lightyear

I want to take an E. Africa ( Kenya, Tanzania, etc.) tour to see and photograph the wonderful wildlife there, but discovered that all of the less-costly ($6000 or less) tours jam 6 or more people in a vehicle, and do not stay out for the pre-sundown time as the animals become more active. The photo oriented tours, 4 or less people per vehicle, leave the lodge early and return late are much more ($8000 and up)costly, as best I could learn. The tour operators I spoke with admitted that the longer day and more vehicles/drivers utilized increases the cost, but the prime reason photo tours cost more is because enough of us will pay the higher price. Has anyone discovered an photo oriented tours at lower prices?

Kobuk Loc: Roseville, CA

We did a Self-Drive trip last fall with a company called Safari Drive the people on the ground that helped us were great but the company its self was the worst they made so many mistakes that cost us time and an anguish. They refuse to give us any money back at all, a bit off topic but wanted to say one of there people on the ground told us the same thing there is no shortage of people with enough money so they can charge almost any amount they want. I have to say if you are able a self-drive is very rewarding we say everything we wanted and more without a lot of other vehicles around us in most cases.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Chack out https://www.porini.com/

ronichas Loc: Long Island

I did an amazing tour of Namibia with JudyLynn Malloch and her husband Gary. It was a self drive, we stayed in Etosha Park, four different resorts. There were 3 cars, 2 people in each car. We had walkie/talkies to keep in contact. Every morning we would drive to the different watering holes to photograph the wildlife.
It was amazing and both Judylynn and Gary are great people, great photographers and just overall great people. I will definitely to another tour with them. They also go to the Pantanal & to Costa Rica. If you contact them, please tell Gary I referred you. I am also posting a link to my website with my images from Namibia. Definitely a trip of a lifetime!

https://naturestapestryjlm.com/namibia-photo-adventure/

http://ronichas.zenfolio.com/f510783346

genesampson

Ask also about "sundowner" policy. That is where the group is taken to a specific generally high overlook for drinks and to watch the sun go down. On one tour that was more important to the driver than the big male lion we were with as the light was getting good.

I didn't mind 6 in a vehicle as each had a clear view and it was no problem to work with the photographer on the other side to get shots. I never felt "jammed in."

Be sure your driver understands light for better shots and positions the vehicle to have good light on the subject. Feel free to ask for it if needed.

Going back for a fourth safari trip in October to Kenya and Rwanda. Seeing the Mountain Gorillas is at the top of my bucket list.

Maybe most important is knowing when to go for what you want to shoot. Animals gather around small water sources in the dry season rather than being more dispersed in the wet seasons. You may want birthing to get shots of many many babies, or the great migration and thousands of animals crossing rivers. That choice will determine what you will see to shoot.

solomonv

I went to eastern Africa (South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe) a few years ago with an organization called Odysseys Unlimited. The trip was billed as a wildlife tour, not specifically photography, but I did get some amazing shots. I highly recommend the Odysseys organization - the largest group they take is 24, they catered to every need, and all of our game drives had enough vehicles so that we all had window seats. Yes it was pricey, and I traveled as a single so that added $1500 to the trip, but it was well worth the money to not have to worry about the minutiae of traveling in other countries.

ramblinmen Loc: Manassas, VA

We went to Tanzania and Kenya last August/September with Tauck on their Classic Safari. First off, you get what you pay for. On any self driving tour you may cover the same ground in and out. Tauck was expensive but they used four internal flights out of areas rather than see the same scenery twice. We had a minimum of two animal drives per day and all were either early or late to witness the animals while feeding or searching for water. This does pose lighting issues as many of my shots ended up pretty red in hue but we saw every animal on most lists. We had up to 7 people per car (including the driver) but that made for more sets of eyes looking for the game and, yes, it seems a pain to see many other vehicles in the same vacinity but on the positive side they share information between companies. We would have missed a lot if they hadn't communicated with each other. I found that I could always frame my shots without including "humans" in the photo and I felt there was sufficient room in the vehicles to stretch out (I'm 6'1" tall). You do not, normally, leave the vehicles (for safety reasons) and you must stick to the terrible roads or face repercussions from the guards. The drivers will lose their authority and face fines. If this a once in a life time experience for you I would really do your homework and make sure you go with a reputable guide firm. Our accomodations were plush even the period utilizing camping facilities. The luxury was much appreciated after a day trecking covered in road dust and persperation.
By the way, in total we paid about $12,000 per person excluding air fare. Tauck covered everything extremely well and our tour guide, Anna, was superb. One last note, she said she felt the best time of year to go was middle if December through January. Tauck also included a hot air balloon ride with the package.
No, I don't work for Tauck or have any financial interest in the company, we also looked at Thompson Safaries.

