Destination Mozambique 2012

Destination Mozambique 2012 (Click Here for a PDF)
Pemba, Mozambique, Africa
November 1 – 14, 2012 

Tuition: $8,999 (All-Inclusive, except for airfare)

Deposit: $2,500

Max Participants: 6

Overview:

In early November 2010, Bryan Allen will lead a small and private group to Mozambique, Africa. The goal of this adventure is to improve your photography skills while shooting the breathtaking people, diverse wildlife, and remote landscapes of Mozambique. The trip will also provide a deeply immersive cultural experience. This journey offers superb photographic opportunities combined with Bryan’s dedicated, hands-on photography instruction and creative process mentoring.

The trip is open to photographers of ALL levels. Bryan is an accomplished instructor who regularly works with photographers at all levels in his workshops and lectures. Bryan maintains a safe and supportive learning environment conducive to creative growth for all.

Non-photographer spouses and travel companions are welcome and will be offered optional activities to meet their needs as well.

This trip is packed with field based photography opportunities. While Bryan will host image review and critique sessions and hold classroom sessions, this workshop is largely about learning in the field through hands-on experience and real time instruction.

Detailed Description:

This destination workshop and safari adventure offers an amazing and entirely unique opportunity to experience and photograph the people, landscape, wildlife, and culture of Mozambique, Africa.

Mozambique is a large, diverse country with a dramatic history situated on the Southeastern coastline of Africa. It is flanked by the crystal clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean to the East (directly parallel to the Island of Madagascar) and by neighboring countries of Tanzania, Malawi, and Zambia to it’s North, Zimbabwe to the West, and South Africa to South. We will spend our time in the coastal town of Pemba and surrounding fishing village, as well as, in the vast Niassa Wildlife Reserve in the northern tip of the county. The Niassa Wildlife Reserve is “one of Africa’s last truly wild places” and covers 40,000 square kilometers (twice the size of South Africa’s Kruger Park). The terrain is dominated by the crocodile and hippo filled Rovuma and Lugenda rivers and by spectacular granite inselbergs that rise up to a kilometer above the surrounding bush. Protected since 1990, the lion, spotted hyaena, leopard, buffalo, and elephant populations are flourishing. Johnston’s impala, Niassa wildebeest, Boehm’s zebra, and a significant wild dog population also present highly sought after sightings and photographic opportunities.

Mozambique remained a Portuguese colony until 1975. After gaining independence and experiencing a mass exodus of Portuguese nationals, a violent 15-year civil war erupted. More than 1 million Mozambicans are estimated to have perished in the war. Another estimated 3 to 4 million took refuge in neighboring countries or were internally displaced. The civil war ended in 1992, and Mozambique has been on the path to recovery ever since largely due to a national strategy of maintaining good foreign relations, wildlife and wilderness conservation, and re-establishment of eco-friendly tourism and infrastructure.

Mozambique is returning to the status it held in the 1960s and ’70s as an international tourist destination. Its re-emergence is fueled by 1500 miles of pristine Indian Ocean shoreline, shallow reefs that are ideal for diving and snorkeling, vast quantities of wilderness habitat, and towns of rare allure and unique multicultural influence.

This workshop is tailored to the attendees’ specific needs and desires and is also designed to be fluid and responsive as opportunities present themselves along our journey together.

In general we will cover technique to improve your people, landscape, and wildlife photography and mature your creative process as a visual artist through field exercises and live shooting in dramatic and diverse locations and conditions.

As with all of Bryan’s workshops, his high energy, supportive teaching style will propel you to achieve your greatest creative potential. Image review and critique will play a large role in the learning process. Bryan strives to find the balance between instruction, exploration and adventure, and simply allowing you to experience the emotional journey that inevitably results from visiting Africa.

We will also perform a service project by contributing our photography skills and services for a day to individuals dedicated to improving the local schools in and around Pemba.

Tentative Schedule

Day 1‐2

Travel days. Overnight at bed and breakfast in Jo’burg.

Day 3

Direct flight from Jo’burg in the am. Arrive in Pemba, Mozambique. Check into Pemba Beach Resort Hotel, settle in, relax, and acclimate. Visit Russell’s tavern, eat, and take a swim. Have a massage (optional). 

Day 4

Breakfast at Pemba Beach Hotel. Visit fishermen arriving from morning fishing and open-air beach market. Visit local outdoor mercantile markets. Lunch in downtown Pemba. Visit old British WWI officers’ graveyard. Return to Pemba  Beach Resort and freshen up. Ocean front dinner at “The Italians”. If wind is up we will photograph the windsurfing.

Day 5

Breakfast at Pemba Beach Hotel. Visit Old Town to photograph the city’s oldest Portuguese Architecture then down to the fishing village to check out the morningcatch. Lunch at Portuguese restaurant or maybe Sushi. After lunch visit Murrabe for cultural photo ops. Meet Village Chief and Village witch or visit Rui on the bay sidewith shallow tidal pools. Return to Pemba Beach Hotel for Dinner or visit friends Dorothy and Gordon for a fresh seafood barbeque and eveningwalk on the beach.

