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Freedom to Roam Adventures
Art Safari,
South Africa
now sold out!
The South Art Retreat has been hugely popular and thanks to everyone who has booked a place. I look forward to seeing you there.
Sarah Stokes
FREEDOM TO ROAM ADVENTURES Presents FTRA Art Safari
With SARAH STOKES, artist
An amazing and exciting opportunity awaits budding artists, experienced artists or complete novices, wanting to learn or in some cases fine tune their skills in an amazing venue.
This 5 night art retreat will be based in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, within the magnificent Kariega Game Reserve.
The Kariega protected area comprises approximately 12,500 hectares of pristine wilderness, home to all manner of wildlife including big cats (lion), rhino, both black and white, elephant, zebra, hippo, giraffe, a variety of antelope, and much, much more. It will be led by the renowned British artist Sarah Stokes.
The Art Safari has proved so popular that it has now sold out. Each Safari costs £3,500 per person (approximately 71,300 Rands subject to exchange rates) which includes luxury accommodation, meals, drinks, return transfers from Port Elizabeth Airport and excursions on the itinerary. All flights are excluded from the price. Non-artists are welcome to accompany artists at the same cost and will still enjoy the same benefits of all inclusive food, drink and excursions.
The course participants, and staff will be hosted at The Owners Homestead, an outstanding property that sits high on a hill overlooking the Bushmans River Valley. Kariega is known as one of the very best game reserves in South Africa. This lodge is family owned and of the highest, 5 star, standard.
A personal experience, with only 10 places available
So that everyone can receive personal tuition and attention only 10 places are available on either date.
During your stay, Sarah will gently guide you through a whole range of artistic skills using watercolour, charcoals and other mediums, to help you bring the sights and sounds of this dramatic landscape to life on the page. You will be given the time, space and skill sets to observe, sketch, photograph, forage, journal and paint on this all immersive experience.
Whether you’re a compete beginner or an intermediate, by the end of your stay, you will have created a series of sketches, diary notes and paintings that will be a wonderful and lasting memory of your time in this stunning location.
Everything is included during your stay - all accommodation and transfers to and from the reserve, safari and art activities, food, alcoholic drinks, levies, gratuities and a healthy donation to the Kariega Foundation.
All Flights, UK airport transfers & travel insurance are not included.
Internal transfers to and from Port Elizabeth Airport are included
the experience of a lifetime in conjunction with FTRA!
Not only will participants have the absolute privilege of being guided by Sarah’s expertise, but they will be enjoying a truly unique opportunity to learn in an incredible environment.
You'll have the unique opportunity to get close to non-predatory fauna available to you and the flora, birds and smaller creatures will be integral. An artists’ dream!
The whole event has been made possible by FTRA, Freedom To Roam Adventures. Trish Liggett, founder of FTRA, is also a wildlife photographer, so will be on hand to assist with basic skills of being behind a lens. Game drives and walks with their rangers will form an integral part of the course.
Here is a some background information about the organisers FTRA, from Trish Liggett herself.
"Freedom To Roam Adventures is a tiny business, the brainchild of Trish Liggett, assisted by Phil Liggett, "Voice of Cycling". We have already run Mountain Bike safaris in Kariega and are now spreading our wings into Art with Sarah Stokes. To let everyone know who might be joining us, we take no renumeration whatsoever for organising our courses, but only essential actual expenses are taken out. All profits go directly to the Kariega Foundation. We do this for the love of wildlife and the land in which it thrives."
sample Itinerary
The proposed itinerary is shown below, with all excursions organised & included. You don't need any art experience to enjoy this tour.
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Day One
2pm: Collection from Port Elizabeth Airport (depending on flight times)
2.30pm: Arrival at lodge and room allocation
3.00pm Light buffet lunch
4.00pm Safari Drive with a fully qualified Game Ranger to explore the landscape, flora and fauna. (Warm clothing advised) Chance to observe, listen, photograph, sketch and gather materials.
7.00pm Formal Introduction @ Owners Lodge, Homestead – Sarah, Trish and Lindy
7.30pm Dinner
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Day three
8.30 am - Breakfast
9.30 am Art session with Sarah Stokes. Capturing landscape.
1.30 pm - Light buffet lunch
2.30 pm - Basic photographic principles with Trish
4.00pm - Game drive. Field sketching and photographing birds, elephants and lions for use the next day. The rangers will work hard to give you the chance to see all the animals, but lions in particular can be elusive and we can't guarantee you'll see them all.
7.30pm - Dinner talk with Dr. Will Fowlds or a presentation re rewilding and expansion of range, corridors for wildlife and projects.
Day five
08.30am Breakfast
09.30am Art session with Sarah Stokes. Painting a mammal from field sketches and/or photos. Dealing with skin textures and fur
1.30pm - Light buffet lunch
2.30pm - Meeting people in their local environment (optional) or anti-poaching canine unit (optional) or art session to continue painting mammal and discussion of how to convert these skills to fine art pieces.
5.30 - End of session
7.30pm – Celebratory dinner
Day Two
08.30am Breakfast
09.30am Introduction to field sketching skills; observation, reductionism, sketching, observation and mixing of of colour, tone, and shape. Creating the illusion of texture through mixed media. Applying these skills to the materials gathered and how these skills can enhance more considered studio based work.
1.30pm - Light buffet lunch
2.30pm - Walking with rangers in open bush. Exploration on foot of local flora and fauna within the grounds of the lodge, observing, listening, photographing, sketching. Opportunity to paint plein air
5.00pm - Finish
7.30pm – Dinner
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Day four
08.30am Breakfast
09.30am - Art session with Sarah Stokes. Painting a native bird from field sketches and/or photos. Dealing with feathers
1.30pm - Light buffet lunch
2.30pm - river boat tour (optional) or art session to continue bird painting
7.30pm – Dinner
Day six
8.30am Farewell Breakfast
9.30am Drop off to Port Elizabeth Airport.
a trip that makes a real difference...
Freedom To Roam Adventures will give their time FREE, as this is a fund raising event for the Kariega Foundation. This means that 100% of the profit is going to the foundation. Your booking will make a real difference to the incredible conservation work being done at the reserve.
The Kariega Foundation is a charitable trust of this almost 40 year old reserve, and funds raised will be apportioned to vital projects under their management. Rewilding and land expansion are among key projects, as well as assisting to fund anti-poaching strategies, and local community projects within the area.
More information about the Foundation can be found here.
PRICE AND WHAT'S INCLUDED
The final price for this adventure of a lifetime is £3,500. This is excluding all air fares, but from pick up at Port Elizabeth airport on 5th May to return to airport on 10th May 2024, there is nothing more to pay at all.
All accommodation & transfers to and from the reserve, safari and art activities, food, alcoholic drinks, gratuities and a healthy donation to the Kariega Foundation.
Souvenirs are available at lodges at your own expense.
Please register your interest by emailing Sarah Stokes at info@dy3.co.uk and then Trish Liggett from Freedom to Roam Adventures will be in touch with you shortly afterwards to take your booking.
A full set of items and conditions is available upon request.
