Botswana Safari Adventure
June 1 – 12, 2024
June 14 – 25, 2024
Dates:
June 1 - 12, 2024 - Sold Out
June 14 - 25, 2024 - Sold Out
Your Pros:
Juan Pons
Jaclyn Merica
Tuition:
$13,495.00 USD Single Supplement: $1200 USD
Location:
Botswana, Africa
Fitness Level:
Easy
Availability:
8 Seats Available
Dates:
June 1 - 12, 2024 - Sold Out
June 14 - 25, 2024 - Sold Out
Your Pros:
Juan Pons
Jaclyn Merica
Tuition:
$13,495.00 USD
Location:
Botswana, Africa
Fitness Level:
Easy
Availability:
Sold Out
Introduction
Join me on a wildlife photography adventure of a lifetime to the beautiful country of Botswana, where together we will scout for the iconic African Big 5, as well as species like the wildebeest, warthog, crocodile, giraffe, baboons, red lechwe, kudu, hippopotamus, hyena, jackals, African wild dog, zebra, an abundance of bird species, and much, much more.
For eleven adventure-packed days, we will explore Chobe National Park, the Kalahari Desert, and the Okavango River Delta by land, sea, and air. My team and I will also lead an extension trip to nearby Victoria Falls, the biggest waterfall in the world. We will travel to 3 very distinct environments that offer distinct creative compositions and photo opportunities at each location.
This workshop is an all-inclusive experience, with all aspects of your trip organized for you. Our team has arranged top-notch accommodations, comfortable private air and ground transportation, and quality dining every step of the way. On this photography workshop, our small group will enjoy private safari excursions, river cruises, and helicopter rides to witness the magnitude of the landscape and its incredible species that inhabit the region during the transitioning of seasons.
Our trip occurs at an optimal time of year to observe the spectacular wildlife in these three distinct habitats. One of the biggest benefits of visiting Botswana during May and June is there are far less crowds compared to other times of year, plus we have a greater chance of encountering a greener environment. Therefore, we’ll observe the incredible wildlife congregating around the watering holes, and will have greater chances to capture stunning images together.
This workshop offers both in the field instruction, as well as image reviews and editing sessions while at basecamp, so we can best hone in your images and streamline your creative visions while on our adventure.
Our accommodations offer unparalleled comfort and amenities, despite the remote locations of our camps. Wake up to zebra and giraffe grazing outside your door, enjoy private pools as hippos and elephants swim by in the mid-day sun, and enjoy a sundowner along a scenic gorge after a day well spent photographing astounding wildlife.
Additionally, our dining options during our gathering are incomparable. Just like every photography workshop I lead, food is always top quality. Private chefs cook delicious, local cuisine for us at each location. We prioritize good meals and great group dinners at the end of each day.
I believe that in order to truly enjoy your experience, and to receive the most out of an adventure photography workshop, we must keep groups small and have a very high ratio of instructors to participants. We’ve limited this workshop to a maximum of 8 participants, a photo instructor, and a team of very experienced local wildlife guides.
This is a unique educational excursion, and by capping the number of participants, we are ensuring everyone gets the attention and one-on-one instruction they need to make once in a lifetime images while visiting Botswana.
You will be accompanied by Juan Pons and Jaclyn Merica during this Photo Safari. Juan is an accomplished professional wildlife and travel photographer and photographic educator who has a deep passion for the outdoors and conservation. Jaclyn is Juan’s assistant, co-leading workshops in places like Costa Rica, Cuba, and Alaska.
Juan and his team believe the best way to teach is by demonstrating, and to this end, we will be shooting alongside you, showing you our technique, and sharing our love and knowledge of wildlife and the landscape. However, our priority is always YOU, and assisting you to get the best images YOU can get.
The biggest advantage of having small groups is the flexibility they provide for customizing and adjusting our schedule to accommodate both to the unpredictable weather and the unique interests of the group as a whole. This allows us to cover only those topics that you are all interested in, including:
• Techniques for creating exciting and captivating wildlife images
• Digital darkroom demos to enhance the quality of your images
• Best use of your equipment
• Image reviews
My workshops are fairly intensive experiences, and as such, you should not expect this to be a leisurely vacation. Our collective goal is to capture the best images we can during our time in this remarkable location. This means there will be days we begin very early and return to camp very late. However, we will always have breaks and long lunch rest hours.
