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Photographic Safari 

Masai Mara, Kenya 

Photographic Safari - overview  

 

£5250 per person.   

(Deposit of £1312 on booking, the remainder to be paid 60 days before departure).

 

Dates:  January 11th - January 19th 2025 (includes traveling days)

 

Location - Masai Mara, Kenya

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Accommodation - Governors' Main Camp 

 

Group size:  2 - 4 people plus photographic lead.

 

Join Ann Aveyard, an award winning wildlife photographer, on an exclusive  photographic safari to the Masai Mara in Kenya.  It will be a small group of between 2 and 4 photographers with Ann as your host and photographic leader.  Ann has travelled to the Masai Mara many times, and has an excellent knowledge of the area. 

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What is a photographic safari?

Photo safaris differ from traditional safaris in that their focus is capturing wildlife and nature through photography; whereas traditional safaris are simply about wildlife viewing. So to put it simply a photographic safari is a guided wildlife photography expedition to capture shots of animals in their natural habitat. 

 

​Tour Overview

Complete beginners to more experienced photographers are welcome, the aim of the trip is always to have a wonderful experience with like-minded people who have a love of wildlife. We will spend time with the wildlife, observing their behaviour, sitting with them and waiting for them to 'do their thing'.  This is when the magic happens and makes more compelling images, from a lion's yawn to two elephants entwining trunks. 

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This photo safari is based in the Masai Mara National reserve, home to one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in the world. The region is famous for its big cats but it is also a fantastic place to experience other wildlife including elephants, giraffe, zebra, antelope, impala, hyenas, warthogs etc as well as an abundance of birds. 

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Tour in detail

You will be well looked after from the moment you arrive in Nairobi to when you return to the airport to fly home, the only thing you have to do is book your international flights to Nairobi and apply for your eTA, I will take care of everything else.  

 

On arrival in Nairobi you will be met at the airport and we will spend our first night at the Crowne Plaza Hotel near the airport.  We will fly to the Musiara airstrip in the Mara the following morning and will then spend 7 days (6 nights) in our safari camp, Governors' Main Camp, with a flexible approach to our game drives to optimise our time with the wildlife and for photography. Each day begins with tea, coffee and biscuits in your tent before we leave, before sun rise,  for our first game drive of the day. We will have breakfast out in the bush every day returning to our camp for lunch and a short break before heading out for our afternoon game drive.  But the  routine is extremely flexible and some days we will have a full day's safari, taking breakfast and lunch out with us.  Our qualified, local guide has a phenomenal knowledge of the wildlife and the area and he will teach us much about the animals and their behaviour.   I will be with you to give advice on photography and camera settings and help you to create some wonderful images. I am also available to give advice on photoshop and editing your images. (Scroll down the page to see what is included in the cost). 

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Accommodation.  There is no single supplement, you will not be expected to share accomodation.

The first night, on arrival in Nairobi,  we will be staying at The Crowne Plaza Hotel, a  luxury hotel near the airport.  The following day we will fly out to the Masai Mara and we will be staying at the Governors Main Camp, which is nestled along the winding banks of the Mara River, right in the heart of the Masai Mara National  Reserve  (no single supplements).  The area next to the camp, the Musiara Marsh, is well known for being the home to the Marsh Pride of Lions, which were featured in the BBC documentary series ‘The Big Cat Diary”. https://www.governorscamp.com/safari-camps/governors-camp/

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Governors' Camp  is unfenced, allowing you to experience the wilderness in a really authentic way.  Being surrounded by nature and seeing no physical barriers between yourself and the wildlife is an immersive experience and a real thrill - it allows you to feel truly connected to the environment around you.  The entire camp is under canvas with all the comforts of a luxury hotel.  Some of the 25 tents line the riverbank, tucked into the forest they enjoy uninterrupted views of the Mara River, others have views across the sweeping plains of the Masai Mara.  The tents are big, bright and  allow in lots of natural light. All tents are classic safari style each with ensuite bathrooms and a private verandah.  The tents have electric lights and 220 Volt Uk plugs for charging cameras and phones. Wifi is available in the camp.

 

There is a bar tent with a deck overlooking the Mara River and a dining tent with amazing views over the plains.  The camp has a gift shop and a spa, offering a range of treatments such as massages and facials.

