ANN AVEYARD PHOTOGRAPHY
Wildlife Photographer - Capturing nature's beauty through a lens.
A Guide to planning your Photographic Safari with Ann Aveyard Photography
So, if you are on this page you may be thinking of joining me on one of my photographic safaris to the Masai Mara.
To answer some of the questions you may have I have put together this guide, with information on documents required, what to pack and some information about the camp.
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If this is your first time travelling to Kenya you may be a little apprehensive, don't worry, I'm here to answer any questions and I will guide you through everything.
Planning a trip to Kenya, it’s important to know the travel requirements before you go.
A comprehensive guide to help you prepare for your journey can be found on https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/kenya
Documents
Travel Insurance.
Travel insurance is essential and one of the Governors” Camp T&C’s of booking.
Check that the policy covers all your needs for the trip, including all health emergencies, personal possessions and for camera equipment. When you travel, make sure you take your insurance policy details with you, including the policy number and your insurer’s emergency assistance telephone number.
Health and Inoculations - check the Government website https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/kenya/health
As soon as you have booked your safari make an appointment with the travel nurse at your GP practice or at a travel clinic at a pharmacy to check if you need any inoculations. I have found the Boots Chemist travel to be excellent.
Antimalarials are highly recommended.
Check the Government website for foreign travel health advice: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/kenya
Passport Validity.
Your passport has to be valid for 6 months from the date you arrive. You should have at least two blank pages in your passport on arrival. Check the Government website for entry requirements for Kenya
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/kenya/entry-requirements
Electronic Travel Authorisation - eTA
A visa is no longer required to enter Kenya, but visitors are required to apply online for an electronic travel authorisation in advance of travel. I recommend this is applied for about 2-3 weeks before travelling.
Link to apply for your eTA https://www.etakenya.go.ke/en
When applying for the eTA have the following documents ready before starting your application
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Valid passport for a least 6 months after your date of arrival in Kenya, with at least 2 blank pages.
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A passport style photo, the photo must have a clear background and be in colour (jpeg max 293mb)
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A photo of your passport bio-data page (jpg max 293mb)
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Contact information, - your email address and phone number
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Name and contact details of the person to be contacted in an emergency
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Details of your flights, arrival and departure itinerary
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Accommodation booking confirmation
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Credit card, debit card for payment
Luggage / Packing for your trip.
There is a weight limit of 15kg on the smaller, internal flights to the Masai Mara, this includes all hand luggage.
If you require extra weight you can purchase as an extra freight seat on these flights.
Cameras and photographic equipment - always take as hand luggage in a suitable camera bag.
Rest of your luggage pack in a soft bag.
Essential safari packing list - tick list
These are the most important things. In fact you won’t be going anywhere without some of them.
1. Passport
2. Cash and credit cards
3. Airline tickets
4. Vaccination certificates (yellow fever etc) where required
5 Medication - malaria prophylactics if advised and any personal medication (also take your prescription in case of emergency such as your medication getting lost). It is advisable to carry all medication in hand luggage.
6 Travel insurance policy details, including your policy number and contact details for claims and emergencies.
7 Hard copy of all important documentation - airline tickers, visa, vaccinations.
8 If you wear spectacles then pack a spare pair
9 Mobile phone (you can purchase a Kenyan sim card at the airport in Nairobi. I recommend safaricom as they have the best coverage. You will find the safaricom kiosk directly in front of you as you leave baggage re-claim at Nairobi airport).
10. Hard copy of most important contact numbers in case your mobile phone is lost.
Recommended packing list
1. Binoculars (for your safari enjoyment I do recommend a pair of binoculars)
2. Camera
3. Plenty of spare camera batteries.
4. Charging devices with the correct plug or adapters (kenya uses the same 3 pin plugs as the UK)
4. Camera storage devices - enough memory cards for all those thousands of photos
5. Warm clothing for the chilly mornings and evenings. Scroll down this page for a suggested clothing packing list
6. First aid kit containing such items as:
Antiseptic cream, for minor scratches
Antihistamine cream for insect bites
Paracetamol or similar pain reliever
Indigestion remedies
Medication for upset tummy / diarrhoea
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7. Sun lotion
8. Lip balm and moisturiser
9. Notebook and pen
10. Luxury item - a wildlife book to identify birds and animals, but if you restricted for weight our guide will have one
Do not pack the following:
Single use plastic, it is banned in Kenya. For environmental reasons plastic bags are illegal, including the customary, plastic, duty-free bags. For liquids in hand luggage it is recommended to use transparent, reusable toiletry bags.
