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Photo Safari - Kenya in October 2012

Quick Facts

Dates:	October 7-26, 2012 (20 days)
Fee:	$11,995 per person double occupancy from Nairobi ($2475 single supplement)
Deposit:	$750
Group Size:	8 participants with only 3 photographers per 7-passenger vehicle
Highlights:	4 days in Samburu National Reserve 2 days in Lake Nakuru National Park 12 days in Masai Mara National Reserve

Read a trip report from a previous tour.

Overview

Join me for an unforgettable 20-day photo safari to Kenya in October 2012 where we will visit three of the best locations in East Africa to view and photograph wildlife. Our safari will begin in Nairobi where we will be met upon arrival and transported to our hotel. The next morning we will fly to Samburu National Reserve and spend four days with the unique gerenuk, reticulated giraffe, Biesa oryx, Grevy's zebra, and vulturine Guinea fowl, and have great opportunities to photograph elephant and leopard. Then we will experience the Kenya countryside as we drive to Lake Nakuru National Park where we will spend two days photographing flocks of thousands of flamingos, and also Rothschild's giraffe and white and black rhino. Then we will drive to Masai Mara National Reserve where we will see the traditional plains animals, including Masai giraffe and common zebra, with great opportunities for cheetah, leopard, lion, and black rhino. We will stay in three different locations in the Mara to minimize travel time and maximize shooting time. In addition to the mammals highlighted above, all of our destinations have abundant birdlife with many species of raptors and songbirds. After flying back to Nairobi, we will have a day room (a regular hotel room for the afternoon) to prepare for our flights home.

This safari is intended for photographers, or serious naturalists, who want to spend time with the animals in order to allow behavior to develop. On game-drive days, we will maximize our time in the field during good light by leaving before sunrise and having a boxed breakfast in the field. We will usually return to camp for lunch and a siesta, and then return to the field in the afternoon. Early morning and late afternoon is also when the animals are most active, so it's a win-win situation. We will have three photographers in each 7-passenger Land Rover to facilitate shooting and accommodate our gear. Our local guides have an in-depth knowledge of animal behavior, are sensitive to the needs of photographers, and will help put us in position to create spectacular images.

We will spend our nights in a mix of lodges and permanent tented camps, and each provides a wonderful setting to relax and recuperate after a long day of shooting. Permanent tented camps are just that — permanent camps with tent-like structures that provide an upscale "camping experience." The room-sized tents have canvas walls and roofs with concrete or wood floors, regular furniture, and hot and cold running water in the en suite facilities. All of our accommodations have electricity to power laptops and charge camera batteries. Some of our accommodations have a pool, so bring your bathing suit and cool down after lunch.

The safari is limited to eight (8) participants to provide a cozy small-group atmosphere. The safari is not physically demanding, but you must be able to get in and out of a van-like vehicle and be able to climb steep, narrow steps to the commuter planes.

Several airlines fly to Nairobi, and airfare to Nairobi is not included in the fee so that you can earn or use your own frequent-flyer miles. KLM/Delta provides reliable service from Amsterdam, and has a generous carry-on policy. Many people find it useful to arrive in Nairobi a day before the safari starts in order to recover from jet lag.

This safari is scheduled to mesh with my Gorillas in October 2012 safari, so join me for both to make the most of your air travel.

Fee includes:

All accommodation and meals (no meals on Day 1)
Bottled water at meals and in the vehicles
Flights within Kenya
Ground transportation within Kenya
National Park and National Reserve entrance fees
Incredibly knowledgeable, KPSGA certified local guides
Temporary Flying Doctor (AMREF) emergency evacuation to Nairobi

Fee does not include:

Airfare to Kenya
Visa fee
Personal laundry and miscellaneous personal expenses
Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks
Tips to bar staff
Gratuities for local guides
Gratuities for camp/lodge staff

to book or inquire about this tour.

Read a trip report from a previous tour.

Itinerary

Day 1	Oct 7	Arrive in Nairobi (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, NBO) Transfer to, and overnight at, Nairobi Serena Hotel
Day 2	Oct 8	Breakfast at the Nairobi Serena Hotel Fly to Samburu National Reserve Lunch at Larsen's Camp Afternoon game drive Dinner and overnight at Larsen's Camp
Days 3‑5	Oct 9‑11	All-morning game drive with boxed breakfast Lunch and siesta at Larsen's Camp Afternoon game drive (option to visit a native Samburu village one afternoon) Dinner and overnight at Larsen's Camp
Day 6	Oct 12	Breakfast at Larsen's Camp Drive to Lake Nakuru National Park Lunch en route at the Trout Tree Restaurant Afternoon game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park Dinner and overnight at Lake Nakuru Lodge
Day 7	Oct 13	All-morning game drive with boxed breakfast Lunch and siesta at Lake Nakuru Lodge Afternoon game drive Dinner and overnight at Lake Nakuru Lodge
Day 8	Oct 14	Morning game drive with boxed breakfast Drive to the Masai Mara National Reserve Picnic lunch enroute Afternoon game drive in the Lower Mara Dinner and overnight at Keekorok Lodge
Days 9‑11	Oct 15‑17	All-morning game drive with boxed breakfast Lunch and siesta at Keekorok Lodge Afternoon game drive Dinner and overnight at Keekorok Lodge
Day 12	Oct 18	All-morning game drive with boxed breakfast Picnic lunch Afternoon game drive in the Mara Triangle Dinner and overnight at Kichwa Tembo Camp
Days 13‑15	Oct 19‑21	All-morning game drive with boxed breakfast Lunch and siesta at Kichwa Tembo Camp Afternoon game drive (option to visit a native Maasai village one afternoon) Dinner and overnight Kichwa Tembo Camp
Day 16	Oct 22	All-morning game drive with boxed breakfast Lunch and siesta at Mara Intrepids Camp in the Upper Mara Afternoon game drive Dinner and overnight Mara Intrepids Camp
Days 17‑19	Oct 23‑25	All-morning game drive with boxed breakfast Lunch and siesta at Mara Intrepids Camp Afternoon game drive Dinner and overnight Mara Intrepids Camp
Day 20	Oct 26	Breakfast at Mara Intrepids Camp Fly to Nairobi Lunch and day room at the Nairobi Serena Hotel (opportunity to shop at an excellent local craft shop) Dinner and depart for home from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO)

* The itinerary is subject to change due to driving conditions and game locations.

to book or inquire about this tour.

Read a trip report from a previous tour.