Food that you eat on an african safari

 

One question that I often get from clients booking their African safari with the Photographer’s Lounge is what is the food going to be like on Safari?

The food is fresh and tasty. Our chefs will cook you some amazing meals with basic equipment. think hot and fresh breads + beef and veggie mishkaki [barbeque] using a coal grill + organic salad plucked from the garden right around the corner.

All food is well prepared. Our well trained camp chef and crew will come up with gourmet meals in the middle of the bush. They really want you to enjoy their culinary experience.

We can also easily accommodate any vegetarian requirements and any Halal requests.

On Safari you normally start off your day with a wake-up call. You can start really early should you have chosen to go on a sunrise morning game drive or morning walking Safari like you can do most days. On these days, our breakfasts are prepared and stored in a lunch box so we can eat at our leisure from a location out in the conservation areas… we eat amongst the roaming herds of animals and enjoy the sights with our fresh brewed coffee, tea and food.

If you choose to stay back in the morning, You will sit on your lovely patio and have your cookie or biscuits as we say and sip your hot cuppa tea or coffee listening to the sounds of the wild and watching the sun rise. A perfect morning on Safari!

A good breakfast to start off the day full of adventures. You are going to have an array of options. Cereals, variety of juices, eggs with warm bread sometimes cooked in the bush for a bush breakfast, bacon and potatoes and more.  Nothing like having the most important meal of the day with a great view in the Serengeti.

Game driving is tough! Our vehicles carry water, soft drinks, juice and snacks which you can enjoy during your game drive. In some areas, you can stop, set a table and enjoy your snack with the animals close by. Don’t worry. Our guides will choose an open area away from the thick bushes. Prepare to enjoy your mid-morning or afternoon snack.

For lunch, again we have our lunches premade if we are out on safari… The food is fresh, kept in a refrigerator in the vehicle and we place out a picnic table to serve you your lunches from different areas while we are out on safari.

Dinner time is always the best time. Together we sit back, discuss the events of the day over a chilled glass of wine or the drink of choice. We chatting with other Safari goers or share a meal with the camp manager and share stories that go beyond the parks you are visiting.  Bush dinners are also available for those who want a private dinner or just want to sit under the stars. Bon appetite!

Then tomorrow, the wonderful cycle begins again.

Please join us in April of 2014 when we return to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation area. See the details here... http://www.photographers-lounge.com/international-workshops/2014-workshops/tanzania-photo-safari/

Tanzania Photo Safari - Notes from Day Two at Ngorongoro Crater

In 1951, the Serengeti National Park was declared. It was an area encompassing the present Serengeti, plus the Ngorongoro area and surrounding Crater Highlands. However much of the southern side of this was already being used by the Maasai. It was then decided to be split into the present-day Serengeti National Park, and the current Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA).The new conservation area now encompasses a large area of the short-grass plains on the southern side of the Serengeti Plain and also the Ngorongoro Highlands, a range of largely extinct ancient volcanoes on the west side of the Great Rift Valley.

The showpiece of the conservation area is the Ngorongoro Crater itself. If you are arriving by road, as my tours do, traveling through the coffee plantations of the Ngorongoro Highlands, your first sight of the crater is from the rim, where we will stop to enjoy the incredible view. After the first glance down into the world famous Ngorongoro Crater you realize that words fail to describe the immensity of the wilderness in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The plains and woodlands stretch below for miles and miles, framed to the North by the beautiful Gol Mountains, the skyline fading in the haze and the heat.

It has been said that in the early morning, clouds peel back from the walls of the rim to reveal the lush green grasslands of the crater floor and the sparkling Lake Magadi below as if someone flipped a switch to start another day. The crater measures about 16-19km in diameter, with walls of 400-610m in height. The mineral-rich floor of this spectacular bowl is largely flat, open and covered in nutritious grasses – much to the liking of large herds of zebra and wildebeest which graze here, and the predators that they attract.

Birding here is also rewarding, with flamingos and various water birds such as waders, storks and herons often found on Lake Magadi, as well as good numbers of ostriches and the kori bustard, the world’s heaviest flying bird. With such a wealth of wildlife in a relatively small area, it’s little wonder why this is not right at the top of many safari enthusiasts’ bucket lists.

You'll also find East Africa's best population of the endangered black rhino here which are often seen in open grasslands. On rare occasions breeding herds of elephant also pass through the Ngorongoro Crater itself as they migrate at various times of year... but you will often see a scattering of old bulls, including some of the biggest tuskers left alive in Africa today.