If you do put liquids in a plastic bag before going through security at the UK airport then please dispose of this bag before boarding the plane.
Camouflage / military print clothing
Unnecessary jewellery and expensive accessories
Disposable water bottles
Drones
Clothes - what to pack.
Pack very minimal, earth-toned / neutral coloured clothing. The camp has a laundry service so think 3 to 4 outfits. (The camp will launder all your clothing except underpants / knickers, these you will have to wash yourself by hand). Shirts with long sleeves and cotton trousers are ideal to protect from bugs and sun and to keep you warm in the mornings. Layer up for early mornings and cool evenings. Avoid shirts that are purple, red or royal blue, - bright colours seem to make the animals shy away. Biting insects like tsetse flies are attracted to blue and black colours so avoid these colours.White clothes stand out more than any other colour in the African bush and so isn’t suitable to wear.
You’ll also need sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen and insect repellent.
Shower gel, body lotion, shampoo and conditioner are supplied by the camp so no need to pack these.
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Clothing in camouflage / military print is not permitted.
Suggested clothing packing list:
(Governors Camp does provide a laundry service included in your tour cost)
* 2 pairs khaki or neutral coloured cotton trousers (jeans are rather hot). I love the ones with lots of pockets for batteries, lens cloths etc
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* 1 - 2 pairs sturdy shorts or 3/4 length trousers (personally I don’t bother with shorts, I pack extra cotton trousers instead)
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* 2 long sleeved shirts (for sun protection as well as warmth).
* 2 warm sweatshirts
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* 1 lightweight waterproof windbreaker / puffer jacket
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* 2 pairs sturdy plimsols / trainers
* 3 - 5 short-sleeved shirts or T-shirts
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* 5 changes underwear and socks
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* night clothes
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* lightweight cagoule that can be folded up in your camera bag, to have in case you are caught in rain on a game drive, and yes it can rain in the Masai Mara!
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* 1 sunhat with a brim (baseball caps might cover your nose but not your ears and neck)
* If you feel the cold then a warm hat, a beanie hat is perfect, and gloves for the early morning drives
Early mornings and evenings are cold, particularly on the game drives as the jeeps are open. Wear layers so as the temperature warms up during the day you can gradually take off layers and the reverse at the end of the day. By mid day it can be very hot and the African sun is very strong so lots of sun lotion is recommended.
Photographic Equipment - photographers
Camera body (DSLR or mirrorless) x 2 if possible to save changing lenses out in the field
Lenses to cover focal ranges 24 mm - 500 /600mm
Bean bag for camera support in the jeep (although many of the jeeps do have photographic supports built into them).
Battery chargers
Memory cards
Laptop and charger (not essential)
For those new to photography - If you don’t have a DSLR camera a bridge camera will be fine as it will cover a wide range of focal lengths without you needing to change lenses.
This is my personal list of equipment:
Canon R5 body x 1
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Canon R5ii body x 1
Canon EF 70—200mm 2.8 L lens
Canon RF 100- 500mm L lens
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Canon 24 - 70 mm lens
Canon EF-EOS R adapter
Canon RF 1.4x teleconverter
Bean bag (filled with polystyrene balls so it’s not heavy to take on the plane)
Prograde memory cards
Lens cleaning cloths
Waterproof cover for camera and lenses
Camera battery chargers
There is no need to take plug adapters, Kenya has the same power plugs and sockets as the UK.
I carry all the above in my camera bag and it goes as hand luggage on both international flight and on the bush planes. My camera bag never leaves my side.
Currency
Kenya’s national currency is the Kenyan Shilling. The US dollar is widely accepted, but it’s useful to have a small amount of currency in Kenyan shillings for smaller tips as some safari workers may not have access to exchange bureaus.
Your trip is ‘all inclusive’ so you will just require some currency for such things as premium drinks eg champagne, spirits at your camp / lodge, souvenirs and tips, and food and drinks in Nairobi on evening of arrival and departure. Credit cards are accepted at the camp and the hotel in Nairobi
Tips
Tipping is more appreciated than you can imagine. Kenya is a poor country and safari workers rely on tips to meet basic needs such as food and shelter for their families, so rest assured that the money and tips you spend on your trip to Kenya will go a long way. As a general rule of thumb in the Mara, guests who are happy with the service usually tip the following:
Tipping in camps
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In safari camps and lodges you’ll find a gratuity box, and anything put inside this will be distributed to all members of the general camp staff from the chefs to the laundry attendants. A tip of 10-20 USD per guest per day is recommended, 20-40 USD for couples.
