Capture Tanzania
Hone Your Craft
Good photos practically take themselves in Tanzania. Of course, there’s art and skill to great photography. Professional photographer and instructor Wesley Bernard will lead this trip, helping you hone your craft and capture the best shots.
Photo-Centric Trip Upgrades
- Photo tips and training by Wesley Bernard
- Maximum of 3 guests per Land Rover
- Each photographer gets their own row with access to both sides of the vehicle
- Increased weight allowance for extra camera gear
- Camera tech tents with generator and lighting at each Thomson Nyumba Camp
Wesley Bernard
Trip Leader
A Northern Arizona native, photographer and educator, Wesley embraces the process of the documentary story, offering the viewer a visual narrative of cultures and their stories from all over the world. He has been behind the camera and in front of a classroom for 30+ years.
Wesley is currently an Assistant Professor of Photography at SUNY Oneonta. He teaches traditional film/darkroom, digital media, portraiture, documentary and history of photography classes.
Itinerary
Days of Adventure
DAY 1: AUGUST 7
Arrive in Arusha, Tanzania
Your guide will meet you at Kilimanjaro International Airport via your Delta/KLM flight and escort you to tonight’s accommodations in Arusha.
As local Tanzanians, our guides know the country with unrivaled familiarity, so you’ll be in good hands from the moment you land.
OVERNIGHT
Rivertrees Country Inn
Reminiscent of its legacy as a former German colonial farm and coffee estate, Rivertrees Country Inn blends simple elegance and modern convenience. Wake up in your farmhouse-style room to the sound of the rushing Usa River, and enjoy a hearty breakfast in an open-air, thatched-roof dining area.
DAY 2: AUGUST 8
Ngorongoro Highlands
Drive up the Great Rift Valley Escarpment to Gibb’s Farm, where you’ll enjoy a farm-to-fork lunch.
Afterwards, stretch your legs around the property and take in the beauty of the lush gardens and hilltop views. Immerse yourself in the semi-nomadic culture of the Maasai by visiting a boma before heading to your camp on the Ngorongoro Crater rim.
OVERNIGHT
Ngorongoro Nyumba
Set on the eastern edge of the Ngorongoro Crater’s rim, this Nyumba offers the best possible access to the Crater—all within a remote, private setting. With temperatures as low as 40 degrees at this camp, you’ll want to remember to bundle up. But don’t worry: our chefs will treat you to a traditional Tanzanian meal to warm you up.
DAY 3: AUGUST 9
Ngorongoro Crater
Just 10 miles wide, Ngorongoro Crater was formed from a collapsed volcano.
It’s now a self-sustaining ecosystem with the densest predator population in all of Africa. Camping on the Crater’s rim offers you early morning access to its wildlife-filled floor before any other safari-goers.
OVERNIGHT
Ngorongoro Nyumba
Set on the eastern edge of the Ngorongoro Crater’s rim, this Nyumba offers the best possible access to the Crater—all within a remote, private setting. With temperatures as low as 40 degrees at this camp, you’ll want to remember to bundle up. But don’t worry: our chefs will treat you to a traditional Tanzanian meal to warm you up.
DAYS 4–5: AUGUST 10–11
Serengeti National Park
Head for the iconic Serengeti, where acacia trees and granite kopjes dot the seas of waving grass.
The Serengeti offers everyday opportunities to spot Tanzania’s most impressive wildlife, including big cats.
OVERNIGHT
Southern Serengeti Nyumba
This seasonal Serengeti Nyumba is set strategically in a private location in the heart of the park, allowing you easy access to both the southern and central plains. Here, you will experience exceptional service from the friendly staff, eat gourmet meals prepared from fresh, local ingredients and appreciate the prime location.
DAYS 6–7: AUGUST 12–14
Serengeti National Park
Continue your photo journey of the Serengeti plains in the northern region.
Your expert guide will seek out the unique and diverse flora and fauna of the Serengeti, including the iconic herds of wildebeest and zebra as they migrate across the Mara River into Tanzania.
OVERNIGHT
Northern Serengeti Nyumba
Thomson’s exclusive Serengeti Nyumba in Kogakuria offers a rare glimpse at the unexplored northern Serengeti. Few tourists have had the privilege to explore this secluded and wildlife-rich region, and Thomson remains among the few operators to be able to show it to you.
