The Great Migration and Epic East Africa: Kenya
Many have heard it said that “Africa is magic”. We are here to show you just how true this is and we will start by introducing you to Kenya - a country filled with a beautiful diversification of landscapes, wildlife, plant life and fascinating cultures. For the next two weeks, you will embark on a safari, a Swahili word meaning “long journey” and that is what we will be on from the moment we set foot on this continent. This will be an African safari at its best; with an abundance of wildlife, intense action and loads of excitement. We will visit villages that will envelop us in tribal culture and colors. During a full day in Nairobi we will spend time with baby elephants that have been orphaned as a result of ivory poaching. You will learn about elephant conservation, the dedication of a team of passionate people, and what it takes to help an orphaned calf thrive after suffering such physical hardship and loss. You won’t be able to help but to fall in love with these large babies after having spent time with them. You will gain a new understanding of the intelligence, awareness, the sensitivity and the emotional fragility behind their large intelligent eyes. Our safari starts by taking us to Amboseli National Park, one of the best places in Africa to see large herds of wild elephants. The largest tuskers in the world, known as "the Super Tuskers" live here in front of Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro. Craig, currently the largest and oldest of the "super tuskers" is featured in one of the images above. We hope to find him - if he is still amongst us in 2026! We will also hope for clear skies to see snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world.
After spending two days with the super tuskers of Amboseli, we will fly north to Samburu, home of the traditional Samburu tribe. We will spend time in the Samburu National Reserve near the Koitogor and Ololokwe mountains. The Ewaso Ng’iro river (meaning “brown water”) runs through Samburu and our lodge lies right on the river where large herds of elephants, giraffe, zebra come throughout the day to drink. Here we will find several species of animals endemic only to the dry and arid northern climate of Samburu including gerenuk, Grevy’s zebra and reticulated giraffe. All three big cats are found in Samburu including over 350 species of birds. We will enjoy an unforgettable afternoon and evening with the Samburu people experiencing their traditions in full color.
Finally we will fly to the Maasai Mara where we will witness one of the greatest spectacles on this planet - the Great Migration. Nearly two million wildebeest and zebras cross the plains of the Serengeti to the Maasai Mara and it is here where we will make our home in a perfectly situated camp for the next four nights. To experience the power, the sights and sounds of this epic herd thundering across the plains is like nothing else in the world. Lying in our tent at night listening to lions calling and hippos splashing in the river below our tents, reminds us that we are in the wilds of the African bush. We will visit a traditional Maasai Village, shop for beautiful handmade beadwork, and learn about the traditions of this nomadic tribe. Your group will experience the magic that this wild continent stirs within each of us.
Coming to Africa reminds us of what it is to be a part of a greater world - a world where being wild is to be free. Thiis where we were born and to come to Africa, is to come 'home'. Africa is magic and you will be changed forever.
Please read the REVIEWS of our previous Kenya expeditions!
Duration
12 DaysGroup Size
8Price
$17,190.00 – $20,100.00
Letters correspond to points on the map in the map tab.
Day 1: July 31
Arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International airport in Nairobi and transfer to your hotel; dinner is on your own as this is a travel day.Overnight at Giraffe ManorNo meals included on this day as it is considered as a travel dayDay 2: August 01
Full day in Nairobi
At 0800 hrs, depart for the 0900 hrs Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Private Visit. Thereafter depart for Karen Blixen Museum visit (1 Hour should be enough); Lunch at the Talisman Restaurant and last-minute shopping thereafter; Rest of the afternoon at leisure / shopping
Overnight at Giraffe Manor (B,L,D)
Day 2: August 01
Day 3: August 02
Drive to Amboseli National Park
After breakfast, we will depart for Amboseli National Park. The 4 hour drive will give us the opportunity to experience the lush landscape of Kenya. We will have stops where we can do some shopping along the way. We will arrive at our lodge in time for lunch. After lunch and some leisure time, we will have our first game drive to look for wildlife. This will be just the beginning of our wildlife adventure!
