Photo Travel Review Magazine » Tanzania

PTR Recommended Photo Seminars — Africa With Andy Biggs

Bill — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:31:53 +0000

by PTR Team Member Bill Lockhart

This is the first in a series of recommended photographic seminars by the editors of Photo Travel Review Magazine.

Our purpose is to provide you with opportunities for photography and travel, ones which the editors of PTR believe are among the best offered.

We begin with Africa. Africa, the ultimate dream of all photographers, whether it is opportunities for incredible wildlife photographs, or landscapes that fill the imagination.

So, what seminar is the best of the best?

The PTR editors have chosen Andy Biggs. When it comes to Africa, there is no other seminar provider who is better.

A photographic holiday in Africa is the ultimate dream of many photographers. It is a once-in-a-lifetime holiday. When one spends lots of money to experience the dream of a lifetime, one should only consider the best.

Andy Biggs is an avid adventurer, conservationist, teacher, and outdoor photographer whose photography celebrates the African landscape and its rich wildlife, people, and culture. With a deep respect and understanding for African wildlife, Andy unfolds the world of the Serengeti onto our doorstep with striking emotional depth. His photographic safaris allow the traveler to not only enhance their understanding of photography, lighting, and wildlife, but to develop a life-long admiration for Africa ‘s beauty and culture.

In 2008, Banana Republic used thirteen of Andy’s photographs as the cornerstone of their Urban Safari campaign, and his images were seen in all 750 stores around the globe, as well as in their billboards, catalogs and annual report. Andy was also the winner of the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year in the ‘Wild Places’ category in 2008.

Andy offers you lots of different locations and opportunities for photography, all the while staying in camp sites that are among the best in Africa.

A photographic safari should be about freedom for one to shoot without worrying about how many other photographers are crammed in the same vehicle. One of the single largest mistakes that many photographers make when going to Africa is booking travel with inexperienced operators who pack many photographers into an ill-equipped vehicle, go to the same spots that all others have photographed repeatedly, and then take one to an inferior campsite. Not so with Andy Biggs.

Andy knows what a photographer wants and needs. Each participant has a full seat row with the ability to move from one side of a vehicle to another. Moreover, he brings along equipment that allows photographers to recharge batteries, view their shots of the day, and clean equipment for the next day’s shoot. As an avid photographer himself, Andy knows what to expect in harsh field conditions. He does all he can possible to make certain that your adventure is fulfilled.

It goes well beyond the basics of what a photographic holiday is about. The big difference with Andy’s seminars is that he seeks locations off the beaten path. There is nothing more frustrating on a photographic safari in Africa than to find yourself surrounded with other vehicles and an assembly of dozens of tour operators all vying for space while trying to photograph a single animal.

Andy offers seminars in Tanzania, Namibia, and Botswana. Each destination planned superbly, with outstanding tour guides and accommodations that excel beyond what one might expect on such a sojourn.

One only needs to read the testimonials from his participants to understand just how well appreciated his offerings are.

My own experiences with Andy have been extremely positive. Through the years as associates at Nature Scapes Net, and through numerous e-mails and telephone conversations, I have found Andy to be the consummate professional. Friendly, helpful, positive, encouraging — all describe Andy.

Bottom line. If you have always desired to go to Africa on a wildlife safari, there is only one person you should consider going with. Andy Biggs is that person.

What will it cost?

It depends on where you go and when.

Currently, a 12-day safari to Tanzania will cost you $8,990 per person.

What does it include?

- All Game Park fees
- All accommodations, based on double occupancy
- All meals inclusive of restaurant staff tips
- Services of guides and drivers
- Land transportation in safari Land Rovers. Each of the three rear seat passengers has a complete seat to themselves, including access to windows on both sides of the vehicle and empty seats for photographic equipment.
- Airport transfers to and from hotels
- Internal airfare from Serengeti to Arusha
- Bottled water at all times
- $30 Tanzanian Airport departure tax, if KLM / NW ticket purchased through Andy Biggs.

What is not included?

