Kenya is not only home to some of the most amazing National Parks in the world, but also to some of the most breathtaking mountainous and lake-rich landscapes. It is the wonderful mixture of beautiful scenery and vibrant wildlife that attracts over a hundred thousand tourists who flock to Kenya annually.

Many people choose to visit the more expensive parks as they believe they will not be able to spot much wildlife at the cheaper parks. This may be true in terms of spotting large predators in numbers, but the cheaper parks are also inhabited by some wildlife that may not be spotted in the more expensive parks. To compare, here is a list of National Parks with their entrance fees (high to low) and some of the wildlife that can be seen in them.

*FYI: The ‘Big Five’ consists of black rhino, Cape buffalo, elephant, leopard and Masai lion.

Amboseli National Park

Adults: $60

Children (Age 3-17): $30

Students: $20

Wildlife: ‘Big Five’, crocodile, cheetah, Masai ostrich, plains zebra, Masai and reticulated giraffe.

Lake Nakuru National Park

Adults: $60

Children (Age 3-17): $30

Students: $20

Wildlife: black and white rhino, Cape buffalo, leopard, Masai lion, cheetah, black and white Colobus monkey, hippo, jackal.

Aberdare National Park

Adults: $50

Children (Age 3-17): $25

Students: $15

Wildlife: ‘Big Five’, black leopard, bongo, giant forest hog, olive baboon, warthog, serval cat.

Tsavo East National Park

Adults: $50

Children (Age 3-17): $25

Students: $15

Wildlife: ‘Big Five’, African hunting dog, cheetah, crocodile, Grevy’s zebra, hippo, Somali ostrich.

Tsavo West National Park

Adults: $50

Children (Age 3-17): $25

Students: $15

Wildlife: ‘Big Five’, gerenuk, hippo, cheetah, Masai giraffe, plains zebra, wildebeest.

Meru National Park

Adults: $50

Children (Age 3-17): $25

Students: $15

Wildlife: ‘Big Five’, beisa oryx, eland, Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, lesser kudu, gerenuk.

Chyulu National Park

Adults: $50

Children (Age 3-17): $25

Students: $15

Wildlife: leopard, elephant, Cape buffalo, cheetah, gerenuk, Masai giraffe.

Hell’s Gate National Park

Adults: $25

Children (Age 3-17): $10

Students: $10

Wildlife: Cape buffalo, impala, eland, reedbuck, steenbok, plains zebra.

Shimba Hills National Park

Adults: $20

Children (Age 3-17): $10

Students: $10

Wildlife: Cape buffalo, elephant, leopard, Masai giraffe, sable, duiker, Syke’s monkey, hyena, bushbuck.

Adding Lake Naivasha to your itinerary can make a huge difference to its cost. Due to it not being a listed National Park, it is completely free to enter. As well as the beautiful scenery on display and the magnificent lake that offers boating tours, there is also a great range of wildlife that can be spotted, including; Cape buffalo, hippo, Masai and Rothschild’s giraffe, hyena, jackal and impala. Lake Naivasha is a bird watchers haven with various species of heron, pelican, flamingo and stork being present amongst the soaring birds of prey such as fish eagle, Verreauxs eagle and Rueppell’s vulture.

Although it may sound strange, not all safaris need to be focused on the immediate gratification of spotting wildlife. There are also cultural experiences to be had, beautiful landscapes to see and hiking trips with local guides to participate in. The beauty of going on a private safari is that you can choose what you want to do.

So now you should have a better prospective of which animal inhabitants demand the higher park entrance fees. This should give you some ideas to add your own customised safari itinerary. If you are interested in more information about safaris in Kenya then contact Ziara Safaris. Ziara are specialists in private and custom safaris around East Africa’s greatest National Parks and Game Reserves, and can work flexibly with you to put together a suitable safari itinerary depending on your preferences.

Below is a spotlight on a variety of southern African parks and reserves to make your decision process go a bit more smoothly:

Okavango Delta, Botswana

Perfect for . . .

