Photo Safaris By Region AFRICA - Botswana Wildlife - Madagascar - Masai Mara Wildlife Reserve, Kenya ANTARCTICA - Ultimate Antarctica ASIA - Essential China—Iconic Landmarks & Landscapes - India—Rajasthan & Puskar Fair - Japan's Winter Wildlife - Laos & Vietnam - Mongolia—The Golden Eagle Festival EUROPE - Best of the Greek Isles - Eclectic Holland - Finland's Arctic Wildlife - Turkey—Continental Crossroads - Tuscany - White Horses of France's Camargue NORTH AMERICA - Alaska Overland - Aurora Borealis—Fairbanks, Alaska - Bald Eagles of the Chilkat River, Alaska - Bosque del Apache & White Sands, New Mexico - Brown Bears of Katmai National Park in Summer - Brown Bears of Katmai National Park in Autumn - Colorado Fall Colors - Denali National Park in Autumn - Exploring Lake Powell - Florida Birds—Best of the West - Grand Canyon at Havasu Falls - Great Smoky Mountains - Horses & Icons of the Wild West - Humpback Whales of Alaska's Inside Passage - Mexico's Colonial Heartland - Monument Valley & Slot Canyons - Nova Scotia—Photo Tour for Women - Olympic National Park, Washington - Predatory Animals of North America - Springtime in Callaway Gardens, Georgia - Ultimate Wolves - Ultimate Yellowstone - Washington's Palouse Country - World's Best Raptor Shoot - Yellowstone & Grand Tetons in Autumn - Nature & Digital Photography Seminars with John Shaw PACIFICA - Midway Atoll SOUTH & CENTRAL AMERICA - Galápagos - Patagonia's Mountain Landscapes - Ultimate Dolphins Wildlife Models Shoot - Wildlife of Brazil's Pantanal Photo Safaris By Date JANUARY - Ultimate Wolves - Nature & Digital Photography Seminars with John Shaw, Dallas, TX & Raleigh, NC - Ultimate Yellowstone FEBRUARY - Japan's Winter Wildlife MARCH - Florida Birds—Best of the West - Nature & Digital Photography Seminars with John Shaw, Phoenix, AZ & Boston, MA - Midway Atoll - Aurora Borealis—Fairbanks, Alaska - Monument Valley & Slot Canyons - White Horses of France's Camargue APRIL - Springtime in Callaway Gardens, Georgia - Galápagos - Finland's Arctic Wildlife - Patagonia's Mountain Landscapes - Eclectic Holland - Great Smoky Mountains - Grand Canyon at Havasu Falls - Mexico's Colonial Heartland MAY - Wildlife of Brazil's Pantanal - Turkey—Continental Crossroads - Ultimate Dolphins Wildlife Models Shoot - Best of the Greek Isles - Tuscany JUNE - Washington's Palouse Country - Predatory Animals of North America JULY - Brown Bears of Katmai National Park in Summer - Olympic National Park, Washington AUGUST - Washington's Palouse Country - Humpback Whales of Alaska's Inside Passage SEPTEMBER - Masai Mara Wildlife Reserve, Kenya - Denali National Park in Autumn - Alaska Overland - Essential China—Iconic Landmarks & Landscapes - Brown Bears of Katmai National Park in Autumn - Madagascar - Yellowstone & Grand Tetons in Autumn - Botswana Wildlife - Colorado Fall Colors - Predatory Animals of North America - Horses & Icons of the Wild West - Mongolia—The Golden Eagle Festival OCTOBER - Exploring Lake Powell - World's Best Raptor Shoot - Nova Scotia—Photo Tour for Women - India—Rajasthan & Puskar Fair NOVEMBER - Laos & Vietnam - Ultimate Antarctica - Bald Eagles of the Chilkat River, Alaska DECEMBER - Bosque del Apache & White Sands, New Mexico

		Dates Apr 4–12, 2007 Leader Jeff Foott Fee $4,795 from Buenos Aires, Argentina Deposit $400 Limit 6 Terms and Conditions A small pod of distant orcas patrols the shoreline contemplating their next move as the rising tide brings the southern sea lion colony closer to the waterline. Newborn pups scamper obliviously along the beach, unaware of the impending danger lurking just offshore. A male orca enters the "channel of attack," a trough of somewhat deeper water that allows the giant dolphin even closer access to its intended prey. In an amazing display of subterfuge, he rotates sideways keeping his six-foot dorsal fin hidden just below the surface. With several awesome thrusts of its powerful tail, a four-foot wave of water erupts around its head, and his dorsal rises as he twists vertically. As its six-ton body is propelled upon the beach, sea lion pups fly in all directions. Located on the coast of Patagonia midway between Buenos Aires and the Strait of Magellan, the Valdés Peninsula is home to one of the most exciting annual wildlife spectacles on earth. Each austral autumn, a small population of orcas arrives at Punta Norte. Their arrival coincides with the pupping season of the southern sea lions. Along certain sections of the coast, the orcas have learned to deliberately beach themselves in an attempt to catch unwary pups—although less than one in three of these dramatic intentional strandings is successful. With special government permission, and using pre-positioned blinds just behind the sea lion colony, it is possible to observe and photograph this spectacular event only 45 feet from the beach. Photographers remain at the blind for the entire duration of the orca/sea lion action, typically lasting approximately five hours, at high tide. Photo Safaris leader Jeff Foott was the principal filmmaker for the spectacular PBS film The Living Edens: Patagonia—Life at the End of the Earth. He says the orca stranding behavior which he shot for that film is the most exciting natural history event that he has ever seen—and he has seen many amazing natural moments in his lengthy career. We have booked prime accommodations for four nights at Estancia La Ernestina, located within minutes of the sea lion colony and the "channel of attack." Our comfortable estancia is noted not just for its convenient location, but also for delicious Patagonian-style home-cooked meals. Our trip is limited to only six participants. The relaxed atmosphere at our estancia and the small-group camaraderie among photographers will provide an additional highlight of the trip. The orca stranding behavior is not a guaranteed phenomenon and does not perform "like clockwork" as many other natural history events often do. Participants should consider themselves extremely lucky if they see and capture images of this incredible event with their cameras. This trip is a real "pay your dues" wildlife photography shoot—with possibilities of temperamental weather and temperamental wildlife playing a big role in the shoot’s final outcome. Our visit will undoubtedly sharpen our observational skills and teach us not to take any of the events in nature photography for granted! Join us on this unique journey to a region aptly called a "Living Eden." This Photo Safari can be combined with our Patagonia’s Mountain Landscapes tour to create a spectacular photo journey and wide-ranging cross section of the amazing nature of Patagonia. Day 1 Depart on overnight flights from the US to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Day 2 (Apr 5) Arrive in Buenos Aires and transfer to our hotel. We visit Costanera Sur Wildlife Preserve and Palermo Lake this afternoon. (D) Day 3 We fly to Trelew. Drive to our conveniently-located estancia at Punta Norte on the far northeastern tip of Valdés Peninsula. We will have time for afternoon photography from the lookout on the low cliff overlooking the beach. (BLD) Days 4–7 Four full days of photography of orca/sea lion activity at the "channel of attack" from the blind on the beach at Punta Norte. We will also have an opportunity to photograph Magellanic penguins, southern elephant seals, lesser rheas, guanacos, Patagonian armadillo and other wildlife during the days. On the afternoon of Day 7, we drive to Puerto Madryn for an overnight. (BLD) Day 8 (Apr 11) We return to Trelew for our morning flight to Buenos Aires and transfer to the international airport for flights home. Participants continuing on the Patagonia’s Mountain Landscapes tour, fly directly to El Calafate today. (B) Day 9 Arrive home.

	Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris, Inc. P.O. Box 655, Vashon Island, Washington USA 98070 Phone: (206) 463-5383   Fax: (206) 463-5484    Email: info@photosafaris.com Copyright © 2008, Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris, Inc.