DAY 8: AUGUST 15
Depart Tanzania
Head to Arusha, where you’ll enjoy a farewell lunch at Arusha Coffee Lodge. Relax in a day room at Arusha Hotel before your flight home.
Add-On
Fly over the Serengeti
Prepare for Takeoff
Enjoy a bird’s eye view, a hearty breakfast and a glass of champagne during a morning hot air balloon tour. Your entire trip will be unforgettable, but this will bring it to new heights.
Call for current pricing. Advanced reservations required.
Trip Extensions
Enhance Your Safari
Zanzibar
From $2,000 per person
Zanzibar invites you to turquoise waters, white sands, and vibrant culture. Explore Stone Town’s lively markets, unwind on serene beaches, and uncover the island’s rich history.
Zanzibar
Indulge in Relaxation
Snorkel or dive in the clear blue Indian Ocean, or sunbathe for days on the pristine white-sand beaches of your resort. Spend a colorful day amidst the island’s bustling markets in the eclectic capital city of Stone Town, and visit historical sites from the centuries-old slave and spice trades.
Recommended Stay: 5 days, including 3 nights on the beach and 1 night in iconic Stone Town
From: $2,000 per person
Rwanda
From: $6,500 per person
Travel to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park to trek through rugged terrain in search of endangered mountain gorillas. In Kigali, visit the city’s highlights, including the moving Kigali Genocide Memorial.
Rwanda
Spot Endangered Gorillas
Fly to Kigali, Rwanda and drive north to Volcanoes National Park. Journey on foot over wild, ungroomed mountain terrain in search of endangered mountain gorillas, of which only 1000 survive worldwide. After your arrival, tour Kigali, including the world-renowned Kigali Genocide Memorial.
Recommended Stay: 5 days
From: $6,500 per person
Cape Town
Call for current pricing.
With Table Mountain as its backdrop, Cape Town offers stunning vineyards, fine dining, penguin sightings at Boulders Beach, and a visit to historic Robben Island. This vibrant city is sure to inspire.
Cape Town
Vineyards, Views and Fine Dining
Table Mountain National Park provides the dramatic backdrop to this vibrant, colorful city. Explore South Africa’s best vineyards, enjoy fine dining in town, observe penguins at the famous Boulders Beach, and visit Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela’s—and South Africa’s—struggles echo poignantly. A visit to Cape Town is sure to inspire and delight.
Call for current pricing.
Ruaha National Park
From: $4,500 per person
Journey to the remote Ruaha National Park, a hidden gem in East Africa. Track elusive wildlife by day and enjoy torch-lit dinners by the river at night.
Ruaha National Park
Track African Wildlife
Fly to the remote wilderness of Ruaha National Park, one of the least explored parks in East Africa, where tracking is as much an art form as a practical pursuit. Explore uncharted territory by day, spotting leopard, cheetah and wild dog, and savor torch-lit dinners on the banks of the river by night.
Recommended Stay: 4–5 days
From: $4,500 per person
Nyerere National Park
From: $4,500 per person
Explore the Rufiji River’s wildlife by boat, and on foot. Spot elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and rare species like Greater Kudu on the plains.
Nyerere National Park
Traverse Vast Wilderness
Take a scenic flight to one of Africa’s largest national parks (formerly Selous Game Reserve), where you’ll view the Rufiji River’s wildlife. Travel by 4-wheel drive, boat and foot and spot elephants, hippos, and crocodiles in the riverine environment, while rare species like Greater Kudu can be spotted on the plains.
Recommended Stay: 4 days
From: $4,500 per person
Mahale Mtn. National Park
From: $6,000 per person
Fly to Lake Tanganyika’s shores and take a boat to your secluded camp. Hike the Mahale Mountains to observe chimpanzees in their natural habitat.
Mahale Mtn. National Park
Encounter Playful Chimps
Fly to the shores of Lake Tanganyika, along the westernmost border of Tanzania, and take a short boat ride to your exclusive camp, a luxurious hideaway tucked along the shore. Hike the misty slopes of the Mahale Mountains in search of free-roaming chimpanzees, grooming, feeding and playing.
Recommended Stay: 4 to 5 days
From: $6,000 per person