genesampson

I have been on several trips with Overseas Adventure Travel including to Tanzania. Very good experiences the 5 times I've traveled with them. Note they give prices for land only, land and air, and often have free single supplements. Most trips allow a max of 16 travelers. I think you'd be hard pressed to find disappointed OAT travelers (I've also traveled with Road Scholar, scheduled a Namibian safari with a guide for a private trip, and Backroads and was always satisfied). Anyway check out the OAT website below.

https://www.oattravel.com/tripsavailable?b=OAT%7CGCF%7CGCCL%7CGCT&q=Africa&icid=hpkw_1_hro

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

I would go with the cheaper tour that comes back earlier. The animals are more active later because they come out at night to eat you. Just a thought.

genesampson

Cheaper tours do not necessilarily come in earlier. In some parks (like Etosha, Namibia) those without reservations within the park have to leave the park by sundown and that can be a problem. And with regard to being eaten, some things are worth dying for, IMHO.

Kereru Loc: Wellington, New Zealand

We did a Serengeti tour with Roy Safaris based in Arusha in 2012. It was regarded as a 'mid range' safari. We had our own vehicle and our own guide. We told them we were interested in birds and photography.
They provided us with a guide based on our interests. On game drive days we set the start time. We could stop and watch what we wanted for as long as we wanted.
Tanzania National Park regulations require safari vehicles to be off the road by 6.00pm. Private game reserves don't have the same restrictions but you will pay a premium for that.

macsmom Loc: S Carolina

ronichas, you have some really nice photos there. Charlie

fromafar

We spent 12 days in Kenya/Tanzania last September, mostly in the Massai Mara Conservancy...amazing, fantastic, more than we had hoped for! We went through Natural Habitat Adventures: nathab.com. This company specializes in small group, 8 or less, 'in the bush" safaris. The staff are fantastic and the guides were not only seasoned with many years of guiding experience, but also, like our guide, Joe Charlelson, are expert photographers! Natural Habitat's focus, as they say, is "adventure travel and ecotourism". They are definitely worth the prices. Nat Hab can make 'all' the travel arrangements, flights, hotels, etc both inbound, in country, and outbound to return home.
An advantage we had by using Nat Hab, was that not only did we have our own guide and vehicle, but our guide(s) had the necessary permissions to go 'off road' in the Conservancy areas. Many, if not most, of the other travel/safari companies that we encountered in the areas did not. And, as others have noted, many conservancy areas/parks require that vehicles be out of an area by dark.

Yes, Natural Habitat was more expensive than other safari/tour companies we researched, but they were well worth it. We are headed back to Botswana & Namibia this August with Nat Hab...looking forward to it.

kdyce

I did a photo safari in South Africa May 2015 with Gregory Sweeney, africawildsafaris.net. He takes only 4-6 people per trip. The trip was phenomenal, food was amazing, lodging was wonderful. I highly recommend him!!

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

Try this website. You can modify their itineraries as you wish. Email Fred and tell him what you want to see and do. I took my two teen age grandsons on a two week safari in Kenya five years ago. There were just the three of us in the Toyota van with pop-up roof and our own driver. We stayed in resorts within the National Parks, which I highly recommend. The cost was very reasonable compared with other companies that I considered.
http://www.adventureeastafrica.com/kenya-safaris-from-nairobi