Day 1: Arrival (Kenya)

We arrive in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

 

Day 2: Nairobi to Nairobi National Park to Nakuru

We enter Nairobi NP as soon as the gates open and spend a full morning exploring this gem of a park right on the outskirts of this huge city. Here we have a chance to sight a range of big mammals including most of the “big 5”. This park is especially good for lions and giraffes, sometimes even against the high-rises of downtown Nairobi! There is also the abundant and colorful birdlife typical of the African savannah. After lunch, we head down into the Great Rift Valley. In the late afternoon, we arrive at another of Kenya’s gems, the impressive Nakuru NP, which is often painted pink by millions of flamingos, giving every photo a haze of cerise.

 

Day 3: Nakuru NP

With a full day to explore Nakuru, we will focus on rhinos. Both white and black rhinoceros occur here in good numbers, and one can often find these prehistoric beasts drinking with a haze of flamingos for an awesome photographic backdrop. There are also bountiful antelope, and good chances at lion and leopard. On the bird front, are 1000s of pelicans, storks, herons, flamingoes, and shorebirds. The adjacent woodlands hold their own set of species like barbets, woodpeckers, honeyguides, and starlings.

 

Day 4: Nakuru to Lake Naivasha

After a final morning in Nakuru, we head towards Lake Naivasha, a stunning Rift Valley Lake full of birds and mammals. A leisurely boat trip on the lake in the afternoon will provide plenty of photographic opportunities of mammals and birds at very close quarters. Here we will wander amongst the many giraffes, waterbuck, and gazelles that feed on the lake shores. There are few predators here and the tame animals offer phenomenal photographic opportunities. Hippopotamus lounge in the languid waters, Pied Kingfishers, herons, and storks frequent every secluded bay, and flotillas of pelicans pass by loafing crocodiles. Before we know it our several hours on the water will be over.

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Day 5: Naivasha to Masai Mara

The boat trips on Naivasha are so good that we are going to do another one on this morning! There will be different light, a slightly different mix of species, and undoubtedly a lot of great new photo opportunities. In the late morning, we leave the Rift Valley and head west, reaching the Masai Mara area by evening.

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Days 6-8: Masai Mara

The Mara, the northern portion of the magnificent Serengeti system, offers spectacular vistas over flat-topped acacia and grassy plains riddled with ungulates and other animals. We’ll spend three full days in the reserve looking for East Africa’s famous Lions, Leopards, Cheetahs, African Elephants, gazelles, and other wildlife. However, bird photography does not take a back seat, and we should be rewarded with views of many large raptors and vultures that gather at the kills, as well as storks, Kori Bustard, Southern Ground-Hornbill, and other species that suffer from disturbance outside these large, protected areas. Other highlights may include Rufous-bellied Heron, Saddle-billed Stork, Temminck’s Courser, Sooty Chat, and Schalow’s Turaco. There is never a dull moment in the Mara. Often it’s a matter of choosing which amazing photo opportunity to take advantage of… elephants on one side of the vehicle, and a teed-up barbet on the other!

 

Day 9: Mara to Nairobi

After a couple hours of photography around our lodge, we’ll head towards Nairobi, where we’ll end the trip, undoubtedly laden down with myriad excellent images, and the memories to match!