Join Tamron professional photographers, Erica Robinson and Ken Hubbard, led by the experienced guides of Sababu Safaris, on a once-in-a-lifetime photographic journey to Tanzania. Here, you will be surrounded by incredible scenery, wonderful people, and an abundance of wildlife. Our travels will begin in the city of Arusha, then take us through Tarangire National Park, the Southern Serengeti Ndutu Plains for the great wildebeest migration, the Ngorongoro Crater, and end in West Kilimanjaro. Along the way we will stop to visit with local tribes, participate in a sunrise hunt with the Hadzabe bushmen, distribute solar lights with the Datoga, and spend a full day with the Maasai. This is an experience not to be missed, photographically and educationally. See full itinerary for details.
Your Tamron Representatives:
Erica Robinson
ERICA ROBINSON (Technical Representative) has 13 years of photography experience and a degree in the Arts. Erica has worked as a wedding photographer in Boston, a cruise-line photographer, and provided technical knowledge through a local camera store. Becoming a proficient world traveler, she focuses on travel photography and storytelling, providing education through workshops and inspiring others to accomplish their photography goals. You can see her work here: Erica Robinson Photo .
Ken Hubbard
KEN HUBBARD (Field Services Manager) has had nationwide gallery showings of his portrait and landscape photography and teaches enthusiasts how to take better photos at workshops across the country. He has traveled extensively throughout the United States and the result is a consistent output of breathtaking photographs that continually challenge the boundaries of the genre. Ken is the Field Services Manager for Tamron, responsible for Tamron’s popular consumer workshop series. His work can be found here: Ken Hubbard Photo .
Your Tanzania Professional Guides:
SABABU SAFARIS is established with the goal of promoting Tanzania as the land of infinite beauty, life and adventure. We aspire to attract people from different places, cultures, age groups and backgrounds, and offer them one common objective: to discover Tanzania in the most breathtaking, exciting and authentic (!) way possible. We invite you to immerse yourself in the Tanzanian culture and gain experiences that will change your heart and mind, and have a long lasting impact on you. We want to ensure that you will go home with overwhelming appreciation of all that this country has to offer – from its amazing wildlife to its beautiful people. From tailoring the small details of your trip, to the seamless operations on the ground, SABABU SAFARIS will deliver a personalized and exceptional travel experience. Let us lead you away from your world to a place that is so different from anything you have ever experienced - Tanzania will touch your soul and make you feel truly connected and alive!
Just south of the equator, Tanzania is huge and its sheer size means that the climate varies considerably within it. However, generally the main rainy season, or the 'long rains', lasts during March, April and May. Afternoon tropical downpours are the norm – which are heavier and more predictable beside the coast and on the islands. The humidity is high and daily temperatures reach the low-mid 30°s.
The long dry season lasts throughout June, July, August, September and October is when rainfall is unusual, even on the islands. Temperatures vary hugely with altitude and location, but it's usually a fine, clear sky and sunny weather – it's a great time to visit Tanzania. During November and December there's another rainy season: the 'short rains'. These are much lighter than the main rains and less reliable.
If it has rained during the short rains, then it normally dries up for a few months, January and February, which is Tanzania's 'short dry season', before starting to rain again in earnest in March.
With close to two million wildebeest on the move, along with thousands of zebras, the annual migration is spectacular. Most visitors are familiar with the “Great Migration” which takes place in both Tanzania and Kenya at the Mara River. However, for the rest of the year, as the migrating herds move from the Mara River back to Central Serengeti and down to the Southern plains, each season marks a unique pattern, a different landscape and all kinds of thrilling action. While wildlife movement is hard to predict, every year the migration will typically follow a very similar pattern, and SABABU SAFARIS offers unique, customized itineraries based on the 4 Seasons of migration:
1. CALVING SEASON
Late January to March | Southern Serengeti & Ndutu plains
2.GREEN SEASON & GRUMETI RIVER CROSSING
Mid-April to early July | Western & Central-West Serengeti
3. DRY SEASON & THE MARA CROSSING
Mid-July to early October | Northern Serengeti
4. SHORT RAIN SEASON
Mid-October to December | Central & East Serengeti
It never gets really cold in Tanzania so lightweight clothing, preferably cotton or linen, is recommended. While on a game viewing safari, avoid brightly colored clothing, stick to whites, beiges, khakis and browns. There may be long days sitting in safari vehicles, so it is advisable to wear light comfortable clothing such as short sleeved shirts and cotton/linen trousers or shorts. Denim will become too hot and extremely uncomfortable. Walking shoes and socks will be required for some activities.
