Masai Mara 7 day Photo Safari - March 2025
March 16th - 22nd, 2025
The Wildlife
Photo Safari Map
OVERVIEW
If time is of the essence, there's no better destination for a 6-day dedicated photo safari than Kenya's renowned Masai Mara Game Reserve.
Known affectionately as the "Mara," this reserve stands as the crown jewel of Kenya's wildlife sanctuaries, celebrated for its legendary abundance and diversity of wildlife. It also ranks among the premier locations to capture stunning imagery of all three of Africa's Big Cats: the Lion, Leopard, and Cheetah.
Your journey begins with our warm meet and greet service at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. From there, our efficient transfer service will whisk you away to a Nairobi hotel for an overnight stay. The following morning, your main luggage will be collected and transported to your camp while you embark on a flight to the Masai Mara. Upon arrival, you'll have ample time to acclimate to your new surroundings, savor a delectable lunch, and get ready for your first afternoon photo game drive.
Over the course of your adventure, our experienced local guide will accompany you on a total of 10 photo game drives. Our specially designed photographic vehicle ensures spacious and comfortable photography opportunities.
As your journey concludes, you'll return to Nairobi by plane, where you can take advantage of a day room at a hotel conveniently located near the airport. Later in the evening, the hotel's complimentary shuttle service will transport you to catch your international flight back home.
MASAI MARA GAME RESERVE
In the Masai Mara, you'll be treated to a picturesque landscape featuring gentle rolling hills, vast savanna grasslands, lush riverine thickets, and the iconic Mara River. Encompassing 1,500 square kilometers (560 square miles), this destination stands as a prime choice for a photographic safari, immersing you in the heart of unspoiled Africa.
The Masai Mara is renowned as one of the ultimate locations to capture Africa's magnificent big cats, including the regal Lion, elusive Leopard, and swift Cheetah. Yet, these big cats are only part of the vibrant community. The sheer variety of mammals, birds, and reptiles residing here is nothing short of astonishing.
March offers a tranquil atmosphere for visitors, with fewer tourists. This means you can anticipate being one of the few vehicles at wildlife sightings. Additionally, the weather during this period tends to be quite favorable, as it falls between the shorter and longer rainy seasons.
DETAILS
This exclusive small-group photo safari offers an exceptional degree of flexibility in the field. You can expect to savor packed breakfasts at wildlife sightings or beneath the shade of the typical Mara Picnic Trees. Your days in the Mara will be fully dedicated to allowing the wildlife and their unique situations to set the daily pace.
This 7-day Mara photo safari is limited to a maximum of three participants in one private vehicle. You'll have ample space for your equipment and a guaranteed vantage point on both sides of the safari vehicle.
Your guide for this photo tour is Mamai John, an expert in the field.
Please note that this safari does not include specific photographic instruction, making it most suitable for intermediate to advanced photographers who are confident in their photography skills. However, you can rest assured that our skilled and experienced safari guide will adeptly locate the wildlife and position the vehicle with careful consideration of lighting and subject distance.
There is an excellent chance to see and photograph the following animals on this safari:
Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Hippo, Black Rhino, Spotted Hyena, Jackal, Giraffe, Zebra, Wildebeest, Thompson's Gazelle, Grant's Gazelle, Olive Baboon, Vervet Monkey, Coke's Hartebeest, and an excellent variety of reptile and birdlife.
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 EKA HOTEL
(Bed & Breakfast only)
DAY 2
Bags ready for collection at 7 am. Breakfast, & depart at 08:30. Transfer to Wilson Airport for flight to the Masai Mara
Please have your bags at reception by 07:00. Your driver/guide will collect your main luggage and drive it to the Mara. You can then travel hassle-free with only your camera equipment. After your breakfast, you will depart at 08:30 for Wilson Airport. The flight to the Mara will depart around 10:30. You will be met at the Ol Kiombo Airstrip in the Mara by the camps transfer vehicle and they will drive you to camp. Check-in and enjoy a delicious lunch, waiting for your main luggage to arrive by road. Meet at 16:00 for your first afternoon photo game drive.
You will stay for 5 nights in the Masai Mara at ENTIM MARA CAMP in luxury en-suite tents.
(All meals included)
(Local drinks included)
(Limited Laundry included)
DAY 3
Morning & Afternoon photo game drives in the Masai Mara
Enjoy relaxed and flexible photography.
DAY 4
Morning & Afternoon photo game drives in the Masai Mara
Enjoy relaxed and flexible photography.
DAY 5
Morning & Afternoon photo game drives in the Masai Mara
Enjoy relaxed and flexible photography.
DAY 6
Morning & Afternoon photo game drives in the Masai Mara
Enjoy relaxed and flexible photography.
DAY 7
Short morning game drive. Fly back to Nairobi. Use of a day room before departure
Savor your last morning wildlife excursion before taking a flight back to Nairobi's Wilson Airport.
Upon your arrival at the airport, you will receive a warm welcome and be transferred to the FOUR POINTS SHERATON AIRPORT HOTEL.
Here, you'll have the convenience of a day room at your disposal until your departure time.
When it's time to head to the airport for your international flight home, a complimentary shuttle bus will transport you for the short 5-minute journey.
(Room only, no meals or drinks included)
Three night optional extension to photograph the Mountain Gorillas in RWANDA
OVERVIEW
For those who would like to extend the length of their safari, we offer an exciting 3 night / 4-day extension to see and photograph the highly endangered Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda. The extension can be added before or after the scheduled photographic safari.
