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Locations: Tai Po Kau and Long Valley
The nature photography tour begins in Tai
Po Kau – the most mature and varied forest in the HKSAR. This 460-hectare site
was declared a nature reserve in 1977 and is rich in flora and fauna. It
contains over 100 different species of trees. In addition over 160 species of
birds, 102 species of butterflies and 50 species of dragonflies have been
recorded.
We begin by walking up the access road into
the forest proper and then we will follow one of the shorter, colour-coded
trails through the reserve, stopping whenever photographic opportunities
present themselves. We also take in the excellent Outdoor Study Centre which
has a specially planted butterfly garden and small freshwater ponds that, in
season, attract frogs and a variety of dragonflies.
From Tai Po Kau, we will drive to Long
Valley just outside Sheung Shui. In contrast to the forest, this is an area of
open countryside, consisting of wet and dry agriculture, marshland and
ponds. The area attracts a wide
variety of birds in winter and is good for dragonflies during the summer
months. The agricultural landscape itself presents a variety of photographic
opportunities.
All our tours are personalised and we cater
to all levels of expertise. The focus of our nature photography will depend
upon the interests of the participants, the equipment they have available and
also the season of the year. Although a digital SLR camera with different
lenses is most suitable for nature photography, memorable images can also be
made with a compact camera.
Cost: Full day HK$2,000.00 for one or two people. HK$850.00 per person for three or
four people. Half day: (Tai Po Kau OR Long Valley) HK$1,000.00 for one or two people. HK$450.00 per person for three or
four people.
Timing: The full day is usually 08:30 – 16:30. Half day schedule is usually
08:30 – 13:00. These times are flexible. Although we have chosen Tai Po Kau and
Long Valley for our nature photography tours, there are a number of other sites
of interest in the New Territories (e.g. Fung Yuen near Tai Po for
butterflies). Different full and half-day itineraries can be customized to a
client’s individual interests.
Meeting Point: Pick-up and drop off for
outings is normally at the easily accessible Chinese University of Hong Kong
station, on the MTR East line. Transport to and from the CUHK station is by
private car.
Facilities: Toilets en route. A picnic lunch and
bottles of water will be provided, although these will have to be carried by
the participants.
Photographic equipment: Camera/lens(es), some form of carrying case
that is also weatherproof.
Manual if you need assistance with understanding your camera.
Battery - charged/spare - very important
Memory cards - available space - very important
Tripod (if you have one)
Notebook/pen for general recording purposes.
General requirements
Please provide us with a contact phone number in Hong Kong, or the name of the
hotel where you are staying, plus the name the booking is made in.
We need notification of any cancellation before the morning of your tour, as
no-shows do inconvenience our other clients. It is also important that you ring
us if you are delayed.
Footwear
We recommend you wear either robust walking shoes or trainers. Casual sandals
or open shoes are not suitable for the trails in Tai Po Kau or the dirt bunds
at Long Valley.
Clothing
Sun and rainfall can be intense and a hat is recommended. During the winter
season (November - March) temperatures can drop with a chilling wind, so a
sweater/fleece is advisable. During the wet season (April - September) a
waterproof jacket is recommended. In warmer months (May - October) it is
advisable to carry a spare T-shirt or other garment to change into at the end
of the day.
Skin Protection
Suntan lotion should be used throughout the year, and applied frequently during
the hike. Insect repellent is recommended, especially during the warmer months
in Tai Po Kau.
Personal needs
Please notify us of any medical conditions that we should be aware of. We will
assume clients have their own medications for asthma or known illnesses.
Payment
Payment can be made in cash at the start of the tour, or by electronic money
transfer pre-tour. Prices quoted in Hong Kong dollars. HK$7.75 = US$1.00.
Bad Weather In the event of heavy rain being forecast, we reserve the right to
cancel the outing.
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