masia mara photo trip

Event Details

Kenya -Masai Mara Migration 2012

http://www.craigjoneswildlifephotography.co.uk/workshops/kenya-trip.php

There is no doubt that Kenya is a magical country, it is bustling and colourful, and packed with variety, a melting pot of everything African. Despite pressure from tourism and a growing population, the country remains the naturalist's first choice in Africa, and perhaps the world. The reasons are clear, game in the reserves is abundant, alongside the birdlife, there's almost a staggering thousand species between them, unrivalled by any other African area of similar size. From arid deserts to verdant rainforests, from rolling grasslands to snow-capped equatorial peaks, from lush green hills and cultivated plains to the individual lakes and spectacular Great Rift Valley, Kenya has a variety of scenery and habitats unrivalled in Africa. All this is serviced by a good network of roads and by standards of accommodation and cuisine as high as any on this great continent.

The Great Migration is one of the most impressive natural events worldwide, involving an immensity of herbivores some 1,300,000 wildebeests, 360,000 Thomson's gazelles, and 191,000 zebras. These numerous migrants are followed along their annual, circular route by a block of hungry predators, most notably lions and hyena, which has to be one of the most spectacular events in the natural world.

The beautiful region of East Africa, Kenya is home to an unrivalled abundance and diversity of wildlife, from the vast herds of Wildebeest and Zebra some of the largest herds left on the continent and gives a rare glimpse into the Africa of old. Kenya is also a predator country, the abundance of prey supporting Lions, Cheetahs, Leopards and Wild Dogs, plus numerous eagles and other birds that move south into the country to escape the northern winter. This abundance of life is backed by an equally spectacular landscape, the vast flat lands of the Mara contrasting with the rolling dry hills of Tsavo and the acacia woodlands of Amboseli, the latter watched over by the towering snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.

Our home for the week is the beautiful Serian Camp, Serian ,meaning peaceful, calm or serene in Maa, is the charismatic bush home of Alex Walker, filmmaker and guide in the Masai Mara. Serian is set in a secluded valley. It’s eight, stylish ‘marquees’ overlook the waters of the Mara River. The furnishings evoke the safaris of a bygone era: the natural colours of woven carpets on hardwood flooring and swathes of cotton setting off the colonial-style furniture and pale canvas walls. Each tent has a bush bathroom, a hand-carved stone bath with river view, and a large veranda from which to enjoy the animals coming to the Mara River. Serian’s location in the North Mara Conservancy provides unsurpassed game viewing: the migration of one and a half million wildebeest. Lion, leopard and cheetah are year-round residents, feeding off the large herds of plains game sustained by the savannah.

African Travel Resource - ATOL5983 is holder of a full Air Travel Organisers' License. This licensing system is operated in the UK by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Its main purpose is to protect the consumer against insolvency of their travel company. In reality this means that we have to comply with very strict financial requirements.

Africa Travel Resource Limited is also a full member of ATTA, the Africa Travel and Tourism Association based in London, England.

All of these facts give you complete peace of mind and security with your booking with Craig Jones Wildlife photography.

Itinerary For Photo Tour

Day 1

Our Photo-Tour begins with our flight from London to Nairobi, where most of the flights that take off from London land in the morning at Nairobi Airport. From here we fly to our base for the following week - the Serian Camp right on the banks of the amazing Mara River.A 45 minute flight from Nairobi will find you sat in the midst of the “Masai Mara”, East Africa’s celebrated game viewing area. A well deserved reputation, the Mara means spotted or dotted in the Maa language; trees, elephant, lion, leopard litter the landscape. Once unpacked and due to our location the photography starts straight away. This amazing camp has 7 Tents (including 1 x family tents) A traditional tented bush camp, adjoining bush bathrooms each with bathtub and shower, privately situated tents, 24 hrs Solar Power in the charging room.

