprenticeship and passing the stringent Zimbabwean Professional Guides exam in 1995, has been guiding all over Zimbabwe. His love for walking and being out on safari lead him and his guests after the elusive Black Rhino in Hwange National Park - where David's passion lies!
In recent years David has taken up guiding in Botswana and is thoroughly enjoying exploring the Nationals Parks and Private Concessions. His enthusiasm for the bush is contagious!