• Honeymooners who are looking for the ultimate romantic setting with a seamless combination of adventure and relaxation.
• Families who want to experience some of Africa’s most highly acclaimed safari tours.
• Bird lovers who want to exercise their photography skills in the bush.
• The adventurous and the non-adventurous. With accommodations for all preferences, travelers can choose from adventurous camps to more refined, luxury lodges and hotels.

When to go: Although the Okavango Delta offers year-round beauty, the best time for game viewing is during the months when vegetation has dried out, between May and October. And for bird lovers, the months between November and April are an exciting time as migrant bird populations return to the area.

What to see and do:

• Enjoy adventurous game drives where you’ll witness exotic birds, elephants, zebras, buffalo, red lechwe, wattled crane, lion, buffalo, hippos, and giraffes.
• Visit Moremi National Park and witness breathtaking scenery comprised of cracked, red-mud plains and glistening lagoons hidden between the solid trunks of towering baobabs.
• Experience glorious boat rides through the blue lagoons and witness some of Africa’s most exotic bird life.
• Enjoy a delightful picnic on one of the Okavango Delta’s exclusive islands.
• Embark on a journey above the treetops in a helicopter safari.

South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

Perfect for . . .

• Honeymooners who are interested in spending most of their days exploring one of the world’s most magnificent wildlife sanctuaries.
• Adventurists looking to explore and discover the unknown on walking safaris.
• Avid birdwatchers.

When to go: Although South Luangwa National Park is open year-round, the best time to visit is during the months between April and November.

What to see and do:

• As one of Africa’s leading safari destinations, South Luangwa National Park is ideal for walking safaris and game drives where visitors often witness the elusive leopard.
• Strewn with interlacing networks of streams and tributaries, South Luangwa National Park is comprised of thriving eco-systems that are home to over 100 different species of mammals and more than 500 species of birds.
• Enjoy a mountain biking safari tour through game trails and paths.

Mana Pools, Zimbabwe

Perfect for . . .

• Honeymooners interested in African safari tours.
• Adventurous families.
• Photographers looking to capture some of the most beautiful areas of Africa on camera.

When to go: The best time to visit this park is during the months of March to early October. These months offer fantastic weather and game viewing at its best.

What to see and do:

• Located on the southern bank of the Zambezi River, Mana Pools encompasses 541,000 acres of unspoiled wilderness—commonly called Zimbabwe’s Wildlife Riviera because of its abundant wildlife.
• Experience walking safaris among the roaming wildlife and discover animal tracks, callings, and behaviors.
• Take a wild journey on an adventurous canoeing safari as you trail down the Zambezi from Kariba in the west and reach Kanyemba in the east.
• Observe grazing buffalo, still crocodiles, wading elephants, hippo families and over 380 species of bird, such as as goliath herons and malachite kingfishers.

Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in our comments section.

The Lion King immortalized the warthog as one of the favorite and most recognizable animals in Africa and no safari is complete without a sighting of these charismatic little animals.

On a recent trip to the Pilanesberg I witnessed and photographed warthog behavior that goes against everything that we ‘expect’ from them.  As Grant, a good friend and photographer, always says ‘expect the unexpected’ when you are out in the bush.

Warthogs are, by definition, omnivorous but most of the time we do not see them like this.

Yeah, that’s a group of four warthogs feeding off a giraffe carcass.

I have heard arguments that occasionally warthog will feed off carcasses but if you look closely you will notice that they are in fact feeding off the stomach contents which is made of old grass and plant material.

After spending a lot of time with them, and having a very good look, a very good look, there was no doubt that they do not only feed off the stomach contents as they spent a long time pulling little piece of meat off the ribcage.

Don’t judge these little warties too harshly.  Animals in the wild do not do things according to a specific set of rules and will eat various things based on the nutritional requirements at the time.  This can range from bones and meat to dung and grass.  We have seen lions eating grass as well and then everybody thinks it’s cute.

Just another reason going out on a photo safari is such a great experience – you never know what you are going to get!

Tomorrow it’s guest post day but instead of a guest blogger I will be stepping away from wildlife photography as I do a feedback session on last Saturday’s Worldwide Photowalk which includes images from a number of the participants.

