sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

I just returned from a 10-day trip to South Africa with Greg Sweeney, a former National Geographic photographer. This trip was reasonably priced and was designed for photographers - we had only six people and so the safari vehicles were plenty roomy to get photos on either side. Our drivers/guides were ours and focused on helping us get the photos we wanted. Over the next few weeks - as I go through thousands of photographs - I will be submitting examples of the photos that I took on this once-in-a-lifetime photographer's fantasy trip. To say the very least, it was fantastic. I will be happy to discuss details of this trip with anyone who wants to message me. His website is: http://www.africawildsafaris.net

Ahhhh....Africa at last!

d3200prime

Fantastic!

Dr.Nikon Loc: Honolulu Hawaii

sB .., what a wonderful once in a lifetime trip ...I remember mine to Africa ...so many years ago ..., can't wait to see your shots ... what equip were you using ......

GregWCIL Loc: Illinois

Steve,

I'm really looking forward to seeing your photos. When were you there? Also looking forward to your descriptions of where you went.

Greg

Swamp-Cork Loc: Lanexa, Virginia

Excellent image, Steve!

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

Thanks all. I posted some leopard photos. This was a wonderful trip - you can see his website for details. We spent a week at Greg's personal lodge - Bona Ntaba Treehouse Lodge, which is part of a private preserve outside Kruger National Park - we visited Kruger and several other preserves during that week. We then spent several nights at a lodge in the Sabi Sands preserve, and the last night was at a lodge just outside of Hudspruit - it was one of the best spots.

We flew into Johannesburg - I took the 16-hour nonstop from Atlanta (a horrible trip in coach!), stayed overnight, then caught a morning flight to Hudspruit.

angler Loc: StHelens England

Superb shot Steve.

philo Loc: philo, ca

How much was the flight to Hudspruit?

GregWCIL Loc: Illinois

The good part of that flight is your misery ends in 16 hours. It took us 2 whole days to get from Chicago to J'burg via London. And the second flight was still 12 hours. Luckily I sleep well on a plane.

Your zebra shot is very good, btw. With the crisp stripes and mane standing out nicely from the OOF background. I found it more difficult than I thought it would be to get good zebra photos.

Jim S Loc: Barrington RI, DC now Hilton Head,

How much does a trip like that cost ?

AuntieM Loc: Eastern NC

Great shot. Can't wait to see more from your trip.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

I flew South African Airways - I think it was about $200 - it's a one hour trip. Either Hudspruit or Nelspruit are the "gateways" to Kruger.
The flight to Johannesburg - shows how shopping around makes a difference. When I bought the ticket it was $1500 on Delta's website - the same flight was $960 on Travelocity! Delta flies non-stop from Atlanta to Jo-burg. I am not sure that is a good thing - 16 hours without stopping is horrible. It is worth the extra $200 for the "Comfort Zone" seating, which I got for the return trip after suffering the coach sardine-can seating on the way there. When I arrived in Johannesburg I went online and found that they had one seat left in that section for the upgrade cost - about four extra inches of room - very worthwhile!

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

The cost of the safaris that I have seen runs from $5,000 to $9,000 or more. Airfare is additional. Some trips charge a surcharge for solo travelers. The trip I mention does not, and the popular Overseas Adventure Travel trips do not - but they are also not strictly photography trips, and may have more people per vehicle. The trip I took is actually on the lower end of costs. You also have to commit yourself to the trip about a year in advance, since all arrangements have to be made. So most trips require payments in steps during the year. It is also imperative to purchase trip insurance, which covers your costs should you need to cancel, should the trip organizer go bankrupt, should you miss your flight, lose your luggage, require medical evacuation, etc. This insurance runs about $600! This is all one reason that these types of trips are a "trip of a lifetime"! I have to say that this trip was worth every penny.

I have no doubt that one could arrange a trip for much less money than mentioned above, but since I have no experience with South Africa and all the different private preserves around Kruger, I would have been lost - in more ways than one - to try to put together my own trip!

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

Thanks - yes - I don't know why it is so hard to get a good zebra photo - I have lots of photos of zebra butts..... You are right about the trip - I really don't know which is worse - compressing the misery or spreading it out. Maybe the 16 hour trip with some Valium and a bunch of pillows...

philo Loc: philo, ca

I would not try to do a trip like this on my own. Tis better to pay a little extra and let someone who know what they are doing take care of things.