9 Days Kenya Midrange Photographic Safari Through Samburu, Masai Mara and Amboseli

Your 9-day Kenya midrange photographic safari begins with pickup from your Nairobi hotel, private residence, Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. After meeting our professional driver-guide and receiving a safari and photography briefing, you will begin the approximately 320-kilometre journey to Samburu National Reserve, which normally takes 5½ to 6½ hours. Our journey passes through Thika, the fertile central highlands, the Mount Kenya region, Nanyuki and Isiolo before descending into the dry landscapes of northern Kenya. After arriving at your midrange lodge or tented camp, you will enjoy lunch, check into your room and have time to organise your equipment. At approximately 3:30 p.m., our guide will take you on an afternoon photographic game drive lasting around 2½ to 3 hours, exploring the Ewaso Nyiro River and surrounding bushland for elephants, Grevy’s zebras, reticulated giraffes, gerenuks, Beisa oryx and colourful northern birds.

Destination:

SAMBURU NATIONAL RESERVE

Overnight:

Samburu Sopa Lodge

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Lunch, Dinner

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After an early breakfast, your Kenya photographic safari will continue with a full-day exploration of Samburu National Reserve. You will spend approximately 7 to 9 hours inside the reserve and may cover between 60 and 120 kilometres, depending on wildlife movements, road conditions and photography opportunities. Our guide will explore riverine woodland, dry bushland, rocky areas and open plains in search of Samburu’s Special Five, elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes and African wild dogs. Whenever possible, the vehicle will be positioned to give you clean backgrounds, useful shooting angles and favourable natural light without disturbing the animals. A picnic lunch may be enjoyed at an authorised site, or you may return to your lodge for lunch and a short rest before continuing with an afternoon drive. You will return around sunset for dinner, image review and overnight.

Destination:

SAMBURU NATIONAL RESERVE

Overnight:

Samburu Sopa Lodge

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Following breakfast and lodge check-out, your Kenya midrange photographic safari will continue approximately 275 to 300 kilometres from Samburu to Lake Nakuru National Park. The road journey normally takes around 5 to 6½ hours, passing through Isiolo, Nanyuki and the central highlands before descending toward the Great Rift Valley. Our guide will schedule suitable refreshment, washroom and landscape-photography stops along the way. After arriving at your midrange lodge, you will enjoy lunch, check in and rest before beginning an afternoon game drive lasting approximately 3 hours and covering about 30 to 60 kilometres. You may photograph black and white rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, baboons and numerous birds around the lakeshore, open grasslands and acacia woodland.

Destination:

SAMBURU NATIONAL RESERVE

Overnight:

Ziwa Bush Lodge

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Your day will begin with an early breakfast followed by a morning photographic game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park lasting approximately 2½ to 3 hours. Our guide may revisit rhino-viewing areas, the lakeshore, Baboon Cliff and woodland habitats before you return to the lodge for check-out. You will then travel approximately 240 to 260 kilometres to Masai Mara, a journey that normally takes 5 to 6½ hours depending on traffic and the location of your camp. After passing through the Rift Valley countryside and Narok, you will arrive at your midrange lodge or tented camp for check-in and a late lunch. If arrival time allows, you will enjoy a short evening photography drive across the Mara plains, where elephants, giraffes, zebras and predators may appear in warm afternoon light.

After breakfast, your Kenya midrange photographic safari will continue with a full day inside Masai Mara National Reserve. The game drive normally lasts 8 to 10 hours and may cover between 80 and 150 kilometres, depending on recent sightings and wildlife movement. Our guide will explore open grasslands, river corridors, acacia woodland and known predator territories while searching for lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, hyenas and large plains-game herds. You will have reasonable time to photograph animal behaviour, family groups and landscape scenes rather than moving quickly from one sighting to another. A picnic lunch will be served at an authorised location inside the reserve, allowing you to continue photographing through the changing light of the afternoon.

After breakfast and lodge check-out, you will leave Masai Mara and travel approximately 250 kilometres to Lake Naivasha. The journey normally takes 5 to 6 hours, passing through Narok and the Great Rift Valley with scheduled comfort and refreshment stops. You will arrive at your midrange lakeside hotel or lodge for lunch, check-in and relaxation. Later, you may join an optional boat excursion lasting approximately 1 to 1½ hours, offering excellent opportunities to photograph hippos from a safe distance, African fish eagles diving toward the water, pelicans, cormorants, kingfishers and lakeside scenery. Depending on your confirmed package and arrival time, a guided Crescent Island walk may also be arranged for ground-level photography of giraffes, zebras and waterbucks.

Destination:

MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE

Overnight:

Naivasha Kongoni Lodge

  mid rage 3 star lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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Following an early breakfast, you will check out and begin the approximately 320-kilometre journey from Lake Naivasha to Amboseli National Park. The road transfer normally takes 6 to 7 hours, depending on traffic around Nairobi and road conditions toward southern Kenya. Our guide will arrange comfort stops and lunch either en route or after arrival. Once you reach your midrange lodge, you will check in, organise your equipment and relax before an optional late-afternoon photographic game drive lasting approximately 2 hours. You may capture elephants, giraffes, zebras and the first views of Mount Kilimanjaro when the mountain is not covered by clouds.

After an early breakfast, you will begin a full-day Amboseli photographic safari lasting approximately 7 to 9 hours and covering between 60 and 120 kilometres. Early morning often provides the clearest chance of seeing Mount Kilimanjaro, creating iconic opportunities to photograph elephants and other wildlife against the mountain backdrop. Our guide will explore permanent marshes, open plains, acacia woodland, Observation Hill and seasonal lake areas while searching for elephant families, lions, cheetahs, buffaloes, wildebeests, zebras, hippos and numerous waterbirds. A picnic lunch may be enjoyed inside the park, or you may return to your lodge for lunch before continuing with an afternoon game drive.

After breakfast, you will check out and begin the approximately 240-kilometre return journey from Amboseli to Nairobi, which normally takes around 4 to 5 hours excluding heavy traffic. Depending on your onward travel schedule, our guide may arrange a short morning photography drive before leaving the park. You will travel through Emali and the Athi Plains with planned comfort stops before reaching Nairobi. Drop-off will be provided at your hotel, private residence, Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, completing your 9-day Kenya midrange photographic safari.