Great Migration & Big Tusker Safari 2017

August 11-21, 2017

Africa-Safari-Lion-BOTOocN2879

 Our safari not only puts you in the Maasai Mara at multiple locations during the  great migration, but takes you to Amboseli for the biggest tuskers and herds of elephant in Africa, while giving you the opportunity to have an unforgettable, close encounter with the critically endangered Mountain Gorilla’s in Rwanda! This Photo Safari is an extraordinary opportunity to photograph Africa’s most phenomenal wildlife locations and guarantees you will create an amazing, diverse portfolio of exceptional images from just one safari.

MAASAI MARA – Known as the wildlife mecca of the world and immortalized by countless wildlife films, the renowned Maasai Mara needs little introduction. During the season, when the migration crosses the famous Mara River, the Maasai Mara is arguably the greatest wildlife photography experience in the world. The vast, open plains are home to large prides of lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, black Rhino, hippos, Maasai giraffes, common zebras, gnu, impala, Thompson’s and grant’s gazelles, topi, hartebeest, black-backed jackals, spotted hyenas, eland, and more. The predator action is non-stop, as they have been hungry while the herds were in Tanzanian, and now, a frenzy of food moves through. The hungry crocs are ambushing the large herds as they frantically cross the mighty Mara River. Young cubs are now full of play and antics, while the mothers are out for the hunt. We will follow and photograph all the action.

migration-Africa-safari-Kenya-BV2U7064 Migration-Safari-Africa-Kenya-MARA8L0695

AMBOSELI – At the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, dust devils dance across the vast open plains of Amboseli National Park, one of the most amazing ecosystems, containing some of the largest tuskers and herds of elephants in Africa. The image of big-tusked elephants or tower of giraffe, set against the backdrop of Mt Kilimanjaro has made it one of Africa’s most iconic landscapes. During the dry season, when Amboseli’s swamplands are the only source of water for miles, concentrated numbers of wildlife gravitate to these life-sustaining refuges. The densely packed herds attract an array of predators, including cheetah, lion, and hyena. It is a place of big skies, dramatic clouds, and far horizons, a fine art wildlife photographer’s dream location. The real mystery of Amboseli lies in its unique ability to transform itself throughout the day, from blue skies, to dramatic clouds, to fierce dust storms, causing a complete dust white out.

This is where I have captured my award winning and highly published images of the large herds of elephants and zebras roaming through the dusty plains.

Zebra-safari-africa-Ken13AmbIMG_2623 (1) Elephants-Safari-Africa-Amboseli-Kenya-Ken13AmbIMG_2686

MOUNTAIN GORILLAS You will have the opportunity to extend your safari to have an unforgettable, close encounter with the critically endangered Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda, making this the Ultimate Great migration safari. Walking alongside these gentle giants is exhilarating and unlike any other experience in the world. The mountain gorillas are rare, critically endangered, and found only in a few small areas of protected forest; photographing them is special. Only 80 people, 10 groups of 8, may trek with the Gorillas in Rwanda per day. The permits are in high demand and sell out quickly.

Gorilla-Rwanda-Safari-Rwa9L1875

On this safari, you will be hosted and guided by professional African wildlife and Tribal Photographer Piper Mackay, who has spent the last 12 consecutive migration seasons working in the Mara. She knows the traditional crossing points and where the predators’ territories are. Many of her images from these locations have been printed in articles in major publications, which you can view on this site. Originally from the US, she is now a resident of Kenya and spends much of her time driving her Land Rover through this exotic land. Her passion, eagerness to teach, and outgoing personality ensures her guest an exciting experience.

This safari is limited to only 8 guests. This allows for greater freedom, more flexibility, better group dynamics, and the feeling of a more exclusive, personal, and private safari. Each photographer will have their own seat/row in the vehicle, with two windows and roof access, ensuring plenty of space and options for using clamps, molar bags, panning plates, and other gear to aid your ability to capture the best images. Our driver guides are all silver rated and have thousands of hours of experience in the field. They understand the needs of photographers and the importance of quickly positioning the vehicle for the best light and exceptional photographs.

