Join Aperture Academy Professional Photographers Stephen Oachs and Scott Davis as they invite you to explore and photograph within some of the best wildlife reserves and parks Tanzania has to offer, with special emphasis on the Serengeti National Park. Aperture Academy has put together an ultimate wildlife photography and Photoshop instruction workshop for photographers serious about getting the best possible wildlife images.

For the wildlife photographer, few places on the planet compare to Africa. And in Africa, the Serengeti ecosystem is perhaps the most famous wildlife sanctuary in the world. There's a reason for this well deserved fame. With its seemingly endless grass savannahs, acacia studded landscapes, well-developed park infra-structure, upscale accommodations and most importantly, the sheer abundance of wild animals found with relative ease, wildlife photographers are virtually guaranteed an amazing portfolio of images.

Written words do little to adequately describe the grandeur but suffice to say, Africa and its raw untamed beauty will stay with you long after you return home and most likely inspire you to figure out when your next visit will occur. Just ask anyone's who's been with us.

Tour Leaders and professional nature photographers Scott Davis and Stephen Oachs have designed a comprehensive itinerary that allows extensive time in the field at three of their favorite wildlife parks in Tanzania. Each park has its own unique ecosystem and as a result, different landscapes and assemblages of animals. Most importantly, all the parks we visit provide unparalleled wildlife photography opportunities.

Whether you're an avid birder, a big cat lover looking for the perfect lion shot, or in search of the "Big 5," Tanzania and its world class parks provide ample opportunities for the photographer with a taste for refined adventure.

13-Day Wild Serengeti Wildlife and Photoshop Workshop: $9995 (Price per person, based on double occupancy.)

Price includes: Luxury Accommodations (single room supplement), all meals, all park fees, all game drives, non alcoholic drinks, Photography and Photoshop Instruction, transportation costs while in-country, Serengeti charter flight back to Arusha, all local guides and drivers.

Price does not include: International Airfare to/from Arusha, optional activities such as hot air balloon rides, local village photo excursions, alcoholic beverages, driver and local guide tips, additional days beyond trip dates, trip and medical evacuation insurance.

Tanzania is a large and varied country. To get a good sense of this diversity, we will be visiting three of the most outstanding as well as our favorite wildlife parks. Each is unique and together help represent the amazing diversity found in Tanzania.

• Day 1 - Flight(s) and arrival in Arusha, Tanzania: Overnight at Mountain Village Lodge
• Day 2 - Arusha to Tarangire National Park: Afternoon game drive
• Day 3 - Tarangire National Park: Full day of game drives
• Day 4 - Tarangire National Park to Ngorongoro Conservation Area: Morning game drive, Maasai Boma village visit
• Day 5 - Ngorongoro Conservation Area full day of game drives
• Day 6 - Ngorongoro Conservation Area to Serengeti National Park: Afternoon game drives
• Day 7 - Serengeti National Park: Full day of game drives
• Day 8 - Serengeti National Park: Full day of game drives
• Day 9 - Serengeti National Park: Full day of game drives
• Day 10 - Serengeti National Park: Full day of game drives
• Day 11 - Serengeti National Park: Full day of game drives
• Day 12 - Serengeti National Park: Full day of game drives
• Day 13 - Serengeti National Park: Morning Game Drive then depart on Charter Flight returning to Arusha. Official tour end.

Size: 1,096 Sq. Miles. Tarangire National Park is famous for its giant baobab trees as well as the large populations of elephants and giraffes feeding along the banks of the Tarangire River. Herds of up to 300 elephants scratch the dry river bed for underground streams, while migratory wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest and eland crowd the shrinking lagoons. It's the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem - a smorgasbord for predators – and the one place in Tanzania where dry-country antelope such as the stately fringe-eared oryx and peculiar long-necked gerenuk are regularly observed.

Tarangire has the largest termite mounds in Tanzania, some of which reach up to fifteen feet in height. Many of Tarangire's seasonal grazers migrate out of the park during the wet season; thus Tarangire's best game viewing is during the dry months of July through November when wildlife congregates around the Tarangire River.

