Dates:

Monday, January 13 - Thursday, January 22, 2025

Cost: 

$20,995 - Double occupancy lodging (Single room available for $3000)

Size:

Limited to 6 - 8 attendees (depending on number of shared rooms)

Included in the cost of the trip:

• Double occupancy lodging w/ private facilities (Single room available for $3000)
• Meals from dinner on night 1 to lunch on day 10
• Scheduled private game viewing activities with an expert safari guide
• All airport transfers and ground transportation
• All domestic flights within Kenya - note there is a 49 lbs total soft bag allowance per person including carry on
• 1 x entrance into the Masai Mara Reserve
• Transfers to all visited areas as per itinerary
• National park & conservancy entrance fees as per itinerary
• Temporary membership of AMREF Flying Doctor’s in the unlikely event of emergency evacuation from the camp to the nearest hospital
• Hot air Balloon flight over the Masai Mara
• US$100 per person donation to the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary
• Local drinks including house beer, wine and spirits
  
• Exclusive ‘behind the scenes’ visit to the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary
• Laundry service
• Gratuities
• In-the-field photography instruction
• Adobe Lightroom post processing instruction
• 1-on-1 critique/review sessions
  
  

Not included in the cost of the trip:

• International flights to and from Nairobi International Airport (NBO)
  
• Comprehensive travel insurance
  
• Additional hotel nights before or after the trip (NWS can assist you with this)
  
• Early/late checkouts
• Premium wine, spirits and champagne
  
• Items of a personal nature
• Visas (if necessary)
  
  

Note about luggage

The total luggage limit per traveler is 49lbs in soft sided bags (no hard-shelled suitcases) and is to include all carry on and photographic equipment.

Pre & post safari add-ons

The team at Natural World Safaris can gladly arrange any travels either before or after this adventure in Kenya. A few options to consider, just a short flight away from Nairobi, are the mountain gorillas of Rwanda or in neighboring Tanzania, the famous wildebeest migration will be in the southern Serengeti National Park calving. Further afield, but still a direct flight, is Cape Town, South Africa’s cosmopolitan city with stunning scenery, culture, gastronomy, and wineries. If there is significant interest, there is the option for Michael Turek to lead a trip before or after Kenya.

*All images have been gratefully used within this brochure courtesy of Hemingways, Great Plains Conservation, Michael Turek, Reteti, Sarara and Graeme Purdy.

Signing Up

To sign up for this photo safari, checkout here on our website, call 305-921-4433 or email us (workshops@leicastoremiami.com). We are happy to answer any questions you may have. A $4995 deposit, along with the single room supplement fee should you choose it, is required to hold your spot. The balance will be due on October 13, 2024.

We look forward to seeing you in Kenya!

Itinerary

Day 1 (January 13) - Arrival in Nairobi

Days 2 - 4 (January 14-17) - Naibor Camp

Day 5 - 7 (January 17-20) - Sarara Camp

This morning you will bid farewell to your guides and the team at Nairbor Camp before flying northwards to Kalama, in Samburuland. Please note this will be comprised of two scheduled light aircraft flights, each about 1 hour in duration with a stop in Wilson Airport in between, where you can stretch your legs and have a comfort break. Upon arrival at Kalama, you will be met and transferred by scenic road transfer to Sarara Camp, a drive of about 2 hours. Along the way you will be able to get your first introduction to this dry and arid part of Kenya and even see the local pastoralists on their daily task of grazing their livestock.

You will arrive at Sarara Camp, your home for the next three nights to settle in. During your stay here you will explore the surrounding vast, private Namunyak Conservancy on private game drives. For any members of the group that wish to get out on foot for a unique perspective, guided bush walks will also be available.

On one of your full days here, we have arranged for the group to have an exclusive behind-the-scenes visit to the inspiring Reteti Elephant Sanctuary.

The photographic opportunities from this lodge are endless. Sarara is truly pure and untouched wilderness as far as the eye can see. From sunrise to sunset, the mountain range in front of the lodge provides stunning photographic possibilities. The flora and fauna of this region are some of the most striking examples in Africa. And then, after dark, the night sky and stars alone will provide endless photographic fun.

Days 8 - 9 (January 20-22) - ol Donyo Lodge

Day 10 (January 22) - Departure

This morning, after one final breakfast at ol Donyo, the group will take one final flight back to Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. We will arrange vehicles to at your disposal for some last-minute curio shopping and if time allows the Karen Blixen Museum. Lunch today will be at a local restaurant. In the evening, the group will share one final dinner before being transferred to the international airport for your departing flight, since most flights to the US and UK depart in the evenings. Here your adventure in Kenya comes to an end!

Hemingways Nairobi

Hemingways Nairobi is a luxurious boutique hotel set on the outskirts of the bustling city, framed by the picturesque Ngong Hills. This refined establishment offers 45 elegantly appointed suites, each featuring a private outdoor seating area and a generously sized en-suite bathroom. Whether you’re beginning or concluding your safari expedition, Hemingways Nairobi provides an oasis of tranquillity and comfort.

Guests can indulge in a range of amenities, including an on-site spa for rejuvenating treatments, a pristine swimming pool for relaxation, and the attentive services of private butlers who are dedicated to ensuring your stay is impeccable. The hotel’s serene ambiance and sophisticated design make it the ideal place to unwind after exploring the wild beauty of Kenya’s landscapes. With its seamless blend of luxury and convenience, Hemingways Nairobi promises an exceptional experience in Nairobi’s embrace. 

