10 Days Kenya Predator, Flamingo and Elephant Photography Expedition

Your professional driver-guide will collect you from your Nairobi hotel, private residence, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or Wilson Airport between approximately 6:30 AM and 7:30 AM. After a photography briefing and careful loading of your equipment, you will travel approximately 270–300 kilometres to the Maasai Mara, a journey that normally takes about 5½–6½ hours depending on traffic, road conditions, the selected reserve gate and lodge location. A scenic stop may be arranged at an authorised Great Rift Valley viewpoint before the journey continues through farms, rural towns and Maasai pastoral country. After check-in, lunch and a short rest, you will begin an afternoon photography drive of about two to three hours, searching for elephants, giraffes, zebras, antelopes and possible predators in warm evening light.

Destination:

MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE

Overnight:

Basecamp Maasai Mara

  luxury 4 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Lunch, Dinner

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After an early breakfast, you will depart with a picnic lunch for approximately seven to nine hours of photography. The vehicle may cover around 60–110 kilometres inside the reserve, although the final distance will depend on wildlife movement, weather, road access and the amount of time spent waiting at each sighting. Your guide will search for lions, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hyenas, jackals and vultures while considering light direction, backgrounds and responsible positioning. Lunch will be enjoyed at an authorised picnic site before afternoon photography continues through open grasslands, woodland and seasonal water points.

Destination:

MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE

Overnight:

Basecamp Maasai Mara

  luxury 4 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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You will leave after breakfast for another complete field day lasting approximately seven to nine hours and covering an estimated 50–100 kilometres within the reserve. The programme may concentrate on river habitats for hippos, crocodiles, kingfishers and herons, wooded drainage lines for leopards and resting lions or open plains for cheetahs, elephants and large grazing herds. The additional day gives you time to create environmental portraits, behaviour sequences, bird photographs and wide savannah landscapes rather than repeating quick sightings. A picnic lunch or lodge-based midday break may be arranged depending on the location of the selected accommodation.

Destination:

MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE

Overnight:

Basecamp Maasai Mara

  luxury 4 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Your third full photography day allows you to return to a promising subject or explore a different section of the ecosystem. The vehicle may travel approximately 50–100 kilometres over seven to nine hours, but the emphasis will remain on quality observation rather than completing a fixed mileage. Your guide may focus on lion-family behaviour, elephant interactions, scavenger activity, silhouettes, storm clouds or seasonal wildlife movement according to your interests. The extended Maasai Mara stay reduces pressure to chase every report and provides more flexibility when rain, crowds or animal movement affect one part of the reserve.

Destination:

MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE

Overnight:

Basecamp Maasai Mara

  luxury 4 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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After breakfast and lodge check-out, you will travel approximately 230–260 kilometres from the Maasai Mara to the Lake Nakuru region. The transfer generally takes about five to six hours, although road conditions, traffic and the exact reserve gate may increase the journey time. Wildlife may be observed naturally while leaving the Mara, but this is primarily a transfer day. Your guide will arrange lunch, refreshment, photography and washroom stops as you pass Maasai settlements, highland farms and Great Rift Valley landscapes. On arrival, you will check in, charge batteries, clean lenses and prepare for the following morning’s rhino photography.

Destination:

MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE

Overnight:

lake Nakuru Lodge

  luxury 4 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Following an early breakfast, you will photograph wildlife in Lake Nakuru National Park for approximately three to four hours, covering around 25–50 kilometres through woodland, grassland and lakeshore habitats. Possible subjects include white or black rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffes, buffaloes, baboons, zebras, waterbucks, pelicans and flamingos when conditions are favourable. After the game drive and lunch, you will travel approximately 110–130 kilometres to the Lake Bogoria area, a road journey of roughly 2½–3½ hours depending on traffic and accommodation location. You will normally arrive in the late afternoon and prepare for the next morning’s geothermal and bird photography.

Destination:

LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK

Overnight:

Lake Bogoria Spa Resort

  luxury 4 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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You will begin early for photography around Lake Bogoria’s lakeshore, escarpment and geothermal environment. The local excursion may cover approximately 20–40 kilometres and take around three to four hours, depending on flamingo distribution, water levels, heat, road access and reserve regulations. Possible subjects include flamingos, waterbirds, hot springs, steam, rugged cliffs and dramatic alkaline-lake scenery, although flamingo numbers cannot be guaranteed. After lunch, you will travel approximately 180–210 kilometres to Lake Naivasha, a journey of around 3½–4½ hours, and check in at a luxury lakeside lodge.

Destination:

LAKE BOGORIA NATIONAL RESERVE

Overnight:

Sawela Lodge

  luxury 4 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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The morning may include a boat photography safari of approximately one to one and a half hours when the activity is included and conditions are safe. Possible subjects include hippos, African fish eagles, pelicans, cormorants, kingfishers and freshwater reflections. After returning for breakfast and check-out, you will travel approximately 300–340 kilometres to Amboseli, normally taking 5½–7 hours depending on Nairobi-area traffic and road conditions. Meal, photography and comfort stops will be arranged before your late-afternoon or early-evening arrival at the lodge.

Destination:

LAKE NAIVASHA NATIONAL PARK

Overnight:

Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge

  luxury 4 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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You will depart early for approximately seven to nine hours of photography, travelling around 50–90 kilometres across Amboseli’s open plains, wetlands, seasonal lake beds and acacia habitats. Clear early-morning conditions may reveal Mount Kilimanjaro, although cloud and haze can hide it completely. Possible subjects include elephant families, large bulls, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, hippos, lions, hyenas and wetland birds. Lunch may be carried as a picnic or enjoyed at the lodge, with afternoon photography continuing through another habitat.

Destination:

AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK

Overnight:

Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge

  luxury 4 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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After breakfast and check-out, you will travel approximately 215–240 kilometres to Nairobi, a journey that normally takes about four to five hours. Wildlife and possible mountain views may be observed naturally while leaving Amboseli, but an extended morning game drive is included only when clearly confirmed. Your guide will arrange a meal or refreshment stop before dropping you at a Nairobi hotel, private residence, JKIA or Wilson Airport.