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Drivers/guides are not included in the tip box share which is why you tip them separately.
Tipping your safari guide
- On safari the recommended tip for your guide is 15-20 USD per guest per day (30-40 USD per couple), handed directly to your guide at the end of your stay.
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Arriving in Kenya
Check the Government’s website for the latest information.
www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/kenya
Most of the group will be travelling out to Nairobi from London Heathrow on the BA flight.
BA flights from the UK arrive into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi late evening so a night in a Nairobi hotel is required before travelling to your safari camp the following morning.
Fast track. Getting through the airport can take some time so a Fast Track / Meet and Greet service will have be arranged for you - there will be someone to meet you from the plane and guide you quickly through passport control and immigration and out to baggage reclaim, saving possibly hours of time.
Please inform Ann of your flight details so fast track and airport transfers can be arranged for you.
SIM cards
On exiting customs you enter a hall where you will find kiosks selling mobile sim cards. I do recommend getting a sim card for your phone as although wifi is available at the camp it is a bit sporadic. From my research I have found safaricom has the best coverage, I certainly found it very good on my recent trips. A card costs approx 15- 20 USD and will give you more than ample data for your trip.
Leaving the terminal building you head down a slope where you will see your hotel representative waiting to take you to your hotel.
The first night will be in a hotel close to the airport on a bed and breakfast basis.
Transferring to Governors' Camp, Masai Mara
Pick up from the hotel will be early in the morning for the short road transfer to Wilson Airport, Ann will advise of the exact time we leave the hotel.
Governors Aviation have their own fleet of planes and have a designated check in area at Wilson Airport. Here all your luggage is weighed. Weight limit 15kg, including hand luggage, unless you have booked and paid for extra weight.
When your flight is called all hold luggage will be scanned and transferred to the plane and we will be escorted through the terminal building with our hand luggage. All hand luggage is scanned before we go through to airside.
The flight to the Mara takes approx 45 minutes in a small 12 seater plane.
Governors' Camp
On landing in the Mara we will be met at the airstrip by our safari driver /guide and then driven the 10 minutes to the Main Governors Camp
At camp the reception staff will greet us with a cold drink and complete all the check-in documentation. If you have any dietary requirements please let the camp staff know.
We will then be taken to our tents. Some of the tents are in a wooded area of the camp, along the bank of the Mara River, others look out directly on the Mara savannah. The tents have comfortable beds, electricity (batteries can be charged in your tent) and an ensuite shower room. Hair dryers are provided. Filtered drinking water is on tap in your ensuite. The camp will provide us with drinking water bottles which can be filled up at dispensers in the bar area or from the filter water tap in your ensuite..
After dropping our bags in our tents Ann has arranged for us to go out on our first game drive, taking a picnic lunch and sundowners with us. We will return to camp at approx 6 - 6.30 pm. After freshening up we will meet in the bar for pre-dinner drinks, dinner is served at 8pm.
A day at Governors usually runs as follows:
Early morning wake up call with tea or coffee and biscuits at a time agreed with you, for an early morning game drive leaving camp at approx 6 am. Ann will let you know the exact time we will be leaving camp in the mornings.
Please be prompt for these early morning starts, often the best wildlife action is the early morning, and we don’t want to miss a moment of it.
To optimise the time out on the morning game drive a picnic breakfast will be provided and at approx 9.30 am there will be a breakfast stop in a safe area where we can leave the jeep and stretch our legs. We will return to camp at approx 12 noon for lunch and then have another game drive in the afternoon from 3.30pm to 6 - 6.30pm. You can request to take some sundowners out with you for the late afternoon game drive. This routine is very flexible and some days we will opt to stay out all day, taking a picnic breakfast and lunch with us, thus enabling longer trips.
The Governors Camp is all inclusive so house wines, beers and local spirits are included. It’s quite a surreal experience to be sipping a sundowner G&T out on a game drive in the company of wild animals.
Dinner is served in camp at 8pm. So it’s a very full day, by the time we get back from the late afternoon game drive, had a quick freshen up, then to the bar for an aperitif (or you can sit round the camp fire), before dinner at 8 pm, then bed, ready to do it all the following day.
Safety in the Camp
The camp is unfenced so open to the wild animals who frequently visit. There are guards, known as askaris which means guardians in Swahili, around the perimeter of the camp 24hrs a day. During daylight hours it is safe to walk around within the camp perimeter on your own but after dark you must only walk with an askari.