Naibor Camp

Naibor Camp is a stylish and contemporary tented camp in the heart of the Maasai Mara Game Reserve near the confluence of the famed Talek and Mara Rivers. All seven of the large luxury tented rooms has a private 10 foot veranda complete with day beds and private dining areas and the en suite bathrooms all have flushing toilets and safari shower, filled daily with hot water on request. The tents nestle amongst a riverine forest and are spaced so that each has a unique view of the surrounding bush and wildlife.  The main dining and lounge area of the camp overlooks the Talek River, where animals regularly come to drink.

The main focus at Naibor is to observe and photograph the extraordinary concentrations of wildlife that can be viewed close to camp in the company of expert guides.

Sarara Camp

Nestled on the edge of an escarpment, Sarara Camp offers a secluded and intimate experience within Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy. The camp comprises just six luxurious double tents, strategically spread out along the hillside to provide breathtaking views. Each tent features open-air bathrooms, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the exceptional vistas.

Sarara Camp takes pride in its team of resident chefs who craft delectable, home-cooked meals. Guests have the choice of enjoying these culinary delights in the heart of the bush, surrounded by nature’s beauty, or within the comfortable confines of the camp. This blend of exquisite accommodation, stunning scenery, and exceptional dining makes Sarara Camp an unforgettable destination for those seeking an exclusive safari experience.

All meals, laundry, game viewing activities, conservation fees and non-alcoholic and house alcoholic beverages are included but not premium brand spirits and champagne.  The group would have 2 vehicles for the duration of your stay.

ol Donyo Lodge

ol Donyo Lodge is located in the expansive 275,000-acre Mbirikani Group Ranch, ol Donyo overlooks the Chyulu Hills National Park and presents uninterrupted vistas of Mount Kilimanjaro. Owned by 4,000 Maasai, a stay here not only supports the region’s wildlife but also contributes to the local community, creating a remarkable conservation success. The exclusivity of ol Donyo offers a compelling alternative to the bustling Amboseli and Tsavo National Parks nearby. The lodge features six suites and a two-bedroom family unit, with the unique opportunity for guests to slumber under the stars on a rooftop star bed. All accommodations boast sweeping views of the rolling plains and distant Mount Kilimanjaro. Keep an eye out for majestic tusker elephants, while the area hosts robust populations of lion and cheetah, providing a captivating wildlife experience in this remote and pristine setting.

All meals, laundry, game viewing activities, national park fees and non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages including premium brand spirits and champagne. The group would have 2 vehicles for the duration of your stay.

Payment

A $4995 deposit, along with the single supplement room fee if you choose it, is due at the time of registration. The balance will be due on October 13, 2024.

Withdrawal and Refund Policy

Enrollment is limited to 6-8 participants, and once you sign up, we are counting on your attendance. If you need to withdraw from this workshop, please notify us in writing (email is acceptable) as soon as possible. This is our refund policy:

If you cancel and we find someone to fill your seat, we will refund you the full amount you have paid towards the tuition, minus a $250 service charge. If you cancel and we cannot find someone to fill your seat, then you will be refunded according to the following schedule:

At least 90 days before the start of the workshop: Full refund minus $250 service fee.
Between 89 and 60 days before the start of the workshop: 75% refund
Between 59 and 45 days before the start of the workshop: 50% refund
Less than 45 days from the start of the workshop: No refund

Course Cancellation and Other Terms

Leica Store Miami reserves the right to cancel a reservation if full payment has not been received by 90 days prior to the start of the workshop.

In the event that this workshop must be canceled due to inadequate enrollment, all fees and deposits will be refunded in full or may be transferred to another workshop within 24 months.

In the unlikely event of illness, accident or injury to one of the instructors, Leica Store Miami reserves the right to replace that instructor with a comparable instructor.

In the event of a natural disaster or severe weather event, Leica Store Miami reserves the right to postpone or cancel the workshop.

Travel Insurance (required)

It is a requirement of booking that guests provide evidence of comprehensive travel insurance to cover cancellation and curtailment, medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation), personal accident, injury and death in addition to loss of/damage to luggage and possessions, personal possessions and flight cancellations/delays. Companies like Travelex and Allianz Global Assistance are reputable but you can choose any vendor you like. Leica Store Miami is not responsible for reimbursement of non-refundable airline tickets in the event of a workshop cancellation, nor are we responsible for trip cancellations due to medical emergencies, personal emergencies or other unforeseen events.

Camera Gear Insurance (STRONGLY recommended)

We advise all of our workshop attendees to insure their camera gear against damage, theft, loss, etc. If your gear is not already insured, check with your home owner's insurance to see if they offer coverage. There are several photo specific insurance policies out there as well.

Communicable Illness Protocols

Our main goal on all of our tours is to keep everyone safe. To that end, we ask that everyone do their best to avoid exposure to communicable diseases like Covid-19, influenza, RSV, etc before and during our trip. If someone in our group becomes ill on the trip and we deem it to be harmful to the group, we reserve the right to remove them from group activities where social distancing is not possible.

Single Room Policy
If you sign-up for double occupancy room sharing and there are no other attendees to pair you with, you will be responsible for paying the single room supplement.

Transfers
If for any reason you wish to transfer your deposit or workshop fee, please notify us by email. You must register and complete a new workshop within 24 months of the withdrawal. We reserve the right to accept or deny any transfer.

There are no exceptions to our Cancellation and Transfer Policy.