Project Description
Epic Kenya Safari
Kenya is home to some of the most iconic wildlife photography destinations and none more so than Amboseli, Samburu and of course The Masai Mara. We believe that combining these three very different destinations will give you the most comprehensive itinerary made complete by the use of a private vehicle and expert guide throughout.
Starting in Amboseli you will spend time photographing the animals (especially the elephants) traversing the reserve from the swamps to the woodlands hoping to frame them with the snow capped peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro in the background. Next up is the drier northern Samburu reserve which is home to unique species you are unlikely to see elsewhere – specifically The Samburu Special 5! Last, but not least, you will end this safari exploring the wide open plains of the Masai Mara in search of the big cats, endless vistas and stunning sunsets.
Most international flights arrive in Nairobi in the late afternoon or early evening so we will arrange for you to be met at the Jomo Kenyatta International airport and taken to a hotel closer to Wilson Airport (domestic) – where you will depart from the morning. We use a selection of hotels close to Wilson all of which are very clean, serve good food, hot showers and comfy beds. Most importantly they are less than 15 mins transfer the next morning to catch your flight to Amboseli.
Please note that we prefer the Amboseli – Samburu – Mara routing for this safari as it fits in better with the Air Kenya timetable and drastically cuts down travel time between the destinations. You can of course visit them in any order you like and extend or reduce time in each. This is a bespoke itinerary that can be adapted to your specific requirements and photographic ambitions.
The flight time to Amboseli from Wilson is around an hour. We have made an arrangement with Air Kenya to allow you extra baggage, over and above your allotted 15kg, so you don’t need to worry about sacrificing clothing for camera gear. Your new total (including hand luggage/camera bag) is a generous 45kg!
When you land in Amboseli, you will be met by your expert guide and private game viewer which you will have for the duration of your time here. Having a private vehicle on safari means you can dictate your schedule to suit your exact needs. You can be in the park exploring from sunrise to just after sunset and either stay out all day with a packed lunch or opt for morning and afternoon drives with a rest in between. The vehicles can take up to 6 guests but we suggest that four photographers with gear is the ideal maximum. This particular safari is quoted based on two people sharing the vehicle. If there are more people you are travelling with then the cost per head will reduce slightly. Please discuss this with our safari planners for a more accurate quote based on your numbers.
Wherever you are in Amboseli you will feel the presence of Mount Kilimanjaro which is such an iconic backdrop to your safari here. We have all seen images of large herds of elephants strolling across the plains in the foreground and that is certainly a shot you can hope to get here. Every day the larger mammals make their way back and forth across the plains between the marshlands (fed by water from the mountain) and the bushier areas where the food is more nutritious. As you are in a private vehicle you can spend as much time as you need lining up that shot when the mountain is visible and for the rest of the time the reserve is yours to explore as you see fit.
We like to stay at Ol Tukai lodge in Amboseli as it is very central and once you leave the camp you are right in the middle of the action. The rooms are very comfortable and the food wholesome and plentiful. The lush gardens are an excellent place to relax during the heat of the day should you want to split your day into a morning and afternoon game drive.
Amboseli is a collection of diverse ecosystems from dusty desert-like open areas to large lakes filled with waterbirds. Lions, cheetah and hyena are found in good numbers (leopards less so) and there is always the chance of seeing one of Amboseli’s famous “tuskers” if they are around. These huge male elephants have a vast range and are not resident but with more than 20 Tuskers in the region the chances are pretty good that you will see one.
Check out Janine and Guts’ video report on Amboseli below:
To get to Samburu from Amboseli you will need to fly back to Wilson in the morning to get your connecting flight onwards to Samburu. Both flights are around an hour and even with the aircraft change the total travel time should be less than four hours getting you into Samburu in the early afternoon.
Once again you will be met with your private vehicle at the airstrip and your first impression will be just how different Samburu is to the grasslands of Amboseli. Samburu has harsher vegetation. More thorny and familiar to those who have been on safari in Southern Africa before. This difference in environment also means that the resident animals and birds are also different…and thats why we like to come and photograph here.
Samburu is home to the Samburu tribe who are traditionally nomadic cattle farmers. They are also some of the proudest and striking of all of Kenya’s tribes. The warriors are adorned with elaborate beadwork and headdresses and are incredibly impressive..not to mention photogenic!
The wildlife is no less captivating including some rarer species that you are unlikely to see elsewhere and especially not all of them in the same place. These are affectionally known as the Samburu Special Five – Grevy’s Zebra (only 3000 left in the wild), The Reticulated Giraffe, the bizarre looking Gerenuk, Beisa Oryx and Somali Ostrich.
All the big cats are found in good numbers including leopards, lions, cheetah as well as some of the smaller predators like serval. There is a healthy population of elephants and prolific birdlife including highlights like Golden Starling, several large raptor species, Somali Bee-Eater and Vulturine Guinea Fowl.
Our camp of choice in Samburu is Larsen’s which has recently been refurbished. The spacious tents are placed along the river which fills after rains in the highlands around Mount Kenya. When it appears dry you can see herds of elephants digging down a few feet to get to the groundwater. Great to watch and photograph from your room. The camp is built under a forest of palm trees which keeps the rooms cool and there is an amazing pool to enjoy during the heat of the day.
Samburu is not a very large reserve so its more common to do early morning and late afternoon drives with a return to the camp during the day. Should you wish to do a full day game drive however a packed lunch can be arranged.
An underground hide is under construction at Larsen’s which can be pre-booked for an afternoon leading into an overnight session if you wish. The hide is accessible on foot from within the camp.
