RUAHA and KATAVI NATIONAL PARK PHOTOGRAPHY SAFARI

The stunning Ruaha and Katavi National Parks in southern and western Tanzania will be the location for this 11 day/10 night photography safari.
Both Ruaha and Katavi are ideal destinations for people who have been on safari before and are looking for a remote and unspoilt wilderness area.
With great diversity of both wildlife and bird life there is no shortage of photographic subject matter and with few other tourists compared to the northern parks of Tanzania you will often experience your own private wildlife wilderness with no other distractions.
5 nights are spent in Ruaha and 4 nights in Katavi.

WORKSHOP ELEMENTS

This workshop is best suited to photographers with some experience wishing to share knowledge and learn new skills in an outstanding natural environment.
There will be no photographic lessons in a classroom environment but a professional photographer will be shooting beside you throughout the day and be on hand to give advice at all times. Due to the unpredictable nature of the subject matter a flexible approach has to be taken to shooting, and anticipation of the movements of the wildlife will be a key factor.

Specific photographic skills that will be discussed during the workshop include:

Camera and lens handling in off road conditions
Reliable metering for perfect exposure
Framing the subject
Image stability and focussing techniques
How to anticipate the shot
Macro photography
Creative lighting techniques in the bush
Image analysis and selection

To ensure that everyone has plenty of space and to guarantee individual attention there will be a maximum of 3 photographers per car plus your professional photographer Barny Trevelyan Johnson and your professional safari guide Sven Liebchen.
Spouses, friends and partners are welcome to join the safari but a separate car will be made available to them to either convoy or enjoy their own private game drives in Ruaha. There will be a maximum of 4 pax/car in the non-photographers cars.

EXPERT ADVICE:

BARNY TREVELYAN-JOHNSON is a British-born photographer who relocated from London to Dar es Salaam in 2000. He originally came out to do 3 months freelance wildlife photography, but loved it so much, he stayed. He established Highly Visual, a photographic and graphic company, in 2001 and has since become one of Tanzania’s top photographers.

Barny’s wildlife photos have been used extensively for marketing purposes by safari lodges and in various publications. He has also worked for the Tanzanian Marine Parks and Reserves Authority on underwater photos.

Highly Visual specialises in commercial photography, while also offering wildlife, tourism and photojournalism services.
The website www.highlyvisual.com illustrates a sample of Highly Visual’s work in recent years, demonstrating the range and depth of Barny’s photography.

SVEN LIEBCHEN has lived in Tanzania since early childhood and is a director of Authentic Tanzania. A professional safari guide trained in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Tanzania, he is one of the few professional guides specialising in southern Tanzania and this experience will be the crucial factor in getting you to the right place at the right time for the perfect wildlife shots. Sven will accompany all the Ruaha sections of this safari.

SAFARI VEHICLES
We use Toyota Landcruisers with a full top safari conversion allowing plenty of space for 360 degree vision. We do not extend the Landcruisers to pack in more people but take a maximum of 4 pax per car.
In Katavi you will be using a private open sided specially converted safari vehicle with a professional guide from the tented camp.

SUPPORT VEHICLE
We use an ex SA army forward control Landrover as our logistics and support vehicle. This is fully equipped with refrigeration to keep films (or drinks) cold, and has ample power for all of your battery charging and laptop charging requirements.

ACCOMMODATION:
We offer both camping and lodge options in Ruaha and use a tented camp in Katavi on this photography safari.
The camping safari is fully serviced using large walk in canvas dome tents equipped with 2 stretcher beds, mattress, bed linen and pillow. Meals are taken in the open sided mess tent and evenings spent beside the campfire under the vast African night sky listening to the calls of the bush will leave an everlasting memory.

The lodge safari is based in Ruaha at either the medium budget Ruaha River Lodge or the higher budget Mwagusi Safari Camp.

In Katavi we use the small semi permanent tented Katavi Wilderness Camp ideally located on the edge of a vast floodplain.

EQUIPMENT TO BRING

Camera body -
A digital SLR with a laptop is recommended so when not shooting we can analyse shots to get the next set bigger. If you prefer to shoot on film or slide individual advice will be given to non digital photographers as the shooting takes place in the course of the day.

Lenses –
A very long and fast lens is recommended. Barny uses a Nikon 400mm f2.8 sometimes with a 1.4x converter pushing it up to near 600 f4. Digital cameras such as his, the D2Xs, have an effective magnification of 50%, meaning it works as nearly a 900mm f4. Some of the longer image stabilised or vibration reduction are great for wildlife and getting the shots while the engine’s still running.

Accessories-
A good sturdy camera bag or case – whilst on safari we travel on off road conditions it is essential to store equipment securely to avoid dust and damage.
A monopod for longer lens and a sturdy tripod for low light shots.
Bean bags are supplied for support around the vehicles.
You may also want to bring a flash for lower light situations.
As much digital media or film as possible

RUAHA and KATAVI NATIONAL PARK PHOTOGRAPHIC SAFARI ITINERARY

Please note all safaris depart Dar es Salaam to Ruaha on a SATURDAY morning

Day 1 FRIDAY DAR ES SALAAM
Arrive Dar es Salaam International airport.
Met and transfer to Seacliff Hotel. (BB)

DAY 2. SATURDAY RUAHA
Transfer to domestic airport. Fly Dar es Salaam to Ruaha N.P. dep 08.30 arrive 11.30.
Met and transfer to lodge or campsite.
Introductions and lunch
Familiarisation of location and equipment
Afternoon game drive

DAY 2-6. SUNDAY-WEDNESDAY RUAHA
Photographic based game drives in Ruaha N.P. with 5 nights spent in either Ruaha River Lodge, Mwagusi Safari Camp or camping

DAY 7 THURSDAY
Fly Ruaha-Katavi dep 7.00 arrive 09.10.
Met and transfer to Katavi Wilderness Camp.
Game drives will be conducted in private open sided safari vehicles.

DAY 7-10 THURSDAY-SUNDAY
Photographic based game drives in Katavi N.P. with 4 nights spent in Katavi Wilderness Camp

DAY 11. MONDAY DAR es SALAAM
Fly Katavi-Dar es Salaam dep 11.20 arrive 16.35. Met and transfer to Seacliff Hotel.
(It is possible to fly direct Ruaha-Zanzibar for those wanting a beach extension after the Ruaha safari, please ask for details)

A typical day would follow the below schedule

5:45 Breakfast, then drive to our first light location (if camping we can take breakfast in the bush)

6:30 Sunrise and first light shots

9:30 The light starts to get a bit harsher.

11:00 Option to continue on a full day game drive with picnic lunch or head back to camp and relax in the shade throughout the hottest hours of the day (where the light is also most flat)

13:00 Lunch

14:30 Head back out for a full afternoons shooting

17:45 Position ourselves for last light sunset shots

18.30 Drive back to camp

20:00 Dinner

TOTAL COST PER PERSON: Please ask for costs which depend whether camping or using medium standard or high standard safari lodge in Ruaha

INCLUDES:
9 days private 4x4 private safari vehicle hire
9 days guided services with professional photographer and professional safari guides
5 nights full board accommodation Ruaha River Lodge or Mwagusi Safari Camp (lodge based option)
5 nights full board tented accommodation in Ruaha (camping option)
5 days park fees in Ruaha (and camping fees on camping safari)
4 nights FB accommodation Katavi Wilderness Camp
4 days park fees in Katavi
1.5 litres drinking water p.p./day
Local beer, wine and soft drinks on camping safari
Transfers to/from Seacliff Hotel-airport in Dar es Salaam
2 nights BB accommodation Seacliff Hotel, Dar es Salaam
Domestic flights Dar es Salaam-Ruaha-Katavi-Dar es Salaam

EXCLUDES:
Domestic airport tax
Meals not on above meal plan (BB-bed/breakfast, FB-full board)
Drinks on lodge based safari (except drinking water provided whilst out on safari)
Tips and items of a personal nature

SAFARI DATES: This safari is only operational between June and end November

LODGE SAFARIS:

2007
1. OCTOBER 19-29 – SPACE AVAILABLE
2. NOVEMBER 2-12 – SPACE AVAILABLE

CAMPING SAFARIS:

2007
1. JUNE 7-17 – SPACE AVAILABLE
2. SEPTEMBER 21-OCTOBER 1 - SPACE AVAILABLE
3. OCTOBER 5-15 – LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE