Wonders of the Endless Plains - Tanzania
Ngorongoro, Ndutu and Serengeti Ngorongoro, Ndutu and Serengeti Ngorongoro, Ndutu and Serengeti Ngorongoro, Ndutu and Serengeti Ngorongoro, Ndutu and Serengeti Ngorongoro, Ndutu and Serengeti Ngorongoro, Ndutu and Serengeti

Ngorongoro, Ndutu and Serengeti
Feb 25th - Mar 3rd 2012

Subjugated by an ever-growing human footprint, few countries can claim to have vast expanses of land where animals in large numbers still roam freely.

Tanzania is one of them. And it is 'plainly' spectacular.

Neighbouring Kenya in the north, this East African wildlife refuge hosts one of earth's largest and most spectacular theatres of nature, the Serengeti Ecosystem. Together with other natural treasures spanning its length and breadth, it has weathered the ravages of time to remain the wild soul of the African continent. And tapping into its juiciest part at the right time, this fulsome Tour will show you the best side of wild Tanzania.

So while it is unsure whether you will ever have enough of it, it is certain that in the land of the endless plains, your amazement will be boundless too.

How is it?

Serengeti National Park
Spread over 15000km2, the Serengeti National Park is the famous venue of one of the planet's epic spectacles – the Great Migration of over 1.5million compulsive White-bearded Wildebeest and some 250,000 Zebra, who move along the length of the National Park and cross borders into Kenya in search of grass that is literally greener on the other side. Notified for protection by the British in 1951, its exceptional density of predator and prey has made it Africa's best wild haven. Composed of savannah grassland, riparian woodland and rocky outcrops called Kopjes, the Serengeti embodies the enduring symbol of the African bush.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area includes the Ngorongoro Crater, a large volcanic caldera formed when a giant volcano committed harakiri some three million years ago. Its demise paved the way for a lavish variety of wildlife to thrive in the 2000ft deep, 260km2 pothole that you won't mind taking a ride in and is clearly a paradigm shift from the vehicle-breaking urban variety.

What you will see and photograph:

Serengeti
January, the calving season, is when miniature Wildebeest and Zebra emerge into the savannah, marking the midterm of the Migration. This is a good time to be born because the rain has made the grass ripe and succulent. Buoyed, the herds move northwest from Ngorongoro. Intercepting this advance, you will behold the spectacle of a large number of hooves and horns dominating the landscape. Even at its lowest ebb, the scale, the sounds and the unending quest of life make even a Charlie Sheen film seem a bit underwhelming.

Apart from the ungulates, Africa's famed Big Five are an expected draw. Lion prides lie sprawled on the plains while cheetahs go like stink in pursuit of 'fast food'. Coexisting with the cats, elephants drift gracefully, rhinos stand their ground flaunting snout-top spikes of hair, and plucky warthogs – fittingly dubbed the Savannah Express – trot across the frame with their piglets in tow in a single file.

In the more aerodynamic class of creatures, the imperious Martial Eagle and the strikingly designed Bateleur Eagle reign supreme over the skies. Down below, the magnificent Crowned Crane and the unique Southern Ground Hornbill lend themselves beautifully to photographs. As many as five varieties of Vulture – the Ruppell's, the Griffon and the White-backed, the Lappet-faced and the Hooded – form a most effective sanitation team as they sweep the savannah clean of leftovers.

But the most precious treasure on the Tour will be unearthed in Seronera Valley, around which a bulk of our safaris will revolve. Harbouring the mercurial leopard in the giant sausage trees on the banks of the 25ft river, where a variety of herbivores are attracted for a drink, this is the best place in east Africa to observe and photograph the most elusive of the continent's big cats, and is probably the only place in the world that can hold a candle to the prodigious Masaai Mara.

Ngorongoro
With an estimated 25000 animals within the crater itself, Ngorongoro hosts almost every individual species of wildlife in East Africa. Clearly, there's a lot cooking in this caldera as you realize that it's much more than merely a game reserve in a giant pothole.

Most notable among the celebrities are the rare Black Rhino and the cantankerous Hippopotamus. Saline lakes fed by shallow streams foster the graceful Flamingo. Lion and Cheetah allow delightful early-morning and late-evening atmospheric images and bewilderingly large Bull Elephants, free from competition in the crater, have made this terrain their own, especially once they're past their prime, to the extent that Ngorongoro is referred to as the 'old age retirement home for elephants' – a 'retirement home' that can bring even retired photographers raring back into action.