Overnight at Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge (B,L,D)Days 4: August 03
Amboseli National Park
We will be on our first full day on safari and our bush routine begins early in the morning. After a pre-dawn cup of coffee, we set out in search of wildlife. We leave early in the morning in hopes of seeing lions hunting in morning light. We will be looking for the famous large herds of Amboseli elephants with their massive tusks. And we will hope for clear skies so that we can see Mt. Kilimanjaro in all of her glory. After the morning game drive, we will return to our lodge for breakfast and a few hours of rest before lunch. We set off again for the bush after our afternoon tea/coffee, and return to the lodge after sunset for dinner.
Overnight Serena Safari Lodge (B,L,D)
Days 4: August 03
Day 5: August 04
Fly to Samburu National Reserve
We will have breakfast at our lodge, and depending on our flight we may have time for one last morning game drive in hopes bidding farewell to the mighty Mt. Kilimanjaro. We will then transfer to the airstrip and board our flight to Samburu. Upon arrival, we will have a short game drive en-route to our lovely camp sitting on the river in Samburu. We will arrive at our lodge in time for a delicious lunch and then have a few hours of leisure time enjoying this lovely tented camp. After our afternoon tea/coffee, we will leave for our first game drive in this beautiful game park in northern Kenya. Here we will have a chance to find leopard, cheetah and the scruffy Samburu lions (we call them the “bad-boys” of Kenya). We will return to our lodge after sunset for a lovely dinner outside overlooking the river.
The next two full days will be spent exploring Samburu where we hope to discover five rare species of animals that are endemic in the northern part of Kenya: the Somali Ostrich, Reticulated giraffe, Gerenuk, the endangered Grevy’s zebra, and the Beisa oryx. Samburu is very different to other Kenyan reserves. The landscape is unique in that it has very different vegetation than the larger open plains reserves like Amboseli and the Mara. It is a wildly beautiful, dry and arid mountainous area that depends on the Ewaso Ng’iro River. The combination of this near-permanent water and the forest shade along the banks draws lots of wildlife. We will leave daily for our game drives after our pre-dawn morning coffee. For the rest of our safari, we will take our breakfast al fresco in the bush in order to increase our chances of wildlife action and behavior during the cool mornings.Overnight Soroi Larsens Camp (B,L,D)
Days 6-7: August 05- 06
Samburu Game Reserve
We will leave the camp early morning for a morning game drive. In the afternoon we will visit a traditional Samburu village. Not only will we learn about their culture and traditions, but we will have a unique experience with the Morani warriors of this colorful people. The Samburu are known amongst other tribes as the “butterfly people” because of their colorful beadwork and tribal dress. There is no doubt that they love color and you will have complete freedom to photograph them during our visit - unlike most other tourist tribal visits. You will also have a chance to buy some of the beautiful beadwork handmade by the Samburu women. After our time with them in the village, we will have a short game drive back to our lodge where dinner awaits.
Overnight Soroi Larsens Camp (B,L,D)
Days 6-7: August 05- 06
Day 8: August 07
Fly to Maasai Mara
After our last game drive and breakfast in Samburu, we will make our way to the airstrip where we will fly to the world famous Maasai Mara Game Reserve. The camp drivers will be waiting for us at the airstrip and will transfer us to camp. As soon as we land, we will be surrounded by wildlife and the vast open plains that encompass the Mara. We will arrive in time for lunch and will have some time to become acquainted with our new home for the next five nights.
The Maasai Mara is Kenya’s finest wildlife sanctuary with abundant wildlife and gentle rolling grasslands, which ensure that animals are never out of sight. Birdlife is prolific with over 450 different species. We hope to witness and photograph the greatest spectacle in Africa - the Great Migration where roughly two million wildebeest and zebras cross the plains of the Serengeti to the Maasai Mara.
After our afternoon tea/coffee, we will leave camp on our first game drive. Exploring the Mara is seeing nature at its best.
Overnight Mara Bush Camp (B,L,D) - Inclusive of selected beverages and laundryDays 9 - 11: August 08 - 10
Maasai Mara
For the next four full days after our early morning coffee and tea, we will depart on our morning game drives. Like Samburu, we will have our breakfast al fresco each day out on the vast Mara. Here we will have good chances of seeing lions, cheetahs and maybe even leopards amongst thousands of wildebeest, zebras and other antelopes. On one afternoon, we will visit a Maasai village where we will learn about the traditions of the Maasai people. We will have complete freedom to photograph the village and the Maasai and will have a chance to buy some wonderful handmade Maasai beaded necklaces, bracelets and other traditional crafts in the village. After our game drive and return from the Maasai village, we will enjoy a cocktail around the fire and dinner in camp.
