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Home / Penda Tours / Wildlife Photography & Conservation Project, Maasai Mara

Photograph the epic Great Migration, learn from a pro, and become a conservationist.

Here’s an opportunity to experience the Maasai Mara – one of the most exclusive African safari destinations – in a unique way; as a wildlife photographer and conservation volunteer. This July and August, you can join us for 2 to 6 weeks for an exclusive experience. (And photographers of all levels are welcome!) 

Kenya’s Maasai Mara is an enchanting wildlife paradise that presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to embellish your wildlife portfolio with matchless photography opportunities. Picture a quintessential African vista of rolling hills dotted with acacia trees, and populated with lions, leopards, elephants, and giraffes – and you’re there.

As a wildlife photographer on this program, you will spend your time shooting, editing, critiquing and showcasing under the guidance of our experienced photography instructors and in the company of equally enthusiastic peers. You’ll also contribute to local wildlife conservation efforts in a tangible way. You’ll leave Kenya having grown as a photographer, enriched your intercultural competence, and armed with an incredible portfolio.

Start Dates

July 14 / July 21 / July 28 / August 4 / August 11
You can join us for 2 to 6 weeks. Please note that you’ll arrive on a Sunday, but leave on a Monday. (So if you’re staying for 2 weeks, your full stay is 15 days.)

Quick Facts

Maasai Mara, Kenya

Jul 14 – Aug 26, 2024

Join for 2 – 6 weeks

Wildlife Photography
Photography Guides: Hanna Wigart & Sam Turley
Group Size: Max 10
All Photography Levels

Tour & Destination Highlights

  • Enjoy incredible wildlife photography opportunities (some of the very best in Africa)
  • Have an opportunity to photograph the Great Migration
  • Enjoy tutoring by professional wildlife photographers
  • Learn about and photograph local wildlife photography projects  
  • An opportunity to experience exclusive game reserves without paying luxury prices
  • Have the flexibility of joining for 2 to 6 weeks

Quick Facts

Maasai Mara, Kenya

Jul 14 – Aug 26, 2024

Join for 2 – 6 weeks

Wildlife Photography
Photography Guides: Hanna Wigart & Sam Turley
Group Size: Max 10

PRICING OVERVIEW

from USD $3995GBP £EUR €ZAR RAUD $
USDGBPEURZARAUD

At the current exchange rate. Please note final quote might vary slightly


per person sharing

INCLUDING

  • Accommodation
  • All meals
  • All game drives and other wildlife photography activities
  • All conservation activities
  • All transportation & Airport transfers
  • Photographic tuition
  • Park entrance fees

EXCLUDING

  • International Flights
  • Personal travel insurance
EXPLORE

Photography in Kenya

All your dreams, as a wildlife photographer, come true in the Maasai Mara.

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WHAT TO EXPECT IN KENYA

Your Photographic Experience

The Maasai Mara is one of Africa’s prime safari destinations. Situated within the expansive Great Rift Valley, it boasts a diverse array of habitats including open rolling grasslands, riverine forests, woodlands, and even swamps. These habitats are home to the Mara’s remarkable concentration of herbivores such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, elephant and much more.  The Maasai Mara’s significance extends beyond its wildlife diversity, as this wildlife haven also serves as a corridor for one of the most spectacular animal sightings on earth – the great wildebeest migration. An astonishing 1.2 million wildebeests, 300,000 zebra, and other herds of smaller herbivores set the scene for the greatest show on earth as they begin their trek along age-old routes, moving from the southern part of Tanzania’s Serengeti Desert up and around to Masai Mara in Kenya, then back again. The curtain rises on a wildlife photographer’s dream scene, and although we can not predict the exact movement of the animals, our program runs within the right season to photograph this dramatic spectacle.   Throughout your stay, you’ll enjoy the expert guidance of a local team, as well as a professional wildlife photographer. During the first three weeks of the program, Hanna Wigart will be the photography guide, and during the last three weeks, it’ll be Sam Turley. You’ll have the unique opportunity to visit various initiatives and communities that are dedicated to the conservation of the Greater Maasai Mara. This includes meeting with representatives of local communities and conservation-focused foundations, which will give you great insights into multi-faceted solutions to conservation, sustainable tourism, and more.  We’ll also visit the Ol Chorro Conservancy, a conservation project that has been protecting rhinos for over 20 years. Rhinos roam freely within the surrounding landscape, so we will have the unique opportunity to approach and photograph the rhino on foot quite safely. In addition, we’ll  join the Maasai herders on a cultural walk during the last stretch of their return home, where we will also meet with the herders’ families. This activity is an excellent opportunity for intercultural learning and exchange, and a great setting for portraiture and sunset photography. 

