August 2013 (bookings open)

    Get ready to witness one of the greatest migrations in the animal kingdom and what some say is the greatest wildlife spectacle on Earth. During the months of August - September, millions of animals in search of fresh pastures and water, cross over from the north of Serengeti in Tanzania to Kenya's Masai Mara. The sheer scale of this migration is overwhelming. 1,300,000 Wildebeest, 360,000 Thomson's Gazelle, 191,000 Zebra are among the migrants. This year along with Nikon, we bring to you the one of the greatest experiences in Wildlife

    This is time of feasting, to the lions, cheetahs, hyenas, leopards and crocodiles which wait around the Mara river. The ungulates plunge into the river expecting greener pastures only to be attacked by the frenzied crocodiles, making this the best time to witness the drama of life and death. The predators are well fed during this season and it's a great time to witness them with their young ones.

    During the migratory season, this particular location provides the best opportunity for photography and wildlife viewing. We have also picked the best lodges, Mara Serena and Mara Sarova Camp to ensure that you get the most luxurious stay and strategic position close to the Mara river and then deep inside the Mara reserve.

    We also spend time at the exotic Lake Nakuru national park to photograph the flamingos and try our luck with the rare and endangered Black Rhino. The park is also rich with a variety of animal and bird life.

    Take a look at the photo story from our last photosafari.

    Special
    We work closely with the Mara conservancy to get real-time information about animal movement so our photography group can be at the right time at the right place for some exclusive photography. Also our Landcruisers can go on the off-beat roads even in bad weather conditions that vans cannot providing for unhindered photography

    Also get to try some awesome Nikon gear, including the latest Nikon V1 compact camera system which is the next revolution in bridging DSLR and compact digital cameras.

What's special about this phototour?

  • The expedition is aimed at creating the best platform for photography. With the help of local guides and professionals, you can expect to get the best possible settings for your photographs. Going to the right place at the right time and getting constant updates of what's happening in the vicinity are just a few ways we make sure you get the best shot.
  • Wildlife photographer Amoghavarsha will give you tips and tricks of photographing in the field. All the learning will be done one on one, followed by review sessions every evening to make sure you get those picture-perfect shots on this trip of a lifetime. If you are not a photographer, you are still welcome to join the group for a purely exhilarating wildlife experience.
  • We have chosen resorts with the best location to ensure maximum opportunity.
  • Unlike a regular safari in a minibus, our safaris will be in 4X4 landcruisers limited to 6 photographers per vehicle.
  • We also have special driver-naturalists who are well acquainted with photographers and know the geography very well to ensure we go to the right spots for maximum photography opportunities.