Days 2, 3

An early morning start in your own 4WD safari vehicle, key to the Serian experience is the exclusive use of vehicle, freedom to plan to your pace and immerse yourself in this enormous wilderness. Conquering the imagination, leaving you feeling overwhelmed, excited, chaotic andconfused. Yet it nurtures a living energy, offering refuge to some of the most significant andimmense wildlife on earth. You wake up feeling part of a nature documentary with lions, zebras and buffalos. Everything about these reserves outstanding.

The wildlife is abundant and the gentle rolling grasslands ensure that animals are never out of sight. Birds, too, are prolific. Including migrants, well over450 species have been recorded, among them, 57 species of birds of prey. The climate is gentle, rarely too hot and well-spread rainfall year round. Rain, when it falls almost always chooses the late afternoon or night.

The flexibility of our camp means we can stay all day in the park, picnic out on the grasslands and there is no rush to leave as the evening light will be ours to saver and capture those amazing sunsets without having to rush to leave the park. Serian is based right on the river Mara so the wildlife will be there during our trip all the time. The mobile camp- Nkoronbo is placed at near to one of the crossing point again making the very best of the images on offer in beautiful light.

Days 4, 5, 6

Packing a picnic lunch, heading southwards across Rhino Ridge and down past Paradise plains the rutted tracks lead you to Nkorombo our mobile site nestled in an olive grove on the banks of the Mara River. Having trekked through the vastness of the Mara, you will appreciatea welcome break upon reaching camp. A cold beer whilst sat around the campfire, stirring conversation, dissecting the day and reflections on the consummate bush knowledge of the Masai guides.

Serians mobile bush camp -'Nkorombo mobile camp, is positioned to blend unobtrusively into the surrounding vegetation. There are five ensuit,e Selous Style tents. Each simply furnished in traditional safari style with single cots, carpets and tray tables. The experience at Serian's mobile camp is focused on viewing wildlife, in particular, the migration of Wildebeest and Zebra as they cross the Mara River. Each day will be new and exciting. Meals in camp will be interspersed with picnics out in the bush. There are no schedules to be met and you are free to make your own timetable on a daily basis.

Day 7

After a final morning photographing the amazing wildlife here we say goodbye to Kenya and head back to Nairobi for our flight back to the UK

Maximum number of clients - 6 - 2 people per jeep

Recommend Equipment

You will need to provide your own photographic equipment; lenses ranging from a wide-angle right up to a 500mm will be perfect, ideally with two camera bodies, however, this is not essential. A good tip is to have one camera with a wide-angle and the other camera with your bigger lens, this worked so well for me the last time I was there, capturing the habitat alongside the wildlife. A tripod/Monopod and a beanbag are a must, which you can fill up at of lodge with rice. Also protection for your camera equipment from the dust and sand is very important, I use a shower cap on the end of my long lens, and a lenscoat cover for the rest of the lens which works perfect.

Africa's weather is very warm and dry at this time of year, so lose fitting, light coloured clothing is ideal, walking trousers where you can turn them into shorts are perfect, a hat is a must have and a good mosquito spray too along with a high sun factor cream. A good all round level of fitness is ideal, but you will not be walking around these places as you are driven in private jeeps so this won't present you with any difficulty health wise

Cost

The cost of your incredible 7 Day wilderness adventure to Kenya, Africa will be £3990 Per Person on a shared basis/Twin Bed, Single Supplement is available at an extra cost.This does not include flights the cost will be approximately £500-£600 return from London to Nairobi

The deposit will be £1000 per person with the remainder to be paid 60 days before departure. For more details please see our terms and conditions here

In order to cover yourself for an unfortunate change of personal circumstance or an unforeseen medical condition we strongly suggest that you take out sufficient travel insurance to cover this eventuality.

Cost Includes : Beautiful tented ensuite accommodation, Breakfast, Dinner, Evening Meal, All drinks, All Transport to and from Nairobi Airport, private Jeep safaris 2 persons per jeep only accompanied with the best guide and driver, all wildlife photographic expertise and tuition from myself.

Cost Excludes : International flight from London, visa, Sundry Items and tips.

