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Photography Expedition,
South Africa, Namibia and Botswana
“...My knees buckled and I lost my position as the
cage began to shake violently. Pressed against the back of the bars, almost
on my knees and looking up, I could only see the massive body of a huge
male Great White Shark thrashing wildly as he pounded the surface. He
was struggling with Andre, our shark wrangler, for a share of the bait.
When I managed to straighten and stand, I felt like an air bubble in a
Coca-Cola bottle. Sated, the Great White left fast and furious, slamming
past the other cage as it did so. My eyes met those of Phil, the diver
in the other steel box. Though we could not speak underwater, we had no
need to. There are times in one’s life when words are more than
merely superfluous…"
For those who think they’ve 'seen it all', for adventure
travelers in search of the ultimate, Amos Nachoum and Big Animals Photography Expeditions offer the planet’s preeminent big animal adventure. Experienced
travelers to Africa boast of having seen the traditional "big five"—lions,
leopards, cheetahs, rhinos, and elephants. To these, Big Animals Photography Expeditions has added the big two of African scuba diving—underwater
photography the great white shark and the whale shark—for an experience
unprecedented in the world of adventure travel.
Offered only once each year to a maximum of four participants,
this month-long expedition starts in South Africa. There Andre Hartman,
the continent’s pre-eminent locator of the great white sharks, will
be our personal guide for several days of searching for the white pointers
in the cold waters of the Dyer Channel.
From South Africa we next head north to warmer waters off
Mozambique, there to dive with the largest fish in the sea - the Whale
Shark. With the aid of microlight aircraft to do our spotting for
us, we will travel from Punta d’Oro to shark location via fast and
comfortable speedboat to observe whale sharks, who can grow to fifty feet
and over fifteen tons. For many experienced, long-time divers, an open-ocean
encounter with a whale shark is the highlight of a diving career.
Though a whale shark’s 5000 teeth are only an eighth
of an inch long, they are more than adequate for an animal that feeds
on plankton and krill. Staring into a six-foot wide mouth is enough to
make anyone feel small and inadequate. Unlike great whales, whale sharks
seem to accept the presence of humans to the point of tolerating
physical contact. Perhaps they see us as large, rather ugly remoras.
Out of the water and into the frying pan of central Africa,
our journey takes us to the ancient land of Zimbabwe and Mosi-oa-tunya,
"The Smoke That Thunders'. From our helicopter we will have
a spectacular view of Victoria Falls, one of the wonders of the world.
After viewing the falls from the ground, we move on to Chobe National
Park in Botswana. From Chobe Lodge, the only lodge within the park’s
boundaries and a hotel that one of our associates has called "the
best place I have stayed in Africa", we will be witness to
what is possibly the greatest concentration of elephants on the entire
continent—tens of thousands of these majestic pachyderms, all of
whom take turns coming down to the shore of the Chobe River to drink.
Cape buffalo, hippo, kudu, impala, and many other animals are also easily
seen in the park. The lions of Chobe are believed by some to be the biggest
in all of Africa.
From Chobe we travel south to world famous Savuti, and then
to Namibia, a country with the world’s largest population of cheetah.
There we will visit famed Etosha National Park, one of the largest national
parks in the world, to observe Africa’s wildlife in a setting completely
different from that of the tourist-heavy savannas of Kenya and Tanzania.
For the select very few, Big Animals Photography Expeditions
proudly presents the ultimate in big animal adventure travel.
TRIP ITINERARY & INFORMATION
About The "Big 7" Concept
South Africa, savanas and its neighboring countries such as Namibia, Botswana
are teaming with wonderful wildlife, scenery and amazing marine wildlife
along the immense coastline.
After half a dozen trips to South Africa for the great white
shark, the whale shark and the Sardine Run, I have realize that there
is more to this sub continent than just diving or the usual "Big
Five" safari on land.
I have tested the concept of merging these two most appealing
photographic opportunities the on land "Big Five" safaris (lion,
cheetah, leopard, elephant & rhino) and the two most impressive marine
creatures, the awesome great white shark and the amazing whale shark.
Once I'd reviewed all the selected images on the light table,
the concept emerged in front of my eyes. I thought to myself, there must
be four people out there in the world that, with long range planning,
can take off for 30 days and experience the ultimate in wildlife photography...
Are you going to be one of those lucky people?
Tour Price Includes:
- 29 nights overseas. 12 nights between Gansbaai
and Simonstown, plus 17 nights on safari
- All meals except dinners while in South Africa
(diving program)
- Eight days cage diving. Four days shark breaching
and 17 days safari in Botswana.