- Additional tips for staff such as guides and camp staff
- Fees for passport, visas, immunizations, and insurance
- Hot air balloon flight of $475
- Alcoholic beverages while on safari
- Laundry, phone and other items of a personal nature
- Cost of hospitalization and evacuation if necessary

If you are concerned about the costs, consider that it cost me $9,000 per person to go to Tanzania in 2005! And I did not go with Andy.

I met many others at camps who asked about my private vehicle. Seems they were paying $7,500 per person and found themselves in cramped vehicles with guides who only wanted to rush from one spot to another. I considered myself fortunate. My entire trip was privately planned and executed.

I should have gone with Andy.

Next time I will.

Photo Travel Review Magazine Five Star Rating: Andy Biggs

Tanzania – Abercrombie & Kent Review

Bill — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 09:35:13 +0000

A PTR Review

By Bill

Name of Travel Agency: Abercrombie & Kent

About Abercrombie & Kent: Born as a safari outfitter in 1962, A&K’s unparalleled luxury travel services now extends around the globe to more than one hundred countries on all seven continents. Small group or tailor made private travel with A&K offers the convenience, service and security of a U.S.-based luxury travel company with support 24/7 from a network of 50 on-site local offices, to ensure “by invitation only” access to inspiring experiences.

Website: www.abercrombiekent.com/

Cost: Very Expensive – For this journey: $800-$1,000 per day per person plus airfare and tips. (In 2004 US Dollar Values)

Method of payment: Major Credit Card. Deposite required prior to departure.

Location of this journey: Tanzania

Services provided: Itinerary planning, airline booking and tickets, all accommodations and meals, booking of in-country guide and vehicle driver, private vehicle, medical evacuation insurance, and detailed information about clothing, medical preparations, summaries of accommodations and services.

Date of Travel – March 2004

In 2003, I contacted Abercrombie & Kent following a recommendation given to me by a friend of my son John, who used A&K to plan his journey to Kenya two years before. From the outset of my first contact with A&K I was impressed by the knowledge and the professionalism of the individual who was my primary contact and planner. Using both email and telephone the flow of information between me and the A&K was constant and detailed. I

t was attention to detail that impressed me about the planning process that included eveything from what medical conditions existed in Tanzania, where I would go and where I would stay, my vehicle and guide, to securing medical evacuation insurance out of remote regions should that be necessary. All of my airline flights and all my ground transportation was outlined in detail and I received a detailed itinerary for my approval prior to booking. Payment for the itinerary was made by credit card.

I made it clear from the outset of the planning that I wanted a private vehicle for my son and I to use while in Tanzania, that I wanted a personal guide who would accompany us, and that I wanted to stay in remote camps. I knew that such requirements would be expensive, but I did not want to travel 10,000 miles to be disappointed because my son and I were with a larger group of people that we did not know.

After the planning was completed my son and I each received detailed itineraries and a very nice travel bag and flashlight. And, a leather case for our passports and itineary. Ah, the little things that A&K does!

Essentially our visit to Tanzania followed the classic tour. Begin in Arusha, then to Tarangire National Park, then to the Ngorongoro Crater, then to the Serengeti, then a flight to Arusha.

Travel from Arusha to the Serengeti was done in a large Land Rover with a special body constructed especially for A&K that had a hard roof that could be raised for wildlife observation, thus one was protected from the sun but one had unlimited ability to move from side to side or from front to back to capture a photograph. While this vehicle configuration may seem unimportant, in reality it was perfectly designed for a photo safari. We observed other tour company vehicles during our safari that had open roofs but no protection from the sun, or worse, crowded vehicles with as many as eight people standing together while all trying to photograph the same animal.

Arusha: Accommodations were made at Mount Meru Lodge for our night of arrival and our day of departure. A delightful lodge with large rooms in cabins surrounded by large well-maintained grounds and a private preserve filled with wildlife. The main lodge is tastefully decorated and has large open rooms and verandas. Food was good, freshly prepared, and served promptly. Staff were professional and helpful and interacted well with guests. Extra luggage was stored at the lodge during our journey at no cost.

