Uniquely Kenya

Night hides, helis and ellies

Great Rift Valley and Amboseli

11 Night African Wildlife Photo Safari

See Kenya’s wildlife like you’ve never seen it before, on an action-packed safari featuring dramatic nocturnal predator photography and aerial photography of a stunning soda lake and its flamboyance of flamingos. Spend six exciting days in Great Rift Valley conservancies, including three nights in overnight hides visited by lion, leopard, spotted and striped hyena, civet, caracal, serval, wildcat and more. Experience two thrilling doors-off helicopter flights over Lake Magadi, with its vividly coloured abstract landscapes and myriad flamingos. Plus enjoy four days of classic elephant photography in Amboseli national park, against the dramatic backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The Great Rift Valley conservancies of Shompole and Olkirimatian are fast developing international reputations for their nocturnal photographic hides and we’ll have exclusive use of both lodges and hides. October is prime time for nocturnal activity at these hides (as well as plenty of action in the daytime), and while nothing is ever guaranteed with wildlife, we’ve an excellent chance of capturing shots of a range of shy, rarely-seen species. Aerial photography by helicopter over Lake Magadi is a unique experience, and with two one-hour flights per guest at different times of day, we can anticipate some wonderful images. We’ll also drive out to Lake Magadi for backlit shots of the flamingos against the African sunrise. And we’ll have the opportunity for some cultural photography of the local Masai, whose way of life has been little altered by tourism, spending time photographing herdsman as they bring their cattle back to the boma in late afternoon – think long-horned cattle in backlit golden dust.

There will also be ample time for some classic game drive photography, with four nights at Amboseli national park, world-renowned for its large herds of elephant and considered by many photographers to be one of the best places in the world to photograph these charismatic animals. The snow-capped peak of distant Mount Kilimanjaro provides the perfect backdrop. We’ll be using customised photo vehicles driven by expert local guides, with only three photographers in each, meaning you’re guaranteed access to both sides of the vehicle. We’ve chosen accommodation in the heart of the park, offering immediate access to photography, so no time wasted travelling back and forth.

Photographic highlights

Overnight hides for nocturnal predators

Doors-off helicopter flights over Lake Magadi

Amboseli’s famous elephants

Flamingos from land and air

Dates in 2024 and 2025

2024 October 13 – 24 (full)

2025 October 13 – 24 (full)

Competitively priced

2024 US$12,450 sharing. Single supplement US$500

2025 US$14,150. Single supplement US$500

Kenya night and day - Essential information

Highlights

Two nights in Shompole conservancy, including an overnight hide session
Four nights in Olkirimatian conservancy, including two overnight hide sessions
Opportunity for backlit nocturnal shots
Two doors-off helicopter flights (approx one hour each) over Lake Magadi
Aerial photography of soda lake and flamingos

Four nights in Amboseli national park
Superb elephant photography
Iconic views of elephants with Mount Kilimanjaro as backdrop
Search for lion, cheetah, hyena and plains game
Two customised photo vehicles on Amboseli
Row of seats per photographer, access to both sides and through open roof

Cultural photography of Masai herdsmen
High quality accommodation located in the heart of the reserves
Generous luggage allowance on internal flight (20kg hold baggage plus camera gear)
Expert local guides/drivers
Maximum six guests

Cost

The cost of the 2024 Great Rift Valley/Amboseli safari is US$12,450 per person sharing. The 2025 cost is US$14,150.

Single supplements:

A limited number of single rooms are available, on a first-come, first-served basis. Single room supplement is US$500. We do not make a profit on single supplements, which are less than the cost to us. Photographers travelling singly, who are willing to share a room, will not be charged a single supplement.

Gratuities:

We understand that knowing who, when and how much to tip can be a headache, so we now include gratuities in the cost of the safari. We’ll make sure everyone deserving a tip, from photo guides to kitchen staff, receives an appropriate amount, so you don’t have to worry about it. Of course, if you wish to reward individuals with something extra for excellent service, then you are welcome to do so, but there isn’t any expectation or need that you do this.

The cost includes:

Meet and greet at Nairobi airport
One night at Tamarind Tree hotel, Nairobi, B&B
Two nights at Shompole Wilderness lodge, all meals and non-premium drinks, laundry
Four nights at Lentorre Lodge, all meals and non-premium drinks, laundry
Four nights at Amboseli Serena Lodge, all meals
Local flight (Nairobi-Wilson to Shompole) and extra luggage allowance
Two doors-off helicopter flights over Lake Magadi
All game activities, including night hides
Day room at Four Points Sheraton hotel, room only
All road transfers
All park entrance fees
Services of professional local safari guides
Services of Ann & Steve Toon photo guides
Use of dedicated 4×4 Landcruisers, three guests per vehicle in Amboseli.
Gratuities

The cost excludes:

International flights to Kenya
Visa fees
Items of a personal nature
Laundry at Nairobi hotels and Amboseli
Drinks at Nairobi hotels and Amboseli
Meals not specified above (i.e. dinner on first night arrival if required)
Travel insurance

Giving back

To see how your booking helps engage disadvantaged young people in South Africa with wildlife and conservation, visit our Giving Back page.

