When
11th – 20th June 2024
Where
Zimanga Private Game Reserve, Natal, South Africa
Group size
12
To be split into smaller groups on the reserve
Cost
£4495 per person
To Book a Place please email
TGPhototours@gmail.com
Tour Overview
Duration; 10 days, 9 nights Photographic Safari
Join myself and Tracey Lund for a photographic safari tour with a difference, designed specifically to give you the best opportunities to photograph Africa’s wildlife close and personal at Zimanga Private Game Reserve. We will have exclusive access to the whole 8000 hectare reserve in South Africa and will spend 10 days photographing a diverse range of wildlife on a safari uniquely combining photographic hides with game drives.
This tour gives the guests the opportunity to photograph from a range of amazing hides, which have been purpose built for photography in mind. All hides have been specially designed and built under the supervision of Bence Mate, a prestigious Wildlife photographer of the year winner, and one of the best wildlife photographers out there.
During the trip guests will take part in 16 activities, comprising of game drives and hides, including both daytime and overnight sessions in each of the different hides.
Hides on offer
2 Reflection Pools for Kingfishers, Birds of Prey, and an abundance of small beautifully coloured birds. Each hide is located within a different habitat, offering possibilities to photograph many different species.
Lagoon Hide to photograph wetland species such as kingfishers, Herons, and other aquatic species.
2 Overnight hides overlooking water holes, offering amazing opportunities to photograph species such as Buffalo, Rhino, Lion, Leopard and much more, very close up!
Scavenger Hide, set up to photograph a range of Vulture species, Eagles and other scavengers.
Itinerary
Monday 10th June 2024
Overnight: Accommodation of your choice – Umdloti
Please arrive in Durban by the 10th June at the latest. Please book your accommodation on the 10th June in the centre of Umdloti (close to the roundabout) There are several options in the area (see Zimanga Client information for additional information)
Tuesday 11th June 2024
Overnight: Zimanga Private Game Reserve
The minibus will collect everyone from Fairlight at 9am, so please be at the hotel with your luggage for this time. The road transfer takes around 3 hours in an air-conditioned vehicle to Zimanga Private Game Reserve. Here we will stay for 9 nights and our base from which we will enjoy a total of 18 activities (Game Drive/Hide). After check-in guests will have a bit of time to rest and relax before heading out for our first game drive. All clients will do a Game Drive on this afternoon. Overnight: Zimanga Private Game Reserve with lunch & dinner included
Wednesday 12th – Wednesday 19th June 2024
Overnight: Zimanga Private Game Reserve
For the next eight days we will continue to enjoy morning and evening activities in Zimanga Private Game Reserve. Each vehicle is limited to two activities per vehicle per session (half the guests will do a hide session while the other half continue on a game drive. Overnight: Zimanga Private Game Reserve with breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Thursday 20th June 2024
After a last morning game drive we will have breakfast before being transferred to the international airport from where you will take your onward international flight home (Breakfast included). We will be dropped off at Durban airport at around 1pm.
Accommodation
Zimanga Main Lodge
The main lodge consists of 6 two-bed suites as well as single rooms. This destination is the ultimate in enjoying the reserve in comfort and luxury. Illuminated walkways connect the separate units to one another and the main building, hosting spacious decking, a swimming pool, comfortable lounges and viewing platforms over the beautiful Mkhombe valley, with a conference facility for hosting workshops.
Delectable meals are served within the dining area with cosy fireplace, and the open deck offers another dining alternative for those who prefer to dine outside under the stars. A large circular open-air boma provides the ideal spot to enjoy a nightcap whilst sharing the day’s stories around a bushveld fire.
In between vehicle based safaris or hide sessions one can explore the lovely lodge gardens which host a magnificent variety of indigenous plant and bird species. Enjoy a book from their well stocked sponsored library, relax in the swimming pool or sun loungers with one’s favourite drink, or laze around in your room to conserve energy for the next adrenaline filled activity.
Zimanga Homestead
The Doornhoek Homestead can sleep up to 7 guests in 3 air-conditioned, en-suite Twin or King bed rooms, and 1 en-suite single room/guide room, also air-conditioned. All rooms have separate desks to set up laptops for image editing, with ample space and variety of electricity sockets to make sure one’s equipment remains fully charged.
During the daytime guests can relax in the beautiful rim-flow pool, from which elephants have been known to slake their thirst whilst guests sit a few meters away.
More Info
Pre-trip advice
2-3 months prior to travel you will receive a comprehensive document that provides packing advice so you are prepared for your trip
Tour language
This tour is an English-speaking tour. Please note: all lodge staff/forest guides will have a good understanding/ use of understanding the English language.
Visas
Normally, UK passport holders can obtain a free visa on arrival in South Africa but please continue to check that this situation does not change.