PTR ratings for Mount Meru Lodge:

Overall rating: Three stars ***
Lodge and grounds: Four stars ****
Guest accommodations: Three stars ***
Restaurant, food, and service: Four stars ****
Professionalism and ethics of staff: Four stars ****

Tarangire National Park: Accommodations were provided at Swala Camp, privately owned by Abercrombie & Kent. It is impossible to describe how wonderful Swala Camp is, it is probably Africa’s most secret and exclusive camp. Situated in Tarangire National Park, the camp is made up of large tents with wooden floors. The main tent overlooks a waterhole, has a very large open porch with comfortable seating, a fire pit for evening enjoyment, a bar, a large library of books, and a wonderful dining area decorated with rich furnishings, linen table cloths, real silverware, fine china, expensive crystal glassware, candles, and decorations made of african arts and crafts.

From the second of arrival and our introduction to our private butler, to our departure the staff was highly professional and helpful, the camp manager was a superb chef, entertaining, intelligent, and thoroughly knowledgeable about Tanzania. Camp staff were all too eager to please and interacted with us genuinely and honestly.

Accommodations were provided in a private tent, tastefully furnished with two single beds, dressers, mirrors, lighting, shower, and toilet. Hot water was provided each morning, or upon request, from boilers attached to the tent.

A small porch on the tent provided a comfortable place to sit and observe wildlife, enjoy coffee, tea, or wine.

Generators provide electricity for charging batteries, lighting at certain hours, and operation of DVD players and a large TV display for use of guests.

Swala Camp is situated in the middle of Tarangire National Park, wild animals move through the camp at all hours. Cape buffalo, impala, and water bucks were commonly seen in the camp, friends who have been to the camp informed me that lions sometimes roam through the camp as well. One evening my son and I were awakened by a Cape Buffalo that was grazing next to our tent! Birds, especially horn-bills are seen throughout the day at the camp. Tents occupy areas under very large trees with plentiful shade. The entire area is simply stunning.

Meals were world class and served by highly trained waiters. It was impossible to finish a beverage as it was constantly refilled by a waiter. Wine was superb, mostly from South Africa with a large selection. A variety of dishes were offered, in fact so many that it was nearly impossible to sample but a few of them.

PTR ratings for Swala Camp:

Overall rating: Five stars plus *****+
Lodge and grounds: Five stars plus *****+
Guest accommodations: Five stars *****
Restaurant, food, and service: Five stars plus *****+
Professionalism and ethics of staff: Five stars plus *****+

Ngorongoro Crater. Accommodations were provided at the Serena Lodge on the rim of the crater. The lodge has a magnificent view with wide open porches. It lacks the intimacy of a private camp and it very much like a large hotel that would might encounter anywhere in the world with similar services. What makes the lodge a good place to stay is it’s location. One cannot describe how breath-taking the Ngorongoro Crater is and the abundant wildlife that roams it floor. Common areas of the lodge are decorated tastefully with African art and rich furnishings.

Accommodations were average. Our room was furnished with two single beds and a private bathroom. The room was clean and it’s one excellent feature was a private porch that overlooked the crater. The room was clean but in need of a renovation.

Meals were served buffet style with a very large selection of fruits, cheeses, salads, main courses, desserts, and beverages. Service was good. The bar area was large and the center of evening entertainment by a local Maasai tribe, the highlight of our stay at the lodge.

Our journey into the crater was magnificent and provided us with many opportunities for photographing some of the most endangered species on earth including the Black Rhino. This experience was world class.

A&K did offer us the opportunity to stay at one of its mobile camps on the rim of the crater. I now wish I had stayed there instead of the lodge.

PTR ratings for Serena Lodge:

Overall rating: Three stars ***
Lodge and grounds: Five stars *****
Guest accommodations: Two stars **
Restaurant, food, and service: Two stars **
Professionalism and ethics of staff: Four stars ****

The Serengeti. Accommodations were made at Kusini Camp, a privately owned tented camp in the heart of the Serengeti. The camp is situated in the middle of a large rock formation which made for a wonderful experience sitting each evening enjoying a glass of wine at sunset. Our private tent was equipped in a similar manner to what we experienced at Swala Camp. Service was outstanding and meals were excellent.