The evenings will be chilly, so long sleeved shirts and trousers should be worn. A sweater may be needed. These will also prevent you being bitten by insects. A hat should be worn at all times outside. The sun may sometimes not feel hot, but it can still easily burn, especially if it is cloudy and overcast.
If visiting Zanzibar or any coastal town don't forget to take a swimsuit, as it is invariably warm. Ladies are recommended to take cotton skirts, blouses and dresses. Sandals are a must for this environment! On the beaches and within the confines of hotels, normal swimwear is acceptable but nudity is not.
REQUIRED:
Camera and Lenses - Tamron loaner lenses will be available. Remember that we are sharing lenses amongst a group so, if there is a particular lens you would prefer to use throughout the entirety of the trip, we recommend you bring that with you. This will be discussed futher, closer to travel.
Tripod - A sturdy tripod is required for certain types of photography. While a tripod may not be used daily, there may be opportunities for night sky photography which requires use of a tripod.
Closed toe boots - You will be walking daily on dirt, unpaved, sometimes rocky uneven terrain for many hours of each day.
Flashlight and Headlamp - Headlamp preferably with both white and green or red light
Laptop - To download and backup images as well as for use during possible classroom time.
Extra memory cards & batteries - Yes battery life is long these days, and yes memory cards hold massive amounts of data. However, should your battery become too cold and not operate for as long as you'd like, and should your memory card run into issues, you will be disappointed to no longer be able to photograph.
ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS:
Filters - Circular polarizer / Neutral Density
Remote shutter release - If you do not use a remote shutter release, it is also an option to use the built in timer if your camera has this function.
Clothing layers: As mentioned in the "weather" tab, the weather may vary. This is a reminder to please pack accordingly.
Reusable water bottle - Water will be available but being at this higher elevation we recommend you stay as hydrated as possible by having a refillable water bottle to refill between outings. Tap water in Tanzania is generally not safe to drink, and most travelers try to stick to mineral water. Most camps, lodges and hotels have bottled water readily available, and you will have unlimited access to bottled water throughout the day provided by Sababu Safaris. Bringing a reusable water bottle may come in handy to pour a few bottled waters into.
Electricity and Plug Standards:
The electricity supply in Tanzania is 220/240 volts at 50Hz. Plugs are 3 point square (UK Type). Adapters are available at major airports.
Gifts:
We encourage you to take a look at this list of items you can bring to support children in the local communities, if you have a few pounds to spare: https://www.packforapurpose.org/destinations/africa/tanzania/sababu-safaris/
Most camps, lodges or hotels cater specifically to tourists and serve Western-style food, ranging in standard, but generally are excellent. Game lodges tend to offer a daily set menu with a limited selection, so it is advisable to notify us in advance if you are a vegetarian or have other specific dietary requirements. First-time visitors to Africa might take note that most game lodges in and around the national parks have isolated locations, and driving within the parks is neither permitted nor advisable after dark, so that there is no realistic alternative to eating at your lodge.
Tap water in Tanzania is generally not safe to drink, and most travelers try to stick to mineral water. Most camps, lodges and hotels have bottled water readily available, and you will have unlimited access to bottled water throughout the day provided by Sababu Safaris.
In Tanzania, the unit of currency is the Tanzanian Shilling, which is divided into 100 Cents. Notes are issued in denominations of 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, and 10000 Shillings. Coins are issued in denominations of 50, 100 and 200 Shillings.
Banks are open from 9:00am to 3:00pm Monday to Friday. Many banks are equipped with 24 hour ATM machines. Credit cards and travellers checks are not widely accepted in Tanzania. Where they are accepted can high service fees and poor exchange rates be expected. Major foreign currencies - particularly US $ - are accepted in Tanzania and are convertible at banks and bureau de changes in the main towns and tourist areas. If bringing cash in US $, please make sure bank notes are in good condition, with no cuts or damage and are not older than 2006. Most banks offer higher exchange rates for US $100 / US $50 bank notes compared to US $20 / US $10 or US $5 bank notes.
