Current as of: September 18, 2024 - 21:46

Kenya

Kenya Photographic Safari with Paul Goldstein - Premium Adventure Trip Notes

  • Ways to Travel: Guided Group, Premium Adventures, Private Group Adventures
  • Destination: Kenya
  • Programmes: Premium Adventures, Wildlife
  • Activity Level:

    3 out of 7 - Moderate

  • 7 Days: Land Only
  • Ages: 18+
  • Trip Code: WYX
  • Carbon Footprint: 62kg CO2e

Trip Overview

Embark on a photographic safari in exclusive, private conservancies in Kenya with tuition from Paul Goldstein

Africa conjures images of acacia-dotted plains, migrating wildebeest, and predators relentlessly pursuing zebra. Being in the right place at the right time, with the best light to capture these scenes, is the essence of this photographic safari. Join a small group led by award-winning photographer and passionate conservationist Paul Goldstein, who will work tirelessly to get you the best photographic opportunities. This safari exudes style – premium tented camps within a private conservancy provide a comfortable base in an exclusive location, internal flights get you into the wilderness quickly, and vehicles are designed with photographers in mind to ensure you will always be set up for the perfect shot. Be prepared for early starts, long days and plenty of advice and enthusiasm. The exclusive Kicheche Camps are in prime spots within the conservancies, where it is not uncommon to observe wildlife from the veranda. Wilderness fans and photographers alike will fall in love with Africa after a week at Kicheche.

At a Glance

  • Accommodation: 6 Premium nights (tented safari camp)
  • Travel by internal flights to get you straight into the wilderness
  • Customised 4WD vehicles for all game drives – open-topped and open-sided with four guests per vehicle to ensure the perfect view and plenty of space

Highlights

  • Photographic safari guided by Paul Goldstein – every detail considered with photographers in mind
  • Six nights at the superb, intimate Kicheche Camps, which are in prime locations across exclusive conservancies
  • Off-road driving permitted in the Mara conservancies, getting you closer to the action
  • Strict rules enforced on vehicle conduct within the Mara conservancies to prevent overcrowding
  • Private conservancies work in harmony with Maasai landowners and ensure low-tourism density – just one bed per 350 acres (141ha) of wilderness

Is This Trip for You?

This trip is graded Activity Level 3 (Moderate) with a Wildlife Rating of Five. For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page or our Wildlife Holidays page for more on our Wildlife Ratings. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

This is a small-group fly-in safari, in which we transfer to open-topped, open-sided 4WD vehicles to explore the Mara.

We stay at Kicheche Camps – tented camps in fantastic wildlife conservancies – and there will be many chances to see countless game and bird species plus rare and endangered creatures.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Group

Paul Goldstein

Paul has guided and photographed all over the world and has won a decent armoury of awards. His best attribute is his love of the wilderness. Spitsbergen, Antarctica and India are among his great loves, but his abiding passion is for the Mara and he has spent a huge amount of time in Africa. Paul and his team of guides will work tirelessly to ensure you come away with the best images possible, placing huge importance on light and composition. If you feel exhausted at the end of a long day, Paul will be ready at five the next morning to get you into the perfect position to compose another shot for your wall. He always says, “if I can get you half a dozen blinding images for your house, I will have done my job” – but that is only half the story. African bush tales, a seemingly limitless supply of jokes and an almost religious territorial nature over the Mara make him quite the travelling companion.

Adult min age: 18

Min group size: 4

Max group size: 12

Itinerary

Map

Land Only

  • Start City: Nairobi
  • End City: Nairobi

Land Only Itinerary

Day 1
Start Nairobi; morning flight to Masai Mara

Welcome to Kenya. We have an early morning flight from Wilson Airport directly to the heart of the Mara conservancies. We advise booking accommodation in Nairobi the night before the tour starts to allow for an easy meet at Wilson Airport this morning. The 45-minute flight to the Mara provides great scenery to start our Kenyan adventure. At the airstrip, we’ll be picked up by custom-built 4WD vehicles for the short transfer to Kicheche Camp. The Kicheche crew will be waiting to welcome you and help you settle into camp. After lunch, we’ll take our first afternoon game drive in the exclusive Mara conservancies to discover some of the prolific wildlife that inhabits this area. Your first game drive will end with sundowners looking across the plains.