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Governors Camp _8.jpg

Now fully booked 

Photo credits Governors Camp 

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Cost £5250 per person 

 

What is included in the tour cost.

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•  If required photography tuition prior to the trip so that you are confident with your camera and ready to start photographing when we arrive in the Masai Mara

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* Fast track, meet and greet service on arrival at  Nairobi International airport  

* Road transfers to The Crowne Plaza hotel for the first night (no single supplement) 

* Bed and breakfast at  The Crowne Plaza Hotel on January 11th (all single accommodation, no single supplement)

* Road transfers to Wilson Airport for flights to the Mara

* Governors Aviation return flights to the Masai Mara 

* Airstrip transfers in the Mara

* Full board at Governors Camp - 6 nights (7 days)  (all single accommodation)

* House wines, beers, local spirits and soft drinks at Governors Camp

* Exclusive use of photographers jeep

* Up to 2  game drives per day (either morning and afternoon game drives or all day game drives)

* Laundry 

* Park fees

* Community fees

* Experienced, qualified local guide

* Photography assistance from Ann

 

Not included in the tour cost.

 

* International flights to Nairobi  (BA economy flights approx £900 return)

* ETA (electronic travel authorisation which has replaced the visa) - cost $34 approx  £27)

* Personal insurance

* Drinks and food in Nairobi on evening of arrival and departure with the exception of breakfast on January 12th.

* Tips for safari drivers, camp staff

 

(Note- It is essential to have travel insurance, health insurance, personal and photographic insurance.        

Insurance is a requirement on booking as per T&C's of Governors" Camp). 

 

The camp also has other activities available such as a hot air balloon safari and visits to a local Masai village or a local school.  If you would like to have a break from game drives and take part in one of these extra activities then this can be booked direct with the camp reception, please liaise with Ann. (payment for these extras must be made direct to the camp reception). 

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Itinerary 

 

Day One January 11th 2025

 

  • Depart UK  (recommend using BA flights which arrive in Nairobi in the evening)

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  • Fast track, meet and greet service at the airport

 

  • Transfer to Crowne Plaza Hotel at Nairobi airport for the night 

 

Day Two January 12th  2025

 

     Early breakfast

 

  • Road transfer to Wilson Airport

 

  • Fly Governors Aviation to Governors Airstrip, Masai Mara

 

  • Transfer to camp

 

  • After checking in and dropping off our bags we will head out on our first game drive, taking a picnic lunch with us. 

 

  •  Sundowners on game drive before returning to camp at sunset 

 

  •  Dinner in Camp 8pm

 

Day Three - Day Six January 13th - January 17th 2025  inclusive

 

  • Early morning wake up call with tea/ coffee and biscuits in tent 

 

  • Morning game drive, leaving camp approx 6-15 a.m.

 

  • Lunch in camp - approx 12.30pm (or a picnic lunch on safari if we are on an all day game drive)

 

  •  Afternoon game drive with sundowners 

 

  •  Dinner in camp 8 p.m.

 

 We will be  optimising our time on game drives with either two safaris a day as above, or a full day safari (taking

 a picnic breakfast and lunch).  

 

Day Seven January 18th 2025

 

  • Early morning wake up call with tea/ coffee and biscuits in tent 

 

  • Morning game drive, leaving camp approx 6-6.30am

 

  •  Lunch in camp approx 12.30 p.m.

 

  • Transfer to Governors Airstrip for flight to Nairobi approx 2.45 p.m. 

 

  • On arrival in Nairobi (approx 5 p.m.) road transfer to Crowne Plaza Hotel for dinner and later in the evening transfer to the airport terminal for International flight home

 

 

Day Eight January 19th 2025

 

-  Arrive in UK in early morning

 

International flights - BA flights from UK recommended.  Flights leave UK late morning arriving in Nairobi in the evening and return flights leave Nairobi late evening and arrive in UK early the following morning.

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Need more information on preparing for a photo safari? What documents do you need?  What to pack? 

 

 

 

Booking

 

A deposit is required at the time of booking and the balance will be due 60 days before departure. 

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The tour is being booked direct with Governors Camp.  

Once the tour is confirmed and booked with Governors’ the deposit is non refundable, as per T&C’s of Governors Camp bookings 

https://www.governorscamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Governors-Safaris-Terms-Conditions-DIRECT.pdf

 

Travel insurance is essential and a requirement of the Governors’ T&C’s 

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