The Best of the Best
12-Days
February 17 – 28, 2016
This exciting safari takes you to the legendary Serengeti in Tanzania, during the birthing season of the migration, and then to the famous Maasia Mara in Kenya, during the Big Cat season. The best of the best!
The Serengeti, a name meaning “Endless Plains” in the native Maasai language, is truly spectacular, with diverse ecosystems, exotic wildlife, iconic umbrella acacia trees, mass kopjes, beautiful rivers, and brilliant animal landscapes. Each year around this time, approximately 750,000 wildebeest give birth during a three-week period. This natural phenomenon draws the attention of predators. It is, quite simply, a wildlife photographer’s paradise. Each year is different in terms of exactly where and when the wildebeest calve, so we will stay at two different locations in the Serengeti to maximize our opportunities for superb migration photography with the associated predator action.
We will then fly directly from the Serengeti and land directly into the famous Maasai Mara. This time of year has become known as the Big Cat season and is one of the best-kept secrets in Africa. This is the off-season, meaning the migration has come through, eaten down the tall grasses, gone south along with the tourists, leaving all the big cats behind. This allows us to spend quality time with these big cats, virtually undisturbed. We will be able to focus on creating extraordinary images with dramatic side/back lighting and dynamic compositions. This is almost impossible during the high season, with its hoards of tourist vehicles.
While many companies put four photographers in each safari vehicle to cut cost, we only put three per vehicle. Each photographer has their own row to be able to spread out and quickly capture photographs from each side of the vehicle without any obstructions. You would not want to risk sharing a row, even with the driver, on the day the best action happens, and you are trying to shoot around someone else. We stay in prime locations to maximize our time in the field and to ensure the best photographic possibilities. Additionally, we arrange for extra weight allowance on the light aircraft so you do not have to compromise and leave gear behind that you want with you on this trip of a lifetime. These details can make a huge difference in the quality of your safari experience and photographic opportunities.
SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS
- Experiencing the greatest migration on earth.
- 2 of the best wildlife locations on the African continent.
- We have private 9-passenger 4X4 Land Cruisers with only 3 people per vehicle. Every person will have their own row with 2 window seats available for the best viewing and photographic opportunities.
- Extra luggage allowances to accommodate the specific needs of photographic equipment.
- Luxury accommodations in a small, private tented camps.
- The safari is limited to only 9 participants! This is a smaller, more private group than most photographic safaris.
- Experience gold-rated guides who specialize in working with wildlife photographers.
- Dayrooms on the day of departure, so you can properly relax and clean up before your long flight home that night.
Day 1, February 17, 2016
Arrive Arusha, Tanzania. You will be met by our team at the airport and transported to the Legendary Coffee Lodge.
Day 2, February 18, 2016
Today, you will awaken in a magical new world with the smell of fresh Tanzanian coffee brewing, and the calls of exotic birds. We will meet at breakfast for a safari briefing before hopping into our Land Cruisers and heading out for the breath taking Serengeti conservation area. The Ndutu area is an important part of the Serengeti ecosystem, in particular the short grass plains which provide calving grounds for the wildebeest and other migratory animals, usually taking place between January and March. We will have time to settle into our luxury-tented camp before heading out on our first game drive.
Accommodations – Lake Ndutu Luxury Camp
Day 3-5, February 19-21, 2016
Our days will start with hot coffee or tea, delivered to your tent before the sun rises.
As the cool, fresh air fills your lungs you’ll feel invigorated and rejuvenated, ready for a great day on safari. Roll down the windows, or stand up through the customized roof hatch and enjoy the unhindered 360 views, and the possibilities for what lies ahead as we venture onto the Great Plains to experience one of the last remaining mammal migrations in the world. This is truly one of the greatest spectacles of Africa. We will take a packed breakfast with us so we will not have to leave any of the predator action to be back in camp before breakfast is over.
