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Green Season Samburu & Masai Mara Photo Safari - November 2024

November 09th - 21st, 2024
Green Season Samburu & Masai Mara Photo Safari - November 2024
Kenya &
2 Spaces

OVERVIEW

November and December are known as Kenya's GREEN SEASON. The characteristic fresh flush of new growth is triggered by the short rains that fall at this time of the year. The dry season is now over, and both the environment and the wildlife breathe a massive sigh of relief. Food and water become plentiful.

The colour pallet is distinctly unique at this time of year, and your backgrounds will take on a variety of fresh green tones. Mornings tend to be clear and bright, with powerful and dramatic thunderstorms building up in the afternoons. Samburu and the Masai Mara are two of Kenya's best photographic locations. The combination will allow you to photograph an impressive variety of wildlife species and landscapes.

You will be met at the airport and taken to a Nairobi hotel for an overnight stop. The following morning you will drive from Nairobi to Samburu, arriving in time for a late lunch. You will spend 4 nights in Samburu before you board a light aircraft flight to the Masai Mara. Finally, you will spend 7 nights in the Masai Mara before you fly back to Nairobi. You will have access to a day room to freshen up before you depart later that same evening on your international flight home.

SAMBURU NATIONAL RESERVE

Samburu is a photographers paradise and has a fantastic diversity of wildlife only found in this area of Kenya. You will spend your photo game drives searching for unique species that include the Reticulated Giraffe, Gerenuk, Grevy's Zebra, Desert Warthog, Somali Ostrich, Beisa Oryx and Vulturine Guineafowl.

There is an excellent road network in Samburu, which allows you to thoroughly explore this game-rich area without having to travel very far. In addition, the beautiful Ewaso Nyiro River and surrounding hills and mountains offer great photo opportunities to capture some stunning landscapes.

MASAI MARA GAME RESERVE

Gentle rolling hills, savanna grassland, riverine thickets, and the famous Mara River are some of the scenery highlights you will encounter in the Masai Mara. Covering 1500 square kilometres (560 square miles), this is one of the best locations for a photo safari, right in the heart of authentic Africa.

The Masai Mara ranks as one of the best places to photograph Africa's big cats (Lion, Leopard and Cheetah). However, these are not the only residents. The sheer number of mammals, birds, and reptiles found here is astounding.

DETAILS

This is an exclusive small-group wildlife photography tour with a maximum of 3 participants in 1 private vehicle. You will have plenty of space for equipment and guaranteed access to both sides of the safari vehicle.

Mamai John will host this green season photo tour.

There is no specific photographic tuition on this safari, making it best suited for intermediate to advanced photographers who are confident with their photography skills. Our professional, and experienced safari guide will locate the wildlife and position the vehicle correctly, considering the light and distance to the subject.

There is an excellent chance to see and photograph the following animals on this safari:

Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Reticulated Giraffe, Beisa Oryx, Gerenuk, Grevy's Zebra, White Bearded Wildebeest, Black Rhino, Spotted Hyena, Hippo, Jackal, Plains Zebra, Thompson's Gazelle, Grant's Gazelle, Olive Baboon, Vervet Monkey, Waterbuck, and an excellent variety of birdlife and reptiles.

DAY 1

Arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), overnight in Nairobi - Kenya

Your safari begins with a meet & greet at the airport. A road transfer will take you to a local hotel.

You will stay for 1 night in Nairobi at the BEST WESTERN - UPPER HILL

(Bed & Breakfast only)

DAY 2

Depart at 7 am and drive 6 hours to Samburu Reserve. With afternoon game drive

Enjoy an early breakfast before you are met by your local Kenyan Guide. You will travel north towards Samburu passing Mount Kenya and other scenic highlights on the way. You will reach Samburu in time to check in and enjoy a delicious lunch. You will prepare to head out on your first afternoon photo game drive at around 16:00.

You will stay for 4 nights in Samburu at ELEPHANT BEDROOM CAMP in en-suite tents.