Dates

Monday 10th September 2012 – Monday 17th September 2012
This 7 day trip is ATOL protected with Africa Travel Resource

Kenya -Masai Mara Migration 2012

There is no doubt that Kenya is a magical country, it is bustling and colourful, and packed with variety, a melting pot of everything African. Despite pressure from tourism and a growing population, the country remains the naturalist's first choice in Africa, and perhaps the world. The reasons are clear, game in the reserves is abundant, alongside the birdlife, there's almost a staggering thousand species between them, unrivalled by any other African area of similar size. From arid deserts to verdant rainforests, from rolling grasslands to snow-capped equatorial peaks, from lush green hills and cultivated plains to the individual lakes and spectacular Great Rift Valley, Kenya has a variety of scenery and habitats unrivalled in Africa. All this is serviced by a good network of roads and by standards of accommodation and cuisine as high as any on this great continent.

The Great Migration is one of the most impressive natural events worldwide, involving an immensity of herbivores some 1,300,000 wildebeests, 360,000 Thomson's gazelles, and 191,000 zebras. These numerous migrants are followed along their annual, circular route by a block of hungry predators, most notably lions and hyena, which has to be one of the most spectacular events in the natural world.

The beautiful region of East Africa, Kenya is home to an unrivalled abundance and diversity of wildlife, from the vast herds of Wildebeest and Zebra some of the largest herds left on the continent and gives a rare glimpse into the Africa of old. Kenya is also a predator country, the abundance of prey supporting Lions, Cheetahs, Leopards and Wild Dogs, plus numerous eagles and other birds that move south into the country to escape the northern winter. This abundance of life is backed by an equally spectacular landscape, the vast flat lands of the Mara contrasting with the rolling dry hills of Tsavo and the acacia woodlands of Amboseli, the latter watched over by the towering snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.

Our home for the week is the beautiful Serian Camp, Serian ,meaning peaceful, calm or serene in Maa, is the charismatic bush home of Alex Walker, filmmaker and guide in the Masai Mara. Serian is set in a secluded valley. It’s eight, stylish ‘marquees’ overlook the waters of the Mara River. The furnishings evoke the safaris of a bygone era: the natural colours of woven carpets on hardwood flooring and swathes of cotton setting off the colonial-style furniture and pale canvas walls. Each tent has a bush bathroom, a hand-carved stone bath with river view, and a large veranda from which to enjoy the animals coming to the Mara River. Serian’s location in the North Mara Conservancy provides unsurpassed game viewing: the migration of one and a half million wildebeest. Lion, leopard and cheetah are year-round residents, feeding off the large herds of plains game sustained by the savannah.

African Travel Resource - ATOL5983 is holder of a full Air Travel Organisers' License. This licensing system is operated in the UK by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Its main purpose is to protect the consumer against insolvency of their travel company. In reality this means that we have to comply with very strict financial requirements.

Africa Travel Resource Limited is also a full member of ATTA, the Africa Travel and Tourism Association based in London, England.

All of these facts give you complete peace of mind and security with your booking with Craig Jones Wildlife photography.

Itinerary For Photo Tour

Day 1

Our Photo-Tour begins with our flight from London to Nairobi, where most of the flights that take off from London land in the morning at Nairobi Airport. From here we fly to our base for the following week - the Serian Camp right on the banks of the amazing Mara River.A 45 minute flight from Nairobi will find you sat in the midst of the “Masai Mara”, East Africa’s celebrated game viewing area. A well deserved reputation, the Mara means spotted or dotted in the Maa language; trees, elephant, lion, leopard litter the landscape. Once unpacked and due to our location the photography starts straight away. This amazing camp has 7 Tents (including 1 x family tents) A traditional tented bush camp, adjoining bush bathrooms each with bathtub and shower, privately situated tents, 24 hrs Solar Power in the charging room.

Days 2, 3

An early morning start in your own 4WD safari vehicle, key to the Serian experience is the exclusive use of vehicle, freedom to plan to your pace and immerse yourself in this enormous wilderness. Conquering the imagination, leaving you feeling overwhelmed, excited, chaotic andconfused. Yet it nurtures a living energy, offering refuge to some of the most significant andimmense wildlife on earth. You wake up feeling part of a nature documentary with lions, zebras and buffalos. Everything about these reserves outstanding.

