Masai Mara Migration Photo Safari 2013 / 2014
Photograph the Great Migration in 2013 / 2014
Join me in photographing the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth, the annual migration in the Masai Mara in Kenya. We can photograph river crossings where crocodiles lie in wait for the wildebeest to cross, we will also see elephant, leopard, lion and cheetah and if we’re lucky, black rhino. We’ll stay in a private luxury camp, set aside especially for our group in what just may be the best location in the Masai Mara.
Our camp is set up directly in front of one of the main wildebeest crossing points on the Mara River and there’s every chance we’ll see a full crossing while we are in camp. Each safari accommodates a maximum of six photographers.
Wildebeest river crossing, as viewed from our camp in the Masai Mara
Dates and Costs 2013
The full cost for each 8 day safari is $5200 (£3,366 / €3,921)
Bookings are secured with a $500 / £300 deposit per person.
Aug 03rd – 10th 2013 – FULL
Aug 10th – 17th 2013 – FULL
Aug 17th – 24th 2013 – FULL
Sep 07th – 14th 2013 – FULL
Each safari accommodates a maximum of six photographers.
If you are interested in a Great Migration safari this year, then I still have provision for ad hoc private safaris.
Please email me if you are interested at ten.dyolldivadnull@divad
Dates and Costs 2014
The full cost for each 8 day safari is $5400 (£3,495 / €4,072)
Bookings are secured with a $500 / £300 deposit per person.
Book early and be in with a chance to win a free balloon ride over the Masai Mara. More details soon.
July 26 – Aug 02 – AVAILABILITY
Aug 02 – Aug 09 – AVAILABILITY
Aug 09 – Aug 16 – AVAILABILITY
Aug 16 – Aug 23 – AVAILABILITY
Aug 23 – Aug 30 – AVAILABILITY
Aug 30 – Sep 06 – TBA
Sep 06 – Sep 13 – TBA
Each safari accommodates a maximum of six photographers.
For those who wish to join two dates for one 15 day safari, we can at a cost less than two combined.
The free balloon ride incentive is added to the safari dates you choose to book.
Financial Protection
Payments for all safaris are made through Steppes Discovery which means you have the financial protection of booking through a registered tour operator.
Your money is 100% safe and if one of our suppliers goes bust, your money is fully protected.
Steppes Discovery can also book flights on your behalf for full financial protection.
Please see our terms and conditions here.
Booking
To book or reserve your place on this safari please email me at ten.dyolldivadnull@divad
I will also be happy to answer any questions you may have.
About the Safari
This tour is for photographers of all levels, inexperienced and experienced alike. We also welcome non-photographing companions too. Our aim of this tour is to help people take better wildlife pictures. We provide tuition and tips, and aim to bring you to speed early on so that you’ll be taking better wildlife pictures long before the tour ends. We will also offer tuition to those wishing to learn about image processing using Photoshop or Lightroom on the two iMacs we will provide at camp.
We have a number of features on offer specifically for wildlife photography:
- Private camp
- Prime location inside the reserve – close to the main wildebeest crossing points
- Two photographers per vehicle – or three per six seat vehicle
- Ground transportation for luggage – we alleviate your flight weight restriction worries
- iMac workstation access – we will have iMacs at camp with preloaded software
The Camp
Our camp at Entim is a luxury camp with eight large Meru style tents with full bathroom facilities and solar powered electricity. There is ample facility for charging batteries during the mealtimes and evenings. The camp is situated right on one of the main crossing points of the Mara River. And the food is wonderful!
You can view more about Entim Camp with additional pictures here.
Safari highlights
Location
Our camp is located inside the reserve, close to the action with quick access to the main river crossing points. In fact the camp is located right in front of one of the main crossing points, you can witness wildebeest crossings from the confines of camp and away from the other tourist traffic found elsewhere.
The Vehicles
For photography, we will provide a whole row of seats for each photographer, thus providing ample scope, space and flexibility for photography. For the 4x4s normally seating four people, we will seat only two per vehicle, and for the 4x4s seating six, we seat three. Beanbags are provided in each vehicle as is a provision to clamp tripod heads on the roof as well.
The Photography
There is no other place in Africa which boasts the density of wildlife than that of the Masai Mara. It is a photographers dream, and together with this, the peak of the migration season, we will be treated to the 1.5 million wildebeests, zebra, giraffe, and of course the Masai Mara’s big cats. Fingers’ crossed we’ll see a lion kill or cheetah chase or even black rhino. Unforgetable too is the sunrises and sunsets that the Mara is famous for. We will also visit the Marsh Pride of lions, made famous by the BBC’s Big Cat Diary.
iMac Workstation Access
We will have at camp three iMac workstations loaded with Photoshop and Lightroom. From there you can backup your images, make edits, and learn more about post-processing your images too.
