A 10 day safari in Kenya designed especially for photographers at all levels, staying 9 days in Kenya’s finest wildlife areas, the Laikipia and Maasai Mara ecosystems, and escorted by well-known wildlife photographer Alison Mees
The safari spends time in two exclusive wildlife conservancies: Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laipia and Olare Motorogi Conservancy in the Mara with the opportunity to visit the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, and includes a night in Nairobi on arrival. This safari offers a great opportunity to view and photograph Africa’s iconic animals – including Elephants, Lions, Cheetahs, Leopards and Giraffes – and has been designed especially for photographers or people who just enjoy taking photographs and would like to improve their technique.
Lion Cubs by Alison Mees
Accommodation on safari is at Porini Rhino Camp and Porini Lion Camp/Porini Cheetah Camp, which are small and authentic safari bush camps with no more than 10 guest tents so that you will have just a few other like-minded people as company. Here you will escape from the crowds and experience the African wilderness without the presence of other tourist vehicles and with the personal attention of your photographer escort.
Transport between the conservancies is by scheduled flights to avoid a long road journey and to give more time to viewing the wildlife. From the camps, game drives are taken in exclusive open-sided 4×4 safari vehicles with experienced safari driver-guides.
Alison Mees is a wildlife expert a conservationist & qualified guide. Alison is an award winning photographer and has been awarded the The Royal Photographic Society Awarded ARPS Follow me for stunning images. Alison was born in the UK, and from an early age had a passion for wildlife and photography. She had a strong desire to be in Africa from a child.
Alison has been living and working in Africa for over 18 years, she started in South Luangwa, Zambia working on camp reservations and marketing, hosting guests at the camp. She was given the chance to follow her passion in wildlife photography, being out in the bush as much as she could. Alison’s dream came true when she became a qualified driving guide in South Luangwa. Alison & her husband them moved to East Africa managing safari camps in Serengeti & Mara North Conservancy. During this time getting involved with local community projects and working with cheetah researchers. Since the pandemic Alison has become a volunteer with Cheetah Conservation Fund UK, working with them to fundraise and run awareness workshops and talks.
Her passion for the wildlife, conservation and photography just continue to grow, and Alison wants to share that with you on her safari trips.
Alison gained her ARPS on 16th September 2021.
More information about the safari
The safari visits the Ol Pejeta Conservancy: Ol Pejeta Conservancy is a 364sq km wildlife conservancy situated between the foothills of Mount Kenya and the Aberdares and its game-to-area ratio tops the Kenyan park and reserve league. The Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya has over 10000 large mammals and it is the only park where the big 5 and chimpanzees can be seen. It is also where the fastest growing population of rhino in Africa can be found. There are southern white rhino, about 80 endangered black rhino and in a special sanctuary there are two of the world’s last remaining northern white rhino.
The Mara Conservancies have the highest density of free-roaming lions in Africa, as well as leopards, cheetahs, elephants and much more. The pristine, natural environment attracts many species and provides the ideal location for viewing Africa’s iconic wildlife.
The conservancies are formed from community lands, ensuring the locals benefit from tourism from the lease of their land and the opportunities that arise from setting up the conservancies and the small camps therein. The conservancies comprise of pristine wilderness with open savannah plains, riverine forest, springs, streams and rivers, rolling hills and spectacular views.
Population density is controlled; Conservancies allow for a maximum of 1 vehicle per 1,400 acres, which offers the opportunity to view and photograph the wildlife in peace and without masses of other vehicles.
From the camps, you will be taken on day and night game drives in custom-built, open-sided 4×4 safari vehicles with a driver-guide and a spotter, allow for maximum visual coverage. They are 3 tier and are spacious and comfortable, with access to an open window for each photographer.
Safari Highlights
- Small group for the safari, with each person guaranteed a “window” seat in the open-sided 4×4 safari vehicle
- Off-road driving advantages get you closer to the wildlife and away from crowds
- Game drives in the Mara Conservancies and the Masai Mara National Reserve
- Sundowners at scenic spots where you can try to capture those postcard perfect African sunsets
Alison Mees Photographic Safaris
Day 1 – Arrival into Kenya
Met on arrival at Nairobi International Airport by a Gamewatchers Safaris Representative, who will welcome you to Kenya and transfer you to The Eka Hotel, for 1 night on Bed & Breakfast. Alison will be waiting at Eka Hotel for your arrival and share the plan for the next day to the Mara
Day 2,3 & 4 – Photographic Safari
Transfer from The Eka Hotel to Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, and check-in for your scheduled flight to Laikipia departing 10h20 arriving 11h20. You will be met at the Kamok/Nanyuki airstrip by your Porini Rhio Camp driver and transferred to your new home in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy where you will stay for the next four nights.