You should expect to receive important details to secure your flights to Kasane, Botswana 7 months prior to the workshop. Most flights from the US will connect through Johannesburg, South Africa.
Then, about 2 months prior to the workshop, you will start hearing from me and my team on a regular basis. I will provide you with a Workshop Participant Info Packet with all relevant details, as well as go over more info regarding the workshop to get you inspired and thinking about the images you want to capture during the workshop. At this time, you will also receive from me a list of recommended clothing, equipment, and even discounts for equipment you may want to acquire for this excursion.
My assistant, Jaclyn, and I are always available to answer any questions you may have leading up to the workshop- simply call or email and we can help you as best we can.
Additionally, we will schedule a Zoom meeting 4-6 weeks prior to the start of our workshop. There, you can meet your fellow workshop participants, ask any questions before traveling, receive insights and recommendations for reference books, and much more.
Tuition for the workshop is $13,495 USD for double occupancy per person.
On this workshop, there is limited availability for single occupancy rooms. 2 of the 4 accommodations do not offer single rooms due to limited accommodation space. However, if you would like to have single supplement for a two night hotel stay and a private canvas tent at a bush camp, that can be arranged for an additional supplement of $1,200 USD.
If you would like to reserve your spot on this workshop, you can do so with a $6,595 USD deposit. The balance of the workshop fee ($6,900 USD), is due 5 months prior to the first day of the workshop.
If you are in need of a special payment arrangement, please reach out and we are happy to work with you.
• Lodging
• All safari excursions
• All privately chartered flights within Botswana
• All meals and snacks during the workshop
• Non-alcoholic beverages during the workshop
• All permits, fees, and gratuities
• In-the-field instruction
• Inspiration
• Camaraderie
• An unforgettable time
• Air travel from your home to Botswana and returning home from Botswana
• Supplemental private helicopter rides
• Any applicable passport and visa fees or items of a personal nature, such as laundry and alcoholic beverages
• Travel, Medical, and Trip Cancellation Insurance (optional, but highly recommended)
• Anything else specifically not listed as included
• You are responsible for making your own flight arrangements to and from Botswana. We will assist you with flight arrival times and departures prior to your booking. Please do not book your flight reservations until you receive explicit instructions from our team.
• Deposit is fully refundable up until 5 months prior to the start of the workshop, NO REFUNDS are permitted within 5 months prior to the start of the workshop.
• Dates are subject to slight changes as we finalize our itineraries.
• Make sure to check the Terms and Conditions for all my workshops.
We highly recommend Travel Insurance from a reputable insurance company. I have partnered with Squaremouth, a website that allows you to compare multiple travel policies from multiple providers to choose the best one for you based on your needs and costs. Check them out here: https://www.squaremouth.com/
When photographing wildlife, the key is to remain flexible and open to adjustments in order to maximize our daily itinerary as needed to observe the behavior of the wildlife and weather conditions. However, we have reserved 4 impeccable accommodations, and have planned multiple day stays at each incredible location.
The order of the camps will be visiting will vary between the two workshops. Because of this, it is very important that you wait to receive instructions from us before booking your flights.
Our locations and number of nights are set as follow:
Chobe National Park
2 nights in a photography-focused lodge on the outskirts of Chobe National Park, equipped with a workroom for image reviews after action-packed days
AM/PM safari excursions into Chobe National Park
Underground hide for nighttime photography
Private accommodations available
Kalahari Deset
3 nights in a luxurious bush camp
Private charter flight to our camp where we will check into our luxurious glamping accommodation before heading out to our first overland safari
Two bunkers, one underground, for game photography
Private accommodations available
Okavango River Delta
3 nights at a well appointed bush camp
Private charter flight into our camp where we will check into our luxurious tent accommodation before heading out to our first overland safari
Private doors-off helicopter ride over the Delta for an aerial photography experience
Shared tents
Chobe River Houseboat
3 nights along the Chobe river in a purpose built houseboat
Daily outings in custom built photo boat with rotating chairs and built in gimbal mounts
Shared cabins
