Overview
Discover the most scenic part of East Africa only on our exclusive 15 Days Photography safari in East Africa. This is one of the best long safaris taking you 2 weeks plus, of exploring East Africa’s top destinations, each with something unique for you capture. Your photography expedition will cover key destinations such as Masai Mara National Reserve, Amboseli National Park, Naivasha in the Magical Kenya; Mabamba Wetland, Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi and Mgahinga National Parks in Uganda.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Pick up at the Airport in Nairobi
Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta Airport Nairobi, meet your driver guide. A warm welcome from your guide into Nairobi, Kenya. Get briefed afterwards about your 15 days photography safari in East Africa and later, set off for a city tour in Nairobi.
Have insight into what this modern city in Africa holds, visit the nearby markets, the national museum, a popular spot where early man and tribal regalia are all displayed etc. Or if time allows, visit the Karen Blixen + Giraffe Centre to watch and feed the giraffes. Later, settle for your dinner at the booked hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.
Day 2: Photography safari to Masai Mara Reserve
Enjoy a delicious cup of tea/coffee, and after, check out of the hotel. From Nairobi, drive to your first photography destination in Kenya and that will be Masai Mara National Reserve, 6 hours’ drive with en-route view of breathtaking rift valley escarpment. This is one of East Africa’s premier wildlife destinations, an extensive savanna protected area covering 1510sq.kms and sits right in the Southwestern side of Kenya. Masai Mara rewards nature lovers with mesmerizing encounters of not only the big five game but also wildebeest migration.
Day 3: Full Day photography tour at Masai Mara Reserve
Rise up for an early breakfast, after, start the long day in Masai Mara and your photography expedition is inclusive of game drive, wildebeest migration, bird sighting etc. Expect to see variety of wildlife and take their pictures including the leopards, lions, elephants, buffaloes, cheetahs, rhinos, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, hartebeest, elands, birds and others. A picnic lunch will be enjoyed and you continue with game viewing, late in the evening, be part of the unforgettable Masai cultural experience.
Day 4: Masai Mara to Amboseli
After breakfast, leave Maasai Mara National Park for a long journey to Amboseli, about 6-8 hours’ drive. Amboseli is one of the most preferred destinations for photography, and today, you will have a splendid view of the Kilimanjaro Mountain at the background. Overnight will be at the safari lodges your safari expert booked for you.
Day 5: Full day at Amboseli N/Park
Enjoyable breakfast early morning, after, begin your full day excursion through Amboseli National Park. With an experienced guide, expected animal sightings include zebras, lions, leopards, gazelles, elands, Kudus, huge elephants, birds and more. Capture the best of your pictures especially during the sunset with Mt. Kilimanjaro at the background.
Day 6: Amboseli to Naivasha
Drive to Lake Naivasha National Park a home to diverse species of birds and other wildlife. You will spend about 5-6 hours to drive to Naivasha, a habitat to about 100 animal species, 350 bird species, etc. On arrival, settle at the wilderness lodge for lunch if you didn’t have en-route and relaxation the whole evening.
Day 7: Explore Lake Naivasha
Explore Lake Naivasha starting early with a game drive through its short grass with expected sights including waterbucks, giraffes, giraffes, etc. After the long day game drive (full day), return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8: Lake Naivasha to Nairobi & fly to Entebbe Airport
Enjoy a hefty breakfast in the lodge, after, check out and transfer back to Nairobi. From Nairobi, you will catch a flight to Entebbe Airport (EBB), meet a Uganda driver guide for drop off to a hotel, but for early arrival, you will have a quick tour at Entebbe. This will include touring the botanical gardens, etc.
Day 9: Entebbe to Kibale National Park
Meet your driver after breakfast, a warm greeting and start your journey to Kibale National Park. This is a primate park, located in Kabarole district, about 5-6 hours’ drive and today, your journey will begin from Entebbe/Kampala via Mityana, Mubende connecting up to Fort Portal city. Lunch break will be done on arrival at Fort Portal tourism city, one of the best and coolest cities.
Day 10: Kibale Chimpanzee tracking
After breakfast, proceed to Kanyanchu visitor center for briefing on chimpanzee trekking guidelines. Actual chimpanzee trekking and photography excursion starts at 8:00am with an experienced park guide. This primate adventure lasts for 2-4 hours and photography expedition includes one hour with chimpanzees in their natural habitat and several other primates will be encountered.
Kibale has 13 primate species to be spotted in just one habitat and besides chimpanzees, you will also come across the grey cheeked mangabeys, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, red colobus monkeys. In the after, drive or walk to Bigodi Swamp/wetland for a nature walk, 2 hours and this comes with incredible sights of many primates like colobus monkeys, baboons, and birders, don’t leave without capturing pictures of the Great Blue Turaco and others.
Day 11: Kibale to Queen Elizabeth with afternoon boat cruise
After breakfast, leave Kibale and connect to Queen Elizabeth N/Park, 2-3 hours’ drive with en-route scenic drive as you capture views and pictures of the Crater Lakes. Get to the park early, enjoy lunch and later, proceed to Kazinga channel for a boat or launch cruise 2-3 hours. The long natural channel will reward you with the best views of hippos, crocodiles, birds which you will capture their pictures. Alternatively, relax at the lodge, enjoy the sunset views while at the pool.
Day 12: Game drive via Kasenyi Plains & launch trip
Begin your day with an early breakfast, after, drive to Kasenyi for a game drive 2-4 hours. This is an extensive game track in Queen Elizabeth N. Park and allows you to see lions, elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, birds and others. In the afternoon, embark on Kazinga channel launch cruise, and this channel links Lake Edward and George.
Day 13: Drive to Bwindi with Ishasha game drive
Breakfast be provided early, after, leave your lodge for Ishasha sector in the Southern side where a game drive will be done shortly. At Ishasha, your target will be the tree climbing lions and after, get lunch then proceed to check in at the lodge in Bwindi.
Day 14: Gorilla trekking, Batwa experience
After breakfast, begin your gorilla trekking day with briefing and allocation of gorilla families at Buhoma or other trailheads/sectors in Bwindi where you will meet the park officials. 20 gorilla groups are ready for tracking in Bwindi, each will be visited by maximum of 8pax and the whole adventure runs for 2-6 hours, inclusive of one hour of a close encounter and photography.
Later in the evening, visit the Batwa Pygmies and you will have the most of unique cultural/traditional dances, music performance and deep learning about the Batwa cultures, traditions.
Day 15: Bwindi-Kigali, End of 15 days photography safari Wake up early, enjoy breakfast and later, meet the driver for transfer to Kigali and this means, you will cross borders -either Chanika or Katuna. You will be dropped off at the hotel or have a quick city tour to explore Kigali genocide center plus other sites and today marks the end of 15 days photography safari in East Africa.
