OVERVIEW

This Dream Safari, led by wildlife photographers Yaron Schmid and Amy Montminy, focuses on Kenya’s most magical wildlife opportunities:

• Track melanistic leopards and wild dogs in Laikipia!

• Enjoy intimate encounters with big cats galore in Masai Mara!

• Witness the calving season for topi and other antelopes, plus the Big Cat predators who follow them, in this stunning Circle of Life!

We’ve carefully curated luxury lodges and camps set in the hearts of the reserves and conservancies to guarantee you the very best and most intimate wildlife experiences.

And while we love big cats, the real goal is capturing interactions, between animals and their environments, in amazing light. Our guests have been lucky to witness animals giving birth, mothers and their newborn cubs, honeymoons, hunts, and gorgeous sunrises and sunsets. You’ll explore photographing from different angles, and — if conditions permit — we’ll even get you shooting from the ground.

When you’re not shooting, you will receive personalized instruction in how to make the most of your images, including Lightroom and Photoshop Instruction, social media tips, how to anticipate animal behavior, and more!

This safari is limited to 6 photographers spread into (2) 7-passenger land cruisers so each photographer has their own row. Nature-loving spouses/friends who love wildlife and have patience to wait for exciting moments to unfold may join, provided they share a row with the photographer. Maximum capacity is 8 guests.

JOIN US FOR ALL OR PART OF THIS AMAZING ADVENTURE!

PART 1: PRE-EXTENSION

DAY 1: ARRIVE NAIROBI
Arrive Jomo Kenyatta International Airport where you’ll be greeted by your guide and escorted to your hotel for your overnight stay. You may choose to arrive the night before or in the morning to experience Nairobi. (Supplemental charges apply for extra night and activities.)

DAYS 2, 3, 4: LAIKIPIA
Spend three nights deep in the heart of Laikipia tracking melanistic leopards and wild dogs. Laikipia is home to one of the highest diversity of mammals in Africa. It is not a national park, but a series of private conservancies and ranches, and these are largely unfenced. The whole area spans nearly a million acres of beautiful and very unique landscapes. It is also home to threatened species of mammals including the Grevy’s zebra, Reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, striped hyena, aardwolf, wild dog, and even melanistic leopard. You may also see elephants, lions, leopards, spotted hyena, hippos, buffalo, antelope, and over 350 different species of birds.

PART 2: MAIN SAFARI

DAYS 5, 6, 7: MASAI MARA
Famed for its large population of black-maned Masai lions, African leopards and Tanzanian cheetahs, Masai Mara is known as “The Jewel of Kenya”. Explore Mara’s rolling hills and plains for a chance to spot big cats like The Blackrock and Topi Prides of Lions, “famous” leopards like Luluka, Jilime, Splitnose and Kazuri, and the last two cheetahs of the “The Fast Five” coalition. Plus, you’ll enjoy other animals, such as elephants in the sunrise, giraffes in the magic hour, and zebras “fighting” in the dust. We strive to fulfill your every desire to make this the trip of your lifetime!

DAYS 8 & 9: NABOISHO CONSERVANCY
With its high concentration of wildlife and low density of tourists, visitors to Naboisho enjoy exceptionally intimate wildlife encounters – day and night. The Conservancy is home to an impressive number of big cats — including the largest lion pride in Mara.

DAYS 10 & 11: OLARE MOTOROGI CONSERVANCY
Olare Motorogi is an area of extreme beauty with an abundance of leopards, including Figlet, Furaha and Faulu — daughters of famous Fig — as well as Tito and her daughter Akira! It provides amazing opportunities to photograph giraffes, topi and other animals in the sunrise, and you may even be lucky to witness a birth!

Why do we love the conservancies?
1. They’re GORGEOUS!
2. They’re private, with only a few boutique camps.
3. They often have higher concentrations of wildlife than the National Parks.
4. Driving off-road is often permitted, allowing for more intimate sightings/photography.
5. The number of cars at animal sightings are limited to 4 or 5 to protect the animals, so there are no “mob scenes” as you may see in the parks.
6. Exciting night game drives and walking safaris offer a fantastic compliment to your safari!
7. But the most important reason to visit a conservancy is……
It’s a magnificent and powerful way to support Kenya’s people and animals!

Prior to the creation of conservancies, animals outside the protected areas of the parks suffered serious decline due to human-wildlife conflict. Now, since landowners collect income from the conservancy fees and lodges, they no longer think of wildlife as a nuisance or a threat to their livestock, but something valuable that needs to be conserved and protected. As a result, the animals’ populations in these areas are starting to thrive again. And because conservancies also support schools and hospitals, the communities are thriving too!

DAY 12: DEPART

COST:

COST VARIES PER NUMBER OF GUESTS AND LENGTH OF STAY.
PLEASE CONTACT US FOR INDIVIDUAL PRICING.