Day 6

Fly to the bush early am. Arrive at Lugenda Wilderness Camp, have lunch, get settledin, and go for an afternoon game drive to get acquainted with the area. Dinner anddrinks at Lugenda.

Day 7

Breakfast in camp and pack for bush excursion. Make way for far mountains. Hikingand game viewing on foot. Look for birds and visit watering holes. Take position inblind in evening to view wildlife visiting watering hole. Dinner and drinks in camp.

Day 8

Breakfast in camp and pack for excursion to Metarica camp where we willovernight. Visit villages along 4 hour drive. Light lunch along the way. Arrive atcamp and photo hippos.

Day 9

Breakfast in camp. Drive to Mecula. Photograph village and then hike toold Portuguese house. Lunch at house, hike down, and drive up to camp site at top ofMecula Mountain. Overnight outside at top of mountain.

Day 10

Breakfast atop mountain. Hike and scenic/wildlife photo ops until lunch. Drive back to Lugenda Camp. Dinner and drinks in camp. Settle back in.

Day 11

Breakfast in camp. Rest and relax in camp and reenergize from Mecula excursion.Evening game drives and stay in blind until dark. Late dinner in camp. 

Day 12

Early breakfast in camp. Visit professional wildlife field researchers at remote location in bush. Lunch along the way. Arrive after lunch and spend night on driveriver bed beach and cook out. 

Day 13

Breakfast in camp. Drive back to Lugenda camp. Rest and relax from field trip. Localexcursions in evening. Dinner and drinks in camp.

Day 14

Breakfast at Pemba Beach Hotel. Pack and head to Airport. Flights from Pemba toJo’burg and on to final destination. Arrive home.

Air Travel, Accommodations, and Logistics
Contact: 
Doug Gray (doug@graceytravel.com)
Gracy Travel International, Inc.
6865 Camp Bullis Rd, Suite B
San Antonio, TX 78256
210.698.2611 (phone)
800.299.8558 (toll free)
210.698.2158 (fax)

FAQ:

What’s Included
o All game and park fees
o All accommodations (double occupancy)
o All meals including tips
o Services of guides, PHs, translators, and drivers
o Land transportation and fuel for all vehicles
o Airport transfers to and from XXX House
o Flights in and out of bush

What’s Not Included
o Any additional personal tips for staff
o Tips for people you photograph
o Fees for passport, visas, immunizations, and insurance
o Alcoholic beverages
o Personal expenses
o Cost of hospitalization and evacuation if necessary

• Shots & Meds – Check with your local health department and doctor as to the recommended immunizations for Mozambique. Typically two rounds of immunizations are recommended so be sure to allow adequate time. You will also want to consult with your doctor for recommended malaria prevention medications. There are multiple alternatives, each with different pros and cons.

• Travel & Medivac Insurance – As with any international destination travel, you may want to consider travel insurance to offset costs in the event of uncontrollable circumstances that impact your ability to travel. Medical care in Mozambique and in the bush where we will spend most of our time is very poor or non-existent. Any serious illness or injury may require medical evacuation in order to receive timely and adequate care. We strongly sugges you consider procuring Medivac coverage for the trip.

• Liability – Traveling in a 3rd world country and in the wild bush of Africa obviously presents a certain element of risk. You will asked to sign a full liability release and understand that travel is at your own risk.

• Typical Weather – October/November is Spring in Mozambique and is considered the last part of the “dry season”. While this time of year often presents perfect tropical weather (clear skies, plenty of sun, and little rain), this is a transitional time between seasons and of course weather is unpredictable in general. So prepare for humid conditions and temperatures ranging from 65-90 degrees Fahrenheit on average and both dry and rainy conditions.

• Clothing & Shoes – You will want to pack clothing suitable for both the weather conditions and the environment. We recommend Exoficio or similar clothing which is lightly colored, comfortable, and durable. Exoficio also makes clothing which is impregnated with insect repellant which is a very effective benefit. You will also want to pack light hiking shoes, sandals, and hats. We recommend consulting with a local outdoor outfitter in your area regarding clothing and supplies suitable for such a trek and of course we’re happy to answer any questions you may have as well.

• Photography Gear – You may pack as much or as little gear as you wish for the trip. Some prefer a minimalist approach while others want to be prepared for anything and everything. In general, wide angle lenses will work well for the landscapes, while mid focal length primes or zooms will be desirable for the people and cultural photography. The wildlife presents perhaps the largest challenge in terms of gear. More wildlife is active in the evening as lighting conditions deteriorate. The wildlife is also difficult to gain close proximity to. This combination calls for fast lenses with long focal lengths. We recommend renting lenses for this purpose as the cost to purchase them can be prohibitive, particularly if you would not be using the regularly otherwise. We recommend bringing two camera bodies in case one has trouble and also bringing a number of batteries and CF cards as we may spend several days without access to power for recharging or offloading cards. Again, we are happy to answer any specific questions regarding photography gear that you may have.

• Power Considerations – In general not special power precautions need be taken. We will have routine access to switched ac power with American style outlets and prongs.