Whilst our main focus will be on photographing the species we see, that certainly doesn’t mean that you need to be a photographer to join! The only necessity is that you have a love of wildlife…

If you are a photographer however, this is most certainly open to any and all skill levels. From total beginner to seasoned professional, this trip is for you!

My personal suggestion is to have a mirrorless/DSLR camera body, with a lens of at least 300mm in focal length (a 100-400mm or 200-600mm for example would be perfect). Keep in mind that there may be some incredible moments where you want to photograph the animals in their environment, so having a variety of focal lengths will be very helpful.

However, the aim of this workshop is for you to learn how to make the most of the equipment you already have, so bring what you can!

In terms of other accessories, we will be photographing from an open vehicle so a beanbag is highly recommended. You can bring it empty and we will fill it up with beans/rice/corn somewhere on the beginning of our journey. Please reach out if you have any questions on this!

You will also need to bring your laptop and an external hard drive (preferably 2 so that you have a backup) for editing and image organization.

I chose October (over other times of the year) for a few reasons…

1. It’s cheaper not being in peak season.

2. Less crowds.

3. The grass is shorter and much better suited for photography (particularly in the Mara) because the wildebeest have eaten it down during the migration.

4. I have visited in July, September and October in the past… And October was my favourite by far!

5. Even though the migration will be over, there’s still a chance that we will see Zebra’s crossing back over the river.

6. Magical sunsets.

7. Lots of baby animals.

8. The tail end of the dry season before the rains begin!

Every day will be slightly different depending on the goals of the day and what the group is hoping to see.

In general, we will be starting quite early to maximise our time with the wildlife in the early morning light/when they are the most active. The beauty of having our own private guides (rather than those from the lodges) is that we can decide whether we’d like to go back to the lodge to relax/edit during the heat of the day (and go back out in the afternoon), or stay out all day to continue our search.

We will discuss our plans for the next day over dinner the evening prior!

We will be in 2 photography specific safari vehicles ⏤ each with 4 guests per car in order to allow ample space to move around and get the perfect shot. I (Kate) will sit in the front with our wonderful guides and rotate between vehicles throughout the day in order to share my knowledge & advice with you!

Yes absolutely!!! Throughout the workshop we will spend our free time (often in the middle of the day) going through our images and working on them together ⏤ from image organisation to post-processing and diving into any questions you may have.

There is also one rest day in the middle of the trip at Lake Nakuru that will be dedicated to a big editing session.

Our accommodation throughout the trip is double occupancy luxurious tents/lodge rooms. 2 guests per room grouped via gender (or with your partner if travelling as a couple). Each equipped with all of the essentials to ensure a very comfortable stay in the heart of the nature.

We begin with 1 night in Nairobi at Trademark Hotel, have 3 nights in Samburu at Surana Buffalo Springs, 3 nights in Lake Nakuru at Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge, and finish with 4 nights in the Maasai Mara at Serenity Mara Legends Camp.

⏤ Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

Yes! All meals starting with dinner on Friday 10th October (day 1) and finishing with breakfast on Tuesday 21st October (day 12) are included and can be catered to any dietary requirements.

Throughout the trip we will have a mix of buffet styled catering/privately catered/à la carte meals at the lodges. All drinks/alcoholic beverages, and any additional snacks/food outside of main meals (explained on Day 1) are to be paid for at your own expense.

This time of year you can expect occasional rain showers, but it’s mostly dry. Daytime temperatures in October are around 27℃ (81℉), with night time temps reaching around 11℃ (52℉).

In general it will be cooler during our early morning game drives, and will get quite warm during the middle of the day. Clothes that can be layered are essential!

After signing up I will give you further information about the locations, itinerary, packing lists etc.

⏤ Bookings are made via a first come first serve basis, and spots will be held upon the receipt of the deposit.

⏤ Payments are to be made via direct bank transfer (in AUD or USD) or via credit/debit card (with a 3% processing fee).

⏤ Failure to make payments may result in the loss of your spot on the workshop.

⏤ Deposits are non-refundable.

⏤ Any cancellations made before April 1st, 2025 will incur a 25% cancellation fee of the trip cost. Any cancellations made between April 1st and June 1st, 2025 will incur a 50% cancellation fee of the trip cost. Any cancellations from June 1st, 2025 are non-refundable.

⏤ In the event that the trip is cancelled by the operator due to unforeseen events or circumstances, full refunds will be given or the trip will be rescheduled.

⏤ Travel insurance is required to cover personal flight/trip cancellations, trip interruptions, illnesses and circumstances beyond our control (e.g. climate events, natural disasters, epidemics, etc.)