ITINERARY

Day 1 August 11

Upon your arrival at the international airport in Nairobi, Kenya, you are met by a member of our ground team and transferred by private vehicle to the Ole Sereni Hotel. This is the perfect place to unwind after your long journey. You may enjoy a sundowner on the beautiful deck overlooking Nairobi National Park filled with wildlife, take a swim, or relax in the spa. After a good night’s sleep and a scrumptious breakfast, you will be ready to depart on an extraordinary safari.

Accommodations: Ole Sereni

Day 2&3 August 12 &13

Today, you will awake to exotic bird calls in a magical new world with the aroma of Kenyan coffee brewing. We will meet at breakfast for a safari briefing before hopping into your Land Cruisers and departing for the home of the biggest tuskers in Kenya, Amboseli National Park. Once through the gate, we will game drive to our beautiful style African lodge, centrally located in the reserve, arriving in time for a late lunch and time to relax and settle in before our first game drive.

In the morning, the herds of elephants and zebra slowly come down from the mountains and cross the plains of Amboseli on their way to the marshes, centrally located in the national park. In the evening, they will leave the swamps to head back to the foothills, giving us numerous opportunities to photograph these herds on the move and through the dusty plains. Our focus here will be to capture these amazing herds or towers of giraffe, with Mount Kilimanjaro in the background. You will also track down predators, enjoy exceptional landscape opportunities as the dust devils dance through the savannas, and experience the abundant bird life.

In the evening, we will gather for sundowners around the fire, overlooking the plains of Amboseli, and exchanging exciting stories of what we experienced that day.

Accommodations: Amboseli Serena

Elephant-Safari-Africa-Amboseli-Kenya-Ken13AmbIMG_2407 Elephant-Safari-Africa-IMG_9643

Day 4&5 August 14 &15

Rise early for a quick cup of coffee and biscuits before heading out for one last morning game drive in this amazing destination. We will return to the lodge for breakfast, check out, and head to the airstrip for our charted flight to the renowned Maasai Mara. This safari is designed for photographers, so we have ensured extra luggage allowance for all your gear.

Excitement builds quickly as you fly over the Mara and see the herds below, along the famous Mara River. From the moment we touch down and game drive towards our accommodations, the plethora of photographic opportunities become overwhelming.

Location! Location! Location! At the very center of the Mara Triangle, our lodge sits high on a bush-cloaked hill, overlooking the vast plains and Mara River, between two main crossing points. When we are not out in the field, because the light has become too harsh, you can lounge around the pool with a cold beverage and watch the great herds of wildebeest and zebra gathering as they approach the river. At a moment’s notice, we can hop in the Land Cruisers, race down to the river, and be in position in just a few minutes.

We will spend two days in the Mara Triangle, exploring the back areas, where there are fewer vehicles and off road driving is permitted, giving us the ultimate freedom to seek unique and thrilling photographic opportunities. If we are lucky, we will get a few large crossings with the migration thundering directly towards us as they head back towards Tanzania.

Accommodations: Mara Serena 

lion-hunt-safari-africa-BV2U8667 Cheetah-running-safari-africa-BV2U8175 Migration-Safari-Africa-Kenya-MARA8L0943 (1)

Day 6-10

We will spend one last morning in the Mara Triangle before game driving into the heart of the action, an area where I have spent thousands of hours over the last 12 years. I have driven to every corner of this reserve, know where the predator’s territories are, and I ensure you will see the best wildlife anywhere in Africa.