Overnight Mara Bush Camp (B,L,D) - Inclusive of selected beverages and laundry
Days 9 - 11: August 08 - 10
Day 12: August 11
Fly back to Nairobi
We will have our final early morning game drive before returning to camp for a hot breakfast at 0900 hours. After our last breakfast in the Mara, we will check out from our tents and transfer to the airstrip. We will fly from the Mara back to Nairobi and from the windows of our bush flight, we will get a glorious view of the wildness that is Africa's Maasai Mara. We will bid adieu to the herds of wildebeest, zebras and Thompson gazelles that instinctively are on the move during the greatest migration the world has seen. On our arrival, we will be picked up and transferred to Four Points by Sheraton for day room use.
Lunch and dinner on your own (B)
Thank you for joining Wild Focus Expeditions in Kenya.
We look forward to seeing you on your next Wild Focus Expedition!
Included
- Accommodations for 12 days on double-share/single room basis with private facilities.
- All land and air transfers in Kenya
- Full day disposal on day two with mentioned activities
- All game drives
- Transportation and exclusive use of custom built safari 4 x 4 Landcruiser with pop-up roof hatches and custom windows ideal for photographers
- National park fees
- Guaranteed window seat in Landcruiser
- Samburu village visit / freedom to photograph
- Maasai village visit / freedom to photograph
- All meals excluding dinner on first evening at Karen Gables and last evening at Sheraton Four Points
- Selected beverages where mentioned above
- Mineral water during game drives
- Wild Focus Expeditions Trip Leader
- Experienced English-speaking local drivers/guides
- Evacuation Insurance
- Domestic flights where mentioned above with extra freight seats to allow for excess weight for camera gear
Not Included
- International airfare to and from Nairobi
- Change of itinerary
- Visa fees
- All beverages (unless where mentioned as included)
- Change of itinerary
- Telephone calls
- Any items of personal nature such as beverages, laundry, telephone calls
- Tips / gratuities for your driver / guide and camp / lodge staff
- Travel/medical insurance
- Any extras not mentioned in the included list such as extra meals and activities
- Optional activities
- Laundry unless where mentioned as included
- Optional meals
Our Kenya and Tanzania safaris will be in permanent to semi-permanent tented camps. All of our tents are en suite, are designed to the highest standards, and are comfortable with hot showers and an adjoining toilet. All of our camps will have separate lounge and dining areas which add to the excitement and ambiance of being on safari. It should be noted, however, that there are no fences around our camps, and animals of all sizes are sometimes encountered within the camp boundaries. Please be assured that you will be safe at all times. Our Expeditions Leaders and camp staff will be there to assure your safety.
From May through August, temperatures are very comfortable. Mornings can be quite cool to cold while warming up as the day continues. Nights can be cold and midday temperatures range from 70ºF (20ºC) to 80ºF (26ºC0. Our Handbooks provide more detailed information about clothing and trip preparation.
We recommend that our travelers bring an adventurous spirit, as you will often enjoy the closest animal encounters.
Expedition Leaders
Jami Tarris
Kenya is recognized by paleontologists as the cradle of humankind - the birthplace of humanity. Its fascination lies in the richness and diversity of its natural and cultural history. Wherever you look you find wildlife wonders, majestic landscapes, excitement, adventure and colorful tribes, . It is a photographer’s and adventurer’s paradise. I fell in love with Kenya over twenty five years ago and have deeply experienced its magic and beauty during my travels from the south to the far wild north of the country. Every time I return to Kenya, I know that I am home.
Wild Focus Expeditions provides specialized, small group photography tours. Our photography expeditions are designed to get participants into distinctive, engaging locations around the world at the optimum times for photography. Our photo tours are created by our team of photographers who want to experience and photograph the world's top wildlife, nature and traditional cultures locations.
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