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"Spots in the
Grass" © Alison
Nicholls |
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"Running
from the Rain" © Alison Nicholls |
Art Safaris
On an Art Safari you will enjoy the luxury and comfort of southern Africa's
best safari camps while sketching and painting an exciting array of wildlife
species and landscapes. Wildlife Artist Alison Nicholls will help you
capture both the movement and the quieter times of the African bush.
Paint
Africa
Paint Africa trips combine a short wildlife safari with another destination
of your choice. For example, a South African Paint Africa trip might combine
a 3-night Art Safari in a private camp on the outskirts of Kruger National Park
with a 4 night Cape Winelands visit.
Both Art Safaris and Paint
Africa trips offer exclusive art tuition with Alison
and a relaxed and friendly creative environment. You will leave
with a new understanding of the wildlife and landscapes of Africa
and a sketchbook brimming with your own drawings and paintings.
These unique trips allow you to work at your own pace and are suitable
for beginners or more practiced artists. They provide a wonderful
means of enhancing your sketching abilities while still enjoying
all that you expect from an African vacation. Non-painting partners
are welcome.
SAFARI COSTS
Aug
2008 Safari -
9 nights: [6 openings]
$13,500
per person sharing (if 4 guests traveling), $12,400 (if 5 guests
traveling), $11,400 (if 6 guests
traveling).
SINGLE
SUPPLEMENT: $1,450
These safaris will depart
with a minimum of 4 guests and a maximum of 6 guests.
Due to the limited number of spaces available, If a guest is willing
to share and we can match with another guest of the same gender,
the single supplement will not be charged. However, if there is
no suitable match, the single supplement surcharge will apply.
No triple rooms are accepted. |
The
Artist / Tutor
Alison Nicholls is
a wildlife and landscape artist who lived in Botswana and
Zimbabwe for nearly nine years and has traveled extensively
throughout the southern African region. Through her watercolor
paintings and sketches Alison captures her impressions
of Africa - the wildlife, landscapes and the elusive
quality of the light. As your tutor, Alison will pass on
her knowledge of art techniques and materials, but equally
importantly, she will use her extensive experience of painting
in the African bush to show you how to capture all aspects
of wildlife - the movement as well as the quieter
moments.
Alison is a Signature member
of the Worldwide Nature Artists Group and frequently donates
paintings to conservation groups in the southern African region
to help with fundraising efforts. Her most recent donations
were to the Cheetah Conservation Fund (based in Namibia) and
the Painted Dog Conservation project (based in Zimbabwe). The
US Department of State has also used one of her paintings as
the backdrop for a flyer promoting the "Coalition Against
Wildlife Trafficking" initiative.
Alison's latest
exhibition of watercolors was hosted by the Botswana Mission
to the United Nations in Manhattan. Recently she began a program
of slide talks aimed at showcasing southern Africa and its
wildlife, with 75% of her slide talk fees donated to the Painted
Dog Conservation project in Zimbabwe. Click here to visit Alison's
website http://www.nichollswildlifeart.com/. |
Alison Nicholls sketching in Africa
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Alison sketching from a vehicle
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Trip Details
Our trips are designed for artists and potential artists of all standards.
Beginners are welcome, as are non-painting partners. The relaxed
and fun atmosphere allows each participant to work at their own
pace and in their own way.
The only requirement is a desire to sketch and a blank sketchbook!
Pencil and watercolor sketch © Alison
Nicholls
Prior to departure, Alison will
contact you to discuss your particular interests so that when we
depart we will already have a good idea of what everyone hopes to
achieve during their trip (even if your hope is just to have a great
time and try something new!). We will decide our agenda for each
day and depending on your wishes, we may find an appropriate landscape
to paint for 3 hours or we may wander, stopping frequently, to take
advantage of quick sketching opportunities.
Between game activities
or after the day's painting is finished, Alison will conduct
short workshops covering topics such as composition, color palette
and the use of light. Guests will be free to attend all sessions
or relax if they prefer. Each evening we will plan our activities
for the following day.
During the Art Safari portion of
your trip the majority of time will be spent sketching wildlife from
an open safari vehicle, although there will also be opportunities
for us to leave the vehicle and spend longer periods of time painting
landscapes. Due to the Art Safari content of the trips, guest numbers
will be limited to a maximum of 5 on each trip so that all participants
can travel in one vehicle with Alison and the Safari Guide. Groups
of more than 5 can be accommodated on request.
