2023/02/15 Flamingos, Big Cats and Elephants

• Amazing photographic opportunities with Elephants and big cats
• Exclusive helicopter flights over Lake Magadi
• 1 night in Nairobi, 5 nights in Masai Mara NR, 3 nights in Amboseli NP and 3 nights at Lentorre 
• 6 participants in two safari vehicles (max 8 if two couples/ travelling companions share a row of seats)
• Coaching and guiding by professional wildlife photographer Federico Veronesi
• Arrival: Feb 15th 2023, at any time of your convenience, at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi
• Departure:  Feb 27th 2023 from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. 

Six days among Big Cats in the Mara

The Masai Mara NR supports one of the highest concentrations of game in Africa. In particular, it is the number of predators and the high chances of seeing them that make the Mara so unique and attractive for wildlife photographers and enthusiasts.

Here we will photograph the famous big cats, Leopards, Cheetahs and Lions, but we shall also seek opportunities to photograph the equally fascinating small cats, Caracals and Servals. In this period migrating Wildebeests have gone, but the predators remain. It is a great time to be in the Mara as it is much quieter than migration time but game and activity are still abundant. We will follow the lives of the big cats, spending entire days sometimes with them, watching their lives unfold before our eyes.

Three days among the Amboseli Elephants

Amboseli NP in southern Kenya is one of world’s best places to see and photograph African Elephants. We will follow the Elephants crossing majestic sceneries on their walk from the woodlands to the marshes. We will have many opportunities to photograph the Elephants’ behavior, calves playing alongside their mothers, bulls fighting, families feeding and spraying dust. All in the amazing habitat of flat and dusty plains with scattered acacias and the backdrop of Mt Kilimanjaro. Amboseli is also home to some of the last big tuskers in Africa, and we’ll try hard to find them in this vast landscape. Our camp has access to a private conservancy adjacent to the park which will offer intimate encounters with the Elephants in a beautiful scenery, with very few other vehicles besides us.

Three days near Lake Magadi in the Southern Rift Valley

Lake Magadi is one of the most beautiful of the Rift Valley’s soda lakes. Its ever-changing colours are absolutely magnificent when seen from the air. Flamingos are present in the lake, at times in huge numbers, and we will photograph them from the helicopter as they fly over incredible colours. We will be based in and have exclusive access to the Olkeramatian Conservancy off the Nguruman Escarpment, on the border with the Shompole Group Ranch. Here wildlife abounds, including Lions, Cheetahs, Elephants, Leopards and  plains game.  Since it is a private conservancy, it is very rare to come across other vehicles on a game drive. We will also have permission to drive off-road, with no time limits, and do night game drives if desired.

The lodge where we will stay has a magnificent ground-level hide with a tunnel leading into it, right on a flood-lit waterhole, where wildlife comes to drink both in daytime and nighttime. It’s the best of its kind of East Africa. Animals come to drink really close to the hide, offering an intimate perspective. Spending a night there is a real thrill, staring into the darkness hoping to see movement in the vegetation. Wildlife using the waterhole range from Elephants, Giraffes, Leopards, Lions to more unusual creature such as African Civet, Caracal, Striped Hyenas.

Small group of keen photographers

This safari is for only 6 guests in two vehicles (maximum of 8 guests if 2 couples/ travelling companions request to share the same row of seats). Federico will share his time equally with everyone and communicate via hand-held radio between the vehicles.

Full row of seats on the vehicle

We believe it is crucial that every photographer has a full row of seats in the vehicle at disposal. This provides ample space for the equipment, but most of all, allows everyone to photograph on both sides without overlapping with other guests. Couples or travelling companions can request to share one row of seats in the vehicle if one of the two is not a keen photographer, for a maximum of one shared row per vehicle.

Vehicles fully customised for photography

Our vehicles are customised to satisfy the needs of photographers. They have fully open sides for an interrupted field of view and supports at the right height to lean the big lenses on. We provide bean bags in plenty and upon request we also supply supports to mount your tripod head on. Vehicles also have pop-up roof for photography from a higher angle when required.

