Photography trip Kenia

Kenya, one of eastern Africa’s gems. It hides a rich world of wildlife and indigenous people like the Masai and Samburu people. The national parks are a feast for the eyes, especially when their habitants show themselves. It’s a delight and a privilege to watch the animals in their own habitat. Learn about the culture and get up close and personal with a real ‘warrior’ of the Masai community.

What will you be photographing during this 14 day tour through Kenya?
A small selection of highlights:

• The Samburu culture, their way of life and traditions. We visit their community and organize a private shoot with the warriors.

• The Samburu National Reserve, a fantastic park to spot wildlife. Large herds of elephants adorn the landscape.

• We visit Solio Ranch, a rhino reserve where you’ll find the Big Five. An intimate setting with a beautiful landscape. A real gem!

• We stay in the national parks to be able to photograph by sunrise and sunset.

• Lake Nakuru, a gorgeous park around lake Nakuru.

• We have a great chance of seeing the great migration that runs until October

• We stay in accommodations at idyllic locations, a feast for the eye and for photography.

• The famous Masai Mara National Reserve, the Big Five has never been this close!

• The Masai culture and their way of life. We have a private shoot with the Masai people and warriors.

During this tour you can enjoy everything that beautiful Kenya has to offer. We travel during low season, when there are less jeeps competing for the best spots. We always have the best spot and can decide ourselves how long we want to stay with the animals and get the right photos. The landscape is luscious green in November, it gives that little extra touch to wildlife photography. And you can still easily see the animals this time of year. This ‘once in a lifetime’ photography tour through Kenya is simply an unforgettable experience. The photoshoots with the warriors are unique and YOU have the chance to meet them.

We also visit the Nairoshi Foundation, where we make a donation to this fantastic organization that is committed to Kenyan youth. You can read here all about it.

Check out the day to day schedule for the 14 day tour, including game drives. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me. Contact 

Get inspired and check out the blog of Kenia, or check the photos in the gallery.

Travelmarks-photoraphy.. your experience!

Till clicks!

We have carefully put together a route through Kenya. A nice variety of game drives in national parks and the characteristic indigenous people. We visit places where tourists normally don’t come and have arranged some unique photoshoots. Also we have a great chance of seeing the great migration that runs until October. Get surprised by the riches of Kenya.

Day 1: Arrival Nairobi
We will receive you at the airport. After receive check in at the hotel and have a rest after your flight. If everybody arrived we will have a welcome meeting.

Day 2: Nairobi-Samburu
We start at 7am from our hotel. We head out to Samburu, since Nairobi isn’t photography worthy. Once in Samburu, we visit the Samburu people community. During sunset (if the light is nice)we have a private photoshoot with the warriors.

Day 3: Samburu National Reserve
We start our day early in the morning for a photoshoot with the warriors during sunrise, if yesterday was not a succes due light conditions. After our photoshoot we head towards the gates of the National Park. We have a full day of wildlife photography. The park is gorgeous, large herds of elephants adorn the landscape. We stay the night in the park to be able to photograph by sunset.

Day 4: Samburu National Reserve
We start our day early in the morning at the gates of Samburu National Reserve. We have a full day of wildlife photography and start with tracking the lions, which are most active during morning hours. The park is gorgeous, large herds of elephants adorn the landscape. We stay the night in the park to be able to photograph by sunset.

Day 5: Samburu National Reserve
Get up early, we don’t want to miss sunrise! This is only possible if you stay in the park, and today we have it almost completely for ourselves. We have the entire morning to enjoy this special park. In the afternoon we go to our hotel closeby to Solio Ranch. We have the evening to discuss the photos we’ve made, to do a workshop or just to have some free time.

Day 6: Solio Ranch
After a rich breakfast we go to Solio Ranch. A less well-known park, which is not justified. The variety of landscapes makes this park a true gem. We have the entire day to watch and photograph the wildlife. This park hides lots of rhinos, lions, giraffes, buffalos and antelopes.

Day 7: Lake Nakuru
We enjoy our breakfast before heading out to Lake Nakuru. We spend the entire day in this park, which is unique in its own way. We also spend the night in the park so we have enough time to photograph sunset. The water level of the lake is higher this time of year. This makes for beautiful photos of dead trees and bushes flooded by the water.