Premium accommodation: Kicheche Tented Camp

Meals included: Lunch, Dinner

Days 2 - 6
Sharpen your photography skills on the vast plains of the Masai Mara

Our days at Kicheche usually start early, with camp staff bringing tea, coffee, hot water and biscuits to the tent around 5am. One of the huge benefits of staying within the conservancies is that game drives start right from camp and we can be in position on the plains by first light. For photographers, this means the all-important golden hour is always maximised. Depending on the movement of the game and tips from the bush telegraph, drives can be a moveable feast. Some days we may find ourselves on a full-day safari (approximately 13 hours) while other days might be broken into morning and afternoon drives. Paul and his team will try to make good calls when it comes to sightings and will always aim to be in the best position for viewing. They will be trying their hardest to ensure that photographic opportunities are frequent, but they will not be dashing around ticking off species like mainstream safari companies. Early starts are the order of the day, and we normally find shade for lunch in a beautiful spot and to relax. Unless, that is, we come across a migration crossing or hunting cheetah. These drives are not endurance tests but a full day out on the plains can be quite tiring. They also involve patience, as a hungry cheetah will often wait many hours before making their move.

Mealtimes are a delight under the stars or in the mess tent if there is bad weather. It is the game and scenery that make this area so incredible. Camp can often have a lion pride nearby, and their call accompanied by a hyena cackle is an occasional night-time companion. The property is very relaxing for those hours in the middle of the day between game drives and the haute cuisine and hot showers are a big bonus. These luxurious trappings sometimes belie the fact that the camp is right in the heart of the most prolific savannah on Earth.

Premium accommodation: Kicheche Tented Camp

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7
Morning game drive; afternoon flight to Nairobi; depart Nairobi

This morning, we enjoy a final game drive in the wilderness followed by brunch back at camp, before packing up and taking a late afternoon flight back to Nairobi where the trip ends.

Please speak to your sales representative regarding the timings of internal flights. They can book additional post-tour accommodation in Nairobi if required.

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodation

Premium tented safari camps

Kicheche Camps

On this photographic safari in Kenya, we stay at Kicheche Camps with prime spots in the conservancies – it’s not uncommon to observe wildlife from your veranda!

Mara North Conservancy: Kicheche Mara Camp (two nights)

Kenya Photographic Safari with Paul Goldstein – Premium Adventure

In the Acacia Valley, overlooking the Olare Orok stream, this collection of 10 premium tents is ideally located in a wildlife hotspot. The camp also has a lounge with views down the valley, a library and local crafts. Meals are served in the dining tent or under the protective boughs of a large euclea tree.

Naboisho Conservancy: Kicheche Valley Camp (four nights)

Kenya Photographic Safari with Paul Goldstein – Premium Adventure

With just six large tents set on wooden platforms and a spot among acacia woodlands, Kicheche Valley Camp occupies a peaceful spot in the secluded Naboisho Conservancy. The attached bathrooms have running water heated by solar power, plus there’s a small shop and spa should you wish to treat yourself.

Worth knowing

  • The accommodation shown has been booked and agreed in advance; however, we may need to make changes to a property of similar or higher standard after you have booked. We endeavour to inform you of any changes in advance, which could, on rare occasions, be at late notice.

Single supplement from £ 1600

Food & Drink

All breakfasts, six lunches and six dinners included.

At Kicheche, the food is superb and with plenty of choice. Breakfasts will be taken out in the bush and so will lunch on full-day drives in the Mara. Kicheche has an excellent reputation for its cuisine.

  • In the Mara, hot drinks are brought to the tents each morning
  • Freshly baked biscuits and a breakfast of fruit, cakes, bacon, sausage, egg, juice and coffee/tea is taken out on the plains
  • On return, there is a large but healthy brunch (if not doing a full-day drive)
  • Tea and cakes are taken mid-afternoon before the game drive
  • A three-course dinner is taken (weather permitting) by candlelight under the African sky
  • Vegetarians are well catered for but please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests

Transport

We use light aircraft to fly to the Mara (with a 33lb/15kg weight restriction) and 4WD vehicles in the reserve, specifically designed for photographers. All vehicles will have beanbags. Monopods and tripods are not required. We fly to the Mara; it makes the safari quite expensive but saves hours and hours of driving. Please note, the roads in the Mara are quite poor, especially after rain. It is not unusual on safari for you to have to push your way out of trouble on the odd occasion.

Weather & Seasonality

Kenya straddles the equator so showers can happen at any time of year; however, the wettest period is April and May. Due to the altitude of the Masai Mara (5,085ft/1,550m), the temperature at night is beautiful, cool yet not cold, although mornings can be quite chilly. Daytime temperatures can get as high as 30C (86F) but with low humidity. There can be some light rains at the end of the year but this cuts down the dust and brings out the colours. In the wet, the roads can become difficult.