Great morning.  Great people.  Awesome images!

See you tomorrow!

Gerry

Nikon D300, Nikon 200-400 @280mm, 1/640, f/5.6, ISO 200

The above image of two white rhino shows how depth of field can be used to tell a story and imply depth, one of the most difficult things to achieve, in a wildlife photograph.  After focusing on the rhino on the right I chose an aperture of f/5.6 which would blur the background enough to keep the focus on the front rhino yet still render the rhino at the back as a distinguishable form.  (Click on the thumbnail at the top of the post for a larger view!)

The depth of field in an image gets determined by four things:

1. Your focal length.
2. Your aperture.
3. The distance from you to the subject.
4. The distance form the subject to the background.

The effects of depth of field does not always have to be in your face and obvious like in the above image.  Even a very small depth of field can make a huge difference in your images like in the following example.

The focus is on the rhino’s face is sharp and the shallow depth of field starts blurring the rhino’s body.  This not only creates a slight feeling of depth but also helps to focus your viewer’s gaze even more on the intended part of your photograph.

Depth of Field. Play with it.  Learn it.  Use it.

Will pick up on this in a lot more details at a later point but you can also check out my Wildlife Photography 101 workshop where we will be looking at this and a lot of other tips and tricks to improve your wildlife photography.

Bye 4 now!

Gerry

The devil is in the detail and when you are photographing live subjects that detail can be as small as the little bit of catchlight that brings life to your subject’s eyes.

When you take a photograph, specifically with reference to wildlife,  the idea is to convey reality.  The real, wild world you saw.  A living animal.  Easy yeah?  Well, most of the time!

When you include an animal, bird or a person in a photograph your viewers gaze will immediately focus on them.  Living subjects have a lot more visual mass than inanimate objects.  On a smaller scale, and depending on the size of the subject in your frame, your viewer’s gaze will then find your subject’s face.  The next step down, size allowing, is the eyes.

It has been said that the eyes are the windows to the soul.  Young lovers, and hopefully older ones as well, stare longingly into each other’s eyes.  A naughty young boy has a glint in his eye when he is planning how next to make mom’s day more ‘interesting’.

Get the idea?  The eyes.  It’s all about the eyes!

Now should you choose to show your subject’s eyes in your photograph, as it is most definitely not a prerequisite for great images, there is one thing that will assure your photo comes to life.

Catchlight.  That little ‘glint’ in the eye which in a two dimensional photograph conveys life and, when used correctly, even a little bit of tension.

An image without catchlight = lifeless.

In both the above image of two Bulbuls and the Forked Tailed Drongo at the top of this post, you can very clearly notice the little bit of catchlight.  When you first saw the images was it the first thing that you noticed?  Probably not, but now that I have pointed it out you can (hopefully) see the difference it makes.

Check out the difference between the following two images of the same bird.

A nice, clean image of a Pied Kingfsher but the eye has no catchlight which leaves you feeling that something is just not right.

Boring.

Lifeless.

Dead.

That little bit of catchlight in the eye makes the world of difference in bringing the Kingfisher to life.

The catchlight in all of the above images was a result of the sun.  You can, of course, use a bit of fill-flash to bring some life to your subject’s eyes but most of the time you will be able to use natural light.  The key is just to wait for that precise moment to click the shutter.

When you next have your wildlife subject lined up in the viewfinder, take note of that little bit of catchlight.  A little goes a long way!

Catchlight does not only come into play in wildlife images but can make the world of difference when you are shooting portraits as well.  Check out the following two images.

I am sure you will agree that the top image seems quite lifeless compared to the bottom one.  All the result of a little bit of catchlight in my subject’s eyes.

With people it is much easier to use a little bit of flash to get the eyes to come alive but don’t write off the slightest change of position.  Ask them to tilt their head a little or look in a certain direction.  Small change, large improvement!

As I said earlier, a little goes a long way!

See ya tomorrow!

