Join us on the ULTIMATE Safari!

2010 2nd Quarter Safari
Optional Leading Extension: 28 April - 3 May 2010 comprising 3 nights in Swaziland & 3 nights in Blyde River Canyon (total 6 nights)
Main Tour: 3 - 10 May 2010 comprising 1 night in Johannesburg & 6 nights in Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve (total 7 nights) - CANCELLED
Optional Trailing Extension: 10 May - 15 May 2010 comprising 3 nights on Garden Route & 3 nights in Cape Town (total 6 nights)

2010 4th Quarter Safari
Optional Leading Extension: 19 - 24 October 2010 comprising 3 nights in Swaziland & 3 nights in Blyde River Canyon (total 6 nights)
Main Tour: 24 - 31 October 2010 comprising 1 night in Johannesburg & 6 nights in Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve (total 7 nights)
Optional Trailing Extension: 31 October - 5 November 2010 comprising 3 nights on Garden Route & 3 nights in Cape Town (total 6 nights)

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Introduction
In August 2009, seven intrepid Nikongear.com members (The Safarians) found themselves on the very first Nikongear.com safari organised by Nature Uncut Tours. It was a demanding 14 day expedition that took us from Durban, to Hluhluwe/Imfolozi, St. Lucia, Mkuze, Swaziland, Kruger Park and the Blyde River Canyon. We covered over 3,500kms by road and air and were rewarded with countless photo opportunities including everything from magnificent landscapes to birdlife, the big 5 and traditional African culture.

It was a lot to take in over a fairly short space of time and in analysing the feedback received from the Safarians after that trip, as well as advice given by other members who have been on safaris before, we have decided to do things a little differently in future. Every wildlife safari we organise will now consist of a central element and optional extensions on either side of it. This helps us to minimise costs and also allows the participants to budget their holiday time and expenses more effectively. Using this method you can opt to make your safari 7, 13 or 19 nights long!

Our new trips have been designed to put you in the best possible positions to do wildlife, landscape and cultural photography. Each segment of our safari presents exceptional opportunities in all those areas. Whether you are an amateur who knows very little about photography, or you are a seasoned pro looking to build some serious stock, you will leave us with gigabyte upon gigabyte of imagery that will stay with you forever.

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Main Tour Details

Enter Sabi Sabi
The main component of our 2010 safaris will happen at the amazing Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve.

Mention the name Sabi Sabi to anybody who has had the privilege of staying there and the reaction is most likely going to be one of awe. This private game reserve is situated adjacent to the Kruger National Park, within one of the oldest and largest proclaimed private reserves in Africa, namely the Sabi Sands Wildtuin. It lies 500 km east of Johannesburg, 800 km north east of Durban and 200 km west of Maputo in Mozambique, on the same latitude as Sao Paulo and Brisbane and the same longitude as Cairo, Istanbul and St. Petersburg. There are no fences between the Kruger Park and Sabi Sands, nor are there any fences around the lodges themselves, so the game is literally allowed to roam freely from place to place.

Sabi Sabi is widely acknowledged as being the premier destination for wildlife safaris in South Africa and has been ranked in the top 10 of Travel & Leisure’s World’s Best 100 Hotels for the past three years. It has also received numerous accolades from various publications and marketing associations dealing with world travel.

Little Bush Camp Accommodation
There are four lodges in Sabi Sabi and we have secured exclusive use of Little Bush Camp, which is the smallest and most secluded of the four. It is made up of 6 thatched luxury suites, each of which has its own private viewing deck overlooking the Msuthlu riverbed.

There is a filtered swimming pool just on the other side of the river, easily accessible via a footbridge, an outdoor boma where we will be dining each evening, plus there is a centrally positioned lounge and bar where we will be able to relax inbetween game drives, as well as conduct informal photography chats and daily image reviews on a projector.

All suites at Little Bush Camp are equipped with:

-    Air-conditioning
-    Fans
-    Hairdryers
-    In-suite safes
-    Telephone
-    Mini bar
-    Inside and outside shower

There is also internet access in the lounge. Power sources are (220v) and international adapters are available. Dietary requirements can be accommodated, subject to prior notification. Tap water is perfectly safe to drink and bottled water is also provided in each suite. Click here to read more about the camp and its facilities and see additional photos on the Sabi Sabi website.

Game Drives
Sabi Sabi is home to the Big 5, as well as Cheetah, African Wild Dog and hundreds of species of animals, birds, insects, reptiles and plants (including rare and endangered species), so you can expect very close encounters with all the wildlife on offer at Little Bush Camp. If you’re already salivating at the prospect of photographing leopards and lions up close and personal in their natural environment, we encourage you to take a look at the daily recorded sightings by the Sabi Sabi rangers. These regularly updated web pages will give you an idea of the frequency and intimacy of game encounters you are likely to experience on this trip.

