The Ultimate Maasai Mara

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHIC SAFARI

AUGUST 23 - 30, 2025

price from $9,150 USD

NEW ITINERARY! Join me in 2025!

This photo safari based in the Masai Mara National Reserve is dedicated to photographing predators of the area. With our lodge situated in the heart of it all, guests can expect a safari experience full of big cats and your favourite African wildlife.

The group will fly into the Masai Mara via chartered flight to get us into the action as quick and conveniently as possible. Upon arrival in the Masai Mara, guests will be guided by myself and a local tracker/guide, ensuring you are in the hands of the experts. Each morning and afternoon game drive will provide an exciting new experience. With the famous Marsh Pride Lions living just outside of the lodge, lion sightings are a daily occurrence. Other big cats can also be found roaming the plains of the area.

During this trip, guests will also have the chance to go towards the Mara River, where the Wildebeests that make up the Great Migration will be risking their lives as they make that incredible leap of faith into the crocodile infested waters of the Mara.

Small Group Photo Safari

4 photo guests maximum

We keep our numbers low for many reasons, taking into consideration the wellbeing of our guests, but also the delicate wildlife we are immersed with on this tour.

FOR OUR GUESTS: We are proud to offer our guests a group tour with the luxury of exclusivity. By keeping our group sizes small, you will have more opportunities to work one-on-one with your professional photo guide. Keeping the group small allows for guests to enjoy a more personal experience, perfect for any skill level photographer.

FOR THE WILDLIFE: Small groups promote a healthier environment for the wildlife we have the privelage to visit on safari. We understand that we are entering their habitat and we would like to ensure that we do not influence their behaviours in any way. We are here to observe their natural behaviours and habitat without making an impact that will change their natural way of life.

Fitness Level

moderate / not physically demanding

This tour does not require guests to be physically fit, as there is no strenuous activities planned.

With that being said, all safaris will be game drives that last between 3 to 4 hours long and on gravel or dirt roads that are not as smooth as a tarmac road. Our expert drivers do their best to make the game drives and transfers as smooth and comfortable as possible for guests, but roads can be bumpy at some stages, especially when going off-road where aloud.

Early mornings and long safari drives can be quite tiring, but the adrenaline and excitement usually keeps guests going. If you are ever feeling too tired to join a game drive, there is plenty of wildlife that can be seen and photographed around the camp.

AUGUST 23 - 30, 2025

8 days / 7 nights

$9,150 USD per person shared accommodation

+ $1,500 USD single supplement fee

$9,150 USD per person shared accommodation

$1,500 USD single supplement fee

Price Includes

Airport pick-up/drop off (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO)

Two domestic chartered flight (Wilson Airport to Musiara, Mara-Olekiombo to Wilson Airport)

All accommodation (1x Nairobi, 3x Sentinel Camp, 3x Mara Bush Camp)

All transportation to airstrips/airports/lodges

All game drives

All meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner each day)

All beverages (non-alcoholic and local beers, wines and spirits)

All national park entry fees

All photographic guidance / tutorials

one-on-one photo critiques (optional)

Pre-Tour meeting with your photography guide

Price Excludes

International flights

Personal Travel Insurance (required for all guests)

Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra activities, etc.)

Activities not listed in itinerary

Premium alcoholic beverages

Gratuities/tips for guides and staff

Tour Highlights

Witness the Great Migration of Wildebeests in their thousands as they make their way into the Mara Triangle in search of fresh grass. If a river crossing is taking place, guests will have the opportunity to experience this incredible sighting!

Enjoy wildlife sightings without even leaving the lodge. With Elephants and Giraffe commonly walking through, Hippos in the Mara River below, and monkeys making their way around the lodge, there is always photo opportunities, even during the off times.

Photography the famous Marsh Pride Lions on a daily basis, as this large pride's territory is just minutes away from camp. The Paradise Pride Lions can also be found not too far from the camp as well.

Other than lions, there is also a great chance of photographing other predators in the area including cheetahs and leopards and even the scavengers that follow such as the hyenas and jackals.

This all-inclusive photo safari ivisits two locations in the Masai Mara and is lead by a professional wildlife photographer, offering my expertise throughout the tour to help guests obtain incredible photographs

Your Photo Host

Jaren A Fernley

Wildlife Photographer

ENQUIRE NOW

Equipment to Bring

CAMERA BODY:

Guests are encouraged to bring a camera body with a minimum of 24-megapixels to guarantee the best results while on safari. This can be mirrorless or a DSLR, as myself and Mark are experienced with both and will be able to offer assistance whenever need be.

A second camera body is always a great consideration, however, this is not mandatory. This can be used as a backup, or you can keep a second lens attached and switch back and forth between cameras.

LENSES:

A telephoto lens with a reach of at least 500 mm
- This can be a fixed/prime lens or a zoom lens

If you intend to bring a fixed/prime lens of 500 mm or more, you will also need a closer range lens
- A 100 - 400 mm or similar is a great option, as this will allow you to get shots of wildlife that comes closer to the vehicle

If you are interested in taking landscape photographs during the trip, we recommend a wide angle lens that ranges anywhere between 12 mm - 105 mm. This can be used for landscapes, astro-photography, close range wildlife, and congregations of wildlife.

Accommodation

SENTINEL MARA CAMP: An exclusive safari retreat in Kenya's Masai Mara Reserve situated in an astonishing wildlife hotspot. With only nine rooms and an exclusive, private experience for our photography guests, this lodge offers a true safari experience like no other.