Dag 8: Lake Nakuru & Maji Moto 
While other jeeps are waiting in front of a closed gate, we get the special opportunity to photograph sunrise and the awakening park. We have the entire morning to track lions which are most active in the morning. In the afternoon we go to Maji Moto. We stay in an eco-camp on a gorgeous location with a magnificent view. Again, we have arranged a photoshoot with the Masai people and their warriors during sunset. Unique pictures guaranteed!

Dag 9: Maji Moto & Narok
In the early morning we have a photoshoot again with the Masai people of Maji Moto, during sunrise. After breakfast we head out to Narok to visit the Nairoshi Foundation. Here we can photograph the children at school and we will meet the head of the Nairoshi Foundation. He will introduce us to his Masai community. This time we have the change to photograph the ‘widows’ of the Masai people. Overnight we stay in Maji Moto.

Day 10: Masai Mara National Reserve
Another highlight; the Masai Mara National Reserve. This famous park with its idyllic vistas is the place to spot the Big Five. We arrive early morning and have almost three days to spend. The landscape goes as far as the eye can see, and still predators live close together. Again, we spend the night in the park for some beautiful sunset photography.

Dag 11 & 12: Masai Mara National Reserve
With the magical light of the golden hour, the Masai Mara awakens and we’re there to capture it. Spotting wildlife is a joy in this famous park. We have the entire day to enjoy and end the day just like we started; with the golden hour. Also we have a great chance of seeing the great migration that runs until October.

Day 13: Masai Mara National Reserve
Nog eenmaal verwelkomt de Masai Mara ons. We hebben de ochtend om te speuren naar wat jullie wens is. Deze ‘once in a lifetime’ Kenia reis is tenslotte voor jullie, dus we vullen de laatste ochtend in zoals gewenst is. In de middag is het tijd om terug te keren naar Nairobi, alwaar we afscheid nemen na een unieke beleving die we samen gedeeld hebben.

Day 14: Return flight back home
If you have booked the Kenia tour, than this day will be the day to say goodbye to eachother, after a fantastic journey we spent together. Therefor, see you soon and have a safe flight back home.

Minimum 6 participants, maximum 8 participants

Date: 2024, September 13th until September 26th

Costs 8 participants: 3675 euro euro per person
Costs 6 participants: 3895 euro per person
Costs 4 participants: 4295 euro per person

Extra charge for a single room: 990 euro per person

Heavyness of the trip

• ***** this trip is suitable for everyone with normal health

Extra personal cost:

• Depending on your spending pattern, you can count on 30 euros a day

It is customary to tip with an average of 5 euros a day

Included:

• All accommodations as mentioned
• Breakfast in all accommodations
• Half board Samburu Riverside Tent
• Half board Crocodile Camp Masai Mara
• Transport with an experienced driver/guide in a safari vehicle
• Safari Samburu National Reserve
• Safari Solio Ranch
• Safari Lake Nakuru National Park
• Safaris in Masai Mara National Reserve
• Experienced wildlife guide
• Excursion by the Masai people through their habitat
• Costs Fyling Doctors

Excluded:

• Lunch and dinner, other than mentioned above
• Personal expenses
• Tips
• (international) flights
• Visa
• Photoshoots with the Masai & Samburu warriors. We'll decide this together
• Travel insurances

Mark Brands owner and founder of Travelmarks-photography

As an experienced world traveler and professional photographer, you may expect passion, professionalism, fun and enthusiasm from me during this "once in a lifetime” photography tour across Kenia in Africa. The combination travel and photography makes me happy. And I even get happier when I can share this ‘virus’ with you and you will go home with spectacular photos and an experience to remember! The variety of scenes and activities, make this tour an unique experience you won’t forget! The mix between wildlife & authentic culture is special. I’ll take you to the best Kenia has to offer. Let’s go out and capture this forever! Let’s click!