All game drives are conducted in open Land Rovers under the supervision of  highly skilled and trained field guides, as well as Shangaan trackers. The Land Rovers have three rows of elevated benches, which can seat up to three people per row. However, as this is an exclusive trip you will either have an entire bench to yourself, or you can share a bench with a spouse or travelling partner (see pricing for more info on how this will work).  There are two game drives daily – each lasting approximately three hours – centred on prime viewing times (early morning and late afternoon / evening). Inexperienced photographers will be able to travel in the same vehicle as the tour leader for this segment, namely Dallas, who will gladly offer advice and expertise in helping you to get the perfect shot.

For an alternative exciting adventure guests can opt for a mid-morning walking safari which reveals a totally different perspective of the bush. The walk, accompanied by an armed ranger, is approximately two hours long.

Gallery of Images taken at Sabi Sabi

Typical Daily Programme
(Timings subject to seasonal changes)

05h00:    Early wake up and morning tea/coffee
05h30:    Morning safari
08h30:    Breakfast
Walking Safari (after breakfast)
13h00:    Lunch
16h30:    Afternoon tea
17h00:    Afternoon/evening safari
20h00:    Return from safari
20h30:    Dinner

Pricing
2nd Quarter Safari:
Come on your own for R39,995
Bring a partner for an extra R14,995 (effectively R27,495 pps)

4th Quarter Safari:
Come on your own for R42,995
Bring a partner for an extra R16,495 (effectively R29,745 pps)

The prices are in South African Rands and only apply to this segment of the safari. The extensions are priced individually. At the time of writing (3 December ‘09) the Rand is trading at US$1=R7.29 ; UK£1=R12.18 ; EUR€1=R11.02.

click here for currency converter

Because we have booked the entire 6 suite camp exclusively we can cater for either 6 singles, or 12 people sharing (or a mixture of those). IMPORTANT! We must occupy all 6 suites in order to get this rate, so there will be a minimum of 6 people required to buy the primary ticket.

If you share with somebody you will save a ton of money. If you opt to share a room you will also have to share your bench seat in the Land Rover with your travelling companion on game drives. This is a minor issue because as there will only be a maximum of 6 people to each Land Rover, swapping places and taking turns on either side will be very easy to do. In fact if you bring your spouse along they may very well decide to skip a game drive or two in favour of visiting the Amani Spa at the Earth Lodge (part of Sabi Sabi).

What’s Included?
Accommodation
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Selected beverages & SA house wines
2 game drives per day
Optional walking safaris (after breakfast)
Return airfare from Johannesburg to Kruger Park International Airport (if you are only doing this segment of the tour and no extensions)
Transfers between airports and lodges

What’s Excluded?
International flight to and from Johannesburg
Telephone calls
Internet connectivity
Laundry
Imported and premium brand alcoholic beverages
Spa treatments
Gratuities

Basic Itinerary (for members not opting for any extensions)
Day 1 - arrive in Johannesburg and meet up with fellow Nikongear.com travellers at the Golfers Lodge - enjoy a traditional South African Braai on the first evening (if you are on the leading extension you will meet up with us in Sabi Sabi)
Day 2 - fly from Johannesburg to Nelspruit, near the Kruger Park and transfer to Sabi Sabi Little Bush Lodge (± 2 hour scenic road trip) - book into lodge - lunch - relax - evening game drive - dinner
Days 3 to 7 - morning game drives - breakfast - walking safari - lunch - relax or socialise in bar / pool - evening game drives - dinner - optional photo reviews & critique sessions
Day 8 - morning game drive - breakfast - checkout of Little Bush Camp - transfer to Nelspruit airport - flight to Johannesburg - join the optional Nature Uncut Tours trailing extension

Bookings
If you want to come on either of these trips or the extensions, you will need to start by sending an email to dallas@nikongear.com, indicating which ones you would like to be on and how many of you will be coming. On receipt of your expression of interest, Pepe Jones from Nature Uncut Tours will be in touch with you directly, supplying the relevant forms for you to complete and send back, as well as information on how to pay your deposit.

Closing Dates & Deposits
May trip deposits (30%) must be received by no later than 20 February 2010.
October trip deposits (30%) must be received by no later than 15 March 2010 (This trip is now fully booked)

Unfortunately Sabi Sabi cannot hold our bookings open later than those dates.

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The Optional Extensions

To read more about the optional extensions, both leading and trailing, please click here to download a comprehensive Word document with detailed itineraries and pricing.

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Any Questions?

If you have any questions about the trip or would like to discuss this with other members, we have a thread here just for that purpose!

This really is the opportunity of a lifetime and we’re so looking forward to meeting you and adding your name to our international family of Safarians.

All images used courtesy of Sabi Sabi. Wildlife Images Copyright by Rod Wyndham