What you will take back:
The land of the endless plains is a goldmine of endless opportunities as well. And piggybacking on the wealth of Toehold's experience, you can make the most of them. In a nutshell, this Tour will enable you to –

  • Experience the expansive beauty of wild Tanzania
  • Revel in the overwhelming variety and numbers of the fauna
  • Be exposed to a rich diversity of habitat in one of the planet's oldest ecosystems
  • Witness the epic drama of the ungulate migration on its interim leg
  • Make images teeming with atmosphere and touched by some of the most dramatic natural light anywhere on the planet
  • Observe a multitude of species and capture many unique behaviours
  • Glean a world of natural history and photography knowledge through Toehold's exclusive ChaayaaChitra
    ChaayaaChitra: Photography Techniques, Tips, Tricks
    , ChitraTantra
    ChitraTantra: Photo Principles, Reviews, Critique
    , Charchaaloka
    Charchaaloka: Presentations, Lectures, Discussions
     sessions
  • Learn and try a wealth of tips, techniques and concepts on-safari under the tutelage of your highly resourceful Toehold Skipper
  • Plenty of photography, post-processing and natural history learning with Toehold's expert skippers through our interactive sessions.





PHOTOGRAPHY SKIPPER

Jayanth Sharma
A former User eXperience specialist in an IT firm, Jayanth took up serious photography in 2004. After gradually moving out of IT to pursue his passion, Jayanth has established himself as a fine Natural history photographer in the recent years. He believes there is no meaning to wildlife photography if these pictures can't be used to protect or save them. He travels extensively to take pictures and report stories on birds and animals in order to generate awareness about the critical importance of conserving vulnerable Indian wildlife that is falling prey to a great many changes.

An accomplished photographer, Jayanth Sharma has bagged awards in wildlife photography and many recognitions in magazines and publishing houses. Jayanth loves traveling and believes he should explore all possible natural hotspots of the world before he leaves the planet. Jayanth has immense experience in travelling across various countries and continents like South America, Russia, Africa & South East Asia for photography. This is supplemented by his expertise in photography across all terrains of the Indian Sub continent. Be it the Himalayas or the unexplored north-east india or the tiger havens of central India, Jayanth has been there and done that in the subcontinent and is now exploring the rest of the world. Participants of his photo tours have always enjoyed his company where they learn and see a place from a perspective they had never imagined. Not to forget we have to mention the high potential photography and natural history knowledge he imparts through his very own flavor of humor.

You can have a look at Jayanth's work on his website www.wildlifetimes.com



WHY GO ON A TOEHOLD PHOTO TOUR?

At Toehold, we are passionate about photography just as you are, which lets us understand your travails and needs perfectly. And we use this insight to specially design our Photography Tours so they give you a toehold to excel at the art and set you up for success.

The Toehold team at your disposal will keep you tuned and geared, so you come in empty-handed but go out with bagful of images and tales of an experience that is better lived than heard. Specifically, you will get -

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WHAT PEOPLE SAID ON OUR PREVIOUS PHOTO TOUR?

Photography enthusiasts who were a part of a similar tour previously said:

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    NGORONGORO CRATER

  • Day 1, February 25: Arrival in Tanzania and Ngorongoro Crater
    Participants land at the Kilimanjaro Airport in the morning and soon after assembling, we are transferred to Arusha for lunch. After lunch, we embark on our road journey to Ngorongoro. This evening, we visit the the Olduvai Gorge Museum and discuss the course of action for the rest of this tour.

    Following this, we enjoy a scrumptious dinner and a comfortable overnight stay.
  • Day 2, February 26: Ngorongoro and Ndutu
    On this morning we hit the safari track in Ngorongoro at 6a.m, enabling ourselves with such an early start to catch plenty of action during the most active hours of the day. Staying in the park for six hours, we return to camp at 12p.m for lunch.

    After a rejuvenating meal, we are transferred to Ndutu, where we relax, dine and put our feet up for the night in the middle of the bush. On our way out of the Ngorongoro Conservation area we would stop by one of the Maasai villages for a short visit and orientation.