If you are visiting a number of parks and reserves in Tanzania, you can either drive or fly between them. Roads in most of the wilderness areas are in poor condition and unmarked, and self-driving is not recommended. SABABU SAFARIS will supply you with a driver who doubles as an informal guide. Elsewhere in Tanzania, towns and cities are linked by a steady stream of buses and dala-dalas (minibuses), and in the cities, there is public transport in the way of buses, dala-dalas, taxis, and, in some places, bicycles or tuk-tuks. Driving is on the left hand side of the road.
All cancellations are subject to a $100 change fee, to be applied to a future workshop.
If cancelled 90+ days or more prior to start date - Full refund
If cancelled between 45 and 90 days prior to start date - 50% refund
If cancelled 45 days or less prior to start date - No refund
Trip Insurance: Tamron Americas and Sababu Safari's carries the necessary permits and liability insurance for legal operation. We highly recommend that all trip participants purchase their own health, disability, life, and travel insurance. It is the participant’s responsibility to have adequate health and injury insurance for the areas we will visit. Tamron Americas and Sababu Safaris are not responsible for any health or injury liability. Covid-19 Policy: Prevention procedures involve you as an active communicator. We are relying on you to share this information with us to keep all participants safe and healthy. Your honesty and communication will enable us to offer the high-quality, engaging workshops we are known for. Under our latest screening protocols, we may at our discretion decline service to a workshop participant and/or remove a staff member from a workshop under the following circumstances:
Masking at workshops: Due to the differing regulations per city/state/region/country, and the close participant proximity to one another, we will follow the federal and local guidelines of the visiting location implemented at the time. Facilities that we may be required to wear masks include but are not limited to: hotels, restaurants, transportation vehicles, meeting rooms, visitors centers, etc. This is subject to change based on federal and local regulations and recommendations. Please be respectful of others in keeping distance while both in the field and inside meeting spaces.
Notice of film and photography: Photographs and/or videos of participants may be used to promote similar, Tamron Americas events in the future. Your participating constitutes your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded, and to the release and use of these articles without payment to Tamron Americas.
KIBO PALACE HOTEL | ARUSHA - February 16-18th, 2024 (2-nights)
TARANGIRE SAFARI LODGE | TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK - February 18-19th, 2024 (1-night)
NYIKANI MIGRATION CAMP - NDUTU | SOUTHERN SERENGETI - February 19-22nd, 2024 (3-nights)
NGORONGORO FARM HOUSE | NGORONGORO CRATER - February 22nd-23rd, 2024 (1-night)
LAKE EYASI SAFARI LODGE | LAKE EYASI - February 23rd-24th, 2024 (1-night)
ORIGINAL MAASAI LODGE | WEST KILIMANJARO - February 24th-26th, 2024 (2-nights)
This package is for individuals registering as one participant, rooming alone.
This Double Occupancy package is for two persons registering as a pair, sharing accommodations and payments.
PLEASE NOTE: When choosing this booking, you MUST select "2" in the booking amount field in order for this booking to be processed correctly. If only "1" is selected the second person will not be accounted for.
If person one and person two are making payments separately, the second payment must be made through the "contributions" tab.
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport. After finishing passport control and customs procedures via our VIP Visa Express Service, you will be met by your safari guide outside the arrival lounge and taken to your accommodation for check in and overnight (approx. 45 minutes). Spend a relaxing evening before you start your Tanzania safari the following day.
Resting at the foot of Mount Meru, the sprawling city of Arusha is known as the safari capital of northern Tanzania. It serves as an excellent base from which to explore the remarkably scenic surrounding area which includes majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as Manyara, Tarangire and Ngorongoro National Parks. Arusha is a good spot to take a day or two off from the safari circuit as it features a temperate climate and lush surrounds.
Accommodations: Kibo Palace Hotel
Tucked away in Arusha, Kibo Palace Hotel is straddled between the gateway to some of the most enchanting safari destinations and Mount Kilimanjaro, whose highest point it is named after. This little paradise comes with all the amenities and access you would expect in a modern city right in the wild.