PHOTO-SAFARI NAMIBIA

What’s on offer?
This will be a 30-day Safari mostly in Namibia but also venturing into the neighbouring countries of Zambia, Botswana and optionally into Zimbabwe. It is purpose designed mainly to suit the needs of photographers in their pursuit of images of African Peoples, Cultures, Wildlife and Landscapes.

How will we travel?
By air to Africa and return. Land content in Africa will be by purpose built extended body 4wd Landcruisers with large windows and a pop-top roof to facilitate close-up, safe wildlife photography from within the vehicle. We will also have a sunset boat cruise, and get around the Okavango by motorboat and Mokoro (dug out canoe).

Proposed Dates.
The planned departure date from Sydney will be in the second week of May 2007. We will probably travel via Singapore to Johannesburg and then to Windhoek from where our land content of the Photo-Safari commences. Departure will be from Livingstone in Zambia to Johannesburg thence on to Singapore and Sydney or Brisbane. It will be an option for participants to enjoy a stopover at Singapore on the way home. Specific dates and times will be advised as soon as airline schedules for 2007 are announced.

How large will the group be?
Maximum number of participants will be 10 plus Pat and Ray. Each of two vehicles can accommodate 6 passengers (plus driver and assistant)

Staffing?
There will be an experienced Namibian driver/guide in each vehicle. There will be one cook and one camp assistant. Pat & Ray Faggotter will accompany the group as liaison.

Accommodation.
There will be a mix of Hotel, Chalet, Lodge, and tent camping. Our Namibian service provider will supply all the camping gear, including tents, mattresses, pillows and sleeping bags. If you don’t like bush camping this is not for you. Roughly 70% will be camping.

Food.
All meals are provided and will be nutritious and varied.
Vegetarians and special dietary needs are catered for if advised well in advance.

Health and Fitness.
It is the personal responsibility of individual participants to organise a complete medical check-up with their doctor and to arrange for any shots they need or are recommended by current health regulations. We will be entering into malaria country and malarials will be essential. This will be a NON-SMOKING event.

There may be a few occasions where moderate walks will be needed to access the best photo locations. Some fitness walking prior to departure is advisable.

Camera Gear and Luggage limits.
On Safari, each person should limit his or her luggage to 15kg in a soft bag. For the days we go by dugout canoe into the Okavango Delta, it’s best to bring a smaller bag that will just take your personal effects for 2 days. Your main bag can be left at base camp. The weight of your camera gear is not included in this allowance but please be reasonable. A couple of camera bodies, several lenses and a flash unit plus heaps of film or data storage are what you’ll want. A long lens for wildlife, a wide angle for landscapes and a general-purpose zoom will be handy. Close up enthusiasts will be glad of their macro lens. If you are a digital fan then please be aware that there will be limited opportunity to recharge batteries or to power portable hard drives or data storage devices. Each vehicle will have an inverter that will require cooperative use for charging batteries at camp sites. Expect to click your shutter button several thousand times in the 30 days. Bring heaps of memory. You may end up having to download more than half a gigabyte of images daily. Give some thought as to how you will steady your long lens for wildlife pictures. A rice or bean bag will be useful.

How to get involved.
First contact Ray Faggotter by email at rfaggotter@ozemail.com.au to express your interest. This will then get you in the loop for further information about developments and travel arrangements. You can ring Ray on 02 66536562 if there are any matters you wish to discuss.

Deposit.
An initial deposit of $1000 AUD will be payable at a date to be advised.
We have opened a special S1 account at the BCU (Banana Coast Credit Union) to facilitate payments for deposits, balances and transfers. This account is solely for the Photo-Safari Participants. The BCU Branch address is:

The account name is PHOTO SAFARI NAMIBIA and the Member Number is 180408.
For those wishing to make electronic deposits, the BSB number for the BCU is 704 328

Your deposit will be a sign of your commitment. Until this deposit is received, nobody can expect that a seat is reserved for them. At a later date to be advised the balance of the deposit will be required and once all individual deposits are in, the group deposit will then be payable to our Namibian Service Provider.

About 6 weeks prior to departure the balance of the Land content cost will be payable and this will immediately be forwarded to our Namibian Service Provider.

Costs.
The land content in Africa is $7301 AUD. At this end there is No profit for the organisers. There are no factored in overheads.

For those who prefer to have unshared accommodation, there is a single supplement of $376 AUD

Tips for guides, cook and camp assistant.
It is normal to pay the staff a tip at the end of the Safari. The proportionate allocation will be decided by consensus of the participants but the total cost will be in the order of $150 AUD per participant.
The polers in the Delta also usually receive a tip, in Pula. This is about N$50.00 per poler and I'd expect you'd have about 12 polers with you altogether for a group of 12 clients, plus guides, plus baggage mokoros. That comes to about $12-00 AUD per person.

Travel Costs. Costs between Sydney and Namibia
The return flight will be approximately $1930 AUD (June 06 fare) plus whatever airport taxes are applicable at the time. (As at 06-06-06), Ex Sydney = $570. Due to airline schedules, a stopover may be required at Johannesburg on the home journey. A group booking will be organised. On the homeward journey, it will be possible to either transit or stopover at Singapore without any penalty.

Optionals.
A flight in a small plane over the Namib Desert from Sessriem is an optional extra. It proved very popular on previous years. Details and costs will be advised.
We will visit Victoria Falls from the Zambian side. All costs are included. However, on the second day in the area, participants will have the option of walking across the Bridge over the Zambezi River into Zimbabwe. The Falls can also be visited from this side. The park entrance fee was $20 USD but you will also need to obtain a Visa to enter Zimbabwe, which can be purchased at the border. Cost will be advised. The Falls are spectacular from both sides but the views and photo opportunities are quite different. There are light aircraft flights over Victoria Falls, wild-water rafting or you can Bungee jump from the Bridge for approximately $100 USD.

Travel Insurance.
Participants will need to organise their own travel insurance. Our Travel Agent can organise either QBE or Travelscene insurance. Your insurance policy should include coverage for the possibility you have to cancel.

Passports.
A valid passport is required with a minimum validity of 6 months from the date after arrival in Africa. Currently, Australians are welcome as visitors in Namibia, Botswana and Zambia and Visas are available at the borders without charge. People travelling on other than Australian passports will need to check out their own situation regarding visas.

This Photo-Safari Land Content Costing includes:
All transport, accommodation, camping equipment, camping fees, Park entrance fees (except for Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwean side), professional guides, cook, camp assistant, 3 meals a day, tea/coffee/hot chocolate in camp, tap drinking water, pick up and drop off transfers between airports and accommodation.

Not included:
Alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, bottled water, personal travel insurance, international flights, visas, optional extra activities such as pleasure flights, white water rafting, etc.

Money
In Namibia, the currency unit is the Namibian Dollar (N$) which is pegged to the South African Rand (SAR). The Rand can be used anywhere throughout Namibia. Many shops, garages etc will take Rand in Botswana and Zambia and Zimbabwe. Money exchange can be done in Kasane (Botswana) and Livingstone (Zambia) relatively easily.
Credit Card or USD also useful.

How much you take for souvenirs, drinks etc is up to you.

Your Duty of Disclosure.
Please advise of any health condition that may affect the progress of our group during the month we will be travelling together. Rest assured that any such disclosure will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

Participation camping – group participation is limited to putting up and taking down your own tent and occasionally helping with some camp chores such as wiping up after meals and carrying your gear to a central point for packing in trailers.