Gerry

Image taken from Manyara Ranch Conservancy website (http://www.manyararanch.com/)

Imagine experiencing a trip to Africa that is built around exclusivity, pure wilderness, and complete luxury. Manyara Ranch Conservancy has the exact formula for the ultimate African safari vacation you’ve been looking for. With 35,000 acres of pristine wilderness and cultural enlightenment, it’s no wonder Manyara Ranch Conservancy has been referred to as the most exciting tourism project to come out of Tanzania.

Below is a 4-day sample itinerary of just a few things you can experience at Manyara Ranch Conservancy:

Day 1

After arriving at the Manyara Ranch Conservancy, enjoy an energizing lunch and experience an exceptional game drive where you’ll witness the Big Five as well as other mesmerizing animals such as the African wild dog, the zebra, and exotic bird species. After a day of excitement, relax with refreshing sundowners and a scrumptious bush dinner before a good night’s rest at the Manyara Ranch Tented Camp.

Image taken from Manyara Ranch Conservancy website (http://www.manyararanch.com/)

Day 2

Awake to the refreshing aromas of a bush breakfast and prepare yourself for an early morning game walk where you’ll venture though the bush to discover new and exciting creatures.

When you return from your adventurous walk, visit the local primary school and enjoy a Maasai cultural visit where you’ll have the unique opportunity to learn about the Maasai culture and lifestyle, directly from the locals. Because the neighboring Maasai communities own the Manyara Ranch, everyone who visits the Conservancy has a direct contribution to helping the Maasai sustain their ancient cultural heritage.

The day ends with a night game drive through the lively bush, followed by a traditional bush dinner.

Image taken from Manyara Ranch Conservancy website (http://www.manyararanch.com/)

Day 3

Delight in breakfast at the camp before you embark on a horseback safari through the sprawling plains of Tanzania and the local villages. With a plethora of wilderness beauty and wild game, the Manyara Conservancy is one of the best places in Tanzania to experience a horseback safari. These breathtaking safaris are led by professional equestrian guides and are offered in one-day tours and multiday safaris.

After your adventurous horseback safari, enjoy a private dinner beneath Tanzania’s velvety and star-sprinkled sky.

Image taken from Manyara Ranch Conservancy website (http://www.manyararanch.com/)

Day 4

After breakfast, embark on a drive to Lake Manyara National Park for a game drive where you’ll witness some of the most fascinating wildlife Tanzania has to offer.

You’ll then be transported to the luxurious Ngorongoro Crater Lodge where you will take pleasure in traditional Tanzanian cuisine before you retire to your lavish suite in the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge.

Day 5

Embark on one of the most unique tours of your trip, a thrilling full-day crater tour. On this tour, you’ll be able to walk through the Ngorongoro Crater and discover thousands of residential wild game within this spectacular World Heritage Site. From sightings of lions, elephants, wildebeests, gazelles, rhinos, and zebras, this once-volcanic site is the perfect way to end your adventurous stay with the Conservancy.

After your tour, enjoy relaxing sundowners before your dinner at the lodge, where you will stay until it’s time for your next adventure!

Discover more of what Manyara Ranch Conservancy has to offer by visiting their website.

Enjoy!

Michael

Any Other “Zambia-Related” Travel Resources to Share?

Please comment below in the comments section. Thank you!

My approach is dual fold. On the one hand I frequently travel to take Nature and Wildlife Photos to remind us as people of the very thing we aim to protect and conserve. During these trips I also expand my ever-growing contacts list (people ready to make a difference) and never miss an opportunity to educate people about the beauty of Mother Nature and the magnitude of threats challenging her due to Mankind. On the other hand I lend these very skills and experiences pro-bono to further the reach and effectiveness of as many Causes as I can work with. During the years some have become my most involved Causes and to date I am especially proud and committed as photographer for The Jane Goodall Institute South Africa (Animal Planet ‘Escape to Chimp Eden’). I am also part of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) South Africa (Animal Planet ‘Whale Wars’) and very recently People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta). I also work ongoing with instrumental individuals from the foremost South Africa Environmental Journalist Television  Series 50|50 on numerous stories that must simply be told.