Weather Charts

Kenya Photographic Safari with Paul Goldstein – Premium Adventure

Joining Instructions

Key information

Start point: Wilson Airport (WIL)

Getting to the start point

Customers who Exodus booked onto the chosen flight from London, UK, will typically depart and arrive the day before Day 1 of the itinerary. A night at the Tamarind Tree Hotel in Nairobi is included under these circumstances. Alternatively, we may arrive early on Day 1 before transferring to Wilson Airport for our flight to the Masai Mara. If this is the case, then we will usually spend a night at the Four Points in Nairobi at the end of the itinerary.

Customers making their own way to Wilson Airport are advised to book accommodation in Nairobi the night before the tour starts, to allow for easy meeting at Wilson Airport.

Catching your return flight

There’s a group departure transfer to the airport for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.

Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.

Location start: Nairobi
Location end: Nairobi

What To Take

Essential Equipment

In addition to your ‘normal’ daily clothes, you will need the following:

  • Torch
  • Sunhat
  • Sunscreen
  • Soft holdall
  • Daypack or soft bag (no suitcases)
  • Camera
  • Telephoto lens (preferable)
  • Plenty of memory cards
  • Lightweight walking shoes
  • Sandals (no socks with these, please)
  • Fleece for early mornings
  • Very light wet-weather top
  • Binoculars

Photography
The vehicles are designed for photographers. They are all open-roofed and open-sided with camera platforms. Bean bags are supplied, so tripods are not recommended. If you do not have an IS or VR lens, you might want to get one. You should be looking at minimum 400mm zoom/telephoto capability. Polariser warmups are good for landscapes and hard drives. Memory sticks essential.

Internal flights in the destination country are subject to a weight limit of 33lb (15kg).

Please note: In a move praised by conservation groups and health organisations, Kenya has taken the lead in banning the use of plastic carrier bags and certain other plastic bags. Included in the ban are the following items that travellers might carry:

  • Duty-free carrier bags
  • General shopping bags
  • Bin liners (sometimes used to protect luggage during rain)
  • Dry cleaning bags (commonly wrapped around clothing)

Travellers arriving into Kenya via airports, sea ports or land borders will be required to leave any bags deemed to be on the banned list at the point of entry. Travellers will not be fined so long as they surrender any prohibited bags.

Water included

Plastic bottles are a big issue in many countries where recycling isn’t yet widely available; they often end up in landfill or get burned. Both processes are harmful to the environment and we would like to reduce our impact here. For your trip, we provide an alternative to single-use plastic bottles to reduce the plastic used. This means that safe drinking water will be available throughout; all you need to do is bring a bottle to refill along the way. Please add this to your packing list.

Practical Information

Passport

Remember to check the expiration date of your passport if travelling internationally. Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after the date of your scheduled return.

Visa

Kenya

Travellers from the UK, US and EU need an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) to enter Kenya. Please note, requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required eTAs/visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on entry requirements for their citizens. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

You can apply for your eTA, which costs US$30, on the official website for the Kenyan government. You will need the following before you make your application:

  • Valid passport
  • Recent passport picture OR a selfie picture taken during application process
  • Contact details (home address, telephone, email)
  • Travel information and flight itinerary (arrival flight number, date of departure of initial flight in case of connecting flights)
  • Proof of booking for the hotel you will be staying at (if staying with friends, a letter of invitation is accepted)
  • Yellow fever vaccination certificate if coming from endemic countries (please check the World Health Organization website for the updated list of countries)
  • Credit/debit card information for payment, if applicable

For assistance with obtaining visas please call Travcour on 020 8543 1846 or visit their website: http://www.travcour.com/page/tour-packs/exodus.php

Vaccinations and Health

Kenya

There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include hepatitis A, polio, tetanus, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis B, meningococcal disease, rabies, tuberculosis and yellow fever. You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Malaria prophylaxis is essential and we suggest you seek advice from your doctor or travel clinic about which to take. Additionally, dengue fever, a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes, is a known risk in places visited. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, so take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Bilharzia is known to occur in some of the lakes or rivers visited on this itinerary, we therefore advise all to take advice from your guide or leader locally before venturing for a swim.

Local Time

Kenya's time zone: Africa/Nairobi (UTC +03:00)

Electricity

Kenya's electricity: Plug types G (three rectangular pins) – 240V, 50Hz

Kenya Photographic Safari with Paul Goldstein – Premium Adventure

Money

Kenya's currency: Kenyan shilling (KES)

ATM Availability

ATMs are available at Nairobi airport. Credit Cards are accepted at Kicheche.

