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AFRICA
NAMIBIA & BOTSWANA
PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR
Optional Pre-trip to South Africa and Namibia Deadline to Register for this Trip - February 1, 2007
Capture the best of Southern Africa on this photographer’s safari led by Garry Black. Open to photographers of all levels, the main safari begins in Windhoek, Namibia and takes you to the desert dunes of Sossusvlei and the wildlife of Etosha National Park. Then, you’ll fly to Botswana’s famed Okavango Delta with its rich and abundant wildlife viewing. A wonderful pre-trip extension includes visits to South Africa’s premiere city, Cape Town and Namaqualand for photographing the spring wild flowers; then on to southern Namibia’s famed ghost towns. This exclusive tour is limited to 8 participants.
The timing of this trip coincides with the peak wildlife game viewing for this region of Africa; therefore it’s also the high tourist season. Most other photography oriented trips are scheduled during the off season months of April/May and November when due to the rains, the wildlife viewing is not optimal. From a photographic stand point and for a true safari experience, Namibia and Botswana offer exceptional wildlife viewing, mostly due to the fact that their governments have implemented a private concession system. These concessions provide limited and exclusive access to those staying at the camps and lodges within them. As a result, guests of these concessions experience the special feeling of coming face-to-face with wild animals roaming free and the unique sense of the vastness of the African landscape in a very secluded environment. The first 3 days of the tour will take us to the Namib Naukluft Park in Namibia where we’ll photograph the Sossusvlei sand dunes, the highest and most spectacular dunes in the world. We’ll also be photographing the skeletal camel thorn trees in the Deadvlei, a sun-baked mud tile floor which is surrounded by sand dunes. This area is a favourite with landscape photographers, and is really a dream come true. The Kulala Desert Lodge where we’ll be staying is one of the few lodges that are allowed into the park before sunrise. The itinerary covers the wide variety of habitats that Namibia and Botswana have to offer. Due to the vast distances and remote locations of the camps, we will be traveling by private charter aircraft throughout this trip. For these flights we’ve arranged to have the weight allowance increased to 44lbs from the normal 22lbs. We will be shooting mostly in the early morning and late afternoon. During the harsh sunlight in the mid day we will be back at the camps where we can relax, catch up on sleep or join optional informal classroom sessions. During these sessions we will be downloading and reviewing images and discussing compositional and technical issues. Consideration has been made to ensure that each of the camps will have power for recharging batteries. Even though this is an intensive photography tour, non-photographer spouses/travel companions will also thoroughly enjoy the safari activities, scenery and of course, the wildlife viewing that this trip has to offer.

Itinerary MAIN TOUR – NAMIBIA AND BOTSWANA
Aug 29 – WINDHOEK: Upon arrival in Windhoek, you will be driven to the Safari Court Hotel your accommodations for this evening
Aug 30 - SOSSUSVLEI: This morning after breakfast, you will fly from Windhoek to Namib Naukluft Park and its famous red sand dunes of Sossusvlei. Upon landing, you will be met at the airstrip and transferred to the Kulala Desert Lodge, your accommodations for the next three nights. (B, L, D, Dr)
Aug 31& Sept 1- SOSSUSVLEI: The next two days you will explore and photograph Sossusvlei and its desert beauty. Meals and overnights at Kulala Desert Lodge. (B, L, D, Dr)
Sep 2 – ETOSHA: Say goodbye to the dunes and enjoy your scenic charter flight to Etosha National Park in northern Namibia. After landing, you’ll be transferred to Ongava Tented Camp. Afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight here. (B, L, D, Dr)
Sep 3 – ETOSHA: Enjoy a full day of game viewing and photographing Etosha’s fantastic wildlife. Meals and overnights at Ongava Tented Camp. (B, L, D, Dr)
Sep 4 – MOREMI: Morning game drive. After breakfast, take a charter flight to Maun, Botswana, then fly to Chitabe Trails Camp, a luxury tented camp bordering the Moremi Game Reserve. Enjoy lunch and an afternoon game drive or walk. Dinner and overnight here. (B, L, D, Dr
Sep 5, 6, 7 – MOREMI: Spend the next three days exploring the Okavango Delta. Meals and overnights at Chitabe Trails Camp. (B, L, D, Dr)
Sep 8 – SAVUTI: This morning take a charter flight to Duma Tau, a luxury tented camp located near the Savuti Channel in the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve near Chobe National Park. Enjoy lunch and an afternoon game drive or boat trip. Dinner and overnight here. (B, L, D, Dr
Sep 9 – SAVUTI: Spend another day exploring the Okavango Delta via game drives, boat rides and walks. Meals and overnights at Duma Tau. (B, L, D, Dr)
Sep 10 – FLIGHTS TO MAUN/JOHANNESBURG/HOME: After breakfast, fly to Maun. From there, most guests will fly to Johannesburg (Flight Maun/Jo’burg not included) to connect with international flights home. (B)
PRE-TOUR EXTENSION - CAPE TOWN & NAMAQUALAND, SOUTH AFRICA & THE GHOST TOWN OF KOLMANSKOP, NAMIBIA
Aug 20 - CAPE TOWN: Arrive in Cape Town. You’ll be met at the airport and transferred to the Portswood Hotel, located in the beautiful waterfront area. This evening the group will have an opportunity to meet for a pre-trip briefing. Overnight here.
