This specialized overnight hide photographic safari is led by two photo hosts, myself and my husband Mark Fernley. With a group size of just six photography guests, the group will be divided in two, making the guest to guide ratio 3:1. Each group will have the opportunity to alternate between staying overnight in two photographic hides each night! But the hide is not the only highlight of the area. The Shompole Conservancy is thriving with wildlife and our game drives will provide incredible photo opportunities as well.
Whether it is a trip to photograph the Flamingos of Lake Magadi, game drives or walks in the conservancy, or mornings and nights at the hide, this photo safari is nothing short of incredible. Each day, your photo hosts will provide editing sessions, where the group comes together to learn post processing skills that will allow each guest to return home with a professional level portfolio to share with the world.
AUGUST 6 - 12, 2025
7 days / 6 nights
(FULLY BOOKED)
Price: $5,550 USD per person sharing
Single Supplement Fee: $700 USD
Tour Highlights
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Spend five nights in the specialised photography overnight hide where predators lurk in the dark. With spotlights on the waterhole, your camera is in for some great shots!
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Visit Lake Magadi where Flamingos and other water birds blanket the pink soda lake offering bird photographers a morning in paradise. Guests can also participate in a helicopter flight over the lake to get a birds-eye-view for an extra fee
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The area is full of predators including Lion and Leopard that frequently visit the waterhole at the photo hide, both day and night. Cheetahs have also been spotted coming to this waterhole
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There has been recent sightings of at least five individual Striped Hyena (one of the rarest hyena species), making this an exciting area to spend a night on safari or in the photo hide
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This is an all-inclusive photographic safari where each luxurious tent provides guests with a private veranda overlooking the riverbed. Spend the day out on safari, and return to relax with great views
Your Photo Hosts
Jaren A Fernley
Professional Wildlife Photographer
Mark A Fernley
Professional Wildlife Photographer
This photo safari is led by myself and my husband, Mark A Fernley. The two of us have been traveling Africa for years in search of the best wildlife photography destinations, and we are happy to share the wonderful continent with our guests. With both of us by your side, we offer our professional assistance throughout the safari.
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Our job is to help you obtain those once-in-a-lifetime, award-winning photographs that you see online or in magazines. From helping you get the shot while out on safari, to post processing and editing techniques back at the lodge, we are here for you.
Equipment to Bring
CAMERA BODY:​
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Guests are encouraged to bring a camera body with a minimum of 24-megapixels to guarantee the best results while on safari. A MIRRORLESS CAMERA is necessary for this photo safari, as the shutter and mechanics are much quieter (very important for nights at the hide).
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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:​
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A telephoto lens with a reach of at least 300 mm for predators that come during the night.​
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​This can be a fixed/prime lens or a zoom lens
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If you intend to bring a fixed/prime lens of 300 mm or more, you will also need a closer range lens
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​A 70 - 200 mm or similar is a great option, as this will allow you to get shots of wildlife that comes closer to the vehicle
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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
SHOMPOLE WILDERNESS: All six tents are set within the thick cordia bushes; two with river view, two looking out over the plains and two with a treehouse feel. They are all hidden from each other and totally private with large verandas. They have large netted windows all the way round to allow a good air flow through the tent.
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The bathrooms are all en-suite with flush loos and hot and cold running water for showers. The tents are situated on raised platforms and surrounded by vegetation which gives one the feeling of being in a tree house as well as providing shade to keep the tents cool. The camp has been designed to keep a traditional feeling of being in the bush while maintaining a comfortable, homely feel.
The coolness of the river brings lots of birds, monkeys and other animals to the river to drink while you watch from your veranda.
Daily Itinerary
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.
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 with the others in the group.