‘Old Man Joao’ Jane Goodall Institute South Africa (Chimp Eden) With his distinctive looks, Joao is the oldest resident at Chimpanzee Eden and could even be the oldest in South Africa.  Joao arrived at the Maputo Zoo in Mozambique when he was 3 years old, left behind by a touring Circus company.  At that stage he had a companion but soon after the war broke out in Mozambique, the war lasted for more than 30 years and Joao saw it from start to finish.  His companion past away falling ill to an unknown virus leaving Joao in isolation from another chimpanzee until April 2006 when JGI South Africa convinced the zoo to release him to the care of JGI Chimpanzee Eden.

For more information and to make a donation go to http://www.janegoodall.co.za (Information courtesy of Jessica Ney)

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) Anti Fur Protest, 8 July 2010 Hyde Park, South Africa
For more information go to http://blog.petaasiapacific.com/skins/world-cup-coverage-united-we-stand-against-fur-cruelty
To join or make a donation go to http://blog.petaasiapacific.com

‘Seals Revenge’

The Namibia Cape Fur Seal Cull is happening and as we speak. An estimated 91,000 Seals are savagely clubbed to death annually in Namibia starting July, despite very few legit reasons left for this inhumane massacre. Be informed and join the action to stop this savage event. There is a Namibian Seal Cull Protest on Saturday, 17 July 2010 at Hyde Park, Gauteng, South Africa starting 11am.

As a Photographer and Activist I have committed my life to making a real change. “If an images can speak 1,000 words, then imagine how many words I can speak for those who cannot speak and stand for themselves. Silence is suicide, so with my Photography and travels I aim to educate and inspire and instill change.” DD. Oosthuizen | Devographic (Devoted to exposing and fighting De-Evolution).

How will we be remembered by future generations? Will we be the Generation that managed to kill the last animals and learn that you cannot eat money, or will we be remembered as the Generation that managed to find the courage to make a change and turn this all around. Will we walk in the footsteps of the Gods, or drudge in the demise of our own inactivity and greed?

Edmund Burke once wrote , … “All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing”. This could not be more true today. In South Africa we pride ourselves as being united as a Nation of “Black and White under The African Sun”, yet we seem more distant to the plight of our Animals than ever before. In fact, it is in our African Culture and Tradition to be cruel to Animals.

“Zebra Sunset” – Pilanesberg Game Reserve

“Flyby Dawn” – Kruger National Park

So much is written and know about the Great Men of our Time. For instance, despite overwhelming adversity Nelson Mandela triumphed above oppression and walked the Long Walk to Freedom. Today South Africa is a much better country due to the courage of such men. We even hosted the top Sporting Event in the World, the World Cup Soccer 2010. However, whom will be the ultimate Champion and Saviour of our Environment and Wildlife?

There are so many unsung heroes fighting for our Animals and Environment Worldwide, yet they may walk past you in a crowd and you will not even recognise them. It is time you get to know your heroes and start supporting the Causes and Passions that have the potential to ultimately make changes to save our Wildlife and Environment.

“The Long Walk to Freedom” – Apartheid Museum, South Africa

“Ayoba Time” –  The South African World Cup Soccer 2010 Celebrations (Unifying a Nation)

There is so much to see and admire in our own country. Many people in South Africa dream about leaving for ‘greener pastures’. Most of which never bother to stop and see the beauty around us. The glass is half full people, and the time is now to make a difference. We are in the best position to turn South Africa into the most desirable of all.

Already so many people come to see our Animals and Wildlife, yet when they are all gone what will people come for. Corruption has lead to the highest Poaching Numbers in South Africa since the mid 1980’s.. Demands in Rhino Horn and the Bush Meat Trade are systematically killing the African Tourism Draw Card.

Not even our splendid Scenic Landscapes and fantastic weather will not save us when all the Animals are gone.