The swamps, tinged green year round, are the focus for 550 bird varieties, the most breeding species in one habitat anywhere in the world. On drier ground you find the Kori bustard, the heaviest flying bird; the stocking-thighed ostrich, the world's largest bird; and small parties of ground hornbills blustering like turkeys. More ardent bird-lovers might keep an eye open for screeching flocks of the dazzlingly colorful yellow-collared lovebird, and the somewhat drabber rufous-tailed weaver and ashy starling – all endemic to the dry savannah of north-central Tanzania. Disused termite mounds are often frequented by colonies of the endearing dwarf mongoose, and pairs of red-and-yellow barbet, which draw attention to themselves by their loud, clockwork-like duetting. Tarangire's pythons climb trees, as do its lions and leopards, lounging in the branches where the fruit of the sausage tree disguises the twitch of a tail.

Ngorongoro Crater (2 days)

Size: 100 Sq. Miles, 2000 feet deep. Often called the eighth wonder of the world, Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unbroken caldera in the world, and is one of the only places in Africa you can view every member of the "big five" (rhinoceros, lion, buffalo, leopard and elephant) on a single game drive. The crater plays host to almost every individual species of wildlife in East Africa.

A population of approximately 25,000 large animals, largely ungulates along with reputedly the highest density of mammalian predators in Africa, lives in the crater. Large animals in the crater include the black rhinoceros, and the hippopotamus, which is very uncommon in the area. There also are many other ungulates: the wildebeest (7,000 estimated in 1994), the zebra (4,000), the eland, and Grant's and Thompson's gazelle (3,000). The crater has the densest known population of lions per sq. mile in Tanzania, total in the crater numbering 62 in 2001. On the crater rim, leopards, elephant, mountain reedbuck, and buffalo can be found. In the middle of the crater there is a large lake inhabited by hundreds of flamingos and from a distance, they appear as a pink border of the lake. Unique to Ngorongoro, indigenous tribes are permitted to live in the conservation area and local Masai graze their livestock on the crater floor in harmony with nearby herds of buffalo and wildebeest.

The Serengeti National Park (6 days)

Size: 5,700 Sq. Miles. Tanzania's oldest and most popular national park and perhaps the most famous wildlife park in the world. It is a World Heritage site and recently proclaimed a 7th wonder of the world. With almost two million wildebeest and zebra, the Serengeti supports the largest concentration of plains game in the world and offers arguably the most scintillating game-viewing in all of Africa: great herds of buffalo, smaller groups of elephant and giraffe, and thousands upon thousands of eland, topi, kongoni, impala and Grant’s gazelle.

The spectacle of predator versus prey dominates Tanzania’s greatest park and many people visit the park in search of big cats. Golden-manned lion prides feast on the abundance of plain grazers. Solitary leopards haunt the acacia trees lining the Seronera River, while a high density of cheetahs prowls the southeastern plains. Almost uniquely, all three African jackal species occur here, alongside the spotted hyena and a host of more elusive small predators, ranging from the insectivorous aardwolf to the beautiful Serval Cat. But there is more to Serengeti than large mammals.

Gaudy agama lizards and rock hyraxes scuffle around the surfaces of the park’s isolated granite kopjes. 100 varieties of dung beetle have been recorded, as have 500-plus bird species, ranging from the outsized ostrich and bizarre secretary bird of the open grassland, to the black eagles that soar effortlessly above the Lobo Hills.

A Final Note.

We have personally put together an African Wildlife Photo Tour designed with the specific needs of the serious photographer in mind. Stephen and Scott are highly experienced wildlife photographers and tour leaders and are intimately familiar with the often-complex logistics associated with travel in Africa. Working in conjunction with trusted local operators and outstanding guides who have a proven history of success, we have assembled a cohesive team that we believe surpasses the other options that are available to the discerning client. Utilizing in-field shooting techniques and suggestions and in-depth Photoshop discussion, tips and techniques, we seek to elevate your photography to the next level. Through personal service and attention to detail, our ultimate goal is to provide you with an experience that ensures not only a trip of a lifetime but also one that allows you to capture the best wildlife images possible.