The standard package (if added on before or after our scheduled safari) would start with a flight from Nairobi to Kigali in Rwanda. As you leave the arrivals hall in Kigali, you will be met by our representative and he will be your driver/guide for the duration of your stay. You will start with a tour of the city and a visit to the genocide museum (optional), followed by lunch in one of Kigali's Restaurants.
After this, you head on towards your overnight accommodation in Ruhengeri. You will pass through the very scenic Rwandan countryside with endless rolling hills and lush vegetation. The 3hr drive is a very beautiful one and on the way, your guide will tell you about the country and its interesting history.
You will arrive in the late afternoon, settle into your lodge and enjoy dinner in the restaurant.
The Gorilla treks are done in the early morning (after your breakfast) and depending on which gorilla group you have been assigned to visit, the walk may take a couple of hours (if the Gorillas are close) or it may take longer - 4 or 5 hours if the group is further up the mountain. Either way, the walk is very interesting. We recommend you hire the services of a local porter who will happily and easily carry your camera equipment for you. This allows you to have two free hands to be able to grab onto vegetation during your hike. Gardening gloves are very useful items to protect your hands from stinging nettles and thorny plants. We also recommend you wear gaiters to protect your legs from mud and biting ants, as well as waterproof trousers and a waterproof jacket.
The itinerary offers two treks to see the Gorillas. This is always a good option as both treks will be completely different and it allows you the opportunity to have two chances to photograph the Gorillas. You are never sure where you might find them or in what situation they will be in. They might be in an open area or a dense bamboo thicket.
Group sizes are never more than 6 guests and you will be led by two specialist Gorilla guides, the porters will carry bags and you will also encounter the trackers who find the Gorillas for you and guide your group into them, thus saving valuable trekking time.
Once you are close to the Gorillas, the procedure is to stop and take only the items you need with you. You must also leave your camera bag with your Porter, he will look after it. It is vital therefore that you can carry all your equipment with you as you will not be allowed to go back to your camera bag.
A very strict time limit of 1 hour is given to view and photograph the Gorilla group. After your hour is up everyone leaves the Gorillas and heads back down the mountain. The trackers then stay with the Gorillas for the rest of the day to protect them, but also to take note of where they bed down for the night. Early the following morning the trackers head back up the mountain to find the Gorillas again before they begin their day of foraging.
It is possible to request to walk to one of the closest groups of Gorillas, but it is never guaranteed that you will be picked for that specific group. Thus we recommend that you are in reasonable health to undergo the treks, which will be up fairly steep muddy and slippery paths. You need a good pair of walking shoes or hiking boots with long socks that you can tuck your trouser legs into. This will help to prevent against biting ants.
The lodge does offer some items for hire such as raincoats, gaiters and gloves, but they are not guaranteed to always have them available.
When you return after your trek they kindly wash your shoes for you and return them to your room before dinner. A pair of sandals would be useful to have in the interim.
After your second Gorilla trek, you will depart after lunch and head back to Kigali where you will spend your last night in a hotel. The following morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Nairobi or on to a destination of your choice.
PRICE:
Please enquire
VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK - RWANDA
This national park in northwestern Rwanda covers 160 km2 (62 sq mi) of rainforest and encompasses five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains, namely Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo. It borders Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. It is home to the highly endangered Mountain Gorilla. The world-famous primatologist, Dian Fossey was based here from 1967 until her murder in 1985. She has been widely credited with saving the Mountain Gorilla from extinction and although her murder remains unsolved, it is believed that she was killed by the poachers she had spent her life fighting against.
Rwanda is considered the prime location to view Mountain Gorillas and it offers the most consistent sightings.
Itinerary
Day 1
Fly from Nairobi to Kigali. City tour then drive to Volcanoes National Park
Depart your Nairobi Hotel after breakfast and transfer to Jomo Kenyatta Airport where you will catch your flight to the Rwandan capital, Kigali. This is a 1.5 hr flight and upon arrival, you will be met by our ground operators at the arrivals area just outside the airport. You will then take in a tour of the city which includes a visit to the genocide museum. You will also enjoy a lunch in a Kigali town restaurant. Depart after lunch on a 3hr drive to your lodge in Ruhengeri. Dinner at the lodge and overnight - Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Day 2
First morning Gorilla trek, afternoon at leisure
Depart the lodge after an early breakfast and head to the main meeting area for your first Gorilla Trek registration. Head off on your trek and return to your lodge around lunchtime. Afternoon at leisure, dinner in the restaurant and then overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Day 3
Second morning Gorilla trek. Depart after lunch for Kigali and overnight
Early breakfast and then head out on your second Gorilla Trek and return to your lodge for lunch. Depart in the early afternoon and head back to Kigali via road - 3hrs. Arrive in the late afternoon and overnight at Lemigo Hotel in Kigali
Day 4
Depart hotel after breakfast and fly back to Nairobi
Breakfast then depart for the airport and your flight back to Nairobi. Connect with your international flight back home
Included
International flights Nairobi – Kigali - Nairobi
Transport services in 4 x 4 vehicle as indicated
English speaking driver/guide
02 nights on full board accommodation at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (BLD)
01 night on bed & breakfast accommodation at Lemigo Hotel in a standard room in Kigali (B)
02 Gorilla trek permits
City tour as indicated on arrival day
Community fees
Meals as indicated (B = Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner)
Not Included
All meals not indicated
All Drinks
Laundry
Visa Fees
Tips for lodge staff, your local guide, Gorilla Guide & Gorilla anti-poaching rangers
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.
- Tour Leader
-
Mamai John