WORKSHOP LEADER

Sam Turley

Sam Turley

WORKSHOP LEADER

Sam Turley

Sam is an award-winning wildlife photographer and conservationist. During his career in wildlife conservation in Southern Africa, Sam began to understand the power of conservation storytelling through photography, and has made it his mission to educate, inspire and motivate people to fight for a wild future. Sam has won the Wilderness Safaris People’s Choice Award in 2020, and he was a finalist in various competitions, including Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year and Natural History Museum Photographer of the Year.

WORKSHOP LEADER

Hanna Wigart

Hanna Wigart

WORKSHOP LEADER

Hanna Wigart

Hanna is a wildlife photographer with a background in zoology, so she’s able to offer insight into both the photography and the wildlife you’ll be photographing. Hanna has worked with incredible wildlife around the world, and is passionate about using photography to spread awareness of conservation and research projects.

EXPERIENCE

Your Time With Us

Day 1Hello Maasai Mara
If it is the day of your arrival, we will head to the Wildlife Tourism College (WTC) in the Pardamat Conservation Area (PCA). After an informal get-to-know-you breakfast, we will have an orientation and introduction to wildlife photography session. We may also have a free day, or a day’s game drive in the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Day 2Introduction to Conservation
We will begin with an early morning field patrol with PCA rangers including; setting of camera traps, retrieving previously set up camera traps, and an introduction to conservation work in PCA. We will also practice shooting wildlife photography on foot and low-angles. We may also get into our editing with Lightroom sessions and continue with on-going conservation work in the PCA.
Day 3Photography and hands-on Conservation
We will continue with hands-on conservancy work by photographing on-going projects and activities (such as road maintenance/mapping, soil erosion control, invasive species removal, de-fencing), and retrieve camera traps. Ending the day with an evening game drive for sunset and silhouette photography. Photographing conservation work will be on-going throughout this program, which may be punctuated by the opportunity to engage with WTC students.
Day 4Naboisho or Enonkishu Conservancy
After breakfast, we will be transferred to Naboisho Conservancy. We may spend the afternoon editing the photos we’ve taken so far, followed by an evening game drive in Naboisho. If we are in the Enonkishu Conservancy instead, this may be a good opportunity for a day’s game drive and wildlife photography.
Day 5In touch with wildlife
We will begin the day with a wildlife count. We will also have the opportunity to walk with the herders, and practice some landscape photography. Friday’s may also be the days set aside for Digital Showcasing BBQ and bonfire.
Day 6Night time photography
Depending on how the group feels, this may be a rest day; or a day to go through editing and production workshops. Later in the day, we will transfer to Pardamat and get on a nighttime game drive for low-light photography.
Day 7sunrise panoramas & Rhino Sanctuary
Starting with an early rise for a sunrise panorama shooting experience, we will proceed into the morning with a Pardamat Cultural Walk, then transfer to Enonkishu for a visit to Rhino Sanctuary with an overnight stay at Wild Hub. There may also be an opportunity for an evening game drive at Enonkishu Conservancy. This will also be the final day of the two-week program, we will leave ample time for departure to Arrivals from PCA and transfer to JKIA for flights (those staying beyond two weeks will remain in PCA and have a free day for optional excursions).

