Kenya – Great Wildlife Spectacles 2025

Photography Tour

Kenya – A land of plenty. This vibrant land bursts with life this time of year. We designed this photo tour to immerse you in some of Africa’s most epic experiences: Witness the great migration as millions of wildebeests cross the Mara river, photograph lions, cheetahs and leopards on the prowl, at play, and raising young, enjoy the flamboyance of millions of flamingos on their feeding grounds, and spend time with Rhinos in a special protected area where they thrive. Join us for an unparalleled experience that brings your African dreams to life!

Trip Details

Welcome to Kenya, an extraordinary destination known as one of the world’s richest spots for wildlife photography, where thrilling wildlife encounters and exhilarating photographic experiences await at every turn.

We crafted this tour knowing that you dream of not only coming face to face with Africa’s iconic wildlife but also experiencing nature’s rhythm as the great migration reaches its peak this time of year. This adventure is designed for photographers – from great locations to custom vehicles, to private seating and our expert guides, we have this trip perfected.

Encounter the “Big Five” and more: lions, leopards, elephants, Cape buffalo, Rhinos – as well as other iconic African species: Zebras, giraffes, hippos, gazelles, and a vast array of gorgeous birds, chameleons and more as they hunt, feed, play, raise young and roam the land.

Witness the Great Migration
Imagine being in the presence of over two million wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles as they move through the Masai Mara and ultimately risk everything to cross the iconic Mara River.

Capture the Flamboyance of Flamingos Another spectacle of nature is the incredible congregation of Flamingos that come by the millions to a special lake area to feed. They call a group of flamingos a “flamboyance’ and on this trip, you will learn why.

Our photo safari stands out for its focus on the needs of photographers while adding in a touch of luxury, giving you an unforgettable experience.

Safari vehicles are customized for photography: We’ve maximized the vehicle space, created options for you to get different perspectives and even designed cushioned baskets that help protect your gear while giving you quick easy access. Our setup is a photographer’s dream.

Vehicle seating is limited to just three photographers per vehicle: the vehicles and the seating make a difference to your experience and it can be the difference between getting a photo or not, seeing the action or not. On our safari, you will work from our customized vehicles and have your own row! This gives you ample space for your gear, the ability to shoot from both sides of the vehicle, and the freedom to shoot from different perspectives.

Our expert guides: We have worked with our team of guides for years and they have learned what we want and need for vehicle position, light and anticipating the action so that we’re always in the right position to capture stunning shots. Over the years, they have become like family.

Luxury lodges in the heart of the wild: After a full day in the bush, you’ll appreciate returning to our lodges, where you can indulge in comforting amenities and gourmet meals. Unwind by a fire, gaze at the Milky Way, and fall asleep to the sounds of Africa’s wildlife. Our lodges are nestled in the heart of these wild landscapes.

Five incredible locations

You will be immersed in five incredible locations: Samburu National Park, Solio Private Reserve, Lake Bogoria, Lake Baringo and of course, the Masa Mara.  These are iconic locations that truly show you Africa. Each is unique in photographic opportunities it provides and impressive in the sheer number of wildlife that thrive there.

Samburu

We begin our tour in Samburu, famous for its stunning scenery and one-of-a-kind wildlife! Get ready for leopards, lions, and cheetahs, plus five species only found here: reticulated giraffes, gerenuk (a graceful long-necked antelope that stands on two legs to feed), the endangered Grevy’s zebra, Somali ostrich, and Beisa oryx.

This area is also home to the vibrant Samburu people, a pastoral community closely related to the Maasai, and we will visit them. The women adorn themselves in colorful layers of beaded necklaces, and the men show off bright decorations and impressively high jumps in their dances. This is a real working village, and our visit will transport you to a time long passed.

Solio Private Reserve

This 19,000 acre private reserve is a sanctuary dedicated to Rhino conservation. The world’s largest population of both black and white rhinos thrive here. With over 200 rhinos present, you will have the privilege of witnessing family groups, mothers with calves and small herds as they interact. These rhinos are protected 24/7 and because of this, they still have their full-grown horns – which we are sure will leave you in awe. The rhinos live here in harmony with other animals, such as buffalos, zebras, giraffes, elands, antelopes, waterbucks, and warthogs not to mention, lions.

Lake Bogoria

Our journey continues to Lake Bogoria, where over 1.3 million flamingos flock to feed, delivering a wildlife spectacle that should not be missed! This enchanting location provides the perfect canvas for photographers, allowing you to utilize every lens in your bag—from wide-angle “bird-scapes” that capture the colorful landscape to tight flight shots that showcase the elegance of these stunning birds.

Lake Baringo

From Lake Bogoria, we head to Lake Baringo, where you’ll have the opportunity to photograph kingfishers, wading birds, hippos, and other wildlife from the comfort of a boat. This unique vantage point will maximize your chances of capturing stunning images of Fish Eagles as they hunt along the water’s edge, creating dynamic and action-filled photographs.