Check out Toby’s video report from Samburu here.
The Air Kenya flight schedule means that the flight from Samburu to The Mara is usually direct and takes around two hours. On occasion (depending on passenger numbers) there maybe a quick stop again in Wilson but generally its direct.
Once again when you land at the Ol Kiombo airstrip in the middle of the Masai Mara you will be met by your final expert guide and a now familiar private game viewer once more. We have allowed four night in the Masai Mara as it is so much larger than Amboseli and Samburu and there is more ground to cover and explore. Please remember that as this is a bespoke safari we can increase the number of nights at any one of the destinations should you feel you need more time.
Your base will be Mara Bush Camp which is right in the middle of the reserve. We use Mara Bush Camp for all our Migration hosted safaris in September and its a fantastic camp. Great rooms, attentive staff, delicious food and comfy beds….do you need any more!
During the day you have the freedom to explore The Masai Mara reserve as well as the Mara Triangle to the West. Your expert guide will have spent many many hours guiding here and will be up to date with latest sightings and animal movements.
This safari is best experienced outside of the Migration season and although you wont see the huge herds of wildebeest and zebras it does mean that the predators tend to be more active as they have to work harder to find their prey. Expect to see plenty of big cats!
One optional activity that we like to recommend is a hot air balloon flight along The Mara river for a different vantage point ending with a champagne breakfast at the landing spot close to the Southern border of The Mara Triangle. Its a fantastic experience!
The day to day routine is yours to decide upon and you can spend as much or as little time at each sighting as you like. If, for example, you come across a pride of lions resting you can chose to spend some time with them in the hope that that decide to initiate a hunt.
In The Mara its always nice to position oneself at the end of the day on one of the lower slopes with the chance of finishing the day with some sunset silhouettes. The Mara’s open grasslands, excellent road network and gentle rolling hills means that finding a horizon with animals in silhouette is very easy indeed. Iconic Masai Mara photography!
On the final day you will leave Mara Bush Camp after a hearty breakfast and take a circuitous route back to the airstrip for your mid morning flight back to Wilson. We will be more than happy to suggest additions to this safari such as gorilla trekking in Uganda, additional Kenya destinations like Shompole and Lewa and perhaps even travelling to Botswana via Victoria falls for an Ultimate Pan Africa safari experience! We can design and arrange all of this for you. The possibilities are limitless.
Should you be travelling home instead we will get you to Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta Airport via an Airport Hotel day room if you need a place to relax before a late evening flight if needs be.
The exact cost of this safari will depend upon the time of year that you want to travel and the number of people you will travel with
This safari is best in the months of Jan, Feb, March, June, November and December. The Wildebeest Migration is in the Mara in August, Sept and October and there is more rain around in April and May.
As a guideline this photo safari package in 2024 would normally be between around $12,950 per person sharing a room based on two people sharing the private vehicle.Â
If you are travelling alone or want your own room, then there would be a single supplement.
Please contact one of our safari planners using the form below and they will send you back a more accurate price as soon as possible.
Meet and Greet at Jomo Kenyatta Airport
1 night Tamarind Hotel (Bed and Breakfast included)
All domestic flights (Wilson-Amboseli-Samburu-Mara-Wilson)
Extra luggage allowance up to 45kgs (total)
3 nights Ol Tukai Lodge Amboseli (Full board)
3 nights Larsen’s Camp Samburu (Full Board)
4 nights Mara Bush Camp (full board)
Private Vehicle and Expert Guide throughout
All park fees and conservation levies
Bottled water, tea and coffee.
Airport transfer to Jomo Kenyatta at end
Option to add on Hot Air Ballon Flight in The Masai Mara
Afternoon and evening hide session at Larsen’s Samburu
Visas if applicable
Gratuities
Laundry and items of a personal nature
Alcoholic drinks
All International flights
Suggested Add-ons to The Ultimate Kenya Safari
Please chat to your safari planner if any of these add-ons appeal to you.
Uganda for Gorillas, Chimps and Shoebills
Uganda is a wonderful country that is one of the best places in the world for primate encounters, namely gorillas and chimpanzees. There is spectacular birdlife too as well as the chance to see the incredible shoebill stork.
Come to Botswana
Kenya Airways has daily flights from Nairobi to Victoria Falls which is only two hours away from The Chobe. You can come to do some photography from our photo boats and then head further south to the Okavango Delta and the Kalahari.
Adding Cape Town is an Option
The same flight that goes from Nairobi to Victoria Falls continues to Cape Town which means you will arrive there just after lunch and just in time to check into a hotel and head out to wonder at Table Mountain while enjoying a refreshing “sundowner”.
The Beach in Kenya
Kenya has some amazing beaches along its Indian Ocean coastline with some amazing hotels should you want some post safari downtime (or get started on the editing!). Lamu on the north coast is a fascinating destination with stunning architecture, ancient cobbled streets, narrow alleyways and great sea from hotels.
With the extra baggage allowance that we have negotiated for you on this safari combined with the fact that you will have your own private vehicle means that there is really no need to deliberate over what photo gear to leave behind. What a lovely problem to have, eh?
One thing you wont need to bring is bean bags or any type of gimbal mount. The private game viewer that you will be in has a pop up roof lined with plenty of beanbags along the edges. There are also smaller beanbags in the cabin to rest your lenses on when shooting lower through the windows.
Please watch the video made by Charl and Sabine on the lenses they bring to the Masai Mara for the migration as their advice will apply to all three destinations in this Ultimate Kenyan Safari. Click here to watch.
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