Each tent has a torch, you wave the torch light from your tent entrance when you wish to walk from the tent to restaurant / bar / reception area after dark. An askari will be with you immediately to escort you safely. This is necessary after dark in the evenings and before sunrise in the mornings.
You may hear the animals outside your tent at night, but there is no need to be concerned, the askaris are present 24 hours a day. In all the years I have been staying at Governors I have never been worried for my safety. Regular wildlife visitors include hippos, elephants, warthogs, dwarf mongooses and bush babies, to name a few. Please do not approach the animals.
Jeeps
Governors camps have a variety of open jeeps, here is one of of the photographic jeeps, offering good viewing for photography. The windscreen lays flat in some of the jeeps so good views to the front as well as the side.
The group will have exclusive use of the jeep.
Etiquette on game drives
1. Keep noise levels low. Keep it to a whisper when near animals, many animals are afraid of the human voice. Don’t disturb animals by shouting, clapping or cheering. Switch off the engine when watching wildlife. Turn off your mobile phone or put it on silence.
2. Stay in the jeep. Getting out of your vehicle close to wildlife is dangerous and strictly forbidden. This rules applies to standing on jeep rooftops - your silhouette can disturb the animals. Clients must also not sit on rooftops at predator sightings. Sitting on rooftops at other animal sighting is permissible but legs must not dangle outside the vehicle. Always follow your guides’ instructions to ensure safety.
3 Only leave your vehicle at designated picnic and sundowner sites.
4. Leave no waste behind.
5. Respect your guide, do not ask your guide to break park rules by approaching animals too closely and intentionally disturbing wildlife.
6. Give animals space. Respect wildlife. Do not harass any animals by forcing them into movement, blocking their path, or following them too closely.
7. Keep your distance. To see animals behave naturally you must keep a good distance away. If any animal gets up, becomes restless or walks away, you are too close. If you are parked on a track and the animals come to you, you may stay still on the track and wait until the animal has moved on before driving off.
8. Never reach out of the jeep to try to touch any of the animals.
9. Smoking on game drives is not allowed.
Other activities which may be of interest
If you want a break from game drives there are other activities you may book as extras (these are not included in your tour cost).
The following can be booked at the camp reception:
- Spa treatments
- Hot Air Balloon Safari
- Visits to a local school
- Visits to a local Masai village
- Visits to community and conservation projects
Please request prices and availability at the camp reception.
Please liaise with Ann, your tour leader, if you are considering one of these excursions.
At the end of your stay
On the last day a late check out and an afternoon flight has been arranged so there will be a full morning’s game drive, arriving back in camp in time for lunch.
The Governors afternoon flights from the the Mara are around 3 - 3.30 pm. When landing at Wilson Airport in Nairobi there will be a road transfer to the Crowne Plaza Hotel where you can relax and purchase an evening meal should you wish; to before transferring to the airport terminal for your flight home.
Please inform us of your return flight details.
BA return flight to the UK is approximately 10.45 pm . I recommend arriving at Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport 3 hours before your flight departure time. It takes a long time to get through all the security checks.
A Meet and Greet, Fast Track pass to help you through the check-in process and security will have been arranged for you.
Please inform Ann of your return flight details.
If you have more time in Nairobi either before you fly out (or when you first arrive in Kenya) there are trips that you can book, but always do so through a reputable agent. Trips include a visit to Nairobi National Park - the only park of its kind - wide open grass plains with a host of wildlife, including the endangered black rhino, lions leopards, cheetahs etc in the capital city of Nairobi. Also there is the giraffe centre, an environmental conservation centre 40 minutes from Nairobi centre and the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust which operates an orphan elephant rescue and wildlife rehabilitation programme.
https://www.kws.go.ke/parks/nairobi-national-park
WhatsApp Group
Every photo safari group will have their own WhatsApp Group.
Having a WhatsApp Group chat will make it easier to communicate with everyone at the same time. It will also be useful if you have any queries or need help filling in your eTA (electronic travel authorisation) application online.
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The purpose of the group chat will be to:
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communicate with one another
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a platform to ask questions regarding the trip
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to get to know each other
Please contact Ann with your mobile telephone number so that she can add you to the group.
Her number is +44 (0) 7941388963
Some useful phrases
Kenya is a multilingual country. Swaheli and English are widely spoken.
Hello Jambo (Jam-bow)
How are you? Harbari gani (response fine - nzuri)
Thank you Asante
Thank you very much Asante sana
Goodnight Baal salama
You’re welcome Kairbu
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You’re very welcome Kairbu sana
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Please Tafadhali
Ann and Mike are looking forward to you joining us on an amazing wildlife experience.