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Elephant sketch © Alison
Nicholls |
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Lioness sketch © Alison
Nicholls |
Itinerary
We will customize an itinerary upon request for small
groups or individuals. Scheduled departure dates will be arranged in the near
future. Please contact us if you would like to be informed of scheduled
departure dates as they become available. Art Safaris and Paint Africa trips
are available in a variety of African countries. Please contact us with your
requirements and we will happily talk to you about possibilities in the area
of your choice.
Materials
Participants may bring
their own materials or for an additional fee, we can supply a kit
as described below.
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Alison’s “Bush
Painting Kit” |
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Victoria Falls
(pencil & watercolor) © Alison
Nicholls |
Alison's Sketching Kit
• Pencils and Pens. I normally
take HB pencils, a 2B pencil, a 6B pencil, twenty or so watercolor
pencils, three or four black roller-point/uniball pens (water resistant,
fade resistant, 0.4mm) plus pencil sharpener, eraser and soft pencil
case. If you prefer you can also use colored pencils, pastel pencils
or any other kind of pens or pencils.
• Small portable set of
Watercolor Paints. The set should contain pans not tubes of paint
and should have mixing palettes and water container attached so that
you can hold your entire paint set in one hand and paint with the
other. I use a Windsor & Newton Artist‚s Field Box Set.
• Watercolor Paintbrushes.
I carry Windsor & Newton Cotman brushes Series III Round (or
equivalent) sizes 14, 8 and 3. I store them in my pencil case, protected
by small pieces of plastic tubing.
• Spiral-bound watercolor
pad. Minimum size 12" x 9". Maximum size 17" x
14". Cold press 140lb paper, normally containing 12 sheets
each.
• A spiral-bound sketchbook
preferably with hard front and back covers (at least one hard cover
is essential as we won't be using drawing boards when sketching
in the safari vehicle). Minimum size 12" x 9". Maximum
size 17" x 14". White paper. 65lb-75lb paper. At least
50 sheets.
• Plastic Container for
extra water. Must have a secure lid.
• Plastic Mixing Palette
(in addition to those on your portable watercolor kit).
• Two Binder / Bulldog
Clips large enough to hold the pages of your sketchbook and watercolor
pads in place.
• Soft portfolio or carrying
case to contain all sketching and painting materials. This should
be large enough to carry your sketchpads but no larger than necessary
as you will need to take it with you on the vehicle.
• You may also need a lightweight
easel and lightweight folding chair. This will depend upon the trip
destinations.
• Don’t
forget a good pair of binoculars and a camera.
If you bring your own paints, watercolor
pencils or pastel pencils, remember to make sure you have plenty
of reds, oranges, yellows, purples & blues as well as browns
and greens. The beauty of Africa is in its colors so don't
limit yourself to just the greens and browns you might expect to
see. The practicalities of traveling in the African bush mean that
mediums with long drying times are not recommended. Pans of watercolor
paint are preferable to tubes due to limited space for mixing palettes
while seated in a safari vehicle, however if you prefer to bring
tubes for painting when we are not aboard the vehicle please do.
Please also note that many mixing mediums and aerosol fixatives are
not allowed on international flights so if you intend to use pastels
you may not be able to fix them.
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"Broken
Tusk" © Alison
Nicholls |
How to
Book an Art Safari with Alison
Please contact us for details on how to book an Art Safari to Africa
with Alison.
AUGUST
2008 ITINERARY -
ART SAFARI
(12-Aug to 21-Aug) -
(9 nights)
[6 openings]
12-Aug to 13-Aug; (1 night)
INTER-CONTINENTAL
AIRPORT SUN HOTEL - Johannesburg, South Africa.  Jump
to Inter-Continental
Airport Sun |
 Arrive
Johannesburg. On arrival you will be met by a Wilderness Safaris
representative and will be assisted to the Airport Sun Inter-Continental.
The Inter-Continental Airport Sun is
situated right across from Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International
Airport. Each of the 138 rooms has its own bathroom, air conditioning,
television, radio, coffee and tea making facilities as well
as a mini-bar, access to 24-hour room service as well as in-room
flight information.
The hotel has a first class restaurant with an
informal atmosphere, offering modern cuisine from breakfast through
to late night a la carte dining. The cocktail bar is an ideal
meeting place for the international traveller. In-room dining
with an optional “flight friendly” menu is also available.
The hotel has its own health and fitness centre with fully equipped
gym as well as indoor heated pool and Camelot Health Spa offers
a full range of treatments. |
13-Aug to 15-Aug;
(2 Nights)
OKONJIMA BUSH CAMP & THE
AFRICAT FOUNDATION - Omboroko Mountains, Waterberg
Plateau, Namibia Jump
to Okonjima |
 This
morning the group will make its way to the International Departures
Hall for the scheduled flight to Windhoek. On
arrival in Windhoek, you will be met by a Wilderness Safaris
representative and transferred by light aircraft to Okonjima
Bush Camp.
Nestled in the Omboroko
Mountains, part of the Waterberg Plateau, lies the small,
family-run Okonjima Guest Farm, and home of the AfriCat
Foundation, which is committed to researching and rehabilitating
Namibia’s threatened wild cat population. This on-site
project offers the visitor the chance to learn about these
great cats as well as superb photographic opportunities.
Okonjima Main Camp offers
10 en-suite double rooms, a dining area, curio shop and swimming
pool with only one object in mind, to make your stay the highlight
of your trip through Namibia. Experience the bushman trail,
where guides demonstrate and explain the traditional lifestyle
and philosophy of these unique and ancient people. With over
300 different species of birds that have been positively identified
- this is a must for bird watchers and photographers alike.
Other activities include radio-tracking of the first rehabilitated
cheetah, nightly wild leopard feeds, game drives, guided and
self-guided nature trails. |
15-Aug to 18-Aug;
(3 Nights)
ONGAVA TENTED CAMP - Etosha,
Namibia Jump
to Ongava
Tented Camp |
 After
your morning activity, brunch and check-out, you will be transferred
by light aircraft to Ethosa.
Ongava Tented Camp is
situated along the southern boundary of Etosha National Park
in the 30,000-hectare, privately owned Ongava Game Reserve.
The small, tented camp is built in a different sector of
the reserve to Ongava Lodge. Accommodation comprises of 8
(although can be sold to 9 tents – one of which is
a 2 roomed family unit – if required for a group) large
comfortable walk-in tents, each with en-suite facilities,
including flush toilet and a hot shower. All meals are enjoyed
in the thatched dining area that overlooks an active waterhole.
There is also a small pool.
Activities include game drives
into the Okaukuejo area of Etosha where Lion, Elephant, Cheetah,
Gemsbok, Springbok, and Hartebeest can be seen at many of the
waterholes in the park. In addition, night drives and walks
with an armed guide are offered on the private reserve. Ongava
has resident White Rhino and Black Rhino, allowing guests staying
at Ongava the opportunity to see both species |
18-Aug to 21-Aug;
(3 Nights)
KULALA DESERT LODGE - Sossusvlei,
Namibia Jump
to Kulala
Desert Lodge |
 After
your morning activity, brunch and check-out, you will be transferred
by light aircraft to Sossusvlei.
Situated on over 21, 000
hectares of private property and bordering the Namib Naukluft
Park, Kulala Desert Lodge lies in the heart of the
Namib and offers magnificent views of the famous red dunes
of Sossusvlei as well as magnificent mountainous scenery
and vast open plains.
Fifteen thatched and canvas
chalets or “Kulalas” (Kulala in the Namibian language “oshiwambo” means “to
sleep”) with en-suite bathrooms and showers are set on
wooden platforms to provide maximum airflow. An option for
outdoor enthusiasts is that bedrolls can be moved to the rooftop
to sleep under the stars.The main lodge, with décor
inspired by northern Africa, has a lounge, pub, dining area
and plunge pool, and offers a wrap-around veranda that overlooks
the waterhole and provides a perfect location to view and photograph
the desert scenery.
Early morning guided nature
drives to the spectacular dunes are through a private gate
on the Tsauchab River. Nature drives and walks are also offered
on the private reserve with incredible views, desert animals
and smaller desert fauna and flora. Another option, at an extra
cost, is early morning ballooning, beginning at first light,
the 60-90 minute balloon safari offers a truly unique experience
to soar silently above the magnificent sand dunes and desert,
with a champagne breakfast being served at your landing site. |
21-Aug
After your morning activity, brunch and check-out, you will be transferred
by light aircraft to Windhoek for your scheduled flight back to Johannesburg,
where the safari ends.
See note below regarding travel extensions.
NOTE: Customized
extensions to this safari, including Cape Town, Botswana, Victoria
Falls and other destinations may be arranged through Eyes on Africa
as desired. Ask us for further information.
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Safari Packages
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