2014 Synopsis

WILDLIFE, PAINTING & WALKING ENCOUNTERS

OF A DIFFERENT KIND…..

Bespoke Holidays with World-Class Experts

2014 Advance Programme

Next year’s events and programmes are gradually taking shape with some cracking trips and exciting opportunities. Here’s a taster with more trips and events to evolve in the next few months. I hope there is something for everyone and you are able to join us on one of our programmes.Scroll down for details of our Painting Holidays and Cultural Walks.

 WILDLIFE & JOINT-VENTURE CONSERVATION SAFARIS

Tigers, African Wild Dogs, Wolves & Mountain Gorillas

Tiger Encounters of different kind with tiger specialist Stephen Mills 

4 – 16 February 2014                                         £5,995.00 / US$9,500.00                             8 – 10 guests

Join tiger specialist Stephen Mills in Bandhavgarh & Kanha National Parks, where he has filmed and recorded data on tigers since the 1970s. Everyone who has travelled with Stephen has seen a tiger – testimony that travelling with an expert in tiger behaviour & someone who knows the parks intimately offers you the best chance of seeing tigers in the wild. See more details Tiger Safari

African Wild Dog Conservation Safari, Zimbabwe with Steve Leonard, Patron of PDC & Dr Greg Rasmussen, Research Director of  PDC

7 – 18 June 2014                                         £8,495.00 / US$13,200.00                                  6 – 10 guests

First ever opportunity to visit Painted Dog Conservation’s research projects, rehabilitation centre and education facilities in Mana Pools and Hwange National Park with TV vet & PDC Patron Steve Leonard, and Research Director Greg Rasmussen. Also enjoy Zimbabwe’s abundant wildlife and visit the Victoria Falls; one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This safari financially supports the work of PDC and the survival of this endangered species. see more details African Wild Dog joint venture safari

Close Encounters with Mountain Gorillas & Golden Monkeys, Rwanda & Uganda with naturalist & wildlife film-maker Stephen Mills

23 September – 2 October 2014                      £10,995.00/ US$17,300.00                      6 – 8 guests

Join naturalist, wildlife film-maker and author Stephen Mills on three tracking forays in search of habituated silverbacks and their gorilla families, as well as golden monkeys in Rwanda and Uganda. Visit the Dian Fossey research centre and observe lions and other wildlife along the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park. See more details Mountain Gorillas and Silverbacks

Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Safari with Prof Claudio Sillero, Director of EWCP                  

5 – 15 November 2014                                      £7,000.00 / US$11,000.00                             4 – 7 guests

Accompany Claudio Sillero, Director of EWCP and help collect data on wolf packs in the Bale Mountains, and observe the emergence of new pups typically born in October. Wolf watching is done on foot, horseback and in 4×4 vehicles. This is a unique expedition in to the world of Ethiopian wolves and a rare opportunity to experience conservation biology in action. This safari financially supports the work of EWCP and the survival of this endangered species. see more details of this years wolf expedition

Wildlife Encounters with Simon King

Naturalist and wildlife film-maker Simon King hosts intimate safaris exclusively with us. These are very special and personal wildlife encounters like no other – superlative in every sense and every way.  His new and exciting plans for 2014 will be announced very shortly.  Call to register your interest.                                           

PAINTING HOLIDAYS

With Ken Howard RA, Peter Brown, Lucy Willis & Hazel Soan

Paint in Old Havana with Peter Brown                              

24 February – 11 March 2014                          £3,995.00 / US$6,300.00                         8 – 12 students

First ever opportunity to work alongside Peter Brown. Join him in one of the most colourful and dynamic cities in the world. ‘Pete the Street’ is a highly respected figurative painter, well known for capturing the essence of street scenes – Old Havana will be perfect and inspirational. See more details Old Havana.

Sahara & Sea en plein air with Hazel Soan

15 – 25 March 2014                                            £2,395.00 / US$3,800.00                      12 – 15 students

Join Hazel Soan in the land of a ‘Thousand & One Nights’. Paint the diverse architecture, landscapes and people from the Sahara to the Sea in Tunisia. This two centred painting holiday is based in Sidi Bou Said on the Mediterranean coast and close to the ruins at Carthage and in the holy city of Kairouan on the edge of the Sahara. See more details Sahara & Sea en plein air.

Gardens & Palaces of Tivoli and Ninfa with Hazel Soan

16 – 24 May 2014                                               £2,195.00 / US$3,500.00                       12 – 16 students

The dreamily romantic gardens of the villas d’Este, Adriana and Gregoriana in Tivoli and of nearby Villa Aldobrandini and Giardino Di Ninfa are typically a blaze of colour and heavily scented with roses in full bloom, in late May. Fountains, palaces and the small medieval town of Palestrina provide variety, definition and more earthy colours. These wonderful gardens and palaces will be perfect for Hazel to demonstrate her use of colours and the properties of pigments, as explored in her forthcoming book ‘Watercolour Rainbow’.   

The Light in Venice with Ken Howard RA

14 – 21 & 21 – 28 June 2014                            £2,995.00 / US$4,800.00                              12 students

An exclusive and rare opportunity to work alongside Ken Howard; one of our most revered Royal Academicians, in his favourite location and as he captures the light moving across Venice. Accommodation in the heart of Venice on Dorsoduro – just a short walk across the Grand Canal to the Piazza San Marco.  See more details Venice

Impressionist’s Paris, the Seine & Giverny with Lucy Willis

14 – 23 August 2014                                          £3,595.00 / US$5,700.00                                12 students

Lucy Willis invites you to join her in glorious Paris and to paint the bridges, squares and bohemian cafes in the Marais and Montmartre so favoured by Monet, Pissarro and Renoir, as well as scenes along the River Seine in Rueil-Malmaison, Bougival, Marly Le Roi, St Germain and Giverny, immortalised by Monet and Sisley. As with the Impressionists, Lucy’s work aims to capture the effects of fleeting light. Travel by train and accommodation in the central Marais district near Ile St-Louis and Place des Vosges.

Out of Africa Wildlife Painting with Hazel Soan

4 – 17 October 2014                                          £5,795.00 / US$9,200.00                       10 – 13 students

Join Hazel Soan on a painting safari to Africa’s greatest plains. Paint the ‘Big Five’ on the Serengeti Plains, in Tarangire National Park & the Ngorongoro Crater, capture the colours and essence of the bush and the magnificence of Maasai tribesmen. Accommodation in authentic ‘Out of Africa’ style tented camps. See more details Out of Africa Painting Safari

CULTURAL WALKS

Lost Kingdoms in Upper Mustang with walking leader and navigation expert Pete Hawkins

26 April – 14 May                                                £6,575.00 / US$10,500.00                         3 – 5 ramblers

There is no other place on earth like Lo Manthang – it is a remote lost Kingdom on a Himalayan plateau in Upper Mustang close to the Tibetan border. Home to just 900 Lhoba inhabitants, it was closed to the outside until 1992 and is still only accessible on foot or by 4×4 vehicles. It is a 5-day walk along an ancient trade route, taken at a leisurely pace to absorb the magnificent scenery and culture, and overnighting in traditional teahouses. This is a fully portered and catered trek. See more details hike in Upper Mustang