Julius Mwangi Ngure
is a tourism, wildlife and conservation enthusiast, born in mountainous central Kenya and grew up on the savannah grasslands plains of the Great Rift Valley. Because of his love for nature and outdoor activities from an early age, he enrolled at Moi University in Kenya to pursue  his childhood dream in wildlife and tourism. After completion in 1992, he enthusiastically joined the tourism industry sector first as a trekking and mountaineering guide before proceeding to work as a naturalist with a five star hotel, lodges, and resorts chain in East Africa, conducting evening wildlife and cultural lectures to guests. Today he guides, cordinates and manages  individuals, families and tour groups on a visit to Kenya and  East Africa. He loves sharing his professional guiding experiences and his immense information and knowledge. He is keen listener, engaging on very fine details and going extra miles to ensure tourists meet their expectations. Kindly join him in touring and exploring the rich cultural diversity, wildlife and sceneries that East Africa offers.

Jackson Maina Ndungu
An energetic professional who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife and Natural resources management with over 15 years’ experience in guiding tourists and travelers through national parks and reserves, museums and mountaineering.  I have superior talent for entertaining my audience and delivering high level of customer service.  I pride myself in having extensive knowledge of birds, plants and animals found in the Eastern Africa forests; cultures and traditions of the local communities; and their changes due to the effects of industrial and technological evolution in East Africa. I am able to learn, retain and recall extensive amounts of information quickly.

Practical

• We meet in Nairobi, at a time to be determined
• If you have any food allergies or diets, please inform me about this.
• Non-photographing partners are more than welcome to join. We visit a lot of authentic, non-touristic sites that are worth a visit.
• During this diverse program, you’ll also have a lot of free time.
• Together we decide which workshops to do.
• You can pay with the Kenyan Schilling or get money at a bank with your credit card or debit card. The US dollar will be accepted at some places.
• You need a visa which you can apply for online. If requested, we can help you with the application.
• You need vaccinations. Please check carefully and on time which ones you need.
• This is a country program, you have to book the flight separately. If requested, we can help you with your booking.

Climate

We are travelling during low season, safaris will be intimate and intense, this is enjoying with a capital E! Because of the short period of rainfall, the landscape is luscious green, something that adds to your wildlife photography. Even in this time of the year the animals are seen easily and the rain is just a short shower now and then.

On https://www.klimaatinfo.nl/kenia/ you can find more info about the weather

Accommodations

Day 1 Nairobi Boma Inn Bed Only
Boma Inn Nairobi | Hotel in Nairobi (theboma.co.ke)

Day 2 until 4 Samburu riverside tent
Our Tents – Samburu Riverside Camp & Safari

Day 5&6 Bantu Africa Resort BB
Bantu Africa Resort – Come in as Guests, Leave as Family. 

Day 7 Lake Nakuru Lodge   
https://lakenakurulodge.com/

Day 8&9 Maji Moto Eco Camp

Day 10 until 12 Crocodile Camp
Galana Crocodile Camp

Day 13 Nairobi Boma Inn Bed Only
https://www.theboma.co.ke/inn-nairobi/

• STO Garant

This booking is covered by the STO Garant guarantee. You can find the conditions for this guarantee scheme at www.sto-garant.nl/en/downloads. You will receive an email from STO Garant (info@sto-garant.nl) containing information about how you can pay for this booking. You will receive a confirmation email from STO Garant for each payment received. You can find all information relating to STO Garant at www.sto-garant.nl/en.

• VvKR

I am a member of the association of small-scale travel organizations (VvKR). VvKR defends the interests of small, often specialist, travel organizations. Via VvKR we combine our strengths and share our expertise in order to achieve the reatest possible certainty and satisfaction for both consumers and the travel organization. 

• Travelife

Travelmarks Photography covers more than 100 criteria, related to a travel company's office management, product offerings, international business partners and customer information. The Travelife standard covers ISO 26000 corporate social responsibility topics, including environment, biodiversity, human rights and industrial relations; and is formally recognized as fully compliant with the UN supported Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria.

• Trees for all

We invest in sustainable forest projects in the Netherlands and abroad. In this way we not only contribute to a better climate and more biodiversity, but also to better living conditions and a future perspective. Especially for the people most affected by the effects of climate change.