Karoo Photographic Tour
Karoo Photographic Tour
Come along and enjoy a 6 nights, 7 Days Photographic tour of a few amazing Karoo towns in the Eastern Cape.
We will explore a variety of photographic opportunities from Landscapes, railways, old churches, architecture, wild life, Cacti, art forms(glass, painting and sculpturing), portrait opportunities, wild life from a boat on a dam, a visit to a small private air strip, the Valley of Desolation, Fossil museums and so much more.
ImagTree in association with Alan Tours, Port Elizabeth, will guide you and take you on this incredible journey.
You climb onto one of Alan Tours’ Toyota Land Cruisers at the Port Elizabeth international airport, settle in and discover a rustic but beautiful world with us.
Experienced Photographer Kirk West will be a Photo Guru on the trip. He’ll best advise and help you when you need it, should you need it. While you are welcome to bring your laptops along, there will be a couple of large screens for quick reviews directly from your camera in the evenings.
Travelling with folk who have a similar passion for photography and sharing the experience is simply magical.
The journey ends on the 7th day back at the Port Elizabeth airport.
Day 1 and Day 2
We meet and greet at the port Elizabeth Airport. We then leave the hustle and bustle at the airport and turn towards Aberdeen – one of the best preserved little Karoo towns with buildings dating back to the Victorian era. This town grew around the church with the tallest spire in South Africa and is also located in the largest Mohair producing area in the world. It forms part of the Mohair Route. Enroute you will have a dream come true when visiting the Cheetah Breeding Farm for your first photo opportunities. Next up will be Wolwefontein’s old railway station. This is one of the reasons the town exists and although overgrown with grass, Wolwefontein has many GREAT photo opportunities. Our route then takes us to the town of Steyterville( Home of Legendry Springbok Rugby Coach Danie Craven) for lunch. From Steytlerville we travel along the dirt road to Aberdeen via Klipplaat( an old locomotive diesel depot) with plenty of railway photo opportunities along the way.
Peace and Tranquility awaits all at De Denne B and B where we will check in. A hearty breakfast gets you ready for day two. Visiting the church and many other local attractions makes for an exciting day. We’ll visit Glass artist Marguerite Beneke, who is also a keen photographer, as well. Lunch will be at a great local Deli. After lunch the tour will continue to the many other attractions in the town.
Must-Visit Attractions
· Dutch Reformed Church - have a look inside at the 20 large panels displaying biblical scenes – they’re artfully made of sheep’s wool, cloth, hessian and glue.
· Admire the Olive Tree from Garden of Gethsemane, Israel. It is to be found in the Church garden.
· Meander through the fascinating Jewish and the Anglo Boer Cemetery.{a guid is required to accompany you}
· Magistrate Court built in 1889 with hideous gargoyles that intimidated “accused”
· Visit the old building with interesting architectural styles including Victorian, Georgian, Karoo, German, Gothic Revival, Russian, Art Nouveau and Flemish Revival.
· There will also be access to homes facing the sunset and some amazing gardens in homes such as Greenfields.
· This town also offers up great street photography and many interesting locals for portrait opportunities.
Karoo Photographic Tour - Detail
Day 3 and Day 4
Day 3 will find travelling to and falling in love with Nieu Bethesda. Along the way we will have the opportunity to drop in at a private airstrip where we will gain the surprise of what might be on the runway or tarmac on the day. Whether your interest lies in art or sculpturing or beer, cheese and salami making, or the uniqueness of the people who will offer up great portrait shoots, you’ll never be at a loss for things to do in Nieu Bethesda. A visit to the late Helen Martin’s “Owl House” and an informative donkey cart ride, which takes you past the writer Athol Fugard’s old home, is a nice way to see the town. Some great unusual buildings, like the tower and the local woman’s craft room are some of the many unusual things to be taken in. After checking in at Paradijs Guest House, meeting new friends and a good nights rest in the quiet and peaceful village, the next day is full of sightseeing, a visit to world famous sculptor Frans Boekkooi and other local artists. Lunch will be at Sneeuberg Brewery and 2 Goats Deli. The Brewery and Deli is essentially a one-man show and the beer and cheese served here are made by the owner. Even the coffee is roasted on site. With a full tummy and free time, explore and experience all including the small dinosaur museum. The evenings will offer good food from local restaurants.