It is in close proximity to Ndutu and also the Moru Kopjes. Part of Kusini’s charm is its remote and private location within the park borders. With no other camps in the near vicinity, Kusini offers exceptional and essentially private game viewing. Secluded amongst the rocky outcrops of this private swathe of paradise, Kusini’s nine tents feature ensuite bathrooms with showers and elevated terraces overlooking the Serengeti plains.

Given its very remote location, it is hard to believe that A&K is able to provide the level of service and quality of accommodation that we enjoyed at Kusini Camp.

Our photographic opportunities were boundless in the surrounding areas of the Serengeti. Here we observed tens of thousands of Wildebeests, several groups of lions, flamingos feeding in lakes, a lioness in a tree, and countless birds.

Unfortunately, we were at this location in March, just as the rainy season had started. This made for gray overcast days and frequent downpours that meant roadways and areas were difficult to traverse, even with the skills of our guide and the Land Rover. I should have been at this location in February, but chose to schedule the journey in March because reduced costs for airline flights were available.

PTR ratings for Kusini Camp:

Overall rating: Five stars *****
Lodge and grounds: Five stars *****
Guest accommodations: Five stars *****
Restaurant, food, and service: Five stars *****
Professionalism and ethics of staff: Five stars *****

Conclusion:

My son and I shall never forget our journey to Tanzania. It will always remain as one of the highlights of my life. The services provided by Abercrombie & Kent were outstanding from planning through execution. A&K deserves it reputation as the best travel agency on earth.

What cannot be measured is the professionalism of our guide and now friend, Elvis Barnabas. Outstanding is not good enough to describe his skills, his professionalism, and his willingness to provide opportunities for photography. Moreover, his constant good humor and philosophical advice were treasures I will retain throughout my life. He is the best of the best.

PTR recommends A&K to anyone who wants the best of the best in travel planning and execution.

PTR Rating of Ambercrombie & Kent:

Cost of tours, very expensive ($800-$1,500 per person per day or more)
Overall rating, five stars *****
Staff support and assistance, five stars *****
Environmental concerns and practices, five stars *****
Family friendly, five stars *****
Safety and medical support, five stars *****
Professionalism and Ethics, five stars *****

Guest Article – Tanzania, Climb Mount Kilimanjaro

Bill — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 11:21:05 +0000

PTR Editor’s Note

From time to time the PTR Team becomes aware of unique travel adventures. Recently the workshops offered by the Mt. Rainier Institute of Photography came to our attention. We were very impressed with the offering of a trip to Tanzania where the organization guides participants to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.

This workshop is for those of you who are in top physical condition as the high altitude climb is not suited for photographers who aren’t ready for extreme conditions and physical challenges.

Comments from participants who have attended courses offered by this agency have been very positive.

The group also offers travel adventures at Mount Rainier.

For those of you who are looking for the path less traveled, you might check out what the group has to offer. A brief description of the courses offered is provided below.

*****

International Mountain Guide and Photographer Adam Angel is offering some very unique photography workshops in 2009.

Mt Rainier Institute of Photography.

Join us on Mt. Rainier for fun, excitement, achievement and camaraderie. Containing more glacial mass than the rest of the Cascade Volcanoes combined, there is is no mistaking Rainier as the pinnacle of Cascade grandeur. Get to know Mt. Rainier National Park intimately with experienced instructors who have a deep knowledge of the park. This is our home mountain. Nobody can match our knowledge, access, or facilities of, to, and around Mt. Rainier National Park.

Our workshops originate at the studio of Adam Angel Photography in historic downtown Morton. We provide private van transportation for all shooting excursions, and gourmet fare along the way. For the Master Class (long class), field excursions are followed by image critiques, photoshop instruction, as well as fine art printing techniques at the studio. The Shooterʼs Class (short class) is for the more experienced photographer who is looking for field instruction, logistical support, and more time in the park shooting with good folks. Please visit http://www.MtRainierPhoto.com for more information.

