Into KENYA Photography Safari -June 2018
Duration: 10 days / 11 nights
Highlights:
• Amboseli National Park
• Lake Naivasha
• Lake Nakuru
• Maasai Mara
Activities: Close encounter photography of Big Cats, Wildebeest Migration, water fowl, and the Big 5 with off road permits to reach areas only reachable by 4x4. This will allow for maximum game photography experiences.
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Accommodation: Luxury
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Transport: Safari equipped Toyota Landcruiser with open windows. Wi-Fi equipped & charging stations.
Day 1 – Arrival Nairobi
Upon arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport I will meet you along with our African Naturalist and Driver. We will assist you to board the safari vehicle for a short transfer to your hotel. We will have a brief safari briefing at the Hotel. Since the flights typically arrive later in the evening, and because of the time change, you will be jet lagged. This is why we’ve planned a night in Nairobi before departing in the morning.
Overnight: Sarova Panafric Hotel – https://www.sarovahotels.com/panafric-nairobi/
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 – Depart to Amboseli National Park
After breakfast and a safari briefing, we will depart for Amboseli National Park. We will be driving through the Kapiti plains to arrive in time for lunch. After lunch, you will have time to relax to the sounds of the African wilderness in your luxury tent. In the late afternoon, we will set out to explore the Amboseli National Park for our first game viewing drive. Our photographic goal on this first evening will be to capture the iconic African sunset with elephants in the foreground of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
In the evenings, the clouds usually offer the sight of the snow peaked Mount Kilimanjaro
Overnight: Amboseli Serena Lodge
Meals FB: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Distance: Nairobi – Amboseli: 250 km / 4 hours
Day 3 & 4 – Full Day exploring Amboseli National Park
Early morning & afternoon game drives affording majestic views of the great Kilimanjaro (weather permitting). Amboseli National park is an International Biosphere Reserve featuring the dried-out lakebed of prehistoric Lake Amboseli. The rolling savannah and lush green swamps are well known for its abundance of elephants. The plains offer numerous antelopes, spotted hyenas, jackals, warthogs, olive baboons, vervet monkeys and the chance of spotting a lion, leopard or cheetah.
Observation Hill, a conical peak, which is easily climbed, offers stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Overnight: Overnight: Amboseli Serena Lodge
Meals FB: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5 – Amboseli / Lake Naivasha
After breakfast we depart for Lake Naivasha via Nairobi and descend down towards the Great Rift Valley. We will stop enroute at the Great Rift Valley view point to stretch our legs and enjoy the valley views. We will drive further through the floor of Great Rift Valley to arrive at your lodge in time for lunch. Later in the afternoon, we will spend photographing birds and hippos along Lake Naivasha. The abundance of African Fish Eagles, pelicans, and hundreds of species of birds makes this boat ride a fantastic opportunity to capture water fowl in action. The boat ride is 2 hours and will offer you views of crescent island, known for being the filming location for Out of Africa.
Overnight – Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge
Meals FB: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Distance: Amboseli / Lake Naivasha: 350 km / 5 hours
Day 6 – Lake Naivasha / Lake Nakuru.
After breakfast drive further through the floor of Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru arriving in the morning for a game drive. Check into the hotel and relax before enjoying an afternoon game drive. Lake Nakuru National Park is famous for its abundant birdlife. The Park offers a great chance to different bird species depending on water level you will witness thousands of greater & lesser flamingoes, pelicans around the shores of the lake alongside abundant mammals that include endangered rothchild giraffe, black & white rhino, buffaloes, waterbuck, elands, zebras among other species. Lake Nakuru is also well known for its tree climbing lions.
Overnight – Sarova Lion Hill Lodge
Meals FB: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Distance: Lake Naivasha / Lake Nakuru: 80 km /1 hour
Day 7 – Lake Nakuru / Masai Mara
After breakfast we depart for the Masai Mara to arrive in time for lunch. We will have some time in the afternoon to relax and/or edit photos before enjoying a scheduled evening game drive. The Maasai Mara Reserve is the most popular reserve in Africa known for its big skies, open savannahs, and high concentration of big cats. The Mara is considered the seventh wonder of the world because of the annual wildebeest migration, where over 2 million wildebeest cross from Serengeti to the Mara. Besides these the reserve boasts of the ''big five'' (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion & leopard) plus plenty of plain wild animals that include zebra, giraffe, impala, topi, giraffe, thomson's gazelle, hyenas, cheetah, jackal, bat-eared foxes and birdlife. No wonder it is the shooting sight for BBC Big Cat Diary every year.
Overnight – Mara Sarova Camp
Meals FB: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Distance: Lake Nakuru / Maasai Mara: 350 km / 4 hours
Day 8 / 9 & 10 – Full Day Trailing the Migration
Today you will do a full day's safari in one of the world's most famous reserves visiting Mara River where the annual migration will be happening. Maasai Mara offers an abundance of herbivores, this makes the ideal hunting ground for Kenya's famous ‘big cats' and hosts her largest population of lions. Historically teeming with wildlife, the Mara is famous for the large herds of elephant and buffalo that wander its plains, and for the annual migration of the wildebeest
Overnight – Mara Sarova Camp
Meals FB: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 11- Maasai Mara / Nairobi
Today, wake up early for an morning game drive and an amazing Africa sunrise before returning to the camp for full breakfast and check out. Afterwards we descent down to the great rift valley stopping at the great rift valley view point before arriving Nairobi in the afternoon. Where you will be dropped at Airport for your homebound flight.
Meals B: Breakfast.
Distance: Masai Mara / Nairobi: 300 km / 5 hours
Cost per Person Sharing in a double room / Tent -US$ 4,850.00
Activities/services included in the cost:
• Photograph instruction and best practices for capturing wildlife
• Meet and great upon arrival
• Complimentary arrival and departure airport transfer in Nairobi
• Accommodation as per the itinerary
• Camps / lodges are in the Game Reserves are booked on Full board
• Road transportation in custom made safari Landcruiser with open windows for better game viewing
• Unlimited game drives as per the itinerary with off road permits for Masai Mara
• Park entrance fees
• 2 hour boat ride at Lake Naivasha including crescent island visit
• Unlimited drinking water.
Activities/services excluded in the cost:
• All International Flights + Taxes.
• Masai Village visit & Balloon ride in Masai Mara.
• Visa fees, Travel & Personal accident insurance.
• Excursions, services and activities not mentioned in this program.
• Personal expenses e.g. laundry, telephone calls, drinks, tips and gratuities