Must-Visit Tourist Attractions
· Visit the Helen Martin’s Museum
· Explore the Water Mill and Water Furrows
· Visit the Kitching Fossil Exploration Centre
· Explore the Art Route
· Duck in to a bookshop at Dustcovers
· Go beer tasting or wine tasting
· Admire the village church
· Walk a labyrinth
· Go stargazing
· Discover the Stone Folk
· Find fossils and Bushman painting
Day 5 and Day 6
After another great breakfast we travel to explore Graaff Reinet. The vintage restorers, Cactus nursery and another amazing church. Lunch will be at one of the many amazing little restaurants in the town. We’ll take a walk down a quaint street which I call micro Stellenbosch. We’ll book into the1804 Drostdy Hotel. Afterwards, heading to the Camdebo Fossil Museum before returning to enjoy the splendour of the Drostdy Hotel.
will see us back at the Kamdeboo Park and on a short 4x4 drive to look for one of the largest Eland hurds and to the bird hide. Any re-visits are also possible at this stage.
Day 5 will be an early rise to experience a boat ride on the Nqwba Dam which will take us to observing the Camdebo Parks animals drinking from the dam. This might mean breakfast on the run. Those not on the dam will accompany our guide through the park. Here we might need to rotate our guests between the river and park ride for everyone to get a chance to experience this. From here we head to the Valley of Desolation. With an estimated 100 000 people who visit this site each year, the Valley of Desolation is a premier attraction in the region having given up fossil and Eco history. From here there are incredible landscapes unique to the Karoo. Being part of the 14,500 ha Camdebo National Park with the Nqwba dam in it, you will experience a unique “drive” with many photo opportunities.Take a minute to write an introduction that is short, sweet, and to the point.
Day 7
A slow start and an opportunity to do revisits will eventually take us home from Graaf-Rienette. Stops along the way for last minute photos will be accommodated as far as possible.
Late afternoon of day 7 we will wave each other good by at the Port Elizabeth Airport.
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Photographic Note
A dedicated screen for connecting your camera for reviewing the days shots will be available.
You are also free to bring your own laptop if preferred.
Kirk West, our photographic guru, will be accompanying the tour and will be available to assist and teach any folk needing help or guidance along the way.
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Karoo Photographic Tour
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Karoo Photographic Tour ⁎
Tour Cost Details
Financial Information
Price per person sharing is R25 000.00 (Twenty Five Thousand Rand).
(All rooms are double occupancy for this trip. If you're travelling alone, you will be paired with a suitable other client.)
25% non-refundable booking fee within 7 days of confirmation of booking.
Balance due 60 days before date of travel
Bookings made within 60 days of travel require full payment within 7 days of confirmation.
Cancellation Fees
25% non-refundable booking fee which is applicable upon confirmation
100% of booking value if cancelled 30 days prior to arrival
Please note that all cancellations are only effective once confirmed in writing.
All refunds are subject to commission and/or bank charges. Should the deposit/prepayment not be received within the time frame, your booking may be forfeited
INCLUSIONS
Meet and Greet at Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport
All travel costs as a group
All game drives and site access fees including national parks and historic sites
All meals and drinks including alcohol
All visits to artists and the like
Photographic and editing assistance by a photographic fundi
EXCLUSIONS
Gratuities for staff, guides and waitrons
Additional foods chosen to be had other than that provided
Additional drinks and or alcohol over and above what has been catered for
Additional transport or personal transport arrangements
Visas when needed
Airfare from your home to Gqeberha Airport and return flights
Travel Insurance
It’s important to me that you never be at a financial risk, so I'll be suggesting you take out trip cancellation insurance and health insurance for the trip. It’s important that you not wait for just before the trip to get this, as once you provide a non-refundable deposit (which I need because those are the terms of my suppliers), you could be at risk. As such, get travel insurance concurrently with providing any deposits.
Note: Mark Thomson and trip associates cannot be held responsible for any costs incurred due to factors beyond my control. These include (but are not limited to): Force majeure, war, the threat of war, riots, civil disturbances, terrorist activity, industrial disputes, natural and nuclear disasters, fire, epidemics, pandemics, health risks, and changes due to rescheduling or cancellation of flights by an airline or alteration of the airline or aircraft type; closed or congested airports or ports, hurricanes and other or actual severe weather conditions, act of God or any other similar events.