- All diving services. Weights. Private charter vessel
- Private safari vehicles, tents and guides
- All entries fees, park and special permits
- Amos photography seminar, 'Big Animals' and photo
coaching
- Only four participants
- All local taxes
Not included in Tour Price.
- International and domestic airfare and charter
flight during the safari
- Overweight luggage
- Overnight in Johannesburg (last day)and transfers
- Meals which aren't specified, drinks and dinners
in South africa
- Gratuities to the local guides. Airport Tax
- Insurance - we strongly recommend you buy your
own travel, health and diving insurance
- Additional costs incurred due to independent travel
arrangements.
Payment Policy & Deposit:
When we receive your deposit, we will send you a comprehensive and detailed
Trip Preparation Bulletin about the experience and the destination. All
flights and trip costs are subject to change without prior notice until
confirmed reservation.
- A non-refundable deposit of $11,500 is required
to secure a space on the trip
- Full payment is due no later than 90 days before departure.
- We reserve the right to sell any space that is not paid in full by 60 days before departure.
- Refund is made if replacement was found less unrecoverable costs of sales, administration special promotion.
- Cancellation must be made in writing, 90 days before departure.
- No refund is made for unused part of the itinerary.
What to Bring Along South Africa
DIVING PROGRAM
We will be in South Africa during the fall season. Warm clothes
- Polartec jacket, raincoat and windbreaker are recommended. Outside
temperatures can be from 50 - 65 degrees. Casual clothing is fine throughout
South Africa. Jeans and/or khakis, and layering options are a traveler's
best choice. Also recommended are a hat, sun glasses, sunscreen, etc.
Please remember all of your medical requirements. Remember, bring your
passport and c-card. Phone cards and credit cards are widely accepted
throughout the country. Consult you doctor for Malaria prescription!!!
Scuba Diving Equipment
You must bring your own exposure suit. We strongly recommend that you
bring a Dry Suit . We also highly recommend that if you have no experience
in Dry Suit diving that you take course and/or a refresher course. Polartec
undergarment for your Dry Suit, dry gloves. Sweat shirt and pants. Regulator,
mask (bring spare mask) and snorkel. Weight belt, (weights will be provided)
and ankle weights. Diving gloves and diving hood. Spare parts and tools.
Travel Documents
US citizens are required to have a valid passport and round-trip air ticket.
BOTSWANA - SAFARI PROGRAM
Botswana is the northern border of South Africa and inland therefore the
safari portion of the expedition is not affected as much by the winter
season as while we are on the diving program. Day time it will be warm,
perhaps even hot when the sun is up. The night are cool to cold.
Layers of clothing and casual are best during the safari.
Keep the color muted - khakis & whites work best to keep us camouflaged
and reflect the heat of the sun. Dark colors absorb the heat which well
make you uncomfortable.
Colorful clothing are easily spotted by wild animals and
scare them away. No aftershave or perfume while on the safari since the
animals have very keen sense of smell. Hat, good sun glasses which keep
UV and glare away. Sun block, at least 30.
Check with your doctor for any medication or inoculation
that is necessary for this part of the world. Malaria pills are highly
recommended.
The following are subject to change:
- Cost of services which are not included in the
expedition price
- The vessel may change however, the number of participants
will not exceed 6 divers
- Weather and water conditions. The behavior and
sighting of all wildlife are not predictable
- I will confirm and update whatever information
humanly possible 30 days prior to departure
A general note:
Although we have reported honestly and accurately about our sightings
and experiences in South Africa, we would like to point out that we are
working in the wilderness and despite all of our good intentions and utmost
preparation, Mother Nature may not cooperate with us everyday to the tee,
and the Great White Sharks and the "Big Five" are not on contract
with us. When we are at sea we are not at Sea World and when we are on
the Okavango Delta we are not in the Zoo.
We trust our previous experiences and our expert guides
in the field - so far our record is receiving high marks. We believe that
with good planning and a realistic approach, you will have a successful
time with us in South Africa and Botswana to experience the ultimate in
photographic opportunities.
Day 1:
Depart South African Airways to Cape Town, South Africa.
Day 2:
Arrive in Cape Town - after clearing customs and Immigration. A representative
of Marine Dynamic Diving Adventures will meet us at the airport. Transfer
to Gansbaai (about 90 minute’s drive from Cape Town) and get situated
in our private B&B.
