Logistics

Costs include:

• Full accommodation on shared basis at Lewa
• All meals while at Lewa
• Airport transfers
• Round trip domestic flight Nairobi-Lewa
• One night of hotel in Nairobi
• Film making instruction
• Guides and touring whilst staying at Lewa

Costs do not include:

• International airport departure tax
• International airfares
• Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
• Visa fees
• Health & travel insurance
• All alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks of choice
• Items of a personal nature (laundry, phone calls, postage, etc.)
• Tips & gratuities to courier, driver/guides and hotel staff

Instructors

Jeff Morales
Jeff’s affiliation with National Geographic Television dates back to 1992.  As a staff producer in the natural history unit, he crafted award-winning films, garnering four National Emmy awards and ten National Emmy nominations. His innovative 90-minute film chronicling the violent struggle for survival between South Africa’s great carnivores, “Predators At War”, won the prestigious New York Festivals Gold Medal for Directing and the Emmy for Outstanding Nature, Science and Technology program.   Today, based out of his home on Bowen Island, British Columbia, Jeff researches, develops, produces, directs and shoots a wide range of wildlife and human subjects for National Geographic, Discovery, Animal Planet and The Nature Conservancy among others. He is currently in production on a blue chip saltwater crocodile film that will air on the National Geographic Channel in 2010 and is co-instructing a Scientific Filmmaking course at the Bamfield Marine Science Center on the west coast of Vancouver Island. A native of Southern California, Morales received his degree in Government & International Studies from the University of Notre Dame in 1986. After spending several years abroad, at various times supporting himself as a factory worker in Detroit, first mate on a sailing yacht in the Bahamas and a bluegrass musician in Paris and Rome, Jeff pursued his interest in the natural world. As a research assistant and bio-technician, Jeff spent several seasons conducting field research on the Alaska Peninsula, the Chesapeake Bay, the Channel Islands of California, and the rainforests of Queensland, Australia.

Colin Bates
As a biologist, videographer, photographer, musician, and polar expedition guide, Colin Bates has used both art and science to explore the human connection with the natural world. Colin has studied marine science from the west coast of Vancouver Island to the Bay of Fundy, and he has a Ph.D. in biology from the University of British Columbia. He is now an adjunct professor in the Botany Department at UBC, and lives and works out of the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre. In 2007, Colin was hired as the head videographer for Peregrine Adventures, and he has produced videos in the Canadian High Arctic, Greenland, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Antarctica. Colin’s photography has been published in countless books, newspapers, and magazines, and adorns the walls of thousands of happy citizens worldwide. As a professional musician, Colin is also enthusiastic about recording and editing audio. Colin is the ‘science and technical’ half of the team, and he looks forward to sharing his knowledge about nature and filmmaking with you. 

About Lewa Conservancy

Lewa is a leading Kenya conservancy in the region of Lakipia, in Northern Kenya.  Originally owned as a cattle ranch by the Craig family, Lewa now boasts accomplished conservation and community programs:  Rhino, Elephant, Giraffe, Lion, Cheetah, Hyaena, Grevy’s Zebra and many other species now thrive on Lewa land.  Community programs include schools, health services, water stewardship projects and other forms of outreach. 

You will be staying--on an exclusive basis--at Lewa House, which overlooks the luggas (valleys) and hills, with the horizon rising to the eye-catching views of the Mathews range and the sacred mountain of the Samburu, Ol Lolokwe.

The property has a main building with a lounge and dining area, opening up to the charmingly furnished stretch veranda with its own special vista across the plains of Northern Kenya. A short walk away, there are three large cottages each with a double and a twin room, making the property suitable for up to twelve people. All the cottages have en-suite bathrooms plus a private veranda where guests can sit in the cool of the evening to enjoy the starlit African skies. A large swimming pool overlooking the waterhole with a thatched bar area are also yours to enjoy at Lewa House.

Eating and relaxing takes place in the spacious lounge and dining areas with comfortable sofas, an open fire, fresh flowers, paintings, carvings and piles of coffee table books to read.

Film & Computer Equipment

Guests are encouraged to bring their own video camera, because it is best to learn how to use equipment that will be available to you after the  ends. For those who do not have a video camera, we will have several cameras that can be shared between guests.  Guests should also bring their own laptops. We recommend a Mac-based workflow with iMovie HD as the editing software standard. Guests with PC laptops are encouraged to acquire Adobe Acrobat Elements software. As a minimum hardware standard, we recommend 2Ghz Intel-based Mac with 2 GB of RAM. We also recommend that guests bring an external hard drive to backup footage and edit files. Make sure to bring all required cables and chargers for your equipment.

Recommended Reading

Making Documentary Films and Videos: A Practical Guide to Planning, Filming, and Editing Documentaries by Barry Hampe
Filmmakers Handbook 2008 Edition by Steven Ascher
Wildlife Films by Derek Bouse 

Flights

Please schedule your international arrival into Nairobi.

Visas

Visas are available upon arrival at the airport in Nairobi.

Vaccinations

Please check with your travel clinic or doctor for recommended vaccinations.  Malaria medication is a personal choice, but is usually not needed when traveling in Northern Kenya.