Great Migration: Masai Mara Photo Workshop & Photo Safari
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Great Migration: Masai Mara

Lodge-Based Photo Safari
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Great Migration: Masai Mara

Lodge-Based Photo Safari
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Trip Leader(s)
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Starting From [Block//Current Price]

Single Supplement: +$3,195.00
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   Deposit: $5,000.00
Start/End

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, Kenya / Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, Kenya

Length

10 Days/9 Nights

Fitness Level

Level 1 - What's This?

Group Size

Up To 9 Guests

Highlights
  • The Great Migration: Photograph millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles as they cross the Mara River in one of nature’s most dramatic events.

  • Predator Encounters: Capture lions, cheetahs, and leopards in action as they hunt amidst the migration herds.

  • Golden Light & Vast Landscapes: Experience breathtaking sunrises and sunsets that transform the savanna into a canvas of color and contrast.

  • Expert Guidance & Creative Growth: Learn advanced wildlife photography techniques and composition skills from experienced guides and instructors.

If you have any questions about a trip, itinerary, or gear, our Photo Experience Team is available for a personalized one-on-one consultation to provide all the details you need.
Trip Description:

There are few places on Earth that capture the raw drama of wildlife photography quite like the Masai Mara. Each year, more than a million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles surge across its golden plains in one of the planet’s most powerful natural events, the Great Migration. This workshop is carefully timed to coincide with historically peak migration periods in the Masai Mara, when river crossings, dense herds, and heightened predator activity offer the greatest photographic potential. For photographers, this is far more than a safari. It is an immersive, front-row experience where life, motion, and survival unfold beneath vast African skies.

The Mara’s power lies in its contrasts. Dawn arrives softly, with mist lifting from the savanna as first light brushes acacia trees in warm gold. By mid-day, the scene shifts to dust, speed, and tension as herds press toward the Mara River, crocodiles poised just beneath the surface. Evenings deliver the kind of light photographers chase for a lifetime, low, directional, and cinematic, ideal for backlit silhouettes of giraffes, lions, and elephants moving through tall grass. Every hour brings a new atmosphere, a new rhythm, and a new story waiting to be framed.

This workshop is designed to place you exactly where the moments happen. With multiple full days split between the Mara Triangle and the Masai Mara National Reserve, we maintain the flexibility to follow migration movements, stay with predator action, and wait patiently for exceptional light and behavior. Our leaders know this ecosystem intimately, reading animal behavior and subtle shifts in light to help you anticipate decisive moments rather than react to them.

Between shoots, Mara Serena Safari Lodge and Soroi Private Wing offer a welcome balance of comfort and inspiration. Evenings are unhurried, with time to review images, exchange feedback, and refine techniques alongside fellow photographers. Whether you are dialing in exposure for fast-moving wildlife or learning to build a visual narrative through light and sequence, the experience is as much about creative growth as it is about exploration.

Beyond the wildlife, the Mara itself becomes your subject. Rolling hills, distant storms, and the immense scale of the Great Rift Valley create endless opportunities for storytelling landscapes. You will photograph not just animals, but atmosphere, dust glowing after a river crossing, storm light sweeping across the plains, and horizons that fade from violet to fire just before sunrise. It is this blend of epic scale and quiet nuance that makes the Mara endlessly compelling.
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When we return to Nairobi, your memory cards will be full, but what lingers runs deeper than the images. The cadence of hooves moving across open land, the stillness of a lioness at dusk, the shared excitement of witnessing something truly wild. This is Africa at its most cinematic, and an experience that leaves a permanent mark on every photographer who enters its world.

What's Included
  • All listed meals and non-alcoholic beverages during the workshop

  • All transportation during the workshop

  • All lodging during the workshop

  • All internal flights

  • Airport transfers

  • All permits and park fees

  • Professional photography guiding and instruction

  • Gratuity for service staff, local guide(s), and drivers

What's Not Included
  • Flights to and from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Kenya (NBO)

  • Meals not listed as included on the itinerary

  • Lodging outside workshop dates

  • Alcoholic beverages

  • Souvenirs and personal items

  • Gratuity for photography guide(s). Please refer to our FAQ section for more details about gratuities

  • Trip Insurance (recommended) - see plans here.

Details
  • Final Balance Due 180 days prior to Trip Start​​​​​​​ 
  • Specialized Itinerary terms & conditions apply. Please see our Cancellation / Transfer policy on our Frequently Asked Questions page. 
  • Trip Insurance Required​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 

 Trip Itinerary 

Most Meals Included – (B,L,D) denotes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi (D)
We’ll kick off our adventure at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Kenya (NBO). Upon arrival, our team will welcome you and assist with your transfer to our arrival hotel. In the evening, there will be a brief orientation followed by an introductory dinner.

Day 2: Fly to the Mara Triangle (B,L,D)
After breakfast, we’ll check out and head to Wilson Airport for our short, scenic flight to the Masai Mara. Once we land, we’ll enjoy our first game drive en route to Mara Serena Safari Lodge. After settling in and having lunch, we’ll head out again for an afternoon game drive—our first taste of the legendary wildlife that makes this region so famous. Expect dramatic light, sweeping plains, and the first of many unforgettable photo moments.

Days 3 & 4: Exploring the Mara Triangle (B,L,D)
We’ll spend the next two days in the Mara Conservancy (also known as the Mara Triangle), with unlimited game drives and no fixed schedule—allowing us to follow the light and the wildlife. This area is known for its concentration of big cats and for the dramatic river crossings that happen during the Great Migration. Expect early starts, golden light, and long, rewarding days in the field. We’ll return each evening to Mara Serena Safari Lodge for a hearty meal and a chance to review our favorite shots together.

Day 5: Transition to the Masai Mara National Reserve (B,L,D)
We’ll start with an early morning game drive and breakfast before heading deeper into the Masai Mara, transferring to Soroi Private Wing with plenty of wildlife stops along the way. We’ll arrive in time for lunch, settle in, and then head out again for an afternoon drive. This part of the reserve has a slightly different feel—more open grasslands and great chances to photograph the migration herds spread across the plains.

Days 6–9: Four Full Days in the Masai Mara (B,L,D)
These next four days will be all about immersion. We’ll spend full days out in the reserve with unlimited game drives, chasing light, action, and unique perspectives. This is the heart of migration season—expect wildebeest in the thousands, dust clouds, predator interactions, and plenty of opportunities to refine your wildlife photography. One evening, we’ll enjoy a special African Night celebration at the lodge—a chance to unwind, share stories, and soak in the sounds of the savanna under the stars. Each night, we’ll rest comfortably at Soroi Private Wing.

Day 10: Return to Nairobi and Depart (B)
We’ll head out early for a final morning game drive before breakfast, wrapping up around 9:00 a.m. Then it’s time to freshen up and transfer to the airstrip for our flight back to Nairobi, departing at 11:00 and arriving by 11:45 a.m. Once we’re back in the city, we’ll have day-room use at the Crowne Plaza Nairobi Airport Hotel until 6:00 p.m.—a perfect opportunity to relax, repack, and enjoy a final meal before your onward journey. Hotel shuttle service will be available for your departure flights.

Please note that the exact sequence of the itineraries on all photography trips will be based on weather and lighting conditions. The goal on these trips is to make sure we are at the right place at the right time for the perfect light on our subjects. Also, itineraries can change for a variety of other circumstances including floods, forest fires, national park closures, road closures, and more. Due to the nature of wildlife and landscape photography, we do not guarantee any specific sightings or specific compositions.
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