Photo School with Greg du Toit

Greg du Toit has recently returned from a spectacular photographic expedition into the Serengeti. Blessed with a plethora of opportunities, he did not miss a beat and proceeded to snap another great collection. Newborn wildebeest calves, lazy lionesses, cheetah kills and hyaena clean up operations, Greg displays just some of his talents below.

Not surprisingly, Greg has received Honors in both the world-renowned BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards and the Smithsonian's Nature's Best Awards, and has been frequently published in Africa Geographic and BBC Wildlife, amongst many others.

His Serengeti gallery can be found in our website's GALLERY page, or by clicking here.

Greg's inaugural Photo School with Epic Private Journeys will take place from 6 - 15 August 2010. Please contact us for more details.

Heaven on Earth - Papua New Guinea

By Pedro O'Connor: If there is a Heaven on Earth I think I found it.

Located on the north east coast of Papua New Guinea is the amazing geological region known as the Tufi Fiords. They are not glacial fiords, but riais, formed eons ago when three massive volcanoes erupted simultaneously spewing fingers of molten lava down the slopes into the crystal clear waters of the Solomon Sea. These calm water havens are home to the Oro people who still live a self subsistence lifestyle in this Peter Pan movie backdrop. The verdant, equatorial jungle marches to the ocean shore, where you can swim in the shade of forest giants at high tide, bathe beneath plunging waterfalls while on the bow of your boat and dive in the most fecund waters on the planet.

Offshore there are 2,000 individual reefs, many of which have never been dived. The biodiversity underwater is staggering; from the tiniest, most colourful nudibranchs to marauding schools of 6 ft long barracuda. A first for me after 30 years of diving was swimming in close proximity to a 12 ft albino hammerhead shark. I did not know they existed, never mind that I would be sharing the water with one that day. You cannot underestimate what one might see in PNG waters.

One of the enduring highlights for me is the local people. They are well mannered and have no agenda. They do not try to hawk anything as they have nothing to sell. What they give in abundance is a big smile and a friendly wave of the arm to make you feel at home. I took parcels of my children’s old school books and clothes to give to villagers and had one of the best days of my life interacting with the children and adults alike. You give a little and get a lot.

Although there are no roads to Tufi, there is a hidden gem to rest your head. Tufi Dive Resort, an ambience-filled lodge perched on the cliffs overlooking one of the coral fringed fiords, is stunning. The timber bungalows are very comfortable, clean, secure and ideally situated to take advantage of the tropical panorama. The service comes with a heartfelt smile. You just can't help but be warmed by the locals' genuine beauty of character. If crayfish, coconut and fresh reef fish are to your liking, you will not go hungry. The quality of the food is outstanding for a remote outpost in the wilds of this water wonderland.

We all have a Bucket List and the Tufi Fiords are causing mine to overflow, just like those volcanoes a million years ago.

To find out more about Papua New Guinea, please contact us for more details.

US Journalists praise Ruaha National Park

Eastern Africa video

See below, a short video from Brad's recent safari to Eastern Africa, privately guiding a family throughout the Serengeti and Ruaha National Parks over the holidays.

Greg du Toit Photographic School | 6 - 15 Aug 2010

Christmas in the Serengeti

By Brad Horn: I have just returned from a wonderful month on safari in East Africa. The wonders of Africa never cease to amaze. We were treated to some extremely special experiences; incredible wilderness, superb game and spectacular cultural interchange. I trust the photos below give some inkling into what transpired.

My safari was split into two trips; the first a family safari taking in both Kenya and Tanzania, and the second an odyssey, with some fantastic clients, through the best Tanzania offers. Some of the highlights included:

• Horse-riding at Ol Donyo Wuas (Chyulu Hills) under the magnificent backdrop of Kilimanjaro
• Witnessing a cheetah kill in the Maasai Mara
• Searching for whalesharks and sailing dhows on Chole Island
• Visiting the coastal village of Matapwili; the reality of life in a rural Tanzanian setting
• An "up close and personal" experience with elephants in both the Serengeti and Ruaha
• Visiting an authentic Maasai village on the periphery of the Serengeti
• A last day leopard in the Selous.

Most importantly though, my personal highlight was spending time with wonderful people; family, clients and the fantastic people of East Africa. I truly feel blessed for the privilege of doing what I do. For those of you that have been to Africa, you know what I mean. For those that haven't, what wonders await!

If you wish to learn more of my trip, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kangaroo Island Dreaming

By Pedro O'Connor: Kangaroo Island - the name alone should make any fair dinkum traveller want to go and tick off their bucket list. There is no other location in this wide brown land that shoulders the responsibility of living up to the most recognised of all Australia's endemic wildlife, like Kangaroo Island.

For an island that is little over 100 miles (160 km) long and 50 miles (80 km) deep, this destination is one of massive contrast that warrants a place on every visitor's must see and do hitlist when visiting Australia. Often described as Australia's Galapagos, it is deserving of the title; the spontaneous wildlife encounters when driving around this patchwork of quaint communities and national parks, are astounding.

On the serene North Coast, the rolling green hills with towering gum trees lining the roadside provide the keen photographer with quintessential Aussie scenery, possibly including a cute koala nestled in a nook and chomping on the leaves. A scurrying echidna or a soaring wedge-tail eagle are common sights. If secluded relaxation is what you are looking for, you need go no further than the Cliff House at Snelling Beach. (See the image below, taken from inside the living area).

If you'd rather the wind in your face, then head to the rugged south coast. Pounding ocean swells smash against towering cliffs topped with stunted wild flowers. These stark contrasts exude a raw beauty. The beaches here have no footprints; they are pristine with water of intense clarity and immense energy. When staying at the impeccably appointed Southern Ocean Lodge, like I had the pleasure to recently, you have this all on your doorstep.

It is revitalising to spend time here in nature's cathedral; I am going back next Sunday, even if it is only in my mind.

Please contact Pedro for more details, and to discover more Epic experiences on "KI" and throughout Australia.

Kilimanjaro Climbers Sponsor Students

By Rob Barbour: Below you will see images of Matipwili Secondary School and its students in rural Tanzania. These children would ordinarily not have been afforded a secondary education if it weren't for the generosity of recent climbers of Mt Kilimanjaro with Epic.

These climbers made the summit for another charity, the Humpty Dumpty children's charity in Australia (see Brad's blog post below), but their philanthropy didn't stop there. They are now sponsoring underprivileged children to receive a secondary education at various schools adjacent to the Kisampa Private Conservation Area in coastal Tanzania.

Through Kisampa's Tuende Pamoja Trust Fund (Tuende Pamoja means: Let's move forward together in Kiswahili), we have facilitated the sponsorship of children who would normally not have the means to go to secondary school because they are orphaned, from non-working single-parent families, or are deemed 'poorer than poor' (as decided by their own communities).

A secondary education in Tanzania costs USD 250 per child, per year, for five years at a government school. This includes their school fees, any accommodation allowances, food, a uniform, a pair of shoes and a solar light to study by at night as there is no electricity in the village.

Through the Tuende Pamoja Trust Fund, over 100 children are currently sponsored at three different secondary schools – all due to the generosity of clients coming to Tanzania. Epic has played a leading role in helping us attract some of this sponsorship, such as the Humpty Dumpty climbers.

If you would like more information about the schools and students supported, or indeed if you would like to become a sponsor, please contact us.