Aug 21 - CAPE TOWN: A free day to spend exploring the area in and around Cape Town. Overnight Portswood Hotel. (B)
Aug 22 – CLANWILLIAM: Enjoy breakfast, then drive to the town of Clanwilliam which is on the southern edge of the Namaqualand wildflowers. Overnight at the Blommenberg Guesthouse. (B)
Aug 23 – NAMAQUALAND: Have breakfast, then drive to lovely Namaqualand. After checking in at Annie’s Cottage in Springbok, take a scenic tour of the rolling hills and broad valleys in search of wildflowers. Located in the heart of Springbok, Annie’s Cottage is a lovely old manor house restored from colonial days. Overnight Annie’s Cottage. (B)
Aug 24 & 25 – NAMAQUALAND: Spend two more days exploring the Namaqualand countryside and the exquisite wildflower displays. Overnights at Annie’s Cottage. (B)
Aug 26 – KEETMANSHOOP: Say goodbye to South Africa and drive to Keetmanshoop, Namibia. Photograph the nearby Quiver Tree Forest. Overnight at the Canyon Hotel. (B)
Aug 27 – LUDERITZ: After breakfast, drive to the old German harbor town of Luderitz. Spend the afternoon exploring the wonderful harbor area. For the next two nights your accommodations will be at The Nest Hotel. (B)
Aug 28 – LUDERITZ: Spend the day exploring the area around Kolmanskop ghost town, a unique photographic experience. Overnight at the Nest Hotel. (B)
Aug 29 – ELIZABETH BAY/WINDHOEK: After a morning visit to the ghost town of Elizabeth Bay, fly to Windhoek to meet up with the rest of your group. Overnight at the Safari Court Hotel. (B)
DETAILS
Duration Main tour: 13 days Pre-tour extension: 10 days 2007 Departure Main Tour: Aug 29-Sep 10 Pre-tour extension: Aug 20-29 Accommodations Moderate lodges, Luxury tented camps Fitness Rating Easy Activities Photography, game drives, nature walks, tours Land-only price* Main Tour – Namibia & Botswana: $10,656 US pp Single supplement: $1,900 US Pre-tour extension: $1,733 US pp Single supplement: $400 US Flight prices International flights: Call for pricing Note: Additional flight from Maun, Botswana to Jo’burg, South Africa will be required. Pricing is currently $278 US per person
CONTACT and BOOKING INFORMATION
If you are interested in participating in this Photo Tour or if you require any additional information, please don't hesitate to contact me by either e-mail or phone. Garry Black, Phone: 613-824-9295 gblack@garryblack.com
To register for this workshop payment and bookings are to be made to: Africa Adventure Consultants, Inc., 1221 S. Clarkson St. #309, Denver, CO 80210 USA Toll Free: 866-778-1089 Fax: 303-778-0633, www.adventuresinafrica.com, info@adventuresinafrica.com
Price includes: · All accommodations as indicated · All meals as indicated by B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner · Drinks as indicated by Dr = drinks · Daily Laundry included in main tour · Transfers as indicated · Excellent wildlife guides/trackers · Internal flights as indicated · Park fees · Activities as indicated · A $10 donation to one of three worthy African charities Price excludes · Some meals · Some drinks · Tips · Visas · Inoculations · Some airport departure taxes if applicable · Comprehensive travel insurance (Recommended: Some policies must be purchased within 15 days of your initial trip deposit) · Items of a personal nature · Anything not specified above		Notes: · We accept VISA, MasterCard & American Express. · We offer a 2% discount for payments by cash/check. · We strongly recommend that all our clients take out comprehensive travel insurance. Please contact us for pricing. · All pricing is for pre-booked costs. Prices may vary if paid in country. · All prices are estimates. Final pricing will be given after verbal confirmation and an invoice will be sent. Some pricing fluctuates based on international exchange rates and clients are responsible for any increases. NOTE: Substitutions may occur. Deposit payment by client constitutes acceptance of Africa Adventure Consultants terms and conditions including restrictive refund policy: 20% at 61+ days, 50% at 30-60 days and 100% at <30 days, plus any handling fees and non-refundable supplier deposits. Additionally, airline tickets are subject to carrier policies. Most tickets are non-refundable.