Planning the Logistics of Your Wildlife Trip
Planning the Logistics of Your Wildlife Trip
In this blog post, we want to discuss the accommodation and logistics of heading out on your photographic outing. With all the experience that I have photographing on every continent, I know that I have a few pointers that will help keep you safe and comfortable.
If you are going to a foreign destination, all these decisions will all unfold based on your workshop company, tour company, or hired guide’s suggestions. You will be presented with a variety of options based on the amenities, and your budget,
If you are doing a local outing, just remember that you want to be as close to the wildlife while having access to any amenities such as gas, food, etc. I am going to go out on a limb and suggest that you would rather have a short drive to your location before the sun comes up versus a long morning commute to the location. So, proximity to wildlife will also be a factor in the decisions you make.
Identifying a place to stay can be as simple as a google search to identify all the accommodation options available. But, when you are looking at some of the remote locations one might be looking at, not everyone is on the internet. I know, it’s hard to believe. But in more than one instance I have found accommodation by using the second resource that I want to suggest. That resource, ask questions to those that have already been to the location you are looking at.
Between both of these, you should be able to find any campsites, lodges, BnB, or hotels to choose from. Just make sure to ask the lodging about their amenities before you book. You don’t want to be caught off guard when you arrive. There could be a lack of power for recharging, there might be restrictions on campfires, or there might be restrictions on outdoor cooking.
When we travel on my own, we look for B&Bs. There is more room for all your gear and clothing, and it is more comfortable than a hotel room. You can also eat better by doing the cooking for yourself versus eating out at restaurants every day while on the road.
When staying at a B&B there is also no room service traffic coming and going each day while we are out of my room, or trying to sleep mid-day because your photographic hours often conflict with the hours’ room service wants to get into your room. When I am staying at a hotel I will hang the do not disturb sign on my door. Do you really need a maid to make my bed every day? I am perfectly capable of keeping my own room clean.
When we travel to locations that require a vehicle to access the wildlife I always rent a vehicle. I prefer a larger 4x4 SUV. More room for my camera gear, and the 4x4 capability if I need it. Plus, I often go into areas where I might want to be taking my own vehicle.
Just make sure you cover off a few things before you rent a vehicle.
Is there anywhere where you cannot take the vehicle? In the Yukon for example, you have to have a specific type of vehicle to drive on the Dempster Highway.
My suggestion is to take out the insurance coverage unless you have certain credit cars. You should also consult your own insurance company and talk to your credit card companies to fully understand who covers what. You do not want to make assumptions that you are covered when you might still be liable for a huge deductible.
Call the local towing companies to find out what their policies are. If you are headed off the grid you need to understand if you can get vehicle support in some of the areas you are potentially traveling to. Weather Considerations
The weather research you do must play an important part in your trip planning. There could be instances that the species you want to photograph is best photographed in conditions that are not always a perfect 70 and sunny. You should check historical weather patterns in the area you want to visit. I like to use Weather Underground for this research. Then talk to the people that have experience in the area in order to help you make a plan of when to visit the target species.
It’s just not you that are going to be spending time out in the elements. You have invested money in the camera gear and you want to keep that safe as well.
I have never encountered conditions that my camera gear has not survived. I have photographed in the winter at -40F in Yellowstone, and I have photographed in the extreme heat of 110F of Namibia. My success and comfort came from being prepared with the right gear and clothing. We will cover the kind of gear that I use in a PDF with this course to ensure you have a successful shoot in the wild.
Regardless of your destination, foreign, or domestic it is always a good idea to talk to people that have been to the location you want to go to. You can conduct all the research you want during your planning phase. But a couple of first-hand accounts with people that have been there will be a sound decision.
We now want to cover off when you should book your trip. How Far In Advance?
Some locations do not require lots of advance booking. But there are a lot of global destinations that have limited access and minimal transportation options, coupled with high demand. To get your preferred timing and the desired itinerary I would suggest booking your ground-based part of your wildlife trips 12 to 18 months before you travel.
Locations like Galapagos, Great Bear Rainforest in Canada, Antarctica, and Africa get booked well over a year to two years in advance. Leaving bookings at a location like this may cause you to book in boats and lodging that may not be ideal, forcing you to look at alternative times, and cost you more money, even put you at risk of putting the trip off a year.
You are best to consult your tour company, guide, or workshop company that is promoting an International trip you are looking at.
Flights go on sale 11 months before your departure, but don't expect to catch any airline deals more than 150 days prior to takeoff. Fares will usually only start to fluctuate downwards at the five-month mark when carriers begin to adjust pricing in-line with demand. That said, it's certainly worth doing a little forward planning, because prices will typically soar in the three weeks leading up to departure, leaving spontaneous passengers to pay a whole load more for their seats.
Personally, I prefer to pay a bit more and book the desired routing 11 months before my trips are to take place. You are best to consult a travel agent before you book your flights.
Let's turn our attention to who you should be booking your larger trips with. If you are looking at an international trip, it's always prudent to hire a guide or a company that has experience with a specific species, or area. But with all those decisions on who to book with, how do you decide who will offer you the best trip? Well. we have some suggestions that will help you make the best decision in the next blog post.