The Crater's lion population varies significantly over time, the one constant being their complete disregard of vehicles; they will hunt within yards of a vehicle, and when exhausted even seek their shade beside it. Spotted hyena are even more common here, often competing with the lion, and there's are a small but growing number of cheetah. Leopards are around, especially in the vicinity of the Lerai Forest – a small forest of fever trees notable for their yellow bark.

Home to an incredible density of wildlife, the Ngorongoro Crater is a must-see on any safari in Northern Tanzania. Forming part of the Great Rift Valley, the landscape here is truly unique – where else can you go on a game drive in the floor of an extinct volcano?

Unfortunately the reality of safaris in the crater isn't always as amazing. At certain times of year the sheer number of vehicles in the crater, combined with its enclosed environment, can destroy any sense of wilderness that you will expect to see on an African safari. If you're lucky, this will be mitigated by amazing game sightings; if you're not, it won't be and you will be left disappointed. While the Ngorongoro's wildlife is absolutely stupendous, the Ngorongoro safari experience isn't always as good.

If you want to include the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in your Tanzania safari, talk to us and we will explain why we pick the times we go, the advantages of our safaris, and what you can expect to see on one of our workshops.

Tomorrow we are off to the Serengeti... internet and time will not be readily available for the rest of my workshop, but I will continue my entries and post them as I can...

Sorry you could not make it with us this time, but we are headed back to Africa in 2014. Please check out these workshops here...

Namibia with Denise Ippolito in April of 2014

Back to Tanzania in November 2014... contact me for details

 

Tanzania Photo Safari - Notes from Day One in Lake Manyara

Photo taken with a Nikon D7000 and Sigma 150-500 f5.6-6.3

 

It was our first full day on our safari, and our first destination...  Lake Manyara.
 

I read a description of the park before I left home, and in that description they asked the following question..."Why do we go to  a 7-eleven?"

 

I laughed at the time... what does an urban convenience store have to do with a Tanzania conservation area? But now that I am here, I understand why they asked that question. They asked because the answer to the question is the same whether you stopping by the corner store or arrive at Lake Manyara... "We go because it is right down the street and has everything you need"

Lake Manyara is conveniently located National Park just outside of Arusha that has everything you need in a National Park in Tanzania... and so much more... its a unique experience.
 

For years Lake Manyara has been tacked onto the beginning of a lot of safari packages available today. While people assume that is a cash grab or an area to use to tune up before the iconic Serengeti or the infamous Ngorongoro Crater, both of which are just a short drive from Manyara, do not sell this National Park short. Ernest Hemingway once said, "Lake Manyara was the loveliest in Africa” and after experiencing it for myself, I have to agree with Mr. Hemmingway.

 

As you enter through the gates, huge and impressive mahogany trees greet you. These magnificent trees draw nourishment from underground springs from the crater highlands directly above the Manyara basin... and the nourishment that powers the growth of the trees, also creates a special environment I am about to introduce you to.  And If that doesn't paint a picture and set the stage for an adventure you will never forget, the heard of elephants that strolled in front of us and posed for us for 30 minutes should.

 

As you drive deeper into the park, the forest thins out and you are introduced to expansive flood plains filled with birds and the first sounds of a safari. Hippos camouflage themselves in large mud pools dotted along the flood plain, and in the lake, can be seen wandering the shores and peeking above the waterline... two eyes, their forehead and those cute, twitching, little round ears sit atop the waterline... much like an iceberg, just a small portion of such a huge animal that churns below the surface.

Then there are the famous tree climbing lions. They lounge in the canopies above, staring over the plain as if they were marking their prey for the hunt that is to come at dusk. But one cannot forget the giraffe, one of my favourite animals. Known as the "danger alarm" because they can spot trouble coming long before smaller animals can, these majestic animals make themselves at home in the open areas, grazing on the long grasses and tree limbs, necks contorted in ways that you just can't help but laugh at.

 

The deeper you drive along the shore the road winds in and out of the various environments, but to our right the incredible Rift Valley escarpment that guides us through our route. The escarpment's face, covered by brush and baobab trees, it is divided by spectacular gorges carved by rivers that flow almost the entire year.... and at the end of the long rains season when I was there... just begging to be photographed because of the heavy flow, emptying into the Manyara basin. The Rift Valley is an area where some of the oldest human ancestor remains have been found... its almost a little surreal to be here in the dark continent, standing where long forgotten ancestors hunted for survival.

