Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi
When arriving in Nairobi it’s always better to spend the night at a hotel close to Wilson Airport where you will depart early the next morning for your flight to The Masai Mara. When you arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The hotels we use and very clean and modern and a great place to relax after your flight into Kenya. If time allows we can even arrange a visit to Nairobi National Park which has a remarkable amount of wildlife for a park bordering one of East Africa’s most populous cities…including rhinos!
Day 2: Nairobi to Maasai Mara
The next morning you will be transferred a short distance to Wilson Airport to take your flight to the Mara. These flights tend to have very strict weight controls on the luggage (normally 15kgs including the camera bag) and they weigh them all when you are checking in. We have negotiated a rate with Air Kenya for you to take up to 45kgs in total including your camera gear and check-in luggage….one less thing for you to worry about!
The flight to The Masai Mara takes just over an hour and when you land at the Keekorok Airstrip you will be met by your private vehicle and expert guide. Please note that this safari has been priced based on two people sharing the vehicle. If you are travelling with more people (and the vehicle can take up to 6 guests – we think 4 photographers is the max though) then this will bring the price per person down.
The first port of call will be your home for the next 6 nights – Ashnil Mara Camp – which is a short drive from the airstrip. We love Ashnil Mara Camp for many reasons but the main one is its central location. We use Ashnil Mara Camp for all our migration safaris and it’s “top-notch”. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, the staff are excellent and the food is wholesome and delicious! It’s the perfect base to explore the Masai Mara.
Over the next seven days, you will depart from the camp at first light to head out photographing. Because you have a private vehicle you can stay out as long as you like (packed lunches can be arranged) or stick to morning and afternoon drives. Your expert guide driving the vehicle will more than likely have worked with us during the migration safaris so will know what sort of photo opportunities to seek out. You are allowed to drive in the reserve from sunrise to sunset and your guide will always try and end the day with a stunning sunset silhouette!
When the wildebeest and zebras are not in The Mara the predators have to work a bit harder and the big cats especially are more active. Having your own vehicle also means that you can spend as much or as little time as you like at a sighting. If, for example, you find a family of cheetahs resting on a termite mound you can stick with them for serval hours in the hope that they start to hunt.
Ashnil Mara's location means that you can work in different areas of the reserve on different days and if you find a particularly productive area you can return there over and over. If you want to return to the camp during the heat of the day then you can do so and head out again later. A private vehicle is the ultimate luxury for a wildlife photographer.
If you are looking to extend your safari beyond the Masai Mara then we have extensions to other iconic Photo destinations such as Amboseli and Samburu. We also have packages to go Gorilla Treking if that is of interest. Please chat to one of our safari planners about options and routing.
On the final day, you will leave the Masai Mara in the mid-morning for the flight back to Wilson Airport where you will either be transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International. If your flight only leaves later in the afternoon or evening we can arrange a day room at a hotel for you.
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