The Ultimate Maasai Mara

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHIC SAFARI

AUGUST 23 - 30, 2025

price from $9,350 USD

This photo safari based in the Masai Mara National Reserve is dedicated to photographing predators of the area. With our lodge situated in the heart of it all, guests can expect a safari experience full of big cats and your favourite African wildlife.

The group will fly into the Masai Mara via chartered flight to get us into the action as quick and conveniently as possible. Upon arrival in the Masai Mara, guests will be guided by myself and a local tracker/guide, ensuring you are in the hands of the experts. Each morning and afternoon game drive will provide an exciting new experience. With the famous Marsh Pride Lions living just outside of the lodge, lion sightings are a daily occurrence. Other big cats can also be found roaming the plains of the area.

During this trip, guests will also have the chance to go towards the Mara River, where the Wildebeests that make up the Great Migration will be risking their lives as they make that incredible leap of faith into the crocodile infested waters of the Mara.

Small Group Photo Safari

4 photo guests maximum

We keep our numbers low for many reasons, taking into consideration the wellbeing of our guests, but also the delicate wildlife we are immersed with on this tour.

FOR OUR GUESTS: We are proud to offer our guests a group tour with the luxury of exclusivity. By keeping our group sizes small, you will have more opportunities to work one-on-one with your professional photo guide. Keeping the group small allows for guests to enjoy a more personal experience, perfect for any skill level photographer.

FOR THE WILDLIFE: Small groups promote a healthier environment for the wildlife we have the privelage to visit on safari. We understand that we are entering their habitat and we would like to ensure that we do not influence their behaviours in any way. We are here to observe their natural behaviours and habitat without making an impact that will change their natural way of life.

Fitness Level

moderate / not physically demanding

This tour does not require guests to be physically fit, as there is no strenuous activities planned.

With that being said, all safaris will be game drives that last between 3 to 4 hours long and on gravel or dirt roads that are not as smooth as a tarmac road. Our expert drivers do their best to make the game drives and transfers as smooth and comfortable as possible for guests, but roads can be bumpy at some stages, especially when going off-road where aloud.

Early mornings and long safari drives can be quite tiring, but the adrenaline and excitement usually keeps guests going. If you are ever feeling too tired to join a game drive, there is plenty of wildlife that can be seen and photographed around the camp.

AUGUST 23 - 30, 2025

8 days / 7 nights

$9,350 USD per person shared accommodation

+ $1,200 USD single supplement fee

$9,990 USD per person shared accommodation

$1,400 USD single supplement fee

Price Includes

Airport pick-up/drop off (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO)

Domestic chartered flight (round trip Wilson Airport to Musiara)

All accommodation

All transportation to airstrips/airports

All game drives

All meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner each day)

All beverages (non-alcoholic and local beers, wines and spirits)

All national park entry fees

All photographic guidance / tutorials

one-on-one photo critiques (optional)

Pre-Tour meeting with your photography guide

Price Excludes

International flights

Personal Travel Insurance (required for all guests)

Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra activities, etc.)

Activities not listed in itinerary

Premium alcoholic beverages

Gratuities/tips for guides and staff

Tour Highlights

This all-inclusive photo safari is lead by a professional wildlife photographer, offering my expertise throughout the tour to help guests obtain incredible photographs

Enjoy wildlife sightings without even leaving the lodge. With Elephants and Giraffe commonly walking through, Hippos in the Mara River below, and monkeys making their way around the lodge, there is always photo opportunities, even during the off times.

Photography the famous Marsh Pride Lions on a daily basis, as this large pride's territory is just minutes away from camp. The Paradise Pride Lions can also be found not too far from the camp as well.

Other than lions, there is also a great chance of photographing other predators in the area including cheetahs and leopards and even the scavengers that follow such as the hyenas and jackals.

This all-inclusive photo safari is offers guests one of the most incredible locations in the Mara, providing an exclusive feel while out on safari.

Your Photo Host

Jaren A Fernley

Wildlife Photographer

ENQUIRE NOW

Equipment to Bring

CAMERA BODY:

Guests are encouraged to bring a camera body with a minimum of 24-megapixels to guarantee the best results while on safari. This can be mirrorless or a DSLR, as myself and Mark are experienced with both and will be able to offer assistance whenever need be.

A second camera body is always a great consideration, however, this is not mandatory. This can be used as a backup, or you can keep a second lens attached and switch back and forth between cameras.

LENSES:

A telephoto lens with a reach of at least 500 mm
- This can be a fixed/prime lens or a zoom lens

If you intend to bring a fixed/prime lens of 500 mm or more, you will also need a closer range lens
- A 100 - 400 mm or similar is a great option, as this will allow you to get shots of wildlife that comes closer to the vehicle

If you are interested in taking landscape photographs during the trip, we recommend a wide angle lens that ranges anywhere between 12 mm - 105 mm. This can be used for landscapes, astro-photography, close range wildlife, and congregations of wildlife.

Accommodation

GOVERNOR'S CAMP - MASAI MARA: Governors’ Camp possibly occupies the best wildlife viewing location in the Reserve, nestled in the riverine forest along the winding banks of the Mara River, its waters teeming with bird-life, hippo and crocodile.

The entire camp is under canvas with all of the comforts of a luxury hotel. Some of the 25 tents line the riverbank, tucked into the forest they enjoy uninterrupted views over the Mara River, others have views across the sweeping plains of the Masai Mara.

The tents are big, bright and allow in lots of natural light. All tents are classic safari style each with en-suite bathrooms and a private veranda. There is a bar tent with a deck overlooking the Mara River and a dining tent with amazing views over the plains.