(All meals included)

DAY 3

Morning & Afternoon photo game drives in Samburu

Enjoy relaxed and flexible photography. Packed breakfasts will be taken on board the safari vehicle to allow you to maximize the early morning hours looking for subjects to photograph when they are the most active. At a convenient time, you will stop to enjoy your breakfast in the bush and a well-earned leg stretch.

Samburu will be quite hot around midday so it is a great time to head back to camp for lunch and a short siesta before heading out in the late afternoon when it starts to become cooler and the wildlife becomes more active.

DAY 4

Morning & Afternoon photo game drives in Samburu

Enjoy relaxed and flexible photography.

DAY 5

Morning & Afternoon photo game drives in Samburu

Enjoy relaxed and flexible photography.

DAY 6

Game drive on way to airstrip for flight to Masai Mara. Afternoon drive with Camp guide

Enjoy a short final game drive and packed breakfast before heading to the airstrip to catch your flight to the Masai Mara. We have secured extra luggage allowance to enable you to fly with all of your luggage. You will be met at the Ol Kiombo airstrip in the Mara and transferred by road to camp. After checking in, enjoy a delicious lunch overlooking the Mara River. 

For your first afternoon photo game drive, you will be looked after by a guide from the camp. This will allow our guide and vehicle to travel the long distance from Samburu to the Mara by road (with an overnight stop along the way)

You will stay for 7 nights in the Masai Mara at MARA BUSH CAMP in comfortable en-suite tents

(All meals included)

DAY 7

Morning & Afternoon photo game drives in the Masai Mara. Morning drive with Camp guide

For the morning photo game drive, you will again be looked after by one of the camp guides. Our guide and vehicle will arrive at lunchtime and will be ready to take you on the afternoon photo game drive.

DAY 8

Morning & Afternoon photo game drives in the Masai Mara

Enjoy relaxed and flexible photography. Packed breakfasts will be arranged to allow you to maximize your time in the field. It can also get quite warm around midday so returning to camp for lunch and a siesta are also recommended. However, if there is something worth staying out to photograph then your guide can be as flexible as you need him to be.

DAY 9

Morning & Afternoon photo game drives in the Masai Mara

Enjoy relaxed and flexible photography.

DAY 10

Morning & Afternoon photo game drives in the Masai Mara

Enjoy relaxed and flexible photography.

DAY 11

Morning & Afternoon photo game drives in the Masai Mara

Enjoy relaxed and flexible photography.

DAY 12

Morning & Afternoon photo game drives in the Masai Mara

Enjoy relaxed and flexible photography.

DAY 13

Short morning game drive. Fly back to Nairobi. Use of a day room before departure

Enjoy your final morning game drive before flying back to Nairobi Wilson Airport. You will be met at the airport and transferred to the FOUR POINTS SHERATON AIRPORT HOTEL. You will have the use of a day room until your time of departure. The complimentary shuttle bus will take you the short 5 min journey to the airport to catch your international flight home.

(Room only, no meals or drinks included)

STEP 1 - PLEASE READ OUR BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS

We first recommend that you read and become familiar with our booking terms & conditions, which can be found on this page, under the PRICES box.

STEP 2 - GET IN TOUCH

Get in touch with us to confirm that there are still spaces available on the photo safari that you are interested in. Click on the “ENQUIRE NOW” button above.

STEP 3 - AWAIT A REPLY FROM US & THEN CREATE YOUR CLIENT ACCOUNT

Once we confirm with you that there is space available, and you would like to join the safari, we will send you a direct link via email. Follow this unique link to sign up to our CLIENT AREA.  After you have registered with your name, email address and a password of your choice, you will then be asked to complete our online booking form.

STEP 4 - COMPLETE A BOOKING FORM

As soon as we receive your completed booking form/s (1 per participant) then you will be required to send us the deposit to secure your place on the safari.

STEP 5 - SEND YOUR DEPOSIT

Deposits can be paid via credit card, PayPal or international bank transfer. We will notify you as soon as your deposit arrives. Places on the safari will only be confirmed once we have received both a completed booking form and deposit payment.

STEP 6 - FINAL BALANCE PAYMENT

As soon as your booking form and deposit are with us, we will update your CLIENT AREA to display the outstanding balance amount. This amount will be due 90 days before the start date of the safari.