You will have 5 days in the Talak area, centrally located between overlapping predator territories. We will focus on all the big cats, including the Marsh pride, made famous by the BBC’s series “Big Cat Diary,” and the Rekero pride, quickly becoming as powerful as the Marsh pride, Bahari the most famous leopard of the Mara, and Malika, Nora, and Armani, who have all had large litters of cheetah cubs. We will also see elephants, hippos, Maasai giraffe, common zebra, gnu, impala, Thompson’s and grant’s gazelles, topi, hartebeest, black-backed jackal, spotted hyenas, and more.

We will remain on alert for word that the great herds are gathering near the Mara River. Our ground operator has a large fleet of vehicles, which will be scattered throughout the Mara. Our drivers will be in private communication with each other, giving us many eyes and ears across the Mara. If we get word the wildebeest are gathering, we will race off, hoping to witness this extraordinary event.

The Maasai tribe is as famous as Kenya’s wildlife. Our safari takes place on their homeland; during our stay, we will visit a Maasai Boma. I have strong intimate tribal relationships throughout Kenya. This allows me to plan unique visits for my guests, where you will have a more powerful glimpse into their ancient and fascinating world, allowing you to capture compelling images as powerful as your wildlife images. The Maasai tribe is a huge part of the experience of Africa and one you don’t want to miss.

Maasai-Africa-safari-Kenya-MaraAugN5033

Our luxury-tented camp is eco-friendly and positioned to blend unobtrusively into the surrounding vegetation, giving you the authentic safari feel of a time when Hemmingway would have been a guest. Your days will begin in the finest traditional safari style when your tent steward will quietly awaken you with a steaming cup of coffee or tea and biscuits. The camp has a special photographers’ tent, where we will all gather to download, back up, and work on post processing. Participants always comment on how much they love the camaraderie among talented photographers. Learning from each other and the leader is a huge added value, as everyone brings different perspectives, knowledge, and skills. Throughout the safari, we will discuss all photograph topics, such as marketing, fine art prints, websites, and how to present your images to the market you are targeting. The goal is not only to capture a solid, diverse portfolio of images, but also to give you ideas and inspiration to market them.

In the evening, we will sit around the campfire under the starry African sky and look back on our amazing day in awe. You will be safely escorted back to your tent with a Maasai warrior each night. There is no better way to experience Africa than by spending a few nights under canvas, camping in the heart of the migration, listening to the sounds of lions roaring, zebras barking, and hyenas calling as you gently fall asleep.

Lion-Safari-Africa-IMG_2276 Zebra-safari-Kenya-BV2U4067

Day 11

We will rise early for one last amazing game drive before heading to the airstrip. You will have dayrooms available in Nairobi, where you can rest up and clean up before your flight back home later in the evening. Or you can extend your safari to join us in an unforgettable, close encounter with the critically endangered Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda!

Dayrooms Eka Hotel

Why this safari is for you…

This is a small group safari, designed for serious wildlife photographers who wish to produce high-quality images of some of the most exotic wildlife on the planet. Your professional photographic host is passionate about ensuring you can capture extraordinary images that go beyond the snapshots that flood the Internet. During this safari, you will see an abundant variety of exotic wildlife, which may require watching and predicting their behavior and waiting for those special award-winning moments. We will wait. We will not rush through the reserve, firing off a spray of clicks, as proof we were there.

We will spend most of our time and effort in the field, unless it is quiet and the light is too harsh; we return to our camp/lodge for the midday break. If the herds are lining up, and it looks like there could be a large crossing, we may sit by the river for several hours and be in the field most of the day. We will rise before sunrise each day to be in position for the best early morning light. Most mornings, we will bring a picnic breakfast with us, so we need not miss any opportunities by having to go back to camp for breakfast. There may be days we take a box lunch with us if we anticipate being at the river, waiting for a large crossing. We will be back at camp for a nice dinner and drinks around the fire every night.