Helicopter flight over the lake

On this trip guests will enjoy one full hour per person soaring above Lake Magadi and the southern Rift Valley on a four-seater helicopter. Each one will have a full window seat with removed doors for optimal photography. Federico will be on board to provide assistance during each flight. We will photograph the Flamingos from the air, the amazing prehistoric landscape of the Rift Valley, Elephants and plains game.

Accommodation in the heart of the parks

In Masai Mara NR we will stay at Mara Bush Camp, a small luxury tented camp on the banks of the Olare Orok river in the heart of the Mara. From here we will easily reach all the wildlife-richest areas of the reserve. The camp is in the heart of leopard country and different prides of lions live around it.

In Amboseli NP we will be based in one of two lodges located inside the park, in a perfect central position to reach the swamps, the plains and the dry lake at the golden hours of sunrise and sunset. All rooms are en-suite and equipped with sockets for charging equipment.

At Lake Magadi we will be based at Lentorre Lodge, a wonderful and very intimate lodge perched on the Nguruman escarpment. The lodge has six rooms with private plunge pool and gorgeous vistas on the Rift Valley landscape including Mt Shompole and the active volcano Ol Donyo Lengai. All rooms are en-suite and all inclusive.

Accommodation in the parks is on full-board basis, including breakfast, lunch and dinner. We will always have packed breakfast during our game drive, and depending on the situation, also lunch.

Photographer/guide with in-depth knowledge and experience of the parks

Federico Veronesi will be your guide and accompanying professional photographer for this trip.  Federico Veronesi has photographed extensively in most locations in Kenya, including the Rift Valley lakes, Amboseli and the Mara. He lived in the Mara for approximately six months per-year for many years. He intimately knows the animals of the Mara and Amboseli and their behavior. He will share his experience photographing them to ensure that you live an unforgettable experience and take extraordinary images. During game drives, Federico will be sharing tips and suggestions on photography. Being a small group, his coaching will be tailored to the specific needs and skill level of the participants. Back in camp, he will be available to review guests’images on request as well as hold informal sessions on editing and post-production of the images taken during the safari, using Adobe Lightroom.

Price for this safari is USD 13,560. Single supplement is USD 1,890

The price includes:

• Accommodation in Nairobi (Fairview Hotel, 1 night B&B), Lentorre Lodge, 3 nights FB, Amboseli NP (Ol Tukai Lodge, 3 nights FB) and Masai Mara NR (Mara Bush Camp, 5 nights FB) as per above itinerary. Lunch on last day. Water at Mara Bush Camp and Lentorre.
• Unlimited game drives, within park hours, on a 4×4 Land Cruiser with 3 rows of seats.
• Park fees for Amboseli NP (3 nights) Lentorre (3 nights) and Masai Mara NR (5 nights).
• Guiding services and coaching by professional photographer and safari guide Federico Veronesi and professional Kenyan safari guides.
• Domestic flights by Air Kenya or Safarilink: from Nairobi to Masai Mara NR, from Masai Mara NR to Amboseli NP; one complimentary “freight seat” on all flight sectors which gives extra 70 kg allowance in total to the group (to be shared among all participants).
• Charter flight from Amboseli to Lake Magadi;
• Airport pick-up and drop-off in Nairobi for a total of 2 airport transfers.
• Road transfer from Lentorre to Nairobi.
• 1 lt complimentary bottled water per person per day in the vehicles during game drives.
• AMREF Flying Doctors emergency medical evacuation cover from safari locations to international standard hospital in Nairobi (does not include hospitalization and repatriation).
• Government taxes and VAT where applicable.

The price does not include:

• International flights.
• Entry visa to Kenya (US$ 50 p/person – visa fees may change without notice).
• Personal travel and medical insurance.
• Eventual charge for excess baggage weight on domestic flights (currently 3 US$ + 16% VAT per excess kg).
• Eventual increase in park fees. These may change at a short notice and unfortunately may not be foreseen.
• Amboseli conservancy fees should the group wish to visit any of the conservancies next to Amboseli NP.
• All drinks, laundry and extras at Ol Tukai and Mara Bush Camp (except water which is included);
• Tipping and any other item not expressly mentioned in the inclusions.