12 – 19 August 2013
7 nights/8 days
$6200 | $500 single supplement
Includes: internal flights, charters direct out of Nairobi, accommodation for 7 nights, guiding by David Rogers, meals and drinks, 25 kg of luggage per person. Excludes: international flights to Nairobi, laundry.
“The abundance and variety of wild life was truly astonishing. Lions, leopards, cheetah, wild dogs, buffalo and elephants in addition to a very exciting Mara River crossing were the highlights. As good as the locations, accommodations and photographic opportunities were, David’s effort, energy, attention to detail and enthusiasm for photography continues to be the most significant reason why we will continue to return for future photographic trips with David.” John Kine (Canada)
Porini Selenkay
The group will be met at Nairobi International and transferred on a private charter direct to the Amboseli. For the first three nights you will be based in a small tented camp (there are just 9 tents) in the Selenkay Conservancy which forms part of the Amboseli ecosystem and has excellent views of Kilimanjaro (see above). Some fascinating dryland species occur here including the gerenuk antelope. Large herds of eland, giraffe, lion and cheetah are sighted frequently. The park has very productive waterholes with excellent hides for photography. We will be visiting the local Masai village, which offers one of the most traditional Masai experiences in Kenya (they are direct beneficiaries of lodge fees). A full day tour into Amboseli National Park gives the opportunity of seeing some of the most relaxed anywhere having been studied for more than two decades by the researcher Cynthia Moss. They have also been the subjects of two BBC documentaries.
We will charter back from Selenkay to Nairobi and then to the Mara. For the next four nights we will be based Porini Lion Camp which is in the exclusive Olare Orok concession bordering the Maasai Mara. It is a seamless extension of the Masai Mara and offers outstanding game viewing. The great thing about staying here is that it is in a private concession shared with a few other camps and there are relatively few other people and sightings are strictly managed. We will also be able to go on night drives and on walks, which are not permitted in national parks. The camp has semi-permanent tents and a traditional safari feel
How the workshop works
No workshop is the same. I am very conscious that everyone has their own style – there is no right or wrong way to take images and that every group of people has their own experience and energy that they bring. My role is to inspire, guide, suggest and encourage and give some of my experience gained over 25 years of taking pictures in Africa. Most of all these trips are about being with like-minded people, learning from each other and having fun.
David will encourage everyone to look beyond the obvious and concentrate not only on the birds and animals but also on landscapes, insects and everything in between. The opportunities are seemingly endless in East Africa so we can expect to take packed breakfasts and lunches on at least two days of the trip and spend at least 10 – 12 hours in the field. We will spend a great deal of time discussing images and David will give lectures on two evenings after dinner. We will also review images from the group as much as possible. Please expect this to be a very intensive and thoroughly rewarding trip.
Crossings of the Mara
Everyone hopes to see a crossing or two and this trip has been timed for you to photograph this remarkable event. The camp is located roughly 40 minutes from the Main Crossing and we have people on the ground giving us regular accounts of animal build ups. We will spend all day at the rivers waiting for crossings if need be. But we will also ensure that we spend most of our time enjoying the exceptional game viewing and relatively exclusive atmosphere that makes the Olare Orok area one of the most scenic and productive anywhere in Africa.