The Masa Mara

These vast open plains are known the world over for both the intensity of the great migration and the simple richness of wildlife that thrives here. As the grand finale, we will arrive at the Mara River for the thrilling Great Migration and the iconic wildebeest crossings! Here, you’ll witness millions of wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles stretching as far as the eye can see, all funneling into the river for their perilous crossing. Unlike other safaris, we’ll have the flexibility to photograph the crossing from either side of the river, ensuring that you capture breathtaking action shots as the wildebeests leap into the water, all while navigating the lurking crocodiles.

In addition to the spectacle of the crossing, the Masai Mara is home to numerous predators – lions, leopards and cheetahs –  that thrive off the abundant herds. This time of plenty reveals a fascinating dynamic as the lions seem relaxed and playful, providing you with perfect photo ops and unforgettable memories!

Two instructors

Our tour is designed for photographers of all skill levels. You’ll have two instructors, Steve and Nicole, by your side throughout, ready to advise you on your settings and as you capture those images of a lifetime.

Join us for a trip of a lifetime!

Fitness Level: Easy. You will be photographing from the safari vehicles during our game drives.

*Non-Photographer spots are available for this trip at a discount. This is a great trip for a photographer to share with a spouse/friend or for a single person who enjoys nature and having a great adventure. The non-photographer sits up front next to the driver/guide on game drives. When riding up front, the non-photographer will be able to see everything and be able to take pictures out of the window and roof. We actually have a number of non-photographers who love nature join our trips because we are not only fun to travel with but also spend time with wildlife, watching and enjoying the behaviors and activity rather than zooming around checking off species.

Tour Information

Starts

Jul 24 2025

Ends

Aug 4 2025

Leaders

Steve and Nicole

Price

$10890

Deposit

$2000

Participants

7 participants

Availability

Full - Registration for 2026 open now

Booking Info

Deposit of $2,000 with registration

Payment #2 of $5,890 due January 15, 2025

Final Payment of $3,000 due on May 1, 2025

* Pricing based on double occupancy

* Single supplement (if available) add $1500

* Non-photographer (riding up front with the driver/guide) discount of $895

Tour Highlights
  • In the midst of the great migration! This time of year, the great migration is in Kenya. This is the iconic crossing of the Mara River!
  • Huge Diversity of Wildlife Photography Subjects & Situations – From elephants and giraffes to big cats on the prowl, wildebeest migration, chameleons giving you the eye, millions of flamingos, herds of rhinos, fish eagles in flight and more – this photography tour will immerse you in all great wildlife spectacles tat Africa is known for!
  • Experience our tried and true itinerary – Having done this trip for over a decade, we will have you in the right places at the right times to make this bucket list trip stand out! We have long term relationships with our guides and our lodges and honed our itinerary to give you an exceptional experience.
  • Luxury lodges in close proximity to wildlife – There’s nothing like going to sleep the sounds of African wildlife and rolling out in the morning right into the heart of the action! We selected our lodges based on their proximity to wildlife as well as the comfort and gourmet food they provide. You may be tempted by the lodge comforts to stay back and enjoy but don’t worry, the call of the wild will draw you out on safari!
  • A full row to yourself in the safari vehicle – This detail is the make or break for a good Africa photo safari. For every game drive, every photographer will have their own row in the safari vehicle. This gives you the freedom to work from different perspectives and plenty of space for you and your gear.
  • Customized, private safari vehicles designed for photographers! We know what it’s like to shoot from a vehicle and worked with our partners to customize the vehicles to our photographic needs. Whether you want to shoot up high or down low, you will have the flexibility to do that.
  • Small group experience – Being out on safari is a special thing. We keep our group small so we can really enjoy and savor these memory making moments.
  • Experienced guides who understand our photographic needs – Having worked with our guides for years, they understand how to position our vehicles for light and for wildlife behaviors. In wildlife photography, we often play a game of chess to be in the right position and our guides are ready to get us there.
  • Two Photography Instructors – This trip is designed for photographers of all skill levels. Steve and Nicole are on hand throughout to assist you with your photography.

Arrival and Departure Information

Arrival day: Fly in to Jomo Kenyatte International Airport in Nairobi (NBO), arriving by July 24. You will be greeted by our guide and transferred to Eka Hotel where we are staying for our first night.

Note: Please wait for our email alerting you as to when to book your flights. We will share with you our flight details as well as any other important information that may help you with your bookings.

You will need to obtain a Visa in order to enter Kenya. We will provide you with information on how to obtain this prior to travel.

***If you plan to arrive early, before the start of our tour***

You will need to make your own extra/early arrival lodging and airport transfer arrangements at Eka Hotel or be at Eka Hotel by July 24.

Departure day: We will have a final game drive on the morning of our last day together and then we will transfer back to Nairobi.  Please make sure your flight home from Nairobi departs after 9:00pm on August 4. Most international flights depart around 11:00pm.