We not only expect to see frequent kills this time of year, but also the innumerable gazelle, zebra, and buffalo, along with notable numbers of elephant and giraffe. Our afternoon game drive usually ends with us rolling into camp after the sun has set. We will enjoy a famous sundowner around the campfire, before our delicious dinner, while exchanging the exciting wildlife encounters of that day. Accommodations – Lake Ndutu Luxury Camp
Day 6&7, February 22&23, 2016
Our destination today is the central Serengeti. We divide our time between two locations in the Serengeti to ensure the best access to the large herds, diversity of wildlife, leopard habitats, lions on the stunning kopjes, and amazing animal landscape opportunities. Since the movement of the wildebeest and zebras is dependent on the weather patterns, if it is wet, the largest herds are generally in the south, but closer to the central area if it is dry. We also want to take advantage of the Serengeti’s legendary landscape with its vast plains, flat-topped (umbrella) acacia trees, and islands of kopjes.
Accommodations – Lemala Ewanjan Camp
Day 8, February 24, 2016
This morning, we have one last morning game drive in the Serengeti before driving to the airstrip where we will board our light aircraft and fly directly into the famous Maasai Mara! This is the best time to come to the Mara for the big cats. Our location is centralized for all the big prides: Rekero, Double Cross, and the famous Marsh pride.
We will arrive in time for lunch, and will be able to settle in before heading out on our first game drive in this amazing destination. The intimate tented camp is positioned to blend unobtrusively into the surrounding vegetation and has an authentic safari feel of bygone days. There is no better way to experience Africa than by spending a few nights under canvas, and no better way to photograph than by camping in the heart of the land with the most exotic wildlife in the world! Sitting close to the campfire, you will enjoy the starry African night and, once safely escorted to your tent by your Massai watchman, you will be lulled asleep to the sound of grazing hippos and roaring lions.
Accommodations – Mara Bush Camp
Day 9-11, February 25-27, 2016
As in the Serengeti, your days will start with hot coffee or tea, delivered to your tent before the sun rises. We will spend the next 3 full days in and around Talak, the richest predator area in the Mara. The renowned Maasai Mara certainly does not need an introduction, but what most photographers do not know is that this is the best time to come and photograph the predators.
Once the migration departs, so do all the hoards of tourist, leaving all the predators behind. The grass is short from the grazing and there is nowhere else where one stands as good of a chance of seeing a cheetah hunt at full speed! This is when the dew is sparkling through the grasses and you can see the lion’s breath. The absence of the maddening crowds of vehicles will allow us the time we need to put into creating award winning images.
The prides are usually quite active as the sun begins to rise. Although our focus will be on the big cats–leopards, cheetah and lions—this is one of the lushest reserves in Africa. We will probably see elephants, hippos, Masai giraffes, impalas, Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelles, Topi, hartebeest, black-backed jackals, spotted hyenas, and more.
The Maasai tribe is as famous as Kenya’s wildlife. We will have many wonderful Maasai in our camp who love to share about their culture and traditions. They are huge part of the experience of Africa and one you don’t want to miss out on. There will be an option to visit their local village where you will not only get a glimpse into this ancient and fascinating world, but also have the opportunity to capture compelling images, equally as powerful as your wildlife images.
Accommodations – Mara Bush Camp
Day 12, February 28, 2016
We will have one last game drive before bidding farewell to the Mara and driving to the airstrip. Upon arrival into Nairobi, we will be met by our ground team and transferred to the Ole Sereni, overlooking Nairobi National Park, where we will have dayrooms. You will have the luxury to properly relax and clean up before your flight home.
Is this trip for you?
I welcome photographers of ALL levels who are serious about wildlife and nature photography. This safari is timed during the wildebeest migration-birthing season, with a focus on producing quality images. During this safari we will see a vast variety of exotic wildlife. However, some special subjects may require you to spend some time watching their behavior and waiting for those special moments. This is when patience pays off and rewards you with extraordinary photographs. We will spend most of our time and effort in the field unless it is quiet and the light is just too harsh; we return our camp/lodge for the midday break. Most mornings, we will bring a packed breakfast with us so we do not miss the morning action. There may also be a day when the action is too good to leave and we will have box lunches brought out to us. We will be back at camp for a nice dinner and drinks around the fire every night.
