Kenya : The Soul of Masai Mara

The yearly migration of millions of wildebeest and zebras is a moving and spectacular sight of nature that is a dream come true for any wildlife photographer. Take a ride with us in off-road jeeps on safaris that put you within arms reach of lions, giraffes, elephants and cheetahs just to mention a few.

The welcome dance & song of the Masai tribe is a feast of sound, color and beauty. A private photography shoot will ensure everyone captures captivating photographs.

With unlimited wildlife photo opportunities this custom designed Quest will provide an abundance of stunning images and make for an incomparable experience.

• Limited to only 2- 3 photographers per vehicle in 9-passenger Land Rovers allowing for a spacious ride with open views on all sides for optimum photography
• Travel with Africa’s most knowledgeable & sharpest-eyed guides.
• Witness & photograph the yearly migration of millions of Wildebeest & Zebras crossing the Masai River
• Early morning & late afternoon Game Drive Safaris to find & photograph Africa’s big 5 and many other species.
  2 Early morning visits to the Masai Tribe’s village-Photograph the traditional dances & rituals of these extraordinary people.
• Private Mobile Camp ability to set-up where wildlife is most abundant.
• Optional early morning balloon ride over the plains & the Masai River allowing for a birds eye view of all the Mara’s inhabitants. Followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush.

Itinerary

Sep 23 – TRAVEL DAY

Sep 24 – ARRIVE IN KENYA
Arrive at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi-Met upon arrival transfer to Hotel-Overnight in Nairobi

Sep 25 – MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE
Fly across the Great Rift Valley into the heart of Kenyan big game country in the Masai Mara National Reserve. Drive to our own private classic mobile-tented camp. In true safari style we will enjoy friendly service & an old-fashioned safari atmosphere. In our mobile-tented camps we are able to situate our camp where wildlife is most likely to be present. After lunch we set out for our first official game drive. (BLD)

Sep 25 to Oct 4 – MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE

Each day features early morning & afternoon game drives in the Masai Mara. The Mara is one of the world’s most renowned locations for wildlife photography.

Established in 1961, the Masai Mara National Reserve is unparalleled as a wildlife reserve in Kenya, and ranks as one of the world’s outstanding wildlife sanctuaries. In the outer regions of the reserve the local Maasaidressed in their traditional fashion, graze their cattle alongside the plains game. In the river, hippopotamus and crocodiles bask near the shore. Herds of elephants roam across the plains, masters of this land for half a million years. A variety of colorful of birds fill the skies. Cape buffalo are here in great numbers as are Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelle, impala, topi, and Coke’s hartebeest. Giraffe, eland, bushbuck, serval and the big cats-lion, cheetah and leopard-all live permanently within the reserve. At this time of year the massive herds of zebra and wildebeest will also be present in the Masai Mara for their yearly migration crossing the Masai River. (BLD)

OPTIONAL: Early morning hot air balloon safari over the plains of the Mara, followed by a champagne breakfast in the African Bush.

Lodging

Nairobi 5* Hotel – Serena Hotel

Single supplement is not available on this trip.

Masai Mara: Our own private classic mobile-tented camp. In true safari style we will enjoy friendly service & an old-fashioned safari Atmosphere. In our mobile-tented camps we are able to situate our camp where wildlife is most likely to be present.

All the amenities of a 4* hotel including, hot showers, private bar, private chef for fine dining al with the added of intimacy of only PQA attendees.

Cost per person

$8200 Per person-Based on double occupancy from Nairobi-Kenya

Single supplement is not available at our camp

Limited to 20 participants

Terms and Conditions

Included:

• Quest workshop Fee; leader, customized portfolio reviews and classes.
• Nairobi 5* hotel upon arrival-Dayroom on departure day.
• Domestic airfare from Nairobi to Masai Mara
• All park entrance fees
• 2 visits to Masai Tribe’s Village
• Accommodations in a mobile private tented camp
• All meals at the camp (BLD)
• English speaking guides/drivers

Not included:

• Airfare to/from Nairobi
• Alcoholic Beverages
• Personal Expenses
• Gratuities
• Visa

Tom Bol

Tom Bol is an editorial and commercial photographer who specializes in adventure sports, portraits and travel photography. He shoots assignments for clients including Columbia Sportswear, Men’s Journal, National Geographic Adventure, Nikon, Sunset Magazine and the Wall Street Journal. He is represented by 6 stock agencies, and his images are used for advertising, books, billboards, brochures and posters. He loves to teach, and has taught workshops for 12 years. Tom was on the list of National Geographic Adventure’s “50 of Americas Top Visionaries” for his photography.

Quest Leader’s website: www.tombolphoto.com

Climate and Clothing

In the Masai Mara the climate is warm and dry with abundant rainfall during the rainy season. During our visit in September, the Mara is gentle and rarely too hot. All year minimum temperatures are 11ºC/52ºF and maximum temperatures are 30ºC/86ºF.

For current weather conditions visit: www.weather.com

Dress should be casual and comfortable. Breathable fabrics such as cottons are preferable. Large brim hats & UV protected sunglasses, comfortable/waterproof hiking shoes and a light jacket/windbreaker. The evenings can be cooler and you may need some warm clothing: sweatshirt, long sleeve fleece, and long pants.

Health and Medical

Anti-malarial drugs should be taken prior to arrival.

No mandatory vaccinations are required for entry to Kenya. We do recommend you have the following vaccinations for your protection: Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Hepatitis A & B, and Polio. Visit: www.cdc.gov for additional information.

It is advisable to try and avoid mosquito bites by using repellent and by wearing suitable cover-up clothes in the evening.

Food

All meals at the camp are included. We will have a private chef preparing both Ethnic and European cuisine at our camp.

Only bottled mineral water, that will be available in our safari camp, is drinkable.

Gear to Bring

We recommend you bring the following gear with you on our Quests.

Camera Gear

• Digital SLR with back up camera that will fit your lenses
• Battery charger
• A few extra batteries
• Memory cards (bring plenty!!!)
• Sensor cleaning supplies
• Flash with plenty of batteries

Lenses

• 12-24mm (for the 1.5x sensor size cameras) or 17-35mm (for full frame shooters) lens for landscapes and cityscapes; also for environmental portraits
• 28-105mm lens or similar for street shooting and portraits; a nice lens to have shooting busy markets.
• 70-200mm lens for portraits and nearby wildlife; VR or IS lenses are very helpful.
• 70-300mm or 100-400mm lens for more distant wildlife
• 1.4X tele-converter for telephoto lenses
• Polarizing filter(s)v
• Lens hoods for all lenses
• Lint-free cloth to clean lenses and blower ball for dust
• Fish-eye lens (if you have one, very creative lens!)
• Lensbaby if you have one or else you can try ours!

Computer / Digital Acessories

• Laptop with charger and Photoshop CS3 and Lightroom (not mandatory)
• Storage device, such as an EPSON P5000, or portable hard drives like Lacie hard drives
• Card Reader
• All cables for drives, computer, card readers, storage devices, etc.
• Power converters/adapters for all International Quests