Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...
This was my first photographic trip with Paul and my first trip to Kenya in over 20 years. On the whole it was an excellent holiday and I hope that I'll be back one day soon.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There are so many. Being met off the plane and taken straight to see four male lions feeding on a hippo which they'd taken down the previous night. Seeing Pink Nose, the very chilled leopard who was happy to let us take photos of him. Following a cheetah and her cubs whilst they played and stalked. We were lucky enough to see three cheetah kills. Watching the pygmy kingfishers and trying to get photos of them in flight returning to the branch. Witnessing two giraffes mating, a process which can apparently go on for days. The most memorable occasions for me though were the storms, the light just before the downpour and the amazing drives back to camp in torrential rain through mud and washed-away river crossings. Huge respect to James, Patrick and Charles for their driving skills (as well as their knowledge and animal spotting skills).
What did you think of your group leader?
This was my first trip with Paul. I read all the reviews beforehand and was a little afraid! I'd had my DSLR camera for about 6 months, didn't know how to use it and struggled to remember the relationship between F stop, shutter speed and ISO. By the end of the week, thanks to Paul, I was confidently changing the settings and getting the exposures mainly correct. I have a huge respect for someone who works as tirelessly as Paul did to ensure we got the best opportunities. His own photographs are breath-taking. Previous courses I'd done presented Photoshop as the answer to getting good photos and were run by an instructor who spent the day in a coffee shop leaving you to fend for yourself. Paul is the complete opposite and a breath of fresh air in comparison. He may shout at you for messing up an opportunity but it is in no way personal or bullying. Get over it!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The facilities at camp are excellent. Eco-friendly soap, shampoo and shower gel are provided, as is washing powder (the laundry service doesn't cover smalls). There are water flasks in the tent for you to take out on game drives. The game drives are bumpier than any high impact sport though - ladies, come prepared!
One of the other people on the trip kindly leant me an L series zoom occasionally and the improvement in photo quality is marked. Next time I would definitely hire an L series lens. I would also bring the fastest memory cards I could buy. Missing the cheetah catch her prey because your card is buffering is frustrating. I wish I'd turned my camera off and on more frequently to initiate the sensor cleaning process (despite Paul being exasperated at me for turning it off) as there are dust spots on some of my photos.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Bush Camp is lovely. Emma and Darren are the perfect hosts and make you feel at home from the minute you arrive. James, Patrick and Charles are excellent drivers with a wealth of knowledge and professionalism. The meals in camp are outstanding, especially considering the fairly simple catering facilities. Paul might not be everyone's cup of tea but I can understand why his photographic holidays book up really quickly. I hope to find a space on one of his trips in the near future. His passion for photography is contagious.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
We spent a long time observing a female cheetah (plus cubs) waiting for her to chase prey. Our patience was rewarded when she chased down a big female impala.
Seeing and photographing three different families of cheetahs and a beautiful leopard female (with no less than three cubs) were experiences well above my expectation.
What did you think of your group leader?
Unique (in my experience) in getting you to the right places to maximise photographic opportunities.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Go to see one of Paul Goldstein's slide lectures - advertised on the Exodus website.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Kicheche Bush Camp is the best safari camp I have stayed at - the staff, food and guiding are all top class.
Hazel Arnold
PHOTOGRAPHIC SAFARI
Written
Memories of 7 days/6 nights spent in Kenya will keep me going through the dark cold days of the British winter.Magical starry skies at night and the warmth of the sun by day...and of course the wildlife.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There were so may that it's difficult to pick on one. Seeing a very hungry cheetah with 2 cubs make a successful kill . Watching a beautiful lioness move her two tiny 3 week old cubs by picking them up in her mouth. Spending precious time with a leopard who had 3 cubs..and our 3 vehicles were the only ones there...on two out of two occasions!!! Serval cats , mother and kitten, giving us time in perfect morning sunshine. Giraffes aginst a dark stormy sky. Lions and buffalo "arguing" over who should remain in the area.
What did you think of your group leader?
There was nothing new. We have travelled with Paul many times before. As always, he worked very hard to ensure that we had the best experience..and we did!! There were times!!!...but then we all have those. Would we travel with him again...yes.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Make sure you take adequate sun protection. In December , early mornings are cold but the sun soon warms everything up. Drink plenty of water. Be aware that although the UK allows you to take a penknife out with blades less than 6cm, Kenya will take it off you on your return..the voice of experience!!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Don't just think of doing this trip...book it!!..and at any time of year. The accommodation is first class, the drivers/guides are amazing and the whole experience will change your life for ever..like me you will be hooked!!
Julia Kozitsyna
PHOTOGRAPHIC SAFARI
Written
This was hands down one of the best trips I have ever taken - guided or not. Paul and our three Kicheche Camp guides (James, Patrick and Charles) definitely put us through our paces - 4:30am starts, 14 hour days in the land rover and some serious miles on that road, but we were delighted. We probably managed to see more of what the Mara has to offer in that one week than most people see in a lifetime (and all in amazing, gold, sunrise/sunset light). The whole team was super dedicated to making the absolute most of every hour, and were extremely knowledgeable about the area and its animals and completely understanding of the need for just the right angle on that back-lit cheetah. Meanwhile, Kennedy, Abe and the team back at camp made sure that when we returned bruised, battered, and exhilirated, there was always a hot shower and a cold Stoney to welcome us. I cannot imagine doing the Mara in any other other way or with any other tour - as can be attested by the fact that all our most memorable sights (10 day old cheetah cubs, leopard with 3 cubs, cheetah taking down an impala) were pretty much witnessed only by our three vehicles. Truly amazing!