Lightroom and Photoshop Tuition
On request we will also offer group or one-to-one image processing tuition (at no extra cost) in either Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop. We can cover post the processing techniques that we use, including both colour and black and white treatments.
Ground Transportation
Because the internal flights into the Mara are on smaller aircraft (seating up to 37) there is a strict weight restriction on luggage of only 15kg. Photographers typically carry weights far in access of this, so we’re providing transportation of all or some of your luggage to the camp by road as well as on the aircraft. This normally takes 4-6 hours but it will arrive at camp by the time we set out for the first afternoon drive.
Optional Excursions
We offer two additional excursions which are optional: enjoy a balloon ride at sunrise with a champagne breakfast over the plains of the Masai Mara or visit a nearby Maasai village (both optional, costs extra).
Itinerary
Day 1: We are picked up from Nairobi Airport on arrival by our driver and onto the Serena Hotel in Nairobi where we will all meet and introduce ourselves.
Day 2: At 10:00am we transfer to Wilson Airport some fifteen minutes away to where we take a 45 minute a flight to our camp in the Masai Mara. We will arrive in time for a camp welcome and introduction, lunch and embark on our first afternoon drive at 3:30. At about 6:00 we return to camp to relax in front of the boma (camp fire) and dinner afterwards at about 7:30-8:00.
Day 3: This is our first full day in the Mara. Morning drives begin at 6:00 am and continue until about midday or longer, depending on animal activity that day. This will include a break for some 45 minutes for a light breakfast and refreshment. Then it’s back to camp for lunch, rest, or to spend a little time at the iMac workstations. Then at 3:30 we head out for a late afternoon drive returning at sunset at about 6:00. That evening we can relax in front of the boma (camp fire) with dinner afterwards at about 7:30-8:00.
Day 4: As day 3.
Day 5: As day 3.
Day 6: As day 3.
Day 7: As day 3.
Day 8: We have time for a three hour morning drive before returning to camp at 9:00 for breakfast then at 11:00 am we’ll catch our return flight to Nairobi. For the remainder of that afternoon and evening we can just relax at the Serena Hotel by the pool or at the bar before transfer to Nairobi Airport for our international flights home.
What people have said
I can’t recommend David’s trip highly enough. I got a stunning set of images in just a short visit. It takes a lot to tempt me back to somewhere I’ve been to before – no matter how good, but I do hope to return again with David, if not in 2012 then definitely next year! – Lesley Wood Photography (UK)
David was always on hand to make sure all went to plan and that we all spent some time photographing the Mara in the jeep with him. He also helped anyone that needed it during the fun communal downloading sessions each evening. A fantastic tour that I will going on again. – Wayne Marinovich (UK)
David is not only an incredible photographer but also brilliant at giving advice and tips on how to improve. Everyone who came on the trip was at a different level, ranging from beginner to professional which made for a nice relaxed atmosphere. – Nick Constantinou (UK)
Costs
The cost of $5200 / $5400 includes
- One night Serena Hotel stay in Nairobi
- Flights to and from the Masai Mara from Wilson airport
- All airport transfers
- Ground transportation of luggage
- Six nights accommodation and all meals at Entim Camp
- Hire of vehicles and guides for game drives and park fees
- Local alcoholic beverages at camp
Cost does not include
- International flights from UK
- Kenya visa ($50)
- Alcoholic beverages at Serena, and non-local alcoholic beverages at camp
- Tips and gratuities for camp staff and guides
Costs are per person sharing. A single supplement option is available at $100 per night extra. A deposit, 50% of the tour cost, is required at the time of booking, with the balance being required eight weeks before.
Recommendations
While the camp provides beanbags – they are good – but I prefer my own and bring my own. The camp is quite happy to fill the refillable beanbags on arrival. I have no use for a tripod in the Mara, they are not vehicle compatible and have never bothered to bring one or want one. Lenses of up to 400mm (on full frame) should suffice for 90% of your needs, the animals can get quite close, but it depends on your kind of photography obviously. A 600mm would be quite necessary for birds however.
Flights out of Wilson Airport to the Mara have a strict weight policy of 15kg, that’s clothes, personal items, laptop, cameras, lenses, everything. That’s why we’re providing the option to transport your luggage or camera bag by road.
Malaria tablets are recommended, there are several kinds, some better than others.
Tips are optional, but I can never leave without giving some sort of extra reward. As a guide, about $10-15 a day per person to your driver/guide is a good start.
If you need to know more, don’t hesitate to email me at ten.dyolldivadnull@divad
Pictures 2, 3 and 6 are used with permission courtesy of Entim Camp.
