Perspectives on East Africa: Kenya Photo Safari and Symposium

Experience the majestic landscapes and celebrated wildlife of Kenya with one of the world’s leading photographers! With Master Photographer Frans Lanting and noted National Geographic author Chris Eckstrom, we explore Kenya’s greatest landscape and wildlife locations, from the vast savannas of the wild Laikipia Plateau to Lake Nakuru, with its masses of flamingos, and the renowned Masai Mara, with its thousands-strong herds of plains game and their attendant predators. Frans and Chris will share their worldwide experiences as well as the techniques and philosophies behind their superb photographs and publications during hands-on field sessions and informal discussions throughout this incredible safari.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-3
Perspectives on East Africa Symposium

Presentations, excursions, and other activities with our guest speakers at the Mount Kenya Safari Club.

Days 4-5
Ol Pejeta Conservancy

We enjoy fantastic gameviewing and photo opportunities in the private sanctuary of the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, a scenic mosaic of grasslands, woodlands, and evergreen thickets. Africa’s “Big Five”—lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo—are all found here, and there’s also Grevy’s zebra, Jackson’s hartebeest, and cheetah. Overnights are at Kