UK Accessible Safaris
Currently available as a tailor made photographic safari
"Disability was not a barrier to continuing my photographic safaris"
Jackie Strong, 2019
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Each of our UK accessible safaris is a sensitively designed individual photography tour based solely around your interests and abilities. Just tell us what you're interested in photographing and, through her extensive network of contacts and knowledge of the best UK wildlife and landscape locations, Trai will personally design and accompany you on a private specialist safari.
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UK Accessible Safari Highlights
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Accessible individual photography tours of Northern England & Scotland
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Innovative & flexible tailor-made itineraries
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Focus on your interests including wildlife and land/seascapes
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Specialised hides and exclusive bookings ensure the best photographic opportunities
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Wildlife highlights include osprey, white tailed eagle, pine marten, kingfisher, deer, red squirrel, red kite, gannet, puffin & other breeding seabirds, owls, seals
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Include magnificent landscapes & traditional cultural experiences
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1-2-1 Photography & Videography Tuition from award-winning wildlife photographer, film maker, BBC presenter and travel writer Trai Anfield in her home country.
Please note that the experiences mentioned are suggestions, and we will tailor your itinerary to reflect your party's interests and abilities as well as the species and events available at the time you choose to travel.
Scotland Suggestions
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In The Highlands
Osprey: no other area affords better chances of photographing these glorious birds head on in flight and diving for fish. We will make use of specialist hides and to maximise our chances we will book in for two morning sessions.
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Dolphin: bottlenose dolphin and porpoise are a regular delight off the coast of Northern Scotland. We will have opportunities to photograph them from the shoreline, as they swim and play unbelievably close by, on the hunt for running salmon, and also from the water on our boat charter.
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Pine marten: to see these lovely creatures in good light is indeed a treat! During spring and summer when they have their young, martens can regularly be seen at this hide throughout the day. We hope to be lucky enough to see the kits with their mother as they are introduced to the outside world.
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Red Squirrel: No Scotland safari would be complete without antics from these gorgeous wee animals. Lithe, curious and full of mischief, they are wonderful subjects to photograph over and over again!
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Stunning landscapes and traditional cultural experiences are also on offer as we head through the glens, and of course you're in the home of whiskey so there's always a wee dram to hand!
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On The Islands
White tailed sea eagles are one of Scotland's most magnificent wildlife sightings, and also one of the country's great conservation success stories. During our bespoke photography boat trip we will spend several hours out at sea with these awesome birds as they patrol the skies above and dive for fish close to the boat. A thrilling experience and a real photographic challenge!
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Otters are shy but on our local expert guide will get us as close to these charming creatures as possible, on foot on a private otter trek.
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Birdlife on the islands includes golden eagle, hen harrier, short eared owl, while the coast attracts a plethora of waders in summer too.
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Puffins are undoubtedly the bird that most people visit the Treshnish Isles to see, and here you'll encounter them closer than anywhere else, making for wonderful photography. Although puffins may be the stars, you'll also find over 40 different species of birds on Lunga, including razorbills, thousands of guillemots on the Harp Rock, fulmars, storm petrels, kittiwakes, herring gulls, and shags (plus if we're lucky a few rarer migrants). As well as concentrating on the birds - the coast attracts a plethora of waders in summer too - we will look out for whales, basking sharks, dolphins, porpoise and seals from the boat, and visit Fingals Cave on the Isle of Staffa - a hugely impressive geological wonder that also happens to be very photogenic.
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Flora is another highlight,, with a variety of habitats and little gems like sundew on this jewel of Scottish islands.
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Landscapes All of the islands offer incredible landscape opportunities, and if your photographic interests include landscape we will certainly prioritise this in your itinerary when choosing which islands to visit. If you're very lucky, in winter months it is also possible to see the extraordinary aurora borealis or northern lights at times.
Hidden Gems
Kingfisher - one of the most beautiful and dynamic birds to photograph - this hide is the UK's premier location for those WOW! shots
Sparrowhawk - Chris Packham's World's Best Bird, and star of BBC Autumnwatch 2015 - sparrowhawk Mad Max (& Mrs Max!)
Exclusive use of the hides used on Autumnwatch to photograph and video these tremendous sparrowhawks.
What Chris says about Mad Max: "Best bird I've ever seen..." "Awesome..." "The greatest individual bird on planet earth..."
Watch Mad Max & Chris Packham's encounter on Autumnwatch at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p037b652
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Fox - excellent twilight opportunities to photograph this much loved native UK species
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Tawny Owl - night time draws out the wonderful tawny owl and our specialist hide virtually guarantees stunningly lit images, both in flight and feeding on natural perches
Adder - we're pretty keen to bet that this is as close as you could ever get to this fascinating and beautiful creature - a one-off photographic opportunity
Badger - the hides here provide excellent access to this perennial favourite of UK wildlife. Being able to photograph badgers here in daylight and close proximity means you'll go home with wonderfully intimate shots
Cuckoo - just back from Africa, these birds are keen to mate and put on a display for photography that's unmatched anywhere in the UK
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Red Kite - the spectacle of up to 150 red kites spiralling overhead is a dizzying one. With exhilarating opportunities to photograph the birds in flight, diving for food and dull in mid air, this is the perfect opportunity to bag a unique image.
Dipper / Pied Flycatcher - from these hides you will have the chance to photograph busy parent birds bringing in food for their hungry chicks
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...and you're always likely to see a few surprise guests such as red squirrel, deer and countless woodland birds!
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North East England suggestions
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Kingfisher - one of the most beautiful and dynamic birds to photograph - this hide is a premier location for those WOW! shots
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Tawny & Barn Owls- night time draws out the wonderful tawny and barn owls to a specialist hide with lighting offering possibilities for flight and static images
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Otter - one of the few hides to offer otter photography by night, with specialist lighting, this is a very special experience
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3 native British deer - herds of red, roe and fallow deer in stately settings make for wonderful photographic opportunities
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Breeding Sea Birds - Three of the most incredible locations for photographing our brilliant British seabirds are in the area covered by our North of England itinerary, including Sir David Attenborough's favourite location The Farne Islands, teeming with charismatic puffins during the summer breeding season.
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Diving Gannets - take a boat trip to experience the exhilaration of gannets diving for fish all around you!
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Seals - The North of England also offers wonderful places to photograph Atlantic (grey) seals, and common seals, found in numbers along the coast here, especially in Autumn, when they give birth to cute white and fluffy pups.
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Castles & Coasts - Northumberland is home to spectacular castles - more per square mile than any other county! Some of the most photogenic are also easily accessible and make for fabulous landscape subjects at any time of year.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
Jackie inspired these accessible safaris, so it's fitting you hear first hand what a difference they've made for her.
FEEDBACK ON MY WLDLIFE ODESSEY TO NE ENGLAND
'I am a lover of Africa, its people and its wildlife and celebrate that through the medium of photography. For over forty years my husband and I visited the continent at every opportunity. Then I was diagnosed with a degenerative neurological condition which affected , amongst other things, my ability to walk any distance and carry heavy weights. This caused me to make a decision to draw a line under my Africa experiences. The additional responsibilities laid on those responsible for me were too great in my opinion.
I met Trai Anfield on my last trip to Africa and she was not daunted by my condition. She suggested that a wildlife safari in the UK was a possibility and she offered to research and set up a personalised tour that looked at UK wildlife but was tailored to my condition. As a result in 2018 we embarked on a wildlife safari to Scotland, which was so successful that we planned another similar trip for 2019 along the coastal strip of NE England. It was equally as good and probably covered even more than our Scottish trip thanks to Trai’s careful planning and concern for my capabilities.
I can only speak positively of:
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Trai's sensitivity to my physical condition, reflected in her personal chauffeuring between venues, her ability to carry numerous heavy bags - leaving me to carry only the sandwiches - and her clever choice of hides and other wildlife venues which required little walking.
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Her choice of wildlife destinations which were of the highest quality enabling great photographic opportunities.
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Her extensive photographic skills and experience which she willingly attempted to pass on to me. Information was always conveyed in simple, understandable language and repeated as often as needed. No question was too silly. She was extremely patient!!
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Her willingness to be flexible in the delivery of the itinerary.
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Her choice of overnight stays which were varied, attractive and sometimes unusual
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Her pleasant company and easy personality
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To summarise: the holiday was constructed with great care, in consultation with me, addressing my needs such as my interests and level of skill and my physical capabilities. Disability was not a barrier to continuing my photographic safaris where an empathetic approach was taken to planning, it just required a change to the formula and the help of a friendly Guide. This wildlife safari was of high quality and delivered in a flexible way. Whilst I still miss Africa this experience demonstrates what interesting and varied wildlife we have in the UK and with a little effort and advice how any of us can find it and enjoy it. Thank you Trai."
Jaqueline Strong
May 2019
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2020 Rates & Dates
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Each accessible safari is tailored to your individual interests and mobility levels, so please contact us for a bespoke quotation.
Your quote will include all photographic tuition, accommodation; excursion fees, hide fees & entry fees; transport, transfers & parking fees; breakfasts, drinking water, car snacks & daily sundowner drink.
Excludes meals other than breakfasts, journeys to/from safari start & end points, travel insurance.
Please note that a deposit is requested upon booking to secure accommodation & hides.
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Please be advised that, due to her other commitments, Trai only runs a maximum of three individual UK safaris each year, usually during the months of May and June, and these slots can become booked up quickly.
Please note that the experiences mentioned are suggestions only, and we will tailor your itinerary to reflect your party's interests and abilities as well as the species and events available at the time you choose to travel.