Accommodations

For this wildlife photography safari, we have chosen to create a wonderful atmosphere reminiscent of Karen Blixen's "Out of Africa" days and the Golden Age of Exploration, long before large tourist lodges and hotels came upon the scene. For many, Africa is a once in a lifetime destination and we feel to truly experience life on the Serengeti, one must experience its sights, sounds, and smells at the grass level, literally. For this reason we will be staying almost exclusively in private upscale tented camps.

Our camps are chosen for a combination of their strategic and beautiful locations, extreme privacy, easy access to wildlife assemblages as well as for their luxurious standards. But fear not if you think camping in the bush might not be your cup of tea. Just because we are spending our time out in the bush doesn't mean we have to rough it. Far from it as Tanzania has taken bush camping to a high art form. Our sublime tented camps are first class and have a range of modern conveniences.

A word of clarification regarding the tent camps: These are not the standard tents you grew up with while on family vacations. Perhaps the only similarity is that they are made of canvas but that's where it stops. The interiors are impeccably clean and huge with plenty of room. Ceilings are over 10 feet in height. One sleeps in a large full-sized bed with fresh linens. Each tent has its own private bathroom with toilet, sinks and hot water shower, solar charged lights, comfortable seating and a writing desk for you to record your journal entries.

A short walk to the main dining and social tent with its comfy couches, throw pillows, and tasty snacks provides a relaxing oasis to convene over a freshly prepared cocktail, glass of wine or any of drink of your choice. Gathering around the warm evening campfire sharing the day's events is a time-honored tradition. Scrumptious meals are prepared by expert chefs and served in a fine dining type atmosphere. Each morning, Staff cheerfully greet you at your tent entrance with made to order fresh brewed tea or coffee along with traditional English biscuits. Following a full day of shooting, within the confines of your luxury tent relaxing in a toasty warm bed while listening to the wild sounds of the savannah under a clear starlit night is an experience that comes close to true bliss.

Vehicles

As photographers, we cringe every time we see a photo safari vehicle loaded with multiple passengers per row attempting to get good shots of wildlife. Nothing could be more frustrating than sharing your row of seats with someone else while the action is happening on the other side of the vehicle. Either you have to routinely switch places with your seat mates to snap off a few shots or you sit and helplessly watch the action take place, unable to get in a position to get the image. Talk about an maddening exercise in frustration.

For this reason, we limit our client numbers to allow every shooter his or her own row of seating every time we go out to photograph. Not only does this allow ample room to spread out all your needed equipment for easy access but it allows you the freedom to quickly change positions should the action change position.

The vehicles we use are rugged and highly reliable Land Rover Defenders (no mini-buses or vans) with an open air pop top to allow unconstrained shooting. They are rigorously maintained, inspected, cleaned, and tested before and after every safari. All vehicles are equipped with 2 spare tires, camera battery charging outlets, a First Aid kit, and a radio to communicate with each other, the main office, park rangers, base camp, Flying Doctors, and the Tanzanian police. They are spacious, comfortable vehicles capable of challenging off road terrain while large enough to provide an ideal mobile photo platform.

A word of warning: This photo workshop is not for the person interested in frantically rushing around from spot to spot grabbing as many "happy snaps" of animals as they can, but rather, it is designed with the serious photographer in mind in search of award winning images. This is a photo safari designed by photographers for photographers.

Along with Stephen and Scott, you will be guided by highly experienced local wildlife guides (who we've worked with in the past and can attest to their amazing skills) who know the parks and the animal behavior like the back of their hands. Working with them, our goal is to put you in the optimum spot for getting the perfect shot and this can often take time. You will also be among other like minded photographers who are willing to patiently wait for those unique moments that makes the difference between a mere snap shot and a great image.