    • NDUTU - SERENGETI

  • Day 3 and 4, February 27 and 28: Full-day Safaris in Ndutu
    Embarking on full-day safaris in Ndutu, we spend a whole 12 hours a day in the reserve for two days, filling our memory cells and cards with the many splendours it has to offer. While gratifying encounters with lions are virtually engraved in the wall, the spellbinding views of the calving wildebeest are certain to get the image counter ringing.

    All the exciting action will carry over to the camp after safari hours too, with Toehold's exclusive ChaayaaChitra
    ChaayaaChitra: Photography Techniques, Tips, Tricks
    , ChitraTantra
    ChitraTantra: Photo Principles, Reviews, Critique
    , Charchaaloka
    Charchaaloka: Presentations, Lectures, Discussions
     sessions. sessions making your experience truly well-rounded and comprehensive.

    After every evening's discussion will follow an appetising spread of Indian, Continental and local cuisine, treating your taste buds with the same zeal with which the visuals have treated your eyes through the day.

    • SERENGETI CENTRAL

  • Day 5, February 29: Arrival at Serengeti Central
    An early morning departure for the hallowed Serengeti Central gets us to our destination by afternoon, the route to it serving as a safari by itself. Close at the heels of a hearty meal will follow our maiden foray into the land of the endless plains.
  • Day 6 and 7, March 1 and 2: Full-day Safaris in Serengeti
    Staying inside the reserve, we enjoy the indescribable luxury of roaming the Serengeti plains for two full days, each day venturing into the field even as the first rays of the sun kiss the grass blades, and returning to our nests as the orange ball of fire hoists itself down the distant horizon.

    While leopard and cheetah are all but guaranteed attractions, regaling us will also be all the various local stars depicted in the What you will see and photograph section.

    Following a delectable supper, we are lulled into a dreamless sleep by the fascinating sounds of the African bush.
  • Day 8, March 3: Check-out and Dispersal
    After an invigorating breakfast to conclude a productive Tour, we check out and fly from Serengeti to the Kilimanjaro Airport, where the Tour culminates. Participants board the evening flight from Kilimanjaro to Nairobi and thence the connecting flights to their respective destinations.

    Participants also signed up for the Rwanda Photo Tour will resume onward with the Toehold crew, where a fascinating adventure awaits them.

Bronze Class
For families and nature-lovers interested in watching the great wildlife of East-Africa. Not suited for serious photography enthusiasts. As a Bronze Class participant, you enjoy ample off-field learning experiences from an assured window seat in the vehicle. Although you do not get on-field guidance from our Photography Skipper, a seasoned naturalist-cum driver will show you the amazing wildlife.

Tour Cost: INR 1,84,750/- Per Person
Specs: 4WD Landcruiser, 6 Pax per vehicle, Twin Occupancy.
Couple Discount: Book before 31st December 2011 and avail a couple discount of INR 5,000/- per couple.


Silver Class (Recommended for Photographers)
For wildlife photography enthusiasts wanting to spend as much time in the field as possibe. Participants of this class will share their four-wheel-drive safari vehicle with three others, offering a great balance between space and economics. As a Silver Class participant, you also enjoy unlimited attention and guidance of the Photography Skipper on the tour and can look forward to a lot of learning on and off the field in the company of the Toehold team.

Tour Cost: INR 2,14,900/- Per Person
Specs: 4WD Landcruiser, 4 Pax per vehicle, Twin Occupancy.
Couple Discount: Book before 31st December 2011 and avail a couple discount of INR 7,500/- per couple.


Gold Class
For experienced wildlife photographers with considerable photography equipment and seeking the ultimate photography experience. As a Gold Class participant, you will be on safari exclusively with your driver-cum naturalist guide and have access to all the off-field value-added experiences as well.

Tour Cost: INR 2,48,750/- Per Person
Specs: 4WD Landcruiser, 2 Pax per vehicle, Twin Occupancy.
Couple Discount: Book before 31st December 2011 and avail a couple discount of INR 10,000/- per couple.

Please Note: This Tour originates and culminates at Kilimanjaro. Participants landing in Nairobi can stay overnight at Nairobi on the previous day and take a morning flight to Kilimanjaro on Day 1 of the Tour or take the Kenya Airways flight from Mumbai on the same day and connect to Kilimanjaro through the Precision Air flight departing at 10:45 AM. Accommodation in Kenya/Nairobi, if required, is not included in the tour itinerary but assistance is available upon request. Do discuss your arrival and departure options and seek assistance on your Nairobi stay if you choose to travel by Emirates, Qatar or Air Arabia airlines.