Day 3 – 9:
Start our cage diving program for the next eight days. We will be picked
up every morning at about 9AM for the drive to Gansbaai port (about a
5 minute drive). At the wharf, we load our gear on board the boat and
depart toward Dyer Channel. Dyer Channel is about a 20 minute cruise from
the wharf. We return to the wharf every afternoon by sunset (weather permitting)
and transfer back to our Bed & Breakfast.
The uniqueness of your adventure is enhanced by operating with a small
intimate group of 4 guests, allowing you excellent photo opportunities
and coaching. I will share my time and experience together with you according
to the action everyday.
Day 10:
After a day of cage diving, we pack up and transfer to Simonstown to film
breaching great white sharks.
Day 11-13:
Depart early every morning at about 6:00am and cruise to Seals Island
at False Bay and the place also called “Ring of death”. Until
about 11AM, we will tow a seal dummy in order to attract a Great White
Shark into its launch out of the water, taking the seal dummy into its
powerful jaws.
At early morning hours, from 07:00 till 08:00 when the
rising sun is still low and behind the mountains, we have a good chances
to witness a natural predation of Great White Sharks leaping out of the
water and feeding on seals that are returning from night fishing back
to the safe shore of Seals Island. You can see photos of this behavior
on this web site just as you may have seen on the Discovery Channel.
Day 14:
Depart Simonstown to the airport in Cape Town (only 60 minutes away) for
our flight to Victoria falls and commence our safari…
Day 15:
Arrive Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe where you will be met and transferred
by road the short distance across the border to Kasane airport, Botswana.
From Kasane airport you will be transferred by light aircraft to Xakanaxa
in the Moremi Game Reserve (where we will meet you) arriving in time for
a late lunch. Immediately after lunch we will set off on our first afternoon
wildlife viewing. We will base from our own remote bush camp at an exclusive
campsite for four nights.
Days 16 to 18:
Full days wildlife viewing in the Xakanaxa area. This is an area surrounded
by both the permanent and seasonal waters of the Okavango Delta and has
a mixture of habitats ranging from lagoons, malapu’s (seasonally
flooded plains) and grass areas to various woodlands which combine to
give the opportunity to see a wide variety of wildlife in one of the most
scenically beautiful areas of Botswana. Many antelope species with herds
of buffalo and elephant frequent this area. The area is home to prides
of lion, and it is one of the best areas for spotting leopard.
Day 19:
A full morning wildlife viewing on route to the Khwai River area of the
Moremi Game Reserve, where we will aim to arrive in time for lunch. After
lunch we will set off on our first afternoon of wildlife viewing in this
area, arriving at another of our exclusive campsites at sunset.
Days 20 & 21:
Full days wildlife viewing in the Khwai River Area. The Khwai River marks
the furthermost reaches of one of the Okavango Delta’s fingers of
water and so the resultant surrounding woodlands, open floodplains and
a fluctuating river make this area different from other areas in Botswana.
The wildlife viewing along the river includes hippo, reedbuck and plentiful
water birds while the floodplains attract the zebra, tsessebe, impala
and warthogs, and in the woodland areas elephant, giraffe, kudu, roan
and sable antelope. This is another good area for leopard sightings as
well as for seeing prides of lion and packs of wild-dog.
Day 22:
Our early morning wildlife viewing will continue along the tail-end of
the Khwai River, over the sand-ridge, into the Mababe Depression and to
the Savuti area of the Chobe National Park, again aiming to arrive in
time lunch. After lunch we will continue our wildlife viewing, with the
day typically ending watching the sunset at one of the waterholes that
are so vital to the wildlife of this dry area. The next three nights are
based from another of our exclusive campsites.
Days 23 & 24:
Full days wildlife viewing in the Savuti area, famous for its prides of
lions and other predators such as cheetah, hyena and wild-dog. This area
has a good variety of game and is also the best place to see, photograph
and learn about the large numbers of bull elephant that are special to
this area.
Day 25:
Our morning wildlife viewing will take us out of the Savuti area and on
through thick Kalahari sands and beautiful teak woodlands. After a short
stretch driving through villages (where there will be an opportunity to
buy traditional hand-made baskets and crafts from the local village co-operative),
we will come to the Chobe river area of the Chobe National Park where
we will continue our days wildlife viewing, ending at sunset at another
of our exclusive campsites.
Days 26 & 27:
Full days wildlife viewing in the Chobe National Park. This area has good
wildlife viewing all year round thanks to the permanent water of the Chobe
River. The mornings here are best spent in search of the lions, as well
as taking time to appreciate the other animals and birds that one comes
across. This permanent river attracts a huge variety of wildlife and is
the only place in Southern Africa where the puku can be seen. The afternoon
highlight is viewing the breeding herds of elephant and buffalo that come
down to the river to drink. On one of the afternoons we will take a boat
trip on the river to view the animals from a different perspective.