The wildlife is abundant and the gentle rolling grasslands ensure that animals are never out of sight. Birds, too, are prolific. Including migrants, well over450 species have been recorded, among them, 57 species of birds of prey. The climate is gentle, rarely too hot and well-spread rainfall year round. Rain, when it falls almost always chooses the late afternoon or night.

The flexibility of our camp means we can stay all day in the park, picnic out on the grasslands and there is no rush to leave as the evening light will be ours to saver and capture those amazing sunsets without having to rush to leave the park. Serian is based right on the river Mara so the wildlife will be there during our trip all the time. The mobile camp- Nkoronbo is placed at near to one of the crossing point again making the very best of the images on offer in beautiful light.

Days 4, 5, 6

Packing a picnic lunch, heading southwards across Rhino Ridge and down past Paradise plains the rutted tracks lead you to Nkorombo our mobile site nestled in an olive grove on the banks of the Mara River. Having trekked through the vastness of the Mara, you will appreciatea welcome break upon reaching camp. A cold beer whilst sat around the campfire, stirring conversation, dissecting the day and reflections on the consummate bush knowledge of the Masai guides.

Serians mobile bush camp -'Nkorombo mobile camp, is positioned to blend unobtrusively into the surrounding vegetation. There are five ensuit,e Selous Style tents. Each simply furnished in traditional safari style with single cots, carpets and tray tables. The experience at Serian's mobile camp is focused on viewing wildlife, in particular, the migration of Wildebeest and Zebra as they cross the Mara River. Each day will be new and exciting. Meals in camp will be interspersed with picnics out in the bush. There are no schedules to be met and you are free to make your own timetable on a daily basis.

Day 7

After a final morning photographing the amazing wildlife here we say goodbye to Kenya and head back to Nairobi for our flight back to the UK

Maximum number of clients - 6 - 2 people per jeep

Recommend Equipment

You will need to provide your own photographic equipment; lenses ranging from a wide-angle right up to a 500mm will be perfect, ideally with two camera bodies, however, this is not essential. A good tip is to have one camera with a wide-angle and the other camera with your bigger lens, this worked so well for me the last time I was there, capturing the habitat alongside the wildlife. A tripod/Monopod and a beanbag are a must, which you can fill up at of lodge with rice. Also protection for your camera equipment from the dust and sand is very important, I use a shower cap on the end of my long lens, and a lenscoat cover for the rest of the lens which works perfect.

Africa's weather is very warm and dry at this time of year, so lose fitting, light coloured clothing is ideal, walking trousers where you can turn them into shorts are perfect, a hat is a must have and a good mosquito spray too along with a high sun factor cream. A good all round level of fitness is ideal, but you will not be walking around these places as you are driven in private jeeps so this won't present you with any difficulty health wise

Cost

The cost of your incredible 7 Day wilderness adventure to Kenya, Africa will be £3990 Per Person on a shared basis/Twin Bed, Single Supplement is available at an extra cost.This does not include flights the cost will be approximately £500-£600 return from London to Nairobi

The deposit will be £1000 per person with the remainder to be paid 60 days before departure. For more details please see our terms and conditions here

In order to cover yourself for an unfortunate change of personal circumstance or an unforeseen medical condition we strongly suggest that you take out sufficient travel insurance to cover this eventuality.

Cost Includes : Beautiful tented ensuite accommodation, Breakfast, Dinner, Evening Meal, All drinks, All Transport to and from Nairobi Airport, private Jeep safaris 2 persons per jeep only accompanied with the best guide and driver, all wildlife photographic expertise and tuition from myself.

Cost Excludes : International flight from London, visa, Sundry Items and tips.

Dates

Monday 10th September 2012 – Monday 17th September 2012
This 7 day trip is ATOL protected with Africa Travel Resource