Governors’ Camp has been awarded a GOLD Eco Rating from Eco – Tourism Kenya due to our sustainable tourism practices in camp.

Daily Itinerary

DAYS 3 & 4

2 SAFARI OUTINGS PER DAY

Mornings at Governor’s Camp start with coffee and tea being brought to your tent at your requested wake up time. As wildlife is active in the early mornings, we will head out for our first safari of the day as the sun is starting to rise. The group will then be taken on a morning photo safari into the plains of the Masai Mara. After a few hours of safari, we will stop to have breakfast in the bush, before continuing on until we return to the lodge for lunch.

Each drive on safari is different and you never know what will come into frame while out in the open plains of the Masai Mara. From Lions, Hyenas, Thompson’s Gazelle, Buffalo, Zebra, thousands of Wildebeests, and much more, the reserve is thriving with wildlife to photograph.

We will return for lunch each day followed by a short photographic tutorial and/or critique. After a short break, we will venture out for a second photo safari of the day in search of photographing more of the famous great migration and other unique Kenyan wildlife.

Each evening, we will return to the tented camp where we will have dinner overlooking the Mara. After, guests can relax in the camp or around the fire and under the stars with a refreshing drink to end the night, where the sounds of the nocturnal wildlife call all throughout the night such as the quirky Spotted Hyena.

DAY 5

FULL DAY SAFARI OUTING

This day will be a full day safari, where we will spend the majority of the day surrounded by the wildebeests and zebra that have made their way from the Serengeti and into the Mara Triangle. We will patrol the Mara River, checking the known river crossing locations to see if there is a potential river crossing about to take place. If so, we wait; patiently.

River Crossings are the most iconic part of seeing the Great Migration in person and we hope to be able to give you the incredible experience of witnessing this. Photos of Wildebeests taking the leap of faith into the Mara River is what photographers aim for when they visit the Mara Triangle in the month of August.

We will have a packed breakfast and packed lunch on this full day safaris and return back to the lodge around 4 pm. This gives our photo guests plenty of time to sit down together to edit photographs with the help of your photo hosts.

This is a great opportunity to have a one-one-one editing session, critique, or tutorial session with one of your photo hosts.

Dinner will be served in the evening and guests can relax by the fire, enjoy some beverages, or have an early night back in their room.

DAY 2

FLY INTO MASAI MARA

After an early breakfast, the group will head to Wilson Airport, where we will take a domestic flight into the Mara region to start our safari. This chartered flight will bring you spectacular views the great plains of Kenya. As we land on the secluded runway in the open plains, our transfer vehicle and local expert will be awaiting our arrival with a very warm welcome.

The group will take a short drive through the Masai Mara National Reserve to arrive at Governor’s Camp. Spotting wildlife along the way is very possible so camera will be out and ready during this transfer to the camp.

On arrival our friendly staff will give you a briefing of the lodge and get you settled into your rooms. Lunch will be served in the open grasslands of the lodge, followed by an introduction to the photography ahead.

We will later leave on a remarkable afternoon photo safari. This first trip will take you through the open plains of the Masai Mara in search of wildlife in the area. We will return for dinner overlooking the reserve, followed by some relaxing free time to enjoy the wilderness around a camp fire.

DAY 7

2 SAFARI OUTINGS

We will head out for our first safari of the day as the sun is starting to rise. The group will then be taken on a morning photo safari into the plains of the Masai Mara. After a few hours of safari, we will stop to have breakfast in the bush, before continuing on until we return to the lodge for lunch.

DAY 1

ARRIVAL DAY

The first day is designed for all photography participants to arrive in Nairobi at their own leisure. Untamed Photo Safaris will arrange transfers from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (airport code NBO) for each photographer’s arrival.

Guests who have arrived in advance and are already in the country/area should make their way to the Crowne Plaza Airport Hotel on this day. Check in and refresh, charge camera batteries, do any necessary repacking you may need to do, or just simply enjoy yourself.

The tour will start at 6 pm on this day, where the group will meet for the first time. Myself and Mark, your Photo Hosts, will be awaiting you with welcome drinks as you go through the itinerary, ask any questions, and get to know the fellow photographers in your group.

After our briefing/meet and greet, we will move over to the restaurant for dinner. After dinner you will have the opportunity relax at the bar with the others in the group.

DAY 8

MORNING SAFARI / FLY TO NAIROBI

On this last morning in the Masai Mara, we will have breakfast at the lodge before heading out on our final game drive.

Guests also have the option to go on a hot air balloon safari on this morning. This must be booked in advance and is not included in the price of the tour. This experience includes a one hour hot air balloon ride over the Masai Mara National Reserve, spotting wildlife from above. After landing, guests are taken to a bush breakfast served with champagne. A short game drive will be included as you make your way back to the lodge.

Lunch will be served at the lodge, guests will pack their bags and we will make our way back to the airstrip, where we will take our leave back to Nairobi.

Upon arrival at our hotel in Nairobi, guests will be dropped off at the airport, or their hotel of choice.

RESERVE YOUR PLACE ON THIS TOUR

Photographs by Photo Hosts Jaren A Fernley & Mark A Fernley and Governor's Camp Collection

African Wildlife Photography

Jaren A Fernley

UNTAMED PHOTO SAFARIS

The Ultimate Maasai Mara

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHIC SAFARI

AUGUST 23 - 30, 2025

price from $9,350 USD

Tour Highlights

Accommodation

Photographs by Photo Hosts Jaren A Fernley & Mark A Fernley and Governor's Camp Collection

jarenafernley.com

contact@jarenafernley.com

+44 (0)7340093302

African Wildlife Photography

Jaren A Fernley

UNTAMED PHOTO SAFARIS