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Experience the biggest wildlife spectacle on the planet with the best in class photography guides. Masai Mara at its best this migration, fully loaded with photographic learnings.
So, what is the Great Annual Wildebeest Migration all about? The migration is much more than a simple river crossing which you are visualizing. Here are a few numbers to sweep you off your feet- The true spectacle of the migration is 1,245,000 wildebeests, 200,000 Burchell's zebras, 18,000 elands and 500,000 Thomson's gazelles filling the entire stretch of the Mara landscape. When the savannah turns golden red in the month of July and the zebras start pouring in across the river, the first herds of the wildebeest arrive and the feasting for Mara's predators and scavengers begins. The African lion is the supreme predator of this landscape. It is a treat to watch during the migration time as with a sizable prey base spread across the Mara, the lion prides hunt strategically in the early morning or late noon hours giving you the chance to photograph these rare moments from close quarters in great light. Often regarded as a shy, nocturnal animal, sightings of leopards in the Mara can occur even in the middle of the day and usually last for several minutes. Although not as muscular as the leopard, the cheetah is built for sheer speed and is the world's fastest land mammal, timed at 110 kilometers per hour. The Mara is one of the best places in the world to shoot a cheetah in full action as they often seek a vantage point on a fallen tree, termite mound or even atop a car bonnet, to look out across the savannah for their next prey.
Your location of stay in the Mara is the key differentiator. The Mara expanse is beyond imagination and in the vast terrain, the river crossing and migratory trend of wildebeest is mostly towards the Mara river. Covering these massive distances can be a challenge if you have not chosen the correct location to stay in this huge forest. The astounding wildlife moments that our guests have witnessed in more than a decade of migration photo safaris conducted by Nature Wanderers is because of the choice of the camping location inside Mara. You stay at a site, which is not loaded but overloaded with wild action. At the crack of dawn, you are right at the action point within no time as we make sure to organize your stay in bush camps within close proximity to the Mara river. Our remarkable photo guides make sure that you are at a vantage point for all the great photographic action that this landscape has to offer. With effective safari and accommodation planning, we make sure that all other key locations are also close by. The most spectacular pictures of the “river crossing” have been taken because of the location of stay in Mara. The same logic holds true for the crucial evening light, which has to be utilized to the core for some breathtaking photography.
Departure from Nairobi early morning. The drive from the airport / Nairobi hotel to Masai Mara takes 6 hours and goes through some very scenic parts of Kenya, including the Great Rift Valley.
Check into camp and leave for safari right after lunch, which will be in best-in-class side and top open vehicles (land cruisers), perfect for photography. The vehicle will be using wireless radio devices for inter-vehicle connectivity in order to ensure that you are always at the action point. Return by sunset, dinner and overnight in the camp.
(L, D)
After an early breakfast (or packed breakfast) leave for your game drives. Picnic lunch will be provided if you plan to go for full day safaris and do not wish to return to the camp for lunch in case there are sighting reports from locations further away. Since the camp is centrally located, you would have easy access to all areas of the park.
(B, L, D)
Post a morning round of the reserve, you return to camp for breakfast and departure for Nairobi with packed lunch. Drop at the international airport (6 hours’ drive) for your return flight.
(B Only)
At Nature Wanderers, the safety and security of our guests are of utmost importance. In light of the present global pandemic, please note the following:
Nature Wanderers is India's one of the most experienced photo tour company when it comes to Kenyan photography tours. Our decade long experience comes in handy as our photography guides know what goes into creating great images in Mara. Day-to-day safari planning based on predator and prey movement is a must. The full day safaris ensure that you maximize your field time and the evenings are reserved for review of images and post processing sessions.
Nature Wanderers is always very particular about the choice of the camp. Your location of stay is critical as a centralized location means that you can access the key action areas of the forest easily and make effective use of light as a photographer. Our accommodation is typically a fully furnished bush camp with all facilities like a lounge, private tent with washroom and shower panel, dining area etc. Located in the heart of the wilderness, there is frequent movement of wild animals in and around the camp as well in the night. So be prepared to wake up in the morning with lion roars and hyena calls!
Cancellation for an event will be considered via a written mail to info@naturewanderers.com. The date of the mail would be considered for calculation of the cancellation fee.
Price per person : USD 2,800/-