We have specially designed Land Cruisers with wood frames running the full length of the open sides that allow you to work across the whole area. You also have unobstructed roof access for a different perspective. We have booked extra luggage seats, so you can carry all your gear with you. The location of our strategically planned accommodations in the Mara will allow us to access the two main separate areas of the Mara. This is important not only because predators are territorial and it doubles our exposure to the best of the predators, but also we can witness the crossings of the Mara River from both directions. While we are in the Mara Triangle, we can off road drive, enjoying maximum photographic freedom.

This safari was custom designed by a professional photographer with vast experience in the Mara and throughout Kenya. It guarantees you one of the most incredible wildlife experiences in the world and a diverse portfolio of extraordinary images.

cheetahs-africa-safari-BV2U8311

 

The Price

The price of this incredible African safari is $9,695.00. This price is based on double occupancy.

Single supplement is $1,250.00 “if available.” Single accommodations are limited.

Due to the limited number of spaces available, if a solo guest will share, and we can match with another guest of the same gender, we will do so. If a solo guest is unwilling to share, then a single supplement will be charged. If we cannot match a solo guest with another guest of the same gender, then the single supplement will be charged, but generally, at a reduced rate.

***This cost of this safari is based on a minimum of 6 participants. If there are less than 6 participants a small supplement fee of $495.00 will apply.

A USD $1,500.00 Non-refundable deposit is due at the time of registration to secure your spot. You may purchase travel insurance that will refund your deposit if you have to cancel your trip.

Price Includes:

  • In-country flights from Amboseli to the Mara and from the Maasai Mara to Nairobi
  • Airport transfers
  • Accommodations on shared basis
  • Guaranteed row and window seat in private 4×4 Land cruisers
  • All National Parks fees, Game Reserves entrance fees, and taxes
  • All meals, starting with breakfast on August 12th up to breakfast on August 21
  • Evacuation insurance to a Nairobi hospital (transport only – Cost of hospitalization NOT included)
  • Visit with the iconic Maasai Tribe
  • professional photographic guide
  • Experienced safari agent to help you with pre or post safari extended travel in Kenya, Tanzania, or Rwanda

What’s Not Included:

  • Visas
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal purchases (such as curios, spirit liquors, telephone calls, internet, laundry…)
  • Gratuities for the guides, staff at accommodations, and airport transfers ($25 -$30 per day)
  • Optional extra activities (balloon rides, walking safaris, etc.)
  • Pre- and post-safari tours
  • Meals and accommodations before or after the safari
  • International flights to and from the African continent 

Payment Terms

  • USD $1,600.00 non-refundable deposit to confirm your place on this safari; travel insurance
  • 2nd payment of USD $3,500.00 is due January 10, 2017
  • Final payment/balance is due May 10, 2017
  • We highly recommend trip and cancellation insurance

How do I register for this safari? 

If you are excited to join this unique Migration safari, then now is the time to register. To secure your spot, both the registration form and the non–refundable deposit must be completed. Use the link and button below to access the e-registration form and to make your deposit. Once the safari is full, you may add your name to the waitlist.

REGISTRATION

Click THIS LINK to access the e-registration form. At the end of the form you will be asked to confirm you email. Once you have confirmed your email, a copy of your registration will be emailed to you and our agent.

DEPOSIT

Use the button below to make your deposit. You do not need to have a Paypal account to use this payment service.




What follows is an incredible SAFARI EXTENSION to Rwanda to trek with the mountain gorillas , for those who want to make this the ULTIMATE MIGRATION SAFARIJoin the incredible SAFARI EXTENSION to have an unforgettable, close-up encounter with the critically endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Walking alongside these gentle giants is exhilarating and unlike any other experience in the world. The mountain gorillas are rare, critically endangered, and found only in a few small areas of protected forest; photographing them is incredibly special. Only 80 people, 10 groups of 8, are allowed to trek with the gorillas in Rwanda per day. The permits are in high demand and sell out quickly. Details

Rwa9L0506XXG

Rwa9L0884XXG BabyGorillas Silverbacks

Rwa9L0468XXG