Inclusions:

  • All airport transfers in Tanzania
  • Entrance fees for all safaris, National parks and reserve entrance fees.
  • 7 nights' accommodation on twin-sharing basis in a luxury wildlife resort at all destinations on the Tour
  • All meals while on the Tour
  • Services of driver-cum-naturalist for all plan
  • Services of Photography Skipper for Silver plan
  • Charter flight from Seronera Airstrip to Kilimanjaro Airport on the 3rd March 2012

Exclusions:

  • All International airfare
  • Any international air transfers to Kilimanjaro
  • Any kind of personal expenses, optional tours or extra meals ordered
  • Insurance, laundry and phone calls.
  • Any kind of drinks (alcoholic, mineral, aerated)
  • Visa
  • Yellow Fever Vaccination Charges
  • Optional tour to a Masai village - USD 30 per person
  • Anything that is not included in the Inclusions list

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How many participants are expected in one safari vehicle on this tour?
    Our Tanzania photography tour is designed to provide you maximum flexibility in balancing unimpeded photography with your budgetary needs. You can opt for the inexpensive Bronze package, which seats six participants per vehicle, or choose from the Silver or Gold packages, which seat fewer people and allow you even more space, as per your needs. Click here for more information.
  • How different are your Photo Tours from ordinary tours?
    Unlike travel agents who plan your holiday from a remote destination to places they sometimes haven't even experienced themselves, Photo Tours offer a comprehensive toehold to experience a place through the guidance of a professional photographer. The common ingredients in all our Photo Tours are fun and a lot of learning and knowledge sharing. Besides, most of our Tour participants are photography enthusiasts, which keeps the group in harmony and helps in making your experience focused.
  • How sure are you about photographing wildlife?
    Considering the meticulous attention to timing we pay while scheduling Tour and the local expertise we leverage, we believe that it would be extremely unfortunate if our sightings and photography were unsatisfactory. Also, the exhaustive itinerary should offer ample opportunities for a productive time. However, since we will be in an uncontrolled environment, we stop just short of claiming that sightings are guaranteed.
  • What equipment do you suggest on this Tour?
    A wide-angle or normal zoom is a staple for landscape and general photography. For birds and mammals, a focal length of at least 300mm is usually necessary. An additional 100mm often proves very effective especially for birds. However, if you do not have appropriate equipment, there is no need to fret. Toehold offers an exhaustive array of cameras and lenses for hire, so you can always hire what you need.
  • I am a newbie in Wildlife Photography. Am I eligible?
    Absolutely! This tour is meant for fledgling as well as experienced wildlife photographers. Beginners get all the advantages of learning on and off the field from Toehold's eminent Skippers. If you are a newbie, you should jump on this terrific learning opportunity and sign up right away!
  • Refund/Cancellation Fees:
    15% for cancellation between 30 and 45 days from date of departure
    50% for cancellation between 7 and 30 days from date of departure
    90% for cancellation between 2 and 7 days from the date of departure
    No refund will be made for cancellation within 48 hours from date of departure
  • Terms & conditions
    • 1. Participants who have a medical history of blood pressure, heart-related problems or asthma are advised to seek medical advice before enrolling for this Tour.
    • 2. Fitness to complete the Tour is the only criterion for participation.
    • 3. Toehold Travel & Photography Pvt Ltd. shall not be responsible for injuries, damages or losses caused to any participant due to terrorist acts, social or labour unrest, mechanical or construction failures or difficulties, diseases, local laws, climatic conditions, abnormal conditions or developments, or any other actions, omissions, or conditions outside the travel agent's control.
    • 4. All clients traveling with Toehold Travel & Photography Pvt Ltd. must complete and sign a reservation form and the "Release of Liability, Assumption of Risk & Arbitration Agreement" form.




LOCALE

Ngorongoro, Ndutu and Serengeti

QUICK INFO

  • Date: Feb 25 - Mar 3, 2012
  • Tour Cost
  • Bronze: INR 1,84,750/-
    Per Person
  • Silver: INR 2,14,900/-
    Per Person
  • Gold: INR 2,48,750/-
    Per Person
  • All fares excluding flights
  • Skipper: Jayanth Sharma