Blog Tag: Photo Safari

Fall 2013 Photo Safari – Trip Report, Day 4

by Dave Burns | Posted in Trip Reports | Tags: , , ,
Wildebeest Running in Dust, Tarangire NP, Tanzania
Wildebeest Running in Dust, Tarangire NP, Tanzania
1/1000 at f/5.6. ISO 100

Today, we rose early to check out of our lodge and head to the Ngorongoro Crater. We took our time getting to the park gate and we weren’t disappointed with the fantastic light on the baobab and flat-topped acacia trees.

From a distance, we saw a herd of zebra and wildebeest at the top of a hill, heading down to the river for a drink. They were kicking up a cloud of dust as they ran downhill which was illuminated from behind with sunlight. We raced down the road to get closer and stayed for half an hour, trying to capture the amazing scene, feeling lucky that the herd was large enough to give us the time to try different compositions.

After leaving the park gate, we drove further across the Maasai Steppe and up the Rift Valley escarpment, feeling the air get much cooler as we climbed higher. In the late afternoon, we arrived at our lodging on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater and settled in.

Before going to bed, I heard some noise outside my window. I turned out the lights and went to the window to see what might be there. I looked down and 3 feet from me was a zebra, peacefully munching away on the grass.

— Dave

Fall 2013 Photo Safari – Trip Report, Day 3

by Dave Burns | Posted in Trip Reports | Tags: , ,
Klipspringer, Tarangire NP, Tanzania
Klipspringer, Tarangire NP, Tanzania
1/640 at f/5.6. ISO 640

Today was our last full day in the park so we took the opportunity to explore a deeper, remote section that I’d never seen before. On our way south, we stopped to watch two male lions who crossed the road right behind our vehicle. They were calling to each other and when they’re that close, you really feel it in your chest.

It was interesting to see different behavior in the elephants in this more remote area. Since they don’t see humans as frequently, they were much more skittish around us. When they had babies with them, they would immediately form a circle around them, facing outward in order to protect them.

After driving through the beautiful umbrella thorn trees and flat-topped acacia trees, we drove back north. Near Tarangire Hill, we saw a klipspringer in the rocks, a small antelope you don’t see very often. We saw many birds along this route including goshawks, eagles (including my favorite, the Bateleur), doves, and nightjars.

As we approached home, we came upon a different pair of mating lions than we saw yesterday but they didn’t give us any show. Lazy!

— Dave

Fall 2013 Photo Safari – Trip Report, Day 2

by Dave Burns | Posted in Trip Reports | Tags: , ,
Elephant, Tarangire NP, Tanzania
Elephant, Tarangire NP, Tanzania
1/640 at f/5.6, ISO 100

Our second day in the park was our first full day and it was full of great sightings. Because it’s the dry season, the only major water source within the park is the Tarangire River so the wildlife tends to concentrate there. We saw elephants bathing, and plenty of animals getting a drink, wary of predators that might be around.

We were hoping to see a leopard in a tree near the river watching for a meal but no luck today so we drove on and found a mating pair of lions. Capturing this photographically is always a fun challenge because, well, the King of the Jungle only gives you about 10 seconds per show.

Later, traveling south, we came upon a lioness watching a warthog from a distance. She started to hunt, approaching it stealthily and hiding behind a rise, but the warthog was downwind and took off before the lioness could get close enough.

We saw plenty of birds as well including herons, ibis, storks, hornbills, eagles, and one of my favorites, the Secretary Bird.

At the end of the day, we returned to our rooms, tired but happy about what we were able to see. After dinner, seeing elephants about 20 meters from my window was a great finish to the day.

–Dave

Fall 2013 Photo Safari – Trip Report, Day 1

by Dave Burns | Posted in Trip Reports | Tags: , ,
Baobab at Sunset, Tarangire NP, Tanzania
Baobab at Sunset, Tarangire NP, Tanzania. October 2013
1/50 sec at f/32, ISO 200

Jambo from Tanzania! I’m just starting my Fall 2013 photo safari and, when I have Internet access, I’m going to try to post daily trip reports describing what we’ve seen.