Wildlife Photography & Conservation Project, Maasai Mara

Enquire

Tour Enquiry

a silhouette photo of a walking elephant with a sunset background

At Penda, we're all about creating incredible photographic opportunities.

Our photo tours and safaris will take you to the right place, at the right time, to get that epic shot. You'll be guided by a professional photographer, who will help you take your photography to the next level, and we keep our trips exclusive by traveling in small groups. Whether it's in Kenya's sprawling savannahs, Yellowstone's snowy interior, or the jungles of India, your journey will be filled with photography magic.

Why travel with us

Feedback from our guests

Alan was a friendly supportive professional guide throughout keeping us aware at all times. Wildlife – better every day! Leopards with kill up trees, lions female and male doing what they do, big five in first 24 hours, bee eaters and roller birds, close proximity overnight to wild sounds, great colleagues, and friendly staff. I really enjoyed the overall experience.

Derek Bridel

Derek Bridel

The wildlife was amazing and photo opportunities were many and varied. For my first safari it was incredible. There were three highlights. Firstly the silence being remote from human intervention, secondly eagle rock and the crossings we witnessed of elephants, giraffe, wildebeest, impala, baboons and storks across the dry river bed and thirdly the lions and leopard with an impala kill up a tree. And of course lots and lots of memorable elephants. A truly memorable experience. Thank you.

Keith Mead

Keith Mead

I cannot say enough positive things about my workshop experience. Every aspect was absolutely superb — shoot locations and time of day, attention, help and extremely valuable feedback from our leader Emil, logistics, organization, and communication. Hands down, I’ve never learned so much from a photo workshop before. Also, Emil’s passion, enthusiasm, and energy are infectious and, coupled with his eagerness to share a deep knowledge of photography (creative AND technical) and of the places we visited, made the workshop an experience of a lifetime.

Richard Silver

Richard Silver

This trip definitely reached my expectations; I got exposed to much more than I expected. The particular care and attentiveness of the instructors was a couple steps above my previous experiences with photo workshops. I would recommend Penda.

Val Mahan

Val Mahan

Extraordinary experience – trip of a lifetime. Thank you for everything. Highlights were all the animal encounters, and just being immersed in the bush with nice people.

Axel Elfner

Axel Elfner

Without doubt it was one of the best photographic trips and adventures that I have undertaken in the last 15 years. Emil was outstanding as the lead for the group and the other two members were really good as well so all in all it made for a fabulous journey. The variety of both animals and landscapes made the trip so interesting and we had one or two wow moments when we encountered something really special.

MIKE HALL

MIKE HALL

I had fun, met new people from different parts of the world, saw many wonderful animals, was well taken care of and felt safe within each of the two lodges. Photography workshops were full of good help and advice where it was needed. I left this holiday with a light and satisfied heart.

Chris McConnell

Chris McConnell

This trip far surpassed my expectations. Having such good guides/trackers, and such an experienced approachable photographer ensured that we saw plenty of wildlife and photographed them in the best conditions and positions. Had such a wonderful time.

Annette O’Connell

Annette O’Connell

It was FANTASTIC! The food was plentiful and delicious and the accommodations were quite comfortable. Sam is an excellent teacher and I would HIGHLY recommend his workshop to photographers of any skill level. It’s truly amazing what we accomplished in one short week. I just wanted to let you know, it was an unforgettable experience and I’m very grateful to Penda Photo Tours.

Suzanne Evans

Suzanne Evans

The game drives were first rate and the opportunities they presented plentiful. In particular the number and variety of leopard sightings were simply outstanding. Alan Hewitt was a first rate tutor and coach as well as being an engaging and committed host.

David Callaghan

David Callaghan

The whole experience was exceptional from start to finish. Everyone involved was amazing, especially Marleen, Andrew and Andy. I would not hesitate in doing it all again. A highlight for me was conquering my fear of taking street portraits.

Trevor Bancroft

Trevor Bancroft

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