Great effort will be made to help ensure we are shooting our subject matter from the best angles with the best light possible. Patience and maximum time in the field is necessary. Of course, individuals will always have the option of bypassing the daily game drives, perhaps choosing to sleep in followed by a leisurely breakfast, or simply choosing to spend the afternoon reading a book or writing in their journal while viewing the sweeping African savannahs from the comfort of their well appointed tented camp. However, our primary goal is to get amazing images that you'll be proud to have in your portfolio, and that requires starting our days well before sunrise.

During mid-day sun when the animals tend to bed down and take their naps, we'll return to our base for a lunch break where you are free to choose a variety of options including siesta time, downloading of images, image review and critiques, Photoshop lecture and teaching sessions before continuing again with our afternoon game drives. We will stay out until sunset thus ensuring we are out during the best light of day. There will be ample freedom to deviate from this schedule if we come upon an event in the making while in the field such as a cheetah or lion hunt in progress.

→ Group Size

We have designed this trip with superb comfort and quality in mind. For these reasons, we have purposely limited this trip to only 12 photographers (3 per vehicle). Having a small group allows us to be highly efficient while ensuring personal attention and the ultimate intimate safari experience. An added benefit to having four vehicles is that it greatly increases our ability to locate and photograph elusive subject matter. These parks are huge and though the wildlife is abundant, it can also be spread out over large distances, especially the prime subject matter like hunting events. Our strategy will be to fan out thereby increasing our search radius but staying close enough to quickly respond to radio communication if one vehicle happens upon a special or rare event i.e., lion hunt or feeding, leopard sighting, cheetahs with cubs, etc. From experience, we know that having multiple vehicles spread out with numerous sets of eyes searching is far better than a single group closely clumped together. Afterall, this once in a lifetime trip is about getting amazing images!!

→ Price Per Person (based on double occupancy)

Photographer Price: $9995
(Single Supplement Charge, add $1200)

Price includes: Luxury Accommodations (single room supplement), all meals, all park fees, all game drives, non alcoholic drinks, Photography and Photoshop Instruction, transportation costs while in-country, Serengeti charter flight back to Arusha, all local guides and drivers.

Price does not include: International Airfare to/from Arusha, optional activities such as hot air balloon rides, local village photo excursions, alcoholic beverages, driver and local guide tips, additional days beyond trip dates, trip and medical evacuation insurance.

Payment Schedule: To secure your spot, a non-refundable deposit of $2000 is required.

→ Getting to Africa

. A wide variety of national and international airlines are available that regularly fly into Arusha, TZ. Examples include: KLM, United Airlines, Continental Airlines, Lufthansa, British Airways, US Airways, Virgin America, Emirates Airlines, Swiss International and Iberia. It is best to compare the flights and pick one that best suits your individual preferences or if applicable, accepts your personal mileage credits if you're interested in cashing in frequent flyer miles.

Depending on how far in advance you purchase your tickets and which carrier, ticket prices from San Francisco are ranging from $2000 on up (at the time of this posting; always check for current prices). From the US, there are no direct flights.

Flight durations from the west coast of the US range from 20 hours on up depending on carriers plus connecting time so plan accordingly in order to arrive on the scheduled safari Arusha departure date.

Also of note, each airline tends to have specific baggage allowances. We personally like KLM Royal Dutch Airlines due to their relatively generous baggage allowance policy (as of this writing 2 bags per person are included in the ticket price). Additionally, there is an approximate 8-hour layover in Amsterdam, which breaks up the flight nicely and allows a brief exploration of this fascinating city if you so choose. There are lockable storage lockers at the airport to secure your bags and gear while you explore and a short train ride from the Amsterdam Airport drops you off in the city center from where walking and water ferries can get you to many places of interest.