Last night, we overnighted outside Arusha in a beautiful country inn near the Usa River. This morning, we met our drivers, loaded our gear, and drove through Arusha where the jacaranda trees are in full bloom, forming a long purple arch over the streets. Leaving the activity of the busy town, we drove to Tarangire National Park and did a game drive on the way to our lodging. I really like staying within the park as that lets my groups start their morning game drives immediately near the wildlife when the early golden light is at its peak.

We had a great first day, starting the tour off with herds of zebra and wildebeest, many giraffe, and Tarangire never disappoints with its abundance of elephant including many small babies. The variety of birds has been too much to record every species. We’ve seen ostrich (with chicks that are already the size of large chickens), secretary birds, several types of eagles, hornbills, coucals, goshawks, rollers, and lovebirds. For landscapes, we’ve seen magnificent baobabs trees everywhere that inspire great landscape photography.

Until tomorrow, safari njema!

— Dave

Animal Sightings on my Nov. 2012 Photo Safari

by Dave Burns | Posted in Trip Reports | Tags: , , , ,

I’m frequently asked if I really see as much wildlife on safari as my pictures show. The surprising answer is, you’ll see more than I have pictures of! Although I have to warn people that it’s not like the Discovery Channel (although I did see a cheetah hunt on my March 2012 safari), it’s true that there is more wildlife than you can shake a camera stick at. There are supposedly 500+ species of birds in the Serengeti alone. I kept a species list from my November 2012 safari and thought I’d publish that here for people to see the variety and breadth they may see on one of my safaris:

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My new photo safari to Tanzania in Fall 2013!

by Dave Burns | Posted in News | Tags: , , , ,

My new photo safari in October 2013 is now ready for sign ups (and there is a discount if you sign up before May 1st)! It’s a 10-night safari that hits the best locations in Tanzania’s northern circuit:

  • We start with 3 nights at a camp within Tarangire National Park. Tarangire does not have the name recognition that the Serengeti does but that just means fewer crowds. It is one of my favorite locations and I always come away with great images. It is full of beautiful landscapes and at this time of year is full of wildlife.

  • We then spend 3 nights at the Ngorongoro Crater – an ancient caldera considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The Crater is teeming with herd animals, birds, and of course, predators! On my last trip, we saw a pride of lions feasting on a freshly killed buffalo, sparring with jackals who wanted a piece of the prize.

  • After the amazing photographic opportunity of visiting a Maasai boma, we finish the trip with 3 nights in the legendary Serengeti. Our camp is in the midst of the kopjes – granite outcroppings that provide shade and views of the plains to the local cats.

Photographers and Lioness in the Serengeti

For more information, please check out all the details on the tour page. If you’re interested, don’t hesitate to contact me!

— Dave

Announcing Dave Burns Photo Tours!

by Dave Burns | Posted in News | Tags: ,

Here’s the big announcement recently sent out over email:

Hello, everyone!

I’m excited to announce the launch of my newest adventure: Dave Burns Photo Tours. This is an opportunity to share my love of adventure travel with other photographers, from aspiring to pro. My safari tours are different from most safaris out there because they are designed especially for photography. I’ve put a lot of thought and planning into it and my trips have unique features that cater to people who want a better experience. For example, a professional photographer guide, extra room in the vehicles with unobstructed views, access to power throughout the trip, etc. If you want more details on the differences, see my web-site below.

My first tour is in March 2013 to Tanzania where we’ll photograph wildlife in the Serengeti and other parks. I’m also leaving for Africa in a few weeks to scout a safari trip I’ll lead in fall of 2013. Please check out my web site for more info: https://www.daveburnsphoto.com/.

I can also run a private tour for a group to customize the experience. My standard itinerary is an outstanding value but if you want things like ultra-luxury private camps and flying from park to park instead of driving, I can work with you to design your dream safari.

My primary way of getting the news out is word-of-mouth so please forward this note along to anyone and everyone you think might be interested.

Safari njema (Safe travels),
Dave Burns