Sunday, September 25, 2016

A time to Share - Fishing and Photography!

Now that my guiding days as a Captain are over, it is time to re-focus my adventures to include my love for fishing and my love and knowledge of photography. Plus there are a few "Bucket List" trips that I still need to make.

I have spent the past week working with a wonderful tour operator to design a custom African Photo Safari. I have always wanted to take a trip to Africa and now is the time to get it planned and make it a reality. I searched far and wide for what I was looking for. Years ago I was in the travel business and owned a wholesale tour company. I know the business and know how to make the plans for a once in a lifetime experience. There are many places to go in Africa and it took some serious research to find the area that would provide what I was looking for and more important find an in Africa operator who would work with me to design the ultimate trip with the flexibility of vehicles and guides and remote lodges to achieve the results I was looking for.


I was lucky to find "proud African Safaris operating in Tanzania!



Why Tanzania?

Photo Credit - Sivani Babu, Suntrail Images

Basically, Proud African Safaris has chosen to specialize in Tanzania because it is simply the best game viewing in all of Africa including the highest concentrations of big game animals. We strategically design our itineraries to follow the migratory patterns of the animals in order to maximize game viewing for the time of year you are there. Plus we offer unlimited game drives which sets us apart.

With you being there in the green season the back drop will be lush and green (ideal for photographers), animals will be grazing by the thousands in the south, young are being born, predator-prey action will be very high and intense.

The Serengeti is vast (roughly the size of Connecticut) with various ecosystems... Open grassy plains, riverlands, mountain and valleys, marshlands, woodlands, etc. which helps offer a diverse and well -rounded safari experience. It truly feels "wild" and like you are stepping back in history. There are no fenced-in boundaries so the animals roam freely and the roads are dirt.

The Vehicles!


Proud African Safaris offers fairly new custom built Toyota land Cruisers - with seating for a total of 8 people including the driver guide. There are 3 rows of two seats in the back for a maximum of 6 guests. Proud African Safaris was willing to work with me and provide 2 vehicles and guides for a trip total of 9 people - 8 guests plus me. This allows for 4 guests occupying 4 of the 6 available seating which allows for plenty of room for cameras and the ability to shoot out the top from either side. This gives the maximum amount of visibility and comfort for an exclusive custom Safari! For any non-photographers this still offers the opportunity to view the animals in an uncrowded vehicle.

Another key and unique feature, is we will have the same drivers and vehicles throughout our entire trip. Many other tour operators use the local vehicles and drivers at the various safari camps. Our drivers and guides will remain with us the entire time offering their experience and input for planning the next days activities and assuring us the most personal service at the various Lodges we will use during our time in Africa.

Photo Credit - Zevy Yanovich

Imagine this could be you lining up a shot of a herd of Zebras!


Of course I will be along to offer my experience in photography to help you achieve the results you are looking for. We will create some very memorable images and a once in a lifetime Safari. I am looking forward to this trip.

I have updated my website with full details and a complete itinerary. Our departure date from Los Angeles is Tuesday February 13th, 2018. So we have over a year to make all our plans.

 A full itinerary and flyer is HERE!

The trip is not inexpensive but I have managed to put together a wonderful trip for a good value. The all inclusive price including Round trip air fare from Los Angeles LAX will be $6000.00 per person dbl occupancy.

Accommodations

In Africa our accommodations will be deluxe remote camps within the area of the safari. Most will be tents with with ensuite baths and dining facilities many have pools and are permanent. Very safe with great views of the surrounding area.

Take a few minutes and go to the page listed below and look at where we will be staying!

I have also created a page on my website which offers links to each of our accomodations! HERE!

If you are interested in traveling with me on this unique adventure send me an email or PM on Facebook. I expect this trip to sell out fairly quickly due to the limited space and the high quality and overall value of the trip.

This is a picture I want to get - similar to this one!


Photo Credit - Sivani Babu, Suntrail Images


Let me know if you would like to join me on this adventure!

Local News and Schedule!

For my Barberton friends I have received the calendars and will begin mailing next week - for those of you who regularly attend the LMNM Meetings I will deliver them to you personally at the next meeting.

I have pretty much finalized my plans for my trip west. I will be leaving camp here in Hartville around the 12th or 13th of October and traveling to Southern Ohio to visit my good friends, Chuck and Betty Bechter, then on down to Elkmont Campground in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park and camping with my good friends Sherry and Bill Levines for three nights leaving there on the 19th of October, for a short trip west to Erin Tennessee to visit some more friends on their farm Michelle and Larry Burney, I will camp a few nights there then head to the Memphis area for a couple nights to visit my old friend Roy Groover, then head west toward California with stops in the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest, going to try and make it a leisurely trip with numerous scenic stops for fall colors. I hope to arrive back in Twentynine Palms around the 10th of November. And home for the winter.

In Twentynine Palms I have contacted a local guide and plan to offer day Photography trips into Joshua Tree NP and the surrounding areas and also offer some post processing Photoshop seminars at the RV Park.

I am also in contact with one of my all time favorite places in the Bahamas to offer a 5 day Bonefishing Trip for my angler friends, stay tuned details will be up soon.

Stay Tune More Adventures to come!


Capt. Jim - "The Wanderer"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest and Alaska!

Monday, September 19, 2016

Blog Update - Time for Changes!

As my time in Ohio winds down, I find it time to focus on some changes in my life. I am not getting any younger and it seems my bucket list still has a few missing items.

In April of this year, my United States Coast Guard Captains License expired, so I can no longer operate a boat as a fishing guide. This does not mean I won't continue to fish and maybe even guide, it just means that I won't be operating a boat that requires a Captains License to carry paying customers. Since I love to travel and take pictures, maybe it is time to utilize my photography skills, fishing skills and travel experience to have some fun, generate some revenue and pass along my knowledge. There are still a few places I want to fish and photograph so why not make it a business and check off a few things I still want to do?

Years ago I owned a Tour Company and enjoyed the business and led some wonderful trips - time to do it again and focus on fishing and photography.

Over the next few weeks I will be making some changes to my website and my blog to focus on some photography tours and fishing tours to knock a few items from my bucket list and travel and have some fun.

Today I have a phone call scheduled with a tour company that specializes in photo tours to Africa and they are interested in me leading a trip there, hopefully next year or the following year. More will be decided after the phone call. I will be promoting the trip along with other photo safari's and fishing safari's. This sounds like something I could do for the next couple years along with my own RV travels.

I want to get some photos like these...



I may also plan another Bonefishing Trip...maybe to Andros Island or back to Acklins?





In the meantime here are a few from around the park as the season winds down...(see my reflection in Yogi's nose?)




The new playground at the park!



I am also looking forward to my winter back in Twentynine Palms and will be holding a few day photography trips into Joshua Tree NP - I have contacted a tour company and hopefully will be helping them this winter.

I am also excited about my upcoming trip across country and have stops planned in the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest and also Smokey Mountain National Park for fall colors...

Stay Tuned - the calendars should be here before the end of the month...see everyone at the next LMNM.

Capt. Jim - "The Wanderer"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest and Alaska!