→ Visa Requirements

Currently, for US citizens arriving in Tanzania, a travel Visa is required. As of this writing, a single Visa is $100. Visas currently can be purchased on arrival into Arusha or secured through the Tanzanian Embassy in Washington DC before trip departure. If securing your Visa before US departure, we would recommend doing so at least 2-3 months in advance to avoid any unforeseen delays. If not a US citizen, please contact the Tanzania Embassy to determine your specific requirements. For more information on Visa requirements, go to: www.tanzaniaembassy-us.org/tzevisa.html

→ Vaccination and Medicine Recommendations

We recommend you contact your travel physician or health care provider for the most up to date recommendations. More information can be found at: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/tanzania.htm

Meet our master instructors and learn what qualifies them to give you a great experience during your workshops! While you're joining us, you will receive comprehensive digital photography instruction and tutoring by our team of award-winning photographers.

Scott Davis is a wildlife researcher, eco-guide and successful professional photographer specializing in wildlife, lifestyle, and editorial imagery. Originally trained as a wildlife and marine biologist, Scott's research and photo assignments have taken him to the far corners of the globe.

He is a National Geographic Society Grant recipient and has co-authored and published several peer reviewed scientific articles investigating aspects of animal behavior. His photographic work has appeared in commercial websites, stock catalogues, national magazines and newspapers including the San Francisco Chronicle, The New York Times, Sport Diver, Conde' Nast, and Men's Journal. He has also worked as a commercial photographer for several national and international ad campaigns including Barclays Global Investments, The Cayman Islands Bureau of Tourism, Atlantis Resorts, Syngenta USA, Nationwide Children's Hospital, USA Aid, and the World Wildlife Fund, to name a few.

Scott's easy going style, coupled with a passion for all things photography, is contagious. He finds great satisfaction sharing his unique insight and knowledge with others, be they aspiring or already established photographers. Often taking a different approach to image making, he seeks to unlock the creative potential in each of his students, to help them see beyond the obvious or traditional and craft a style that is both technically proficient yet unique.

When not hopping a plane, train or automobile in search of his next subject, Scott currently makes his residence in Monterey, California.

Stephen W. Oachs is an award-winning photographer, successful entrepreneur and technology veteran, who began his journey in photography the moment he picked up his first camera.

Completely self-taught, Stephen's unique and distinctive style has earned him recognition as one of today's finest nature photographers. He was recognized in 2007 as wildlife photographer of the year by the National Wildlife Federation and was awarded best nature photographer in 2008 by National Geographic.

Stephen has received many other awards and achievements. His work has graced the pages of such notable publications such as National Geographic, Popular Photography, Outdoor Photographer, National Wildlife Magazine and many others.

In 2009 Stephen founded The Aperture Academy, a unique combination of fine art photography gallery in conjunction with classroom and workshop instruction. Students of the Aperture Academy receive hands-on instruction designed for their individual skill levels, which includes everything from learning to shoot in the field to digital post-processing techniques.

Whether trekking through the wilds of Alaska, enduring the raw challenges of nature or experiencing the thrill of life on the edge, Stephen captures rare and breathtaking moments of light and time. His exceptional eye is filtered only by his passion for life, deep affinity with nature and love of adventure.

The workshop fee is $9995. A $2000 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your space. On February 1st, 2013, 50% of the remaining balance will be due. The remaining balance is due in full on or before April 1st, 2013. Due to the exclusivity of this trip, and the limited number of seats available, refunds are as follows:

• 100% refundable: 150 days (five months) or greater (not including deposit)
• 50% refundable: 149-121 days (not including deposit)
• No refund within 120 days or less of the start date
• Seats are transferrable

Please Note: Returning students discounts are not applicable to Sojourn Series workshops.

The workshop/tour price includes:

• Lodging
• All in-country transportation
• All in-country airport transfers
• Park fees
• Meals
• Water on game drives

The workshop/tour price DOES NOT include:

• Transportation to/from Africa
• Entrance Visa
• Soda (water with meals)
• Alcoholic beverages
• Driver/local staff gratuities
• Travel insurance
• Additional/optional excursions such as hot air balloon rides, cultural village visits, etc.