What you'll learn

  • Composition, aesthetics of photography
  • Light and exposure
  • Photography from safari vehicles
  • Creative aspects of nature photography
  • The best way to photograph dynamic wildlife subjects
  • Photography review sessions
  • Amoghavarsha will also help you with pre-trip discussions on the equipment that you would like to take with you.
    Participants for this trip are expected to reach Nairobi on Aug 5th latest by 8am. Kenyan airlines flight from Mumbai arrives usually by 6.30am. We expect most participants to reach by this flight and will wait for this flight before departing Nairobi. Participants arriving by other flights are advised to arrive the previous day itself and spend a night in Nairobi. Accomodation can be arranged for these participants at extra cost.
  • August 5th - Great Rift Valley and Arrival in Mara
    All the participants arriving early morning on 5th morning will be picked up from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and others if staying in hotels will be picked up from the hotels. Participants who have chosen to fly to Mara directly will be transferred to the aircraft heading to Mara. Other participants start by 8.30am towards our destination Mara. While heading towards mara we stop to get some photographs of the Great rift valley. The group then check into our camp, the Mara Serena Resort. This is the one of the most luxurious and well positioned lodges close to the river crossing. The views from Serena are stunning, the annual migrations take place very close and most times visible from the resort itself as the resorted is located right on the banks of the Mara river. We have lunch at the lodge followed by our first afternoon game drive till sunset. We return to the lodge to discuss the day's shoot and techniques before heading to dinner.
  • August 6th - Mara river
    We start our day early, finish an early breakfast and head out to photograph the migration. We spend a lot of time near the Mara river and hope to get shots of the crossing. Based on the interest levels of the group, we have an option of staying in field the whole day with packed lunch or we could come back to the resort. We hope to get the best shots of the wildebeest crossing by the end of day. We come back and review the pictures at the lodge before heading to dinner.
  • August 7th - Game drives around Serena We cover other areas around the Serena looking out for more game, the focus on this day will be photograph the Big 5. We cover the areas of Mara conservancy, which provide splendid landscape for game photography. We also scout areas close to the Serengeti plains, near the Tanzania border.
  • August 8th - Arrive at Sarova This day we leave early from our resort with packed lunches and head towards the our next destination the Mara Sarova camp. Along the path we cover the other parts of the Mara triangle. By the end of our drive, we would have covered the western wing of the triangle and hope to have got good shots of the migration
  • August 9th We spend the next day around the eastern wing of the triangle and cover the rest of the national park. The area around the camp is well known for amazing game and splendid variety of birds which one can shoot just from the camp. The camp itself is like an oasis in the middle of the savannas with thick trees all around
  • August 10th The next day morning we drive to Lake Nakuru, one of the most exotic locations in Kenya. Lake Nakuru is known for the thousands of Flamingos that throng its shores. The place is also rich in animal life and makes for some wonderful photography opportunities.
  • August 11th After breakfast at the camp, we depart and drive back to Nairobi to catch our flights back home. Participants who choose to fly will be transferred to the aircraft to take them to Nairobi
The migration time is the peak tourism season for Kenya, and we have worked out the best possible deal for you with some of the best lodges and services.
The cost of this photo-tour ex-Nairobi is TBA for Indians and TBA for foriegn nationals and includes :
  • All Meals on the tour
  • Transport to all the destinations in Land-cruisers
  • Accommodation on twin-sharing basis
  • All park fees
  • Safari in 4X4 Landcruisers
  • Services of Driver-Naturalists
  • Special bean bags for photography
  • Airport transfers to and from hotels
Excludes:
  • Airfare to and from Nairobi
  • Additional tips for staff such as guides and camp staff
  • Any kind of personal expenses
  • Any aerated drinks, liquor or any extra orders
  • Medical Insurance
  • Purchases made outside
  • Visa - $ 50
  • Optional Tour to the Masai Village - $ 30 Per person
  • Hot air balloon safari - $ 485 per person
  • Yellow fever vaccination
  • Cost of hospitalization and evacuation if necessary
  • Our tour starts on August 5th morning, it would be best to take the Mumbai-Nairobi flight which lands on the 11th morning. Participants using other airways are requested to arrive a day earlier. Accommodation can be organized in Nairobi at extra cost
  • You'll have to follow the rules and regulations of the Reserve parks and the resort while you are there
  • Yellow fever vaccination is a must
  • All participants must sign the declaration form before the beginning of the program
  • Any cancellation has to be done at-least 15 days in advance for a refund, no refund will be possible later.
    More than 45 days before departure : 70% refund
    45 - 29 days before departure : 50% refund
    30 - 15 days before departure : 40% refund
    Less than 15 days before departure : no refund
  • Participants have to be fit enough to complete the trip.
  • What equipment would be ideal?
    A good prosumer with optical zoom of 15X or more. Or a DSLR with a minimum 300mm is what we suggest. We will also help you with all the necessary gear to carry for the trip.
  • What's the weather like?
    It's going to be sunny most times but there's occasional rains. So be prepared for both. The temperatures are expected to be between 12-20 °C so do get your warm clothes.
    You can contact me for any further information at mail@amoghavarsha.com or +91 9901044344.

    To signup for the expedition leave your contact details here and we'll contact you

    Name
    Email
    Phone