 

A relatively small National Park, Lake Manyara covers only 329km2, with the lake covering an incredible 231km2 of the park. While inundated with large troops of baboons, the lake and local environment host a number of herbivores such as hippos, impala, elephants, wildebeest, buffalo, warthogs and giraffes. The Park also provides exciting opportunities for the photographer keen on viewing and observing over 300 migratory birds species, including flamingo, long-crested eagle and grey-headed kingfisher, the white pelicans, yellow-billed storks, and white-necked cormorants. At least 44 species of birds of prey call the area home, including the palm-nut vulture and the photogenic Ayre's hawk .

 

What I found most impressive, and inevitably draws your lens, are the pink patches that are scattered along the shoreline separating lush green grass from the lake’s blue grey waters. Thousands of flamingos have come to Lake Manyara to feed off its alkaline waters. Without a word spoken of this beautiful site, we turn off the safari vehicle engine to listen to the flamingo’s muffled babble with occasional high-pitched whistles soaring from the distance.

 

One day near Lake Manyara has taught me that an African Photo Safari is not just about going to Africa to get the shots of a lifetime. It has shown me that an African Photo Safari is also about taking the time to cherish the sites with the naked eye... creating memories that will always stay with you.

 

Sorry you could not make it with us this time, but we are headed back to Africa in 2014. Please check out these workshops here...

Namibia with Denise Ippolito in April of 2014
Back to Tanzania in November 2014... contact me for details

Tanzania... another check off the bucket list

It was just over twenty (20) hours that our wheels raised off Canadian soil. But we made it, all checked into our lodge for the night, the Karama Lodge. The people that came with me can now officially check this off the bucket list and just sit back and enjoy this photography workshop with the Photographer's Lounge...

We arrived later in the night at our first destination, the Karama Lodge. We landed just before 8pm and got to see a glimpse of our destination as we descended into Arusha... it was a tease... we have to wait till tomorrow to get this show on the road.

Karama Lodge has twenty-two stilted log cabins definitely offer comfortable accommodation with a natural design. Constructed with local materials, the cabins allow close proximity to the surrounding forest flora and fauna. Each cabin has its own wooden balcony with comfortable chairs where you can relax and admire the spectacular views of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Meru, the Maasai steppes beyond.

The cabins of Karama Lodge are made with natural materials and fit perfectly into the surrounding forest. Every effort is made to protect the local flora and fauna, therefore Karama is still home to a wide variety of forest wildlife, beautiful tropical birds, medicinal plants, flowers and indigenous trees.

Its too bad we can't enjoy this place more. But tomorrow we are headed out on safari and off to a place I know everyone will love, Lake Manyara National Park. Lake Manyara is a "Paradise of Wildlife" that supports over 400 species of birds, great swathes of flamingo and a boisterous community of hippos... and if we are lucky, we will also get to see the famous tree climbing lions, characteristics mostly found only in Lake Manyara National Park.

Until next post,

Kev

Tips for the Photographer on a Photo Safari

I am excited... I am finally going back to the "Dark Continent". I have been there twice in my life and now have the opportunity to return surrounded by some old friends and some new friends.

In April of 2013 Rick Sammon, www.ricksammon.com and myself will be leading a workshop in Tanzania... I cannot wait to see the look on our student’s faces as a heard of Giraffe or Elephant stroll across the plains, or we park mere feet away from a sleeping cheetah in a tree... or when we are treated to a lion or cheetah hunting prey...

But before we even get there, being prepared to get the shot is imperative... For the next 4 days I am going to write about how to make sure you are prepared for your next photo safari!

Let’s start with camera gear… EVERYONE likes to discuss cameras and lenses. J

Cameras

The first and most important rule of thumb in choosing your camera bodies for your safari is to bring at least two. An African trip can be very expensive, and if your only camera dies, your trip will be ruined, at least from a photographic perspective. If budget is a limitation you may be better off with two cheaper cameras than one expensive one. Or, rent a second or third for just the safari from a company like, Lens Rental Canada, www.lensrentalcanada.com You can rent a Canon 7D for as little as $140 for a week, a Canon 60D for as little as $120 for a week. For Nikon shooters, you can rent a Nikon D300s for as little as $125 for a week.