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
First glimple of the leopard and her cubs at 6:48am after a 4:30am wake up. We didn't think we had a particularly great shot at finding them (Paul put it at 25%) and yet somehow there they were - ready to be photographed just as a the sun came up.
What did you think of your group leader?
As everyone will tell you, Paul is quite the character and being picked to be one of the three in his car on a game drive was probably one of the more daunting aspects of the trip. But he's incredibly passionate about the Mara and photography (also cricket, cycling and the Shawshank Redemption) and very committed to giving you as much (or as little) help and tips with your photography as you want. He also goes completely out of his way to make sure you have an amazing trip so you always feel amazingly well taken care of, even though he's not afraid to push the group through some pretty grueling days.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you don't have excellent gear going on this trip, rent some. You will see some pretty incredible things, but you're not coming back with much if you don't have a very good telephoto lens - while the occassional lioness does walk 2 feet away from the land rover, most of the action is a sizable distance away.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
My mother started the week not knowing what ISO was and ended the week with a new-found passion for photography and a complete love of the Mara - I'd say that's a pretty impressive result.
I can not imagine a safari where I would be given better opportunities for photography. From dawn till dusk we were presented with all those things photographers want most: best light, ideal landscape shots, unhurried time to make the most of special opportunities with cheetah and leopards. And then the excellent camp with its brilliant accomadation and food.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The reward of finally capturing a kill from a perfectly positioned vehicle, after spending hours following the hungry cheetah, till finally the chase was on. No other safari I have been on has included that sense of determination and focus.
What did you think of your group leader?
No one could have worked harder to give us the best chance of getting the best photos we were capable of.
Again and again we were presented with the great lighting and vehicles well positioned for photographs.
Personally, Pauls totally obvious passion for wanting us (and himself) to get the best possible shots is the reason I hope to go on many more such photographic trips. Against all these positives -the need to wear a tin hat now and then, is a tiny price that is well worth paying.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take the best kit you can, and high factor sun block. Going a bit out of season has some distinct advantages.
Often there were no other vehicles . Go and listen to one of Pauls presentations and that will give you a good idea of the safari.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This was a genuinly exciting holiday and I will certainly plan to repeat it.
I have always dreamed that I would go to Kenya and the Mara "one day", and to be very honest this trip more than fulfilled my dreams and I feel loathed to book any other kind of African safari other than this one as I fear it could never match up. It feels like we saw and experienced much more than people will do in a lifetime of safaris. I am officially addicted to this trip and so wanting to book another.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The feeling of anticipation of what the day might bring as you climb into the vehicles while it is still dark but the stars and moon are shining bright. That sense of relief when the cheetah that you have been watching for 14 hours over 3 days finally makes that all important kill for her and her two hungry cubs. Being told that there is only a 25% chance of seeing a leopard to be presented with a beautiful female with 3 stunning young ones, and spending precious time with them as they are not bothered by you at all. The breath stopping moment when three 2/3 week old cheetah cubs look straight down your camera lens before going back to snuggle with their wonderfully attentive mother. Very young lion cubs feeding from mum then yawning with all the effort it takes to be so young. A stand off by "teenage" lions against grumpy buffalo. Wildebeest in the red sunrise going to cross the river. A welcome sun-downer as the sun sets while celebrating another amazing day. Watching the lightening making the night sky like daylight whilst sitting around the warming camp fire. A male lion in the early morning golden sunlight surveying his kingdom. Seeing the breath of the lions in the morning sun. Looking down from the vehicle to see a lioness or a cheetah looking straight back up at you only a few feet away.
What did you think of your group leader?
Paul is a force of nature....end of. With an endless supply of crude (but very funny) jokes, he may shout and accuse you of "mincing" but that is just because he wants you to be in the right place at the right time for "that shot". His enthusiasm and that of the guides (The wonderful James, Patrick and Charles) is priceless.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Only take "brand name" sweets for Paul and the guides or go on the black list!! Take plenty of memory cards, a spare battery, there are great charging facilities at camp so don't worry about adaptors. Dress in layers, it can be very chilly in the mornings and the evenings but you will soon be shedding clothes when the sun comes up. Take a hat and plenty of sun protection. If you have room take two camera bodies, as it is so much easier than trying to swap lenses when you are hurtling along or the beautiful cats are so close the vehicle. Be prepared for early starts (4.30-5.00am) and be prepared to be patient as you might be waiting for that moment for a while but the rewards are just pure gold.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
It has to be the privilege of seeing, at close quarters, a leopard with her three cubs. I went on this trip hoping we might be able to see a leopard and came back having had good views of nine.
A close second would be our visits to the Marsh pride at dawn. Seeing the lions' breath backlit by the rising sun was pure magic.
What did you think of your group leader?
Paul Goldstein is like the bionic man; his energy never fails and he invariably makes the right call to give his groups the most outstanding photographic opportunities. Don't go on his holidays for a rest!
Charles, Patrick and James were all both very friendly and superb spotters and did their utmost to manoeuvre the Land Cruisers into the best positions for photography.
Darren and Emma could not have been better camp hosts and all their staff were friendly and helpful.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take plenty of sun cream, drink plenty of water and don't get upset if you receive some fairly blunt advice about your photographic techniques!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Anyone who likes photography and nature could not fail to be impressed by this location. Wildlife abounds and Paul will ensure that you get the best photographic opportunities possible.
from 64 reviews.
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