“Dawn Rhino Dual” –  Crocodile River, Kruger Park, South Africa

“Solitary Waterhole Tree” –  Madikwe, South Africa

“Table Mountain Lights” –  South Africa

“Sea Point Sunset” Cape Town, South Africa

“Marakele Mountains” – South Africa

At this stage we are on a Downward Spiral to oblivion, seemingly uncaring and obvious to the fact that when Nature and our Environment dies … we die! We are all part of the intricate web of live. Ripples in our Environment will ultimately spiral the intricate Web of our own lives out of control and the next extinction will be at our own hands.

At this rate we shall be the only initiator of our own extinction … and ironically life has shown to be far more perseverant that Mankind … life will ultimately find a way to continue long after Mankind ceases to exist on this Planet.

“The Downward Spiral” – Dullstroom, South Africa

“Web of Life” – Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, Cape Town

The rate of extinction and de-evolution is  accelerating daily, so literally every day counts. If I can reach just one person daily and count on the viral-effect of my message then surely an Eco Warrior Army is sure to evolve from the ashes of our own ruin. Time to put our heads together and  think outside the r=traditional confinements to construct methods that will save lives and restore us as respectable caretakers of our Planet. Remember, we have so much to love for and so much beauty around us … do not let this go to waste.

“Tri-Zebra” – Mabula, South Africa

“Elephant Tussle” – Pilanesberg, South Africa

“Malachite Kingfisher” Mankwe Dam, Pilanesberg, South Africa

“Bateleur Eagle Stare” (Terathopius Ecaudatus) – Moholoholo Predator Rehabilitation Centre, South Africa

“Duality” – Sondela, South Africa

“Jurassic Pose” Yellow Billed Hornbill – Sondela, South Africa

“Cheetah Gaze” – Kruger National Park, South Africa

“Mirror Equids”  - Kruger National Park, South Africa

Stay well, stay true, always fight the good fight … making a real difference starts with you!

Best Regards,

David Devo Oosthuizen

David’s Links:

- Website: Devo Graphics
- Facebook Page: Devographic Facebook Page
- Twitter: Devographic on Twitter

DevoGraphic Activism Through Photography proudly supports:

- The Jane Goodall Institute South Africa (Animal Planet ‘Escape to Chimp Eden’)
- Sea Shepherd Conservation Society South Africa (Animal Planet ‘Whale Wars’)
- Seal Alert South Africa
- The Taiji Action Group: South Africa (TAG)
- The Animal Ambulance
- Ripples for Good: Motivating Change in our Waterways
- Fur Free Africa
- 50|50
- Beauty Without Cruelty
- Puppy & Kitten Haven
- Peta International
- Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS)
- AfriOceans
- The South African Vegan Society

Just do it. Just take the photo. Don’t worry about what people are going to think about it.

Just do it.

I am going to borrow from ‘Linchpin’, a must read book by Seth Godin, by using one of the examples from the book.

Think of a street busker, sharing his music with people walking by. Two points to take note of.

Sharing and walking by. Or rather, you sharing as people walk by.

No matter how much you share your passion – people will walk by. Not everyone will stop. It will be completely pointless for the musician to run after these people trying to impress them with his music.

Will it not make more sense for the musician to just do what he does? Make music, indulge his passion, enjoy his own art until someone comes along who stops and listens.

Even just for a second?

Too often we run around after people trying to impress them with our photography.

Difficult.

Tiring.

Pointless.

Photography is something you (hopefully) do for yourself and when you do it like that, indulging your own passion, people will eventually stop. Perhaps not immediately and perhaps not a thousand people at once.

But they will.

Someone will stop.

Someone will enjoy what you have to give.

Don’t get caught up in the never-ending chase of looking for people to buy your images or magazines who want to publish your work. There are a lot of photographers running around trying to impress everybody with their photography. Yeah, the recognition is great and makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside but surely that is not the reason to take photographs?

Follow your passion. Take photographs for yourself, let’s say that again… for yourself… and eventually people will stop and ‘listen’ to what you want to show them.

If you cannot ‘just do it’ for yourself, how can you ‘just do it’ for other people?

Follow your passion. Take photographs for yourself.

Just do it!

Gerry