A note from Adam:

Mt. Rainierʼs greatness inspires greatness in us. Ten years ago I came to Mt. Rainier to become a climbing guide. Somehow as a young adult I knew that Mt. Rainier would teach me many lessons and take me further than I could imagine. Climbing Mt. Rainier led to travels around the world, and ultimately to the desire to articulate the “sense of place” that I encountered on the worldʼs great mountains. Photography became my vehicle to show the folks back home what I had seen. Today, my goal for the institute is to foster personal growth in concert with natureʼs grandeur through creativity. The workshops that we offer take advantage of my knowledge of the mountain from itʼs icy top to itʼs lush and ancient bottom. They incorporate a nice blend of shooting time in the field and of classroom and lab instruction. All of this is packaged together in a fun, inspiring, memorable, and educational workshop. I look forward to spending time with you on Mt. Rainier this summer!

~Adam Angel
Adam@MtRainierPhoto.com

Kilimanjaro Photography Workshop: Summit and Safari

Join long time Kilimanjaro guide and photographer Adam Angel for a once in a lifetime expedition in Tanzania. East Africa offers one of the best environments in the world for an enriching cultural and wildlife experience. This is the only photography workshop in Tanzania that features a summit climb of Kilimanjaro with an experienced high altitude climbing guide and professional photographer. Many safari companies offer photographic tours or climbs of Kilimanjaro, but none can offer the expertise and experience that IMG and Adam have on the mountain and on safari.

This unique adventure offering both a climb and photography workshop together provides opportunities and amenities that will be hard if not impossible to find elsewhere. As you investigate the different options on the market, keep the following in mind:

• This is the only trip of this kind that we know of!

• Each climber will have a personal porter on the climb to carry your photo equipment.

• We will enjoy luxurious accommodations on our photographic safari.

• We will stay in some areas that will allow us to shoot very early and very late in the day when the light is just right and the animals are active.

• We limit the number of people in each vehicle to make sure that there is plenty of room for everyone to shoot!

• We will have an opportunity to take Portraits in a Maasai Village near Olduvai or Ngorongoro Conservation area.

• Our safari drivers really know the game habits and where to find the critters, and the safari lodges and deluxe tented camps we use are vintage and luxurious, a great reward after a tough climb.

• We add the benefit of a beautiful one-way Serengeti flight over Africa (easier, faster, more time to see animals, less time wasted on bad, bumpy roads). Our groups either drive out/fly back or fly out/drive back to Serengeti and then stop at Olduvai and Ngorongoro along the way, depending on the time of year (safari plans are subject to change).

• Kilimanjaro, while non-technical, is very high and must be taken seriously. Climbers are at health risk from the altitude. We always have a Gamow (hyperbaric) Bag, pulse oximeter, and supplemental oxygen in case of Altitude Sickness. A couple hours in the bag can turn around Acute Mountain Sickness before it forces you down or becomes life threatening.

• Our climb is led by a top-notch American high-altitude mountain guide. The African “guides” do a great job, but if you have a problem at 18,000 feet, it’s good to know that you have a real pro with you, one well-trained in all elements of climbing as well as wilderness medical procedure.

• We have a first class staff of African guides and porters, all local people from the Chagga tribe who live right at the base of Kili. Many of them have been on dozens of IMG trips over the years. They know we’ll be coming back, they like working with us, and they deliver top service.

• We don’t rush our ascent! Our program gives you a seven-day climb. We have learned that the extra time is well worth it for a successful and fun trip to 19,340 feet, giving climbers a far greater chance of standing on top and far less chance of altitude sickness.

• For comments from past trip participants, please see: http://www.mountainguides.com/comments.shtml

• IMG is proud of the track record we have established over the last 20 years with our
Kilimanjaro trips and we know that we offer a fantastic trip for the money. Our photography workshop, climb and safari is simply a great program! We hope you can join us on one of our future Africa trips.