Day 28:
Our last morning wildlife viewing followed by a picnic lunch before arriving
at Victoria Falls. In the afternoon we will visit the world famous Victoria
Falls itself. One will soon see where it gets its traditional name from
- “Mosi oa Tunya”, the smoke that thunders. We will have dinner
at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and will overnight at Lokuthula Lodges.
Lokuthula Lodges are beautiful brick and thatched buildings that overlooks
the Zambezi National Park. Warthogs, monkeys and baboons are frequent
visitors to the grounds, and elephant and buffalo can often be seen in
the valley below. There is a swimming pool in the grounds and a floodlit
waterhole will enable you to watch the animals coming down to drink at
night. Victoria Falls is also the centre for a number of adventure activities
such as the best one-day white-water rafting in the world, horse or elephant
back riding and scenic flights over the Falls. (For additional activities
you will need to spend two nights.)
Day 29:
An early breakfast followed by another chance to view the Falls in a different
light or to walk upstream from the Falls along a winding, twisting path
among beautiful riverine vegetation. You may prefer to wander around the
curio markets of the town and pick up mementos in the form of stone and
woodcarvings (Zimbabweans have the reputation of being Africa’s
best carvers). We will transfer you to Victoria Falls airport in time
for your onward connections.
The mobile camp is a fully serviced camp with comfortable
3m x 3m walk-in dome tents that are insect-proof and furnished with camp
beds, mattresses, duvets, pillows and a few other items for your personal
comfort. Washstands, toilets and hot showers are also provided. Our camp
can be thought of a scaled-down version of a permanent tented camp but
without losing any of the standards and comforts. Quality, freshly prepared
meals of a high standard fit around the game-driving schedule, so as not
to be a detriment to possible wildlife viewing experiences and opportunities.
You will have exclusive use of our specialized open safari vehicle, which
is designed for maximum wildlife viewing and comfort, and is ideal if
you are interested in photography. This enables us to concentrate on your
special interests.
The exclusive campsites that we use are for the use
of members of HATAB (Hotel and Tourism Association of Botswana) only,
and only one company is allowed in each site at any one time. This means
that only your group and ourselves will be in the sites reserved so enabling
us to give you a totally exclusive safari. All these sites are set within
the prime wildlife areas of the National Parks and Game Reserves, and
are set away from the public campsites and the permanent camps and lodges.
There are no fences and so the animals can wander freely through the camp.
The hyena is a regular night time visitor, and elephant and occasionally
buffalo wander through. When in these sites you feel as though you have
Africa to yourself, and it is an experience that cannot be beaten or forgotten.
The vehicle used and the mobile safari camp will be for your exclusive
use, Amos will be your personal guide and photo expert on hand.
Information current as of January, 2006. Dates and prices may be subject to change without prior notice.
For Booking and/or further questions,
contact Amos:
Phone: (415) 923-9865
Toll free: 877-229-4253
Email:
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EXPEDITION PROFILE
African Safari Experience:
6 years
Where:
South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana
TRIPS IN 2008:
Date: June 14 - July 14
Duration:
30 Days
Cost: $39,800 per person
Max No. of Guests: 4 guests only*
Availability:
4 guests
* Max No. of Guests:
4 guests only
(We guarantee operating each trip with the maximum
number of guests. However, when we do not have the full number of guests
required, we maintain the right to add few guests on board from other
sources.)
Sample Airfares:
$1500 from Atlanta
Registration:
Deposit of $11,500
Registration form
Information current as of April, 2008. Dates and prices may be subject to change without prior notice.
Facility:
Land based + Diving, Cages, Helicopter and Mobile
Safari.
Activities:
Scuba, Aerial Photography & Mobile Safari.
EXPEDITION TRAVEL
Subject to change due to ice and weather
conditions.
Ushuaia
Beagle Channel
Drake Passage
South Shetland Islands
Penguin Island
King George Island
Hannah Point
Deception Island
Neptune’s Bellows
Lamaire Channel
Pleneau
Petermann Island
Wiencke Island
Lockroy
Neumayer Channel
Melchior Islands
Gerlache Strait
Trinity Island
WILDLIFE
Whales:
Humpback Whales
Blue Whales
Minke Whales
Orcas
Seals:
Elephant Seals
Leopard Seals
Weddell Seals
Penguins
Adélie
Chinstrap
Gentoo
King
Macaroni
Magellanic
Rockhopper
Giant Albatross
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