Kenya's Masai Mara - Photo Safari

The Masai Mara in Kenya is one of the world’s most famous wildlife destinations – home to iconic African wildlife including the big cats (Lion, Leopard and Cheetah) as well as browsing and grazing animals including Masai Giraffe, African Elephant, Hippopotamus, Burchell's Zebra, Eland, Topi, Wildebeest, and many, many more. Smaller mammals include Black-backed Jackal, Bat-eared Fox, Warthog and Serval. The Mara is also home to more than 450 bird species including the largest of all birds - the Ostrich - and the largest flying bird – the Kori Bustard. Huge Ground Hornbills and elegant Secretary Birds stride across the grasslands along with Grey Crowned Crane and smaller species such as Temminck's Coursers, Wattled Lapwing, Rosy-breasted Longclaw, Yellow-shouldered Widowbird and Capped Wheatear. Lone bushes or dead trees provide lookout perches for a variety of bee-eaters and rollers, including the beautiful Northern Carmine Bee-eater, whilst above them soar Martial Eagles, Lappet-faced, African White-backed, Hooded and Ruppell's Vultures, the latter four always on the lookout for a recent kill. Our photographic safari is scheduled in the ‘shoulder’ season in the Mara, when the number of vehicles is less than peak season but with still excellent opportunities to photograph the wildlife and resident big cats.

After a flight to Nairobi and an overnight stop, we take the short flight down to the Mara where we will spend seven nights at Mlima Cottage, a private residence located on the northern border of the main reserve and immediately adjacent to prime leopard and lion territories. Our typical day will target the early morning and late afternoon, when encounters with wildlife are most likely and soft light is optimal for photography. There will be an emphasis on the big cats, but also plenty of opportunities to photograph a wide range of species. We will be flexible during the day to adapt to the activity of the wildlife and photographic opportunities; depending on our preferences, we can stay out all day or return to the cottage during the heat of the midday sun for lunch and to rest. We will resume our safari in the mid-afternoon, staying out until sunset, again the optimal time for observing and photographing wildlife behaviour. We return to the cottage after sunset to relax for the evening dinner and to share stories. The cottage has a production tent where you can charge batteries and download photographs to your computer for reviewing and editing.

Throughout our stay at Mlima we will be hosted and guided by expert naturalist and wildlife photographer, John Haskew, who has spent more than ten years living and working in East Africa, and is now based full time in the Masai Mara. At Mlima we will have exclusive use of the facilities and vehicles, and with two vehicles for our group of 6 (maximum), we’ll have plenty of space in which to work. The cottage has its own chef and staff, and we will organise our daily routine to maximise safari and photography opportunities.