MARA BUSH CAMP: This luxury camp is strategically positioned near the river crossing points, so it is ideally located to witness and photograph the dramatic great migration river crossings. This exclusive access makes it a photographer’s dream, providing guests with the opportunity to capture the awe-inspiring moments that define this incredible natural spectacle.

Daily Itinerary

DAYS 3 & 4

2 SAFARI OUTINGS PER DAY

As wildlife is active in the early mornings, we will head out for our first safari of the day as the sun is starting to rise. The group will be taken on a morning photo safari into the plains of the Masai Mara. Each morning, breakfast will be served in in the bush to allow guests to ge the most out of their time here in the Mara.

Every safari outing is different and you never know what will come into frame while out in the open plains of the Masai Mara. From Lions, Hyenas, Thompson’s Gazelle, Buffalo, Zebra, thousands of Wildebeests, and much more, the reserve is thriving with wildlife to photograph. With this being said, this portion of the photo safari is dedicated to big cats. With the Famous Marsh Pride Lions at our doorstep (quite literally), guests will have the opportunity to spend time photographing the most famous lion pride in Africa.

Each day, the group will return to the lodge for lunch and some photo editing time before heading out on an evening game drive.

Each evening, we will return to the tented camp where we will continue our photo editing session before having dinner. After, guests can relax in the camp or around the fire and under the stars with a refreshing drink to end the night, or you can join your photo host for a bit more editing or a one-to-one critique or tutorial session.

DAY 5

FULL DAY SAFARI OUTING / TRANSIT SOUTH

On this day, you will say your farewells to the staff at Sentinel Mara Camp and prepare for a full day safari ending at our next destination, Mara Bush Camp. This full day safari will take the group south, where we will start to get into the area where the Great Migration of Wildebeests are in their thousands!

With a packed lunch, the group will head straight first into the action! With potential river crossing happening almost daily, the group will gear up to witness one of natures greatest spectacles on Earth!

After a long day out in the reserve, the day will come to an end at Mara Bush Camp. We will settle into the dedicated photo studio to continue our post processing before heading over to dinner.

DAY 2

FLY INTO MASAI MARA

After an early breakfast, the group will head to Wilson Airport, where we will take a domestic flight into the northern region of the Masai Mara to start our safari! This chartered flight will bring you spectacular views the great plains of Kenya, flying over the Great Rift Valley. As we land on the secluded runway in the open plains, our transfer vehicle and local expert will be awaiting our arrival with a very warm welcome.

The group will take a short drive through the Masai Mara National Reserve to arrive at Sentinel Mara Camp. Spotting wildlife along the way is very possible so camera will be out and ready during this transfer to the lodge. On arrival our friendly staff will give you a briefing of the lodge and get you settled into your rooms. Lunch will be served, followed by an introduction to the photography ahead.

We will later embark on an afternoon photo safari in our custom photographic vehicles. This first trip will take you through the open plains of the Masai Mara in search of wildlife in the area, specifically the big cats that dominate the area. We will return for dinner, followed by some relaxing free time to enjoy the wilderness around a camp fire.

DAYS 6 - 7

FULL DAY SAFARI OUTINGS

To get the most out of our time here, the group will spend all day out on safari near the Great Migration. This will offer the group the best chance to witness a river crossing. These two days will be filled with patience, as we monitor the mega herds, waiting for a movement to happen.

With a packed lunch, we will have plenty of time to take advantage of. If there is no movement on the river, the group will head towards the herds in the open plains and photograph the migration as they are in their thousands. Remember, predators are never far from these mega herds and they are always looking for an opportunity to arise.

At the end of each day, the group will return to the photo studio at the lodge to continue the image selection process and post processing.

DAY 1

ARRIVAL DAY

The first day is designed for all photography participants to arrive in Nairobi at their own leisure. Untamed Photo Safaris will arrange transfers from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (airport code NBO) for each photographer’s arrival. Guests who have arrived in advance and are already in the country/area should make their way to the Crowne Plaza Airport Hotel on this day.

The tour will start at 6 pm on this day, where the group will meet for the first time. Your Photo Host will be awaiting you with welcome drinks as you go through the itinerary, ask any questions, and get to know the fellow photographers in your group.

After our briefing/meet and greet, we will move over to the restaurant for dinner. After dinner you will have the opportunity to relax with the others in the group.

DAY 8

MORNING SAFARI / FLY TO NAIROBI

The group will have breakfast in the Masai Mara before heading to the airstrip to take our flight back to Nairobi. Upon our return in Nairobi, guests will be transferred to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport where the group will say their goodbyes.

If guests wish to spend an extra night in Nairobi before flying out or continuing your travels, then transportation can be arranged to your hotel of choice.

RESERVE YOUR PLACE ON THIS TOUR

Photographs by Photo Hosts Jaren A Fernley & Mark A Fernley and Governor's Camp Collection

Wildlife Photographer & Safari Specialist

Jaren A Fernley

UNTAMED PHOTO SAFARIS

The Ultimate Maasai Mara

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHIC SAFARI

AUGUST 23 - 30, 2025

price from $9,150 USD

NEW ITINERARY! Join me in 2025!

Tour Highlights

Accommodation

Photographs by Photo Hosts Jaren A Fernley & Mark A Fernley and Governor's Camp Collection