Dates Jan 29–Feb 11, 2009
Leader Michele Westmorland
Fee $5,995 from Cape Town, South Africa
Deposit $850
Limit 15
Special Terms and Conditions

South Africa has reinvented itself in the past decade—all to the great delight of travelers wishing to visit this country at the southern tip of Africa. Today, Cape Town, the “mother city” of South Africa, is the continent’s number one tourist destination—a thriving multicultural metropolis surrounded by stunning mountains, a fruitful wine country and vast coastal plains.

Long before the Dutch discovered the Cape Peninsula, it was home to the Khoisan people, who lived on the land
and worshiped a powerful spiritual force within the huge mountain they called Hoerikwaggo. Now called Table Mountain because of its distinctive flat top, the escarpment is preserved as a national park and is the commanding backdrop to much of the imagery we will capture on our tour. The exhilarating ascent of Table Mountain by cable car provides a 360-degree panorama of Cape Town. Short walks from the station at the top take visitors through unusual South African flora that frame expansive views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Cape Town complements the mountain’s natural beauty with eye-catching design and vibrant color in everything from the brightly-painted buildings of the Bo-Kaap district to the lively bustle of Greenmarket Square. Located near the city, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is a treasure—famous for its tailored natural beauty and the diversity of the luxuriant Cape flora it displays. While near the city we’ll also take time to meet and photograph Xhosa women who will model their traditional dress for our group.

We couldn’t miss photographing the entertaining African penguins at Boulders Beach. Formerly called jackass penguins because of their braying call, they are easily photographed from a convenient boardwalk. Many adults, with young fluffy chicks being protected at the nest, can be found a few feet from the walkway. Apart from the penguins, the huge granite boulders on the beach provide dramatic scenic imagery.

A short drive from Cape Town brings us to its world-renowned wine country, where three-centuries-old Dutch homesteads stand amid fertile vineyards and along the eastern flank of Table Mountain. At the time we visit, the grapes will be ripe and the foliage a
deep golden-red, perfect contrasts against the dark mountainside and the stark white gabled inns. The hospitality, beauty and history of the villages of Stellenbosch, Paarl, Wellington and Franschhoek will capture your heart, as well as provide striking wineland images.

Bushmanskloof Wilderness Reserve, a South African natural heritage site, is located in the Cedarburg Mountains. Its plains, rocky outcrops, canyons, rivers and waterfalls are home to hartebeest, mountain zebra, bontebok, gemsbok (oryx) and klipspringer. Bushmanskloof also offers fantastic photography with more than 130 pristine Bushman rock art sites, some dating back 10,000 years. Guided rock art walks, sunset nature drives and a full day at the Lambert’s Bay gannet colony offer excellent opportunities for scenic and wildlife photography.

This informative, relaxed photo shoot around South Africa’s “Mother City” is offered to women of all photographic skill levels and will provide many great experiences, a host of intriguing images, and informative instruction—as well as being a lot of fun!



Day 1
Depart from home.

Day 2 (Jan 30, 2009)
Arrive in Cape Town. Meet for dinner at our hotel just above the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. (D)

Days 3–5
Explore Cape Town, including False Bay and Table Mountain for extraordinary panoramic views over the city and the Cape of Good Hope at the tip of the continent. Shoot city lights at dusk. (BLD)

Day 6
Photograph Xhosa women in traditional dress, then drive to the wine country in Stellenbosch and environs. (BLD)

Days 7–8
We enjoy the historic buildings, patterned vineyards, harvest colors and stunning landscapes of mountains rising from this lush agricultural valley. Balloon trips over vineyards are an option here. (BLD)

Day 9
Drive to Bushmanskloof Reserve, photographing en route. (BLD)

Days 10–11
Game drives in open vehicles and tours of rock art sites. Visit the Lambert’s Bay gannet colony. (BLD)

Day 12
We return to Cape Town for our final photo sessions. (BLD)

Day 13 (Feb 10)
Depart for home.

Day 14
Arrive home.





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