During this safari, you will have an opportunity to visit a Maasai village with an experienced African cultural photographer. If you have seen beautiful tribal photographs but have never photographed people, or tribes, this is a great opportunity to have help and instruction. Instead of bringing home snapshots of extraordinary people, you will have the opportunity to create extraordinary images of extraordinary subjects.
Since this itinerary is built to spend most of our time in the field, this is not a formal workshop. There will not be any “planned” lectures, but if time allows she has keynotes ready for an impromptu slideshow or formal instruction. Piper will offer photographic advice throughout the safari. She is there to assist you and is available for any questions on any and all photographic topics, including business questions on marketing, branding, and creating a niche. When there is an afternoon break, she will be happy to review your images. This is largely why the group sizes are kept small: so that she can assist you when you need help, and spend quality time with you in an amazing location.
If your objective is to take the most images you can shoot by rushing to every subject as fast as you can, then racing off to the next, and checking off a list, then this is probably not the right safari for you.
Still have questions? See my Safari F&Q page here
Have further concerns? Please email Piper at any time.
THE COST
The cost of this photo safari is $9,895.00 per person.
The price is based on double occupancy; single room supplement is $1,795.00, if available. If a solo guest is unwilling to share, and request single accommodations upon registration, then a single supplement will be charged. If you are a solo guest who is willing to share accommodations, we will do our best to match you with another guest of the same gender. If we are unable to match you with another solo guest of the same gender, then the single supplement will be charged, up to, but not exceeding the fee of the single supplement. In this case, whenever possible, we will try to discount the single supplement up to 50% of the cost of the single supplement fee.
PRICE INCLUDES:
- First class accommodations
- Guaranteed row and window seat in private 4X4 Land cruisers
- All National Parks and Game Reserves entrance fees
- All meals except on international travel days, February 20 and dinner on March 2
- non alcoholic beverages and water on game drives
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
- Visas and Travel Insurance
- Personal purchases (ie; curios, alcoholic drinks, phone calls, Internet, laundry)
- Gratuities
- Optional extra activities ( balloon rides, walking safaris, etc)
- Optional Pre and post-safaris, meals or accommodations not in the itinerary
- International flights to and from the African Continent
- Meals on Feb 20 this is a travel day and there are many late arrivals.
- Dinner on March 2 , due to early departures and late arrivals.
Please note: We will attempt to adhere to this itinerary as much as possible. However, certain conditions (political, climatic, environmental, cultural, or wildlife migrations) may necessitate changes in the itinerary. We reserve the right to alter any itinerary at any time, if necessary. We will attempt to notify participants of changes as far in advance as possible. Costs incurred by such changes will be the responsibility of the participant.
INTERESTED IN JOINING US?
The group size for this incredible photo safari is limited to 9 photographers. To secure your spot, please complete the on-line registration form and make the $2,400.00 non-refundable deposit. Both a reservation form and deposit must be completed to confirm a spot. Once the safari is full, you may add your name to the waitlist.
SIGN-UP AND DEPOSIT
CLICK THE LINK TO – Fill out and e-sign the registration form (Ecosign
Make your deposit of $2400.00 (non-refundable) by using the pay button below (Paypal)
What follows is an incredible SAFARI EXTENSION to Amboseli, for those who want to make this the Best Wildlife Experience of East Africa.
Extend your safari to include Amboseli; one of the most amazing ecosystems, containing vast herds of elephants, marsh wetlands, and dust tunnels that move along the landscape. Capture stunning images of the large herds of Elephants and Zebra’s as they roam through the dusty plains. Photograph expansive views filled with giraffes and other exotic African wildlife with Mount Kilimanjaro as a backdrop. Details