Whilst at Camp you will get some tips from Alison on photography, enjoy lunch and afternoon tea in camp and then in the afternoon, take an afternoon & evening game drive including sundowner returning to camp for dinner and overnight .
During your stay here, you will wake up at dawn for an early game drive in the conservancy, returning to camp for a late breakfast, or some days enjoying close photography of the wildlife from the photographic hide at camp, you also have the option of taking escorted nature walks in the conservancy, picnics and photographing the Rhino close up within Ol pejeta’s endangered species enclosure, night game drives as you head back to camp offers a chance to see the nocturnal animals.
Day 5,6,7 & 8 – Photographic Safari
On day 5, you will enjoy a final early wildlife & photography drive in the Ol pejeta Conservancy at at approximately 09h05 depart from Kamok airstrip for the worl famous Maasai Mara. Touch down at Olare Motorogi airstrip at about 11h00 and be transferred to Porini Lion Camp, which will be your base for the next 4 nights. Game drives and walks will be taken in the Conservancy & Masai Mara Reserve to photograph the wildlife, with Alison Mees. Night game drives will also be taken. *Optional Balloon Safari for a chance to take some stunning aerial shots of the Mara Eco-system.
Day 9- Depart
Final early morning game drive followed by breakfast at camp and then transfer to the airstrip to fly back on the 11h00 flight to Wilson Airport in Nairobi, arriving at around 12h20. Met on arrival and transfer to the international Airport or Nairobi Hotel, depending on your onward connection.
Fully Inclusive of:
- Small group for the safari, with each person guaranteed a “window” seat in the open-sided 4×4 safari vehicle under the tutelage of Alison Mees.
- Sundowners at scenic spots where you can try to capture those postcard perfect African sunsets
- Game drives in the Ol pejetai Conservancy, Olare Motorogi conservancy and the Masai Mara National Reserve
- The tourist density ratio in the conservancies allows Off-road driving advantages get you closer to the wildlife and away from crowds
- The prices include scheduled domestic flights from Nairobi to Laikipia to the Mara and back to Nairobi.
Luggage allowance is 15kg per person, additional allowance of up to 75kg per person can arranged at a supplement.
- Accommodation at Porini Rhino Camp and Porini Lion Camp – small eco camps located in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy and Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
- Safari is fully inclusive of all meals, selected drinks, day & night game drives in custom-built 4×4 safari vehicles with expert guides, bush picnics and sundowners, conservancy and Mara park fees and all taxes.
- A visit to the Masai Village in the Mara
SCHEDULED DEPARTURE DATES 2024 * Based on itinerary above, 4 nights at each location*.
- 24th Jan – 1st Feb 2024 : $6855 per person sharing package.
- This departure visits Porini Cheetah Camp in the Mara instead of Porini Lion Camp.
- 1st Feb – 9th Feb 2024 : $6305 per person sharing package.
- This departure stays exclusively in the Mara with four nights at Porini Cheetah Camp in Ol Kinyei Conservancy and four nights at Porini Lion Camp. This tour has game drives in Ol Kinyei Conservancy, Naboisho Conservancy, Olare Motorogi Conservancy and the Maasai Mara reserve
- $9120 per person sharing package for a NEW itinerary visiting Amboseli, Ol Pejeta & Mara, dates as below.
9th Feb – EKA hotel, 10th to 12th Feb – Porini Amboseli Camp, 13th to 16th Feb – Porini Rhino Camp and 17th -20th Feb at Porini Cheetah Camp.
- 14th Jun – 22nd Jun 2024 : $7030 per person sharing package.
- 23rd Jun – 1st July 2024 : $7030 per person sharing package.
- 25th Oct – 2nd Nov 2024 : $7210 per person sharing package.
- 2nd Nov – 10th Nov 2024 : $6415 per person sharing package.
- This departure stays exclusively in the Mara with four nights at Porini Cheetah Camp in Ol Kinyei Conservancy and four nights at Porini Lion Camp. This tour has game drives in Ol Kinyei Conservancy, Naboisho Conservancy, Olare Motorogi Conservancy and the Maasai Mara reserve
Photographers of all levels welcome, also non-photographers who love sitting and watching wildlife are also welcome on any of the trips