Having two bodies gives you piece of mind, and also a way to combat dust getting on the image sensor. It can be incredibly dusty in Africa, and you really don’t want to change lenses under those conditions.

On my workshops I suggest to photographers to bring along two or three bodies. One is attached to a long lens (typically a 500mm of 600mm), and another to a medium long zoom lens (such as a 50-200 or 100-400) or a wide angle lens for scenery and landscape shots. With that set up, you never need to change lenses in the middle of a game drive.

Lenses

The two lenses are used most frequently used on African safaris: long and longer. Telephoto lenses let you isolate wildlife landscape from the safety of the safari vehicle.

You can sometimes be close enough to nearly any animal to touch it. And yet there is inevitably an interesting shot that requires a lens just a bit longer than what you have. For every time where there is a lion lying in the shade of your vehicle, there are ten times the frequency when the animal is doing something very interesting farther away.

Even landscapes in Africa tend to call for a wider focal length than you would normally use. As an example, the Serengeti with a backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro are sometimes best shot between 200mm and 400mm to isolate elements of the huge mountain and stunning foregrounds. I do bring a zoom such as a 12-60mm f2.8 for my Olympus body, and will use it sometimes, but much less often than I would for landscapes back home in North America.

Lens speed is also an issue. Today most DSLR cameras have excellent noise properties at ISO 400, and are now still quite good at ISO settings as high as 1600 and higher. While in many types of photography that has taken some of the pressure off having fast lenses, this tends not to apply to safari photography. Here’s why… most safaris start before sunrise, and end after sundown. The extreme low light always corresponds to the peak time periods for animal behaviour. As a result, there will always be shots that you miss because there isn’t enough light, no matter how fast the lens or how high the ISO can go. The rule of thumb then is… the faster the lens, the fewer the shots you miss. It’s really that simple.

If you have ever wanted to go on an African Safari, check out our African Safari in 2013 to Tanzania with Rick Sammon. http://www.photographers-lounge.com/photo-tours/our-2013-photo-tours/tanzania-photo-tour

Or, if you want to start planning for 2014, check out our three workshops we are running to Tanzania and Namibia with Denise Ippolito. http://www.photographers-lounge.com/photo-tours/our-2014-photo-tours

 

2013 Photography Workshop Schedule at the Photographer's Lounge

Our 2013 workshop schedule is set. We have created an abundance of learning opportunities for photographers of all levels.

From basic composition classes to advanced photography workshops in International destinations, we believe that every photographer, no matter what genre they specialize in will find a workshop that will help you on your own personal journey.

We have also secured some exceptional workshop leaders to help lead these workshops here in Ontario, in Canada and around the world. Our workshop leaders include internationally renowned photographers such as Rick Sammon, Denise Oppolito, Jim Zuckerman and Tim Vollmer. To see a list of our workshop leaders, and to see their own images, please visit our Gallery Page on the Photographer’s Lounge website.

Below you will find a breakdown of what we have to offer. Please feel free to look through our learning opportunities and contact Kevin at Kevin@photographers-lounge.com with any questions.

Private One-on-one Workshops- For our private workshops; with flexible scheduling and lessons tailored exactly for you, you will advance quickly in your chosen subject. We will also do our best to work around your timeline.

We can cover all aspects of photography from capture through to print and all photographic levels from beginner to advanced. Please visit the workshop page to learn more bout these workshops

Composition Workshops – Have you ever wondered why professional photographers can take a photo of the same scene as you but their photos seem to be better than yours. Our 13 composition workshops in 2013 are designed to help you take better photos through the use of time tested composition rules. Please visit the workshop page to learn more bout these workshops

Kawartha Region Workshops – Come and join us on our weekend retreats to Lake Salerno in the Kawartha's. In 2013 we are only offering four workshops, a winter, spring, summer and fall workshop. At our home in Northern Ontario we will spend a weekend together capturing the beautiful nature that surrounds us. From basic composition, to more advanced photography techniques and lots of laughs along the way, you are assured to come home with fantastic images and armed with new skills. Please visit the workshop page to learn more bout these workshops

Niagara Falls Workshops – Join us as we visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This workshop will help you with photography composition techniques and teach you some editing skills that you can use in the digital darkroom. Please visit the workshop page to learn more bout these workshops

Junk Yard Dog Workshops – Come and join us on our "Junk Yard Dog" workshops near Milton, Ontario. These 3 hour workshops will be some of the coolest shoots you will be on in 2013. We will enter the private property of an operational junk yard that is one of the largest in Ontario. The workshops are designed to work on your lighting skills and your composition skills.