Extra Expenses & Spending Money

We recommend you take most of your money in US dollars. We also recommend you obtain some Kenyan shillings on arrival at Nairobi airport to pay for small items such as coffee and refreshments at Wilson Airport. Should conditions dictate an extra visit into the reserve please allow US$80.

Drinks (including house spirits, wine and beer) are included in the Mara.

Tipping

Our local staff are paid well and fairly for their work with Exodus. However, if you want to show your appreciation of their services then we recommend that you budget the following for tips:

Nairobi transfer drivers – USD20
Kicheche camp staff – USD90
Kicheche guides – USD90
Leader – USD105-USD126

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips which improves life for the people and places we visit and looks after the planet we explore. To read more about sustainable travel ethos and practice, click here, and to find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation click here.

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

  • The use of local guides means our customers will be well informed about local traditions, and cultural and social sensitivities.
  • This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally-owned accommodation and restaurants, the emphasis on eating locally produced food and support of other local enterprise.
  • Our local operators are trustees of the Kicheche Community Trust which runs several community projects which clients are welcome to visit as an optional excursion. These include schools where classrooms have been built, teachers and students have been sponsored and thousands of material and monetary donations have been made. Local healthcare is also supported by the Trust, who have been helping the Aitong (Mara) clinic for several years now. Donations made in the past include medicine, medical books, maternity and dental wards, water pump and tanks, upgrading of the existing solar system, medical training seminars and much more.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

  • Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels.
  • By travelling in a small group, led by a local guide, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
  • We have game drives in the Masai Mara Conservancies where there are strict rules on over-crowding.
  • Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices with regard to working animals and wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.
  • We work with our partners on the ground to proactively eliminate or reduce waste, for example eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles and instead providing refills for re-usable bottles.
  • Kicheche Mara Camp and Kicheche Bush Camps have received a gold and silver award respectively from Ecotourism Kenya for their environmental policies and community work.
  • The Kicheche Community Trust runs several programmes for the benefit of people and wildlife. For communities to prosper within and in the vicinity of wildlife conservancies it’s important for these communities to be protected from the wildlife and vice versa. In 2012 Kicheche Trust donated half for the construction of 5 predator free bomas (small groups of housing). The trust also part sponsors the Naboisho Lion project in Naboisho Concervancy, Masai Mara, which helps to protect and monitor local wildlife.
  • We operate a strict ‘leave no trace’ policy which includes separating waste immediately and returning it to Nairobi for proper disposal.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

  • Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.
  • By favouring smaller, locally run campsites we have a much smaller impact on the surrounding environments.
  • Most meals use local ingredients which have not had to have been transported long distances.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

Extra steps you could take to minimise your impact when travelling.

  • Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish behind in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, we’d ask you to consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
  • Plastic waste reduction: Please bring your own re-usable water bottle on this trip; filtered water will be provided where tap water is not drinkable.

Cancellation Charges

Please note that this trip has cancellation charges that differ from our standard booking conditions. If you need to cancel then the following charges will apply:

45-31 days prior to your trip starting in country: 50% cancellation charge

30 days or less prior to your trip starting in country: 100% cancellation charge

On Peak season departures (running July 1st – October 30th) there is a 20% cancellation charge if you cancel your booking after January 31st of the same year as your departure. However, from 45-31 days prior to your trip starting in country there will be the 50% cancellation charge and from 30 days or less there will be the 100% cancellation charge.

Important Information

Your safe participation 

When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call the Exodus office and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary. 

Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity. 

By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred. 

How to Book

  1. Check availability: Go online to check availability, or contact us by phone or email.
  2. Secure your place: You can provisionally hold a place on this trip, usually for between three and seven days.
  3. Complete your booking and payment

When you’re ready to book, go to our website for online bookings, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay be cheque.

After booking

You will receive your booking confirmation letter and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements.

Full joining instructions, including local emergency numbers and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately two to three weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier, please contact our office or your travel agent.

Trip Note validity

These Trip Notes are valid from the “Current as” date on page one. They will occasionally be updated after booking and before departure; if there are any updates that significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary, customers will be written to separately. They will also receive a link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes with their Final Joining Instructions before travelling.

The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure or website, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure and website. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons – climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.

Licensing

Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582, issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA – The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all money paid to us for your trip is fully protected.

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