Detailed ITINERARY

Travel Day

July 23, 2025

Travel Day

Depart for Nairobi, Kenya. Most flights require an overnight flight to reach Nairobi.

Day 1

July 24, 2025

Arrive in Nairobi

Arrive in Nairobi, Kenya. You will be greeted by our guide and transferred to our hotel.

Day 2

July 25, 2025

Transfer to Samburu and enjoy our first game drive

After an early morning breakfast, we head to Samburu National Park for our first photographic adventure. We will stay for the next few nights at a luxury boutique lodge in Samburu.

Days 3 and 4

July 26, 2025 - July 27, 2025

Samburu game drives

For these two days, we will enjoy amazing morning and afternoon game drives in Samburu National Park. Samburu is rich in wildlife and is especially famous for rare northern specialties such as Grevy zebra, Somali ostrich, Reticulated giraffe, Gerenuk, and Beisa oryx. Bird life is abundant with over 350 species. The reserve is also popular for elephants and of course predators such as lions, leopards and cheetahs!

Day 5

July 28, 2025

Transfer to Solio

After an early morning game drive in Samburu, we will depart for Solio, our base for the next two nights. Enroute we will stop for lunch and the chance to photograph Colobus monkeys with their long white tails! We will be staying in a Luxury tent camp located close to the entrance of the reserve giving us great access to photographing the action.

Day 6

July 29, 2025

Game drives at Solio

Morning and afternoon game drives at a private sanctuary reserve where Rhinos are the stars! Get ready for white rhinos with impressive horns, often seen with babies, as well as giraffes, lions, birds and more. We usually see Black Rhinos here too!

Day 7

July 30, 2025

Chameleons, Lake Bogoria, and a million Flamingos

Following an early morning breakfast, we will depart for Bogoria National Reserve. Enroute, we will stop at a special little park to do some macro photography of incredibly cool chameleons that call this place home! After lunch, we will arrive at Lake Bogoria. Enjoy photographing and watching the behaviors of millions of Flamingos! Overnight at an exquisite lodge that sits on cliffs overlooking Lake Baringo.

Day 8

July 31, 2025

Lake Baringa, Fish Eagles and More

Morning aquatic bird photography as we explore Lake Baringa by boat. Hippos, kingfishers, Fish eagles and more call this area home.

Day 9

August 1, 2025

The Mara

Early morning bird photography then depart for the Masai Mara. We will enjoy a game drive as we head to our lodge: a luxury tent camp deep in the heart of the Mara. This is Africa!

Day 10 and 11

August 2, 2025 - August 3, 2025

Game drives in the Mara

For these two days, we will have full day game drives in the Mara, taking bush breakfasts and bush lunches with us so we maximize our time on these rich plains.

Day 12

04/08/2025

Final game drive and Return to Nairobi for flights home

Today we will have our last early morning game drive in the morning and then back to camp before we transfer to Nairobi where we will catch our flights home.

TESTIMONIALS

The whole Kenya safari/photo experience was great from start to finish.  From seeing a great variety of wildlife species to a thrilling Great Migration river crossing, all complete with topnotch, passionate guides and great accommodations.  I’ve done two trips and hope to return someday.

Alan J., Michigan

The most fulfilling way to see the planet earth is to go to Kenya! The finest way to visit Kenya is to go with Steve and Nicole of Gettle Photograhy.  Their ultimate goal was to take me far beyond my own expectations of this adventure by providing everything from excellent guides, camera instructions, best photo locations, lodging, food, and most of all, the joy one feels on their trips, which is why I continue to travel with Steve and Nicole!

Sally D., South Carolina

My Kenya safari with Steve and Nicole was, in a word “AWESOME”.  I could not be happier with the experience I had on my first trip to Africa and first wildlife photography tour with Steve and Nicole. The photographic opportunities were endless, the people and accommodations were fantastic, and the entire tour was seamless.  I highly recommend touring with Steve and Nicole. I want to do it again.

Jim B., Massachusetts

Amazing trip. We saw so much and had such a great group! Thank you, Steve and Nicole, for thinking through every detail and planning a variety of experiences. John, David and Richard are so skilled and knowledgeable… they added to the experience and treated us like family. I was telling my sister-in-law who picked me up from the airport all what we saw, and I could barely believe the list of animals and situations we documented. Wow! Just simply WOW!!

Mary C., Texas

WHAT'S INCLUDED

  • All luxury lodging while in Kenya
  • Delicious gourmet meals while at our exceptional boutique lodges
  • All ground transportation
  • All game safaris in custom vehicles designed for photographers
  • All expert guides
  • Plenty of bottled water with meals and on game drives
  • All permits and park entrance fees
  • Photographic and creative instruction
  • Comprehensive Pre-trip Booklet that includes all the photo gear and other packing information for the trip as well as all other pertinent details to help you make the most of this adventure

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

  • Air travel to and from Nairobi, Kenya
  • First night’s meal in Nairobi since everyone arrives at different times
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Alcoholic beverages

Tour Extensions

There are no extensions available for this tour.