The photography opportunities range from capturing decaying cars in nature to photographing professional models amidst the vehicles. Please visit the workshop page to learn more bout these workshops

Boudoir Workshops – Boudoir photography is a very challenging genre, far more than simple snaps of a partly clothed subject or a photo of a loved one. To create the results in images people are proud to show, those images with an obvious look of combined art and sensuality, rather than ‘tacky’ or ‘raunchy’ snaps; one must plan and prepare and go into a shoot knowing what it is you want to create. Please visit the workshop page to learn more bout these workshops

 

Social Media for Photographers – Are you a photographer wearing multiple hats within your company? Do you struggle with finding the right balance of taking photos instead of growing your business? Are you on a budget and would love to hear inexpensive ways to market your photography business right here in the local market? Do you often find yourself sitting at your computer in the morning, ready to post an update to your Facebook page, Twitter or other social media website – and then you drew a complete blank and don’t know what to write?

Our time together will teach you techniques you can use to find more clients using social media. Please visit the workshop page to learn more bout these workshops

The Law of Photography in Canada – This is a seminar you do not want to miss.  Jordan is coming to the Photographers Lounge to speak to us one two subjects.

In the first half of the day Jordan will address the legalities surrounding photographer’s rights, copyright laws in Canada, the internet and how it has changed a photographers ownership rights to images. He will also address contracts, and what the Canadian laws are around taking the image of a person, place or thing. In the second half of Jordan’s seminar he will be addressing how to structure your business. The advantages and disadvantages of the many ways you can register your business in Canada.

For anyone that takes a photo and sells a photo, you need to come and be informed about your legal rights, and the rights of your subjects.

Please visit the workshop page to learn more bout these workshops

HDR Workshop with Rick Sammon – This is a one day only HDR workshop with one of the world’s top photographers. Rick Sammon will lead a small group of photographers on an HDR workshop. The day will be spent teaching photographers, not only about HDR, but also about lighting and composition. A one day workshop with Rick Sammon is a great way to learn to take better photos.  Please visit the workshop page to learn more bout these workshops.

Canadian Caravan – Join Rick Sammon on his first Canadian Caravan in Northern Ontario. Rick runs Caravan type workshops all over the US and this will be his first in Canada. This is a one week workshop that will cover many, MANY different photography and editing techniques. To learn more about the Canadian Caravan please visit the Photographer’s Lounge website.

Tanzania Photo Safari – Our first visit back to Africa in 2013 is going to be a fantastic journey. Together with Rick Sammon we will visit some of the most iconic areas in Tanzania. Together we will capture the Nogorongoro Crater and the famous, Serengeti National Park. To learn more about the workshop in Africa please visit the Photographer’s Lounge website.

Provence Photo Workshop – Together with Denise Ippolito and Rick Sammon you will visit the Provence area of France in June of 2013. Together we will spend time visiting the quaint villages in the hills of Provence and spend time photographing the Carmague horses along the seaside.  To learn more about the workshop in France please visit the Photographer’s Lounge website.

Mongolia Photo Workshop – Join the Photographer’s Lounge as we visit the Naadam festival in the summer of 2013. This ancient Olympic style festival offers the photographer the opportunity to capture cultural Mongolia, monasteries and the famous Naadam Festival.

This is one of two trips to Mongolia in the next two years. In 2014 we will be returning to photograph the Golden Eagle festival with Jim Zuckerman. To learn more about the workshops in Mongolia please visit the Photographer’s Lounge website.

Iceland Photo Workshop – Three Professional Photographers’ will be leading this tour. Rick Sammon, Tim Vollmer and Kevin Pepper will take you on a workshop that will take you to some of the most amazing photographic destinations you will find anywhere in the world. To learn more about the workshop in Iceland please visit the Photographer’s Lounge website.

Venezuela Photo Workshop – This trip as so much interest that we added a second trip in 2013 already. Join us as we visit the north west area of Venezuela. We will spend time in the floating city of Ologa photographing a natural wonder of the world, the Catatumbo Lightening before we head up into the Andes Mountains to capture some inspiring landscapes and unique animals. To learn more about the workshops in Venezuela please visit the Photographer’s Lounge website.