It is your responsibility to also ensure that your passport is valid for a minimum of six months and has several clear pages for visas prior to departure
Vaccinations \ Health
We are not qualified or legally allowed to provide vaccination or medical advice. The reserve is within a low-risk malaria area. However you should consult your travel nurse or doctors for specific medical advise and up to date advise on vaccinations required. We suggest doing this at least 2-3months prior to travel or sooner if this allows.
African tick bite fever is endemic to the area. While not a life-threatening illness, it can cause flu like symptoms. To help prevent bites, spray clothing with an insecticide (Bayticol is available in safari vehicles) and check for ticks each night. For more information you can visit this website:
http://www.tickbites.net/african-tick-bite-feversymptoms-diagnosis-and-treatment/
All guides at the reserve are first aid trained.
Fitness Level Required
This tour does not require a high level of fitness. However, guests should be able to get in/out of a game vehicle (a step up/down of around 2 feet) with little or no assistance and should be capable of walking up to 200 metres to and from their room at the lodges/hotels. Guests should also be aware of the temperatures below that can be experienced at this time of year.
Camera Equipment
Depending on the size of the subject you are photographing, or the image you have in mind, lenses can range from 20mm to 800mm! A great general all-round lens is a 300 f/2.8, although zoom lenses like the 200-400mm f/4 are very versatile. A personal favourite of the owner is the 200 f/2 in the Lagoon, although the 600mm is also extremely handy, 24-70mm and 70-200mm in the overnight with longer lenses like a 400mm for small birds that visit there, 300 f/2.8 in the reflection hides and the 200-400 for the vultures and bee-eater hides. Longer lenses are also brilliant at the latter hides. Further information on photography equipment will be supplied as part of your pre-trip advice.
Gratuities
Gratuities are not included in the cost of your safari.
It is customary for tourists visiting South Africa to leave a gratuity for guides and hospitality staff. You will notice that guides and staff will often go out of their way in order to give guests the best experience possible. We respectfully ask guests attending the group photo tours to provide gratuities, we will advise the recommended amount per person. This will cover all of your tipping requirements during your 9-nights in Zimanga. Please provide this amount in the local currency (South African Rand).
Your hosts will collect this amount from you all at the beginning of the tour or on the first night in Zimanga. This will avoid you having to worry about paying gratuities at the end of the trip.
Wi-Fi Network Access
Wi-Fi is available in both the Main Lodge, the Homestead (inc the rooms) and also in the overnight hides
Dietary
Most dietary requests can be catered for with advance notice provided to us at least two months prior to departure.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing your own travel insurance at the time of booking to cover any eventualities should you need to cancel your trip due to unforeseen circumstances as both the deposit and final balances are non-refundable. Guests travelling without their own travel insurance do so at their own risk.
Costs
Group Photo Safari Cost: £4495 pp
Secure your place with 25% non-refundable deposit per person
Payments accepted by bank transfer
*Please see Terms & Conditions for bank transfer details
Hosts
Tracey Lund
My passion for wildlife’s taken me around the world and there is nothing I love doing more and I try hard to show that passion through my images.
I spend hours in the field and what some people don’t understand is that some feelings you get are priceless…. it is a true blessing to be able to take the time to sit and watch wildlife let alone photograph it. Sometimes its more important to experience the moment rather than miss taking photos.
There is no better feeling than those magical moments that will probably never be repeated but stay with you forever. These are moments that come back to me when looking at my images and make me smile and feel so lucky in doing what I do.
Gary Jones
A full time Wildlife Photographer and Guide, based in North wales close by to the beauty and ruggedness of the Welsh Coast and Snowdonia. Since an early age I have had a passion for the outdoors and especially wildlife and nature., and by trying to photographically record what I saw in the wild, it eventually turned into my profession.
I now travel far and wide to photograph wildlife, and to guide customers wanting the same, to many of my favourite places both in the Uk and overseas. I adore Snowdonia, from the rugged Mountains to the beautiful coastline, and I also have a real passion for Scotland, in particular The Cairngorms National Park and the Western Isles, especially the Isle of Mull.
What is included
- 9-nights’ luxury accommodation at Zimanga Private Game Reserve (including breakfast, lunch & dinner)
- Exclusive use of the whole reserve
- Use of all hides
- Twice daily activities of 3.5 hours each
- Game drives in purpose built vehicles (with one row per guest to maximise opportunities)
- Bottles water
- Laundry service
- Road transport in air-conditioned comfortable vehicle from Durban\Umdloti
- Fantastic local guides
- Services of 2 x photographic hosts
- Local park and conservation fees
Not Included
- International flights to/from Durban
- Accommodation in Umdloti the night prior to the start of the trip
- Dinner in Umdloti (1 night)
- Any personal expense such as beverages / drinks bill at all hotels, snacks whilst travelling, telephone bills, airport tax etc
- Tips & gratuities. E.g. local guides/drivers & hotel staff (please budget for around £*** pp)
- Personal Travel insurance
- Any other services not stated in the itinerary or above costs.