Accommodation

Our safaris aim to place you in the best places, at the best times, for the best photographic opportunities, but that doesn’t mean we have to rough it. We’ve chosen accommodation that is very comfortable, with excellent food and great beds.

On arrival in Nairobi you will be met at the airport and transferred to the Tamarind Tree hotel, which is very convenient for our next morning flight from Wilson airport to Shompole. It’s a modern hotel with very comfortable rooms and excellent security.

At Shompole Wilderness camp we’ll be staying for two nights in luxury tents, set on raised platforms within shady natural bush. The tents are very private, with large verandas, large netted windows to allow a good air flow, en-suite bathrooms with flush toilets and hot and cold running water for showers.

We’ll drive the short distance from Shompole to Lentorre for another four nights, where we’ll be staying in our own luxurious private villas, complete with individual plunge pools and power showers. At Lentorre the photographic hide is set within the (unfenced) camp, and you can wander down at any time during the day to see what’s drinking.

Our final four nights will be spent at Amboseli Serena lodge in the heart of the national park. This is a hotel-style lodge, offering comfortable rooms, great views over a floodlit waterhole that attracts plentiful game, and excellent access to the park.

From Amboseli we’ll drive back to Nairobi and transfer you to the Four Points Sheraton, where you’ll have a day room where you can rest, shower and pack. There’s a free transfer to the nearby Jomo Kenyatta International airport when it’s time for your flight.

Location

Shompole and Olkirimatian are neighbouring conservancies at the southern end of the Kenyan stretch of the Great Rift Valley, south west of Nairobi and not far north of the border with Tanzania. This is an unspoilt area of Kenya, where the local Masai communities have been relatively untouched by tourism and maintain their heritage and traditional lifestyle alongside the wildlife.

Amboseli is a small but spectacular reserve in the south-east of Kenya. It enjoys iconic views, weather permitting, of Mount Kilimanjaro, over the border in Tanzania. While the reserve itself is only 392 square kilometres in size, it is part of a much larger, 8,000 square kilometre open system that straddles the border.

Getting there

The safari begins and ends at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. International flights are not included in the safari cost.

Most international long-haul flights arrive and depart in the evening. British Airways, Air France, KLM, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa, and, of course, Kenya Airways, are among airlines servicing Nairobi. Check hand baggage allowances and stopover times when shopping around.

On arrival at Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Airport on October 13 you will be met and transferred to the Tamarind Tree hotel, where we will greet you. Dinner at the hotel is not included in the safari cost, as most guests will arrive too late and will have eaten on the plane. On our final day, October 24, we will drive back to Nairobi from Amboseli, and you will have use of a day room in the Four Points Sheraton, before being transferred to the airport for your evening flight home.

Itinerary

Day one: Guests arriving at Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta airport will be met and transferred to the Tamarind Tree hotel.
Day two: After an early breakfast we’ll transfer to nearby Wilson airport, for the short flight to Shompole conservancy. We’ll have two nights at Shompole Wilderness lodge, including a night in the overnight hide (three guests each night).
Day four: After a morning activity we’ll be driven the short distance to Lentorre lodge, for our next four nights. Here we’ll have two overnight hide sessions per guest (three guests per night), and it will be our base for the helicopter flights over Lake Magadi, sunrise flamingo photography, photographing Masai herdsman and more.

Day eight: After our final morning activity at Lentorre we’ll be driven to Amboseli national park, in time for an evening game drive. For the next four nights we’ll have afternoon and morning game drives in our specialist photographic vehicles, driven by our two highly experienced local photo guides.
Day twelve: After a final short morning game drive we’ll drive back to Nairobi and the Four Points Sheraton. Here you will have use of a day room until it’s time to be transferred to the airport on the complimentary shuttle bus, in time for your flight home.

Equipment

As with most forms of wildlife, a long lens helps enormously, and we’d recommend a minimum of 400mm full frame equivalent. A long zoom, such as 100-400, 100-500mm or 150-600mm would be a good choice. If you have a 500mm or 600mm prime, it’s worth bringing for Amboseli, but not essential.

We’d also recommend a short zoom for animals in the wider landscape: we find a 24-105mm is a versatile option. If your long lens is a fixed length prime (like a 500mm), then a medium zoom, such as a 70-200mm, would be an ideal third lens. We also use 1.4x teleconverters for extra reach.

For aerial photography from the helicopter, and for the night hides, a short zoom, such as the 24-105mm or 24-70mm is perfect. A 70-200mm is also useful. Longer lenses are difficult to use on the helicopter, as the vibrations make camera shake an issue.

If you have a second camera body, and can fit it in your hand baggage, then bring it. Not only is this good insurance if your main body packs up, but it’s a lot quicker to respond to opportunities if you have a second body with shorter lens attached.

The photo vehicles are well designed for photography with all lengths of lens, and beanbags and panning plates are provided. Tripods are not really suited to use on photo vehicles, but if you wish to bring one for use in camp, you are welcome to do so.

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