Dave knows what photographers need to get that great shot. I wholeheartedly recommend traveling with Dave Burns.”
This photo safari to East Africa is in Tanzania, famous for its unforgettable wildlife, exotic culture, and breathtaking landscapes. You’ll go to well-known places such as the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater and some lesser-known but equally amazing places such as Tarangire National Park. There’s an optional hot-air balloon ride as well.
I designed this safari especially for people who love photography. You will have:
- Lots of photography (of course!): time to immerse yourself in shooting wildlife, discussing it with other avid photographers, and learning/practicing your digital workflow.
- The right location and time of year to ensure your best chances of capturing lots of thrilling wildlife in great light.
- Comfortable vehicles with room to spread out.
- Expert naturalist guides who can help you identify animals and understand their behavior.
- Exclusive access to safe, comfortable lodging in great locations and away from crowds.
Serengeti
The Serengeti is the most famous wildlife region in the world. The name derives from the local Maasai word “Serengit” which means “endless plains” and those plains contain almost 100 species of mammals, over 500 species of birds, and the one-million strong wildebeest migration. Along with the wildebeest, the plains contain large herds of zebra, antelope such as gazelles, and if we’re lucky, we’ll see big cats on the hunt. In the Serengeti, we will stay in a mobile tented camp right in the middle of the action, leaving early in the morning for best light and following the game where we find it. During our five days of game drives in the southern and central Serengeti, we’ll see varied landscape: granite outcroppings called kopjes which frequently have lion photogenically perched and looking for prey, woodlands of acacia overflowing with bird life, and stands of trees that offer our best opportunity to spot leopard.
Ngorongoro Crater
The Crater is called both Africa’s Garden of Eden and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. It is the world’s largest intact caldera and is home to up to 20,000 mammals. We’ll stay two nights on the crater rim and descend to the crater floor as early as possible in the morning for the best light. The Crater contains an incredible variety of wildlife that makes it difficult to know where to point your lens. Luckily, the animals are accustomed to vehicles so sometimes they come quite close. The high predator population consists of lions, cheetah, hyena, and jackals and can make for exciting drama. The large herd animals like wildebeest, gazelles, and zebra can lend your images a sense of immense scale and the Crater walls make great backgrounds to photograph large mammals like buffalo, elephant, and endangered black rhino. And if you prefer birds, there are large birds like the Kori Bustard and plentiful cranes, storks, and the flamingos along a soda lake at one side of the Crater floor.
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire is Tanzania’s fifth-largest park and has a huge concentration of elephant, birds, and beautiful landscapes full of ancient baobab trees. There are also plenty of herd animals like zebra and wildebeest and that means predators are around – if we’re alert we may see some big cats. We’ll start our adventure with two nights in the park, allowing us to explore multiple areas.
Hot-Air Balloon Ride (optional)
On one morning in the Serengeti, there is an opportunity to take an optional hot-air balloon ride at sunrise. This is a fantastic chance to view the Serengeti from a unique perspective and experience the early morning sun illuminate the landscape with warm, golden light and long shadows. With luck, you’ll capture images of herds from above as well. After you land, you will have a full English breakfast in the bush including champagne. Although this option is highly recommended, it is not required and those who choose not to go will enjoy a morning game drive.
My experience in Tanzania was absolutely amazing. I highly recommend this trip with Dave Burns.”
Day 1
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport where you will be met and taken to our lodge for dinner with the group and an overnight stay.
Day 2
After breakfast, our local guides will meet us at the lodge and we’ll depart on safari to Tarangire National Park, a park spectacular for its scenery and wildlife. We’ll have a picnic lunch in the park and spend our afternoon viewing game within the northern region. At sunset we’ll arrive at our lodge for dinner and early bedtime for the full day tomorrow.
Day 3
We’ll spend a full day in Tarangire NP. We’ll start early to catch the best light. Depending on the group’s preference, we may return to the lodge in late morning or stay out for a picnic lunch. In either case, we’ll be out again mid-afternoon for another game drive during the late afternoon light that is spectacular when it hits the many baobab trees in Tarangire. We’ll return to our lodge for a great dinner and well-earned rest.
Day 4
After breakfast, we depart Tarangire and head to the Ngorongoro Crater where we’ll spend 2 nights. Ngorongoro is one of the best locations in the world for viewing wildlife year-round. Our safari lodge is perched on the eastern rim of the crater (great sunsets!) and ideally situated at the head of one of the two access roads into the crater.
Day 5
We spend a full day exploring the Crater and looking for game, breaking only for lunch in a photogenic spot. At the end of the day, we return to our lodge for dinner and a well-earned rest in our beds.
Days 6 – 8
Today, after breakfast, we head to the Serengeti and photograph wildlife as we drive towards our destination: our mobile tented camp right in the Moru Kopjes near the central Serengeti. We’ll enjoy dinner as the sun sets and fall asleep to the sounds of wildlife in the distance. We spend the next 2 days here leaving by dawn for best light, eating breakfast on the road, then returning to camp mid-day while the sun is high and the animals are resting. After eating lunch and downloading images, we head out again for the late afternoon light. At night, we will have a fire and dinner back at camp and an opportunity to share stories.
Days 9 – 10
After breakfast, we leave our camp and photograph more wildlife along the way to our final camp in the northern Serengeti. We spend two nights here away from any crowds and if the timing is right, we can see the herds of wildebeest when they migrate by crossing the Mara River!
Day 11
After breakfast on our last morning, we fly back to Arusha where we have lunch together, do any last-minute shopping, then head back to our lodge where a day room will be available before an evening transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for our flights.
The sightings were wonderful. We had many opportunities to take great photographs.”
The price for this trip is $6,075 per person for double occupancy; the single supplement is $945. Upon signing up, there is a deposit of 30%. The balance is due on July 1st, 2019. The cost is the same for photographers and non-photographers alike. Note that airfare from your home to Tanzania is not included; a typical fare from the U.S. East Coast can be approximately $1,500.
What’s Included?
Professionally trained, English-speaking drivers/guides and a professional photographer leader to assist you in the field. All park entry fees, all accommodation and meals as described in the detailed itinerary, airport transfers upon arrival and departure, private safari vehicles with an entire row per photographer, bottled water during game drives, local medical evacuation in case of emergency, safari planning booklet, and support from tour operator with offices in Arusha, Tanzania.
What’s Not Included?
International airfare to Arusha, Tanzania (JRO) and any airline/airport fees and taxes, additions to this itinerary such as extra days before or after the trip, passport fees, visa fees, immunizations, and travel insurance, tips for guides and lodging staff, laundry, drinks (except bottled water in your safari vehicle), hospital bills and international evacuation in the event of an emergency, and camera and computer equipment.
Terms & Conditions
- I make best efforts to deliver the itinerary described on the Itinerary tab but sometimes circumstances beyond my control require changes. I reserve the right to alter this itinerary at any time if necessary. If I do make changes, I will notify you as soon as possible. Also, items such as park fees and in-country flight costs can sometimes change. If there are additional costs due to the changes, these will be passed on to you.
- In the event the listed accommodations are not available, I will use alternative accommodations.
- Refunds: Up to 60 days before the trip, you can cancel for 50% of your deposit. Between 60 days and 30 days before the trip, you can cancel and receive a refund of 35% of the total trip cost. Within 30 days of the trip, I cannot offer any refunds. I encourage you to purchase trip cancellation insurance in case you need to cancel.