Wild mustangs are the living legends of the West. Surrounded by the rugged landscapes of the American Southwest, we will delve into the Tonto National Forest to follow some of the herds that range through the Salt River Basin. This tour coincides with the expected arrival of fall colors in the area, adding layers to the landscape in which these horses live. Our focus will be to capture the daily lives and interactions of these bands, concentrating on early morning and late afternoon when the lighting is best and herds are most active. During the day, we will explore the other photographic possibilities, both in terms of wildlife and landscapes that the area has to offer.

October 31st – November 3rd, 2024

5 participants

$3,200

$600 single supplement

About your leader….

Alyce Bender is a nature photographer, writer, educator, and adventurer. Camera in hand since childhood, her fascination for photography developed into a career after serving in the U.S. Air Force. Her passion for wildlife and the natural environment compels her to connect others with nature through sharing both visual art and in-field experiences that promote conservation, creativity, and ethical photography.

She is a Tamron USA Ambassador, contributing writer and photographer for the Journal of Wildlife Photography, and partner photographer with Girls Who Click. Her work has been featured in group and solo gallery shows across the U.S. as well as in international publications from the U.K. to Japan. Bender leads photography tours and workshops in partnership with Wildside Nature Tours, Women in Wildlife Photography, and others to location around the world to help photographers explore and expand their personal vision and naturalist skills ethically. When not in the field, she offers a variety of educational programs both in person and virtually for photography organizations large and small.  

You can see more of Bender’s work and upcoming tours at www.abenderphotography.com.

Day 1 Arrive in Phoenix, head to lodging

We will meet in Phoenix and have a meet and greet dinner before heading to the hotel. At dinner we will discuss what to expect, photography strategies, logistics, and wild horse photography protocol. 

Day 2-4 Sunrise to Sunset we hike out along the Salt River in search of the wild mustangs and other wildlife that call this desert riparian area home.

Starting at sunrise we will hike out into the mesquite forests that line the Salt River. Following paths carved out by horses and hikers alike, we look for bands of wild mustangs making their morning trek to the river’s edge for water and aquatic grazing. If you have never sat and listened to wild horses snorkel for their brunch you are missing out! As the sun rises in the sky, we will make our way back into town for a sit-down lunch. Mid-afternoon we hit the trails again, watching for band interaction and appreciating the beautiful desert glow that occurs as the sun sets in this area of the world. Note: Daily hiking may be up to 4+ miles over relatively flat but uneven sandy and river rock ground. 

Day 5 We have one last sunrise session along the Salt River before driving back into Phoenix to return home.

We will pack out early, catch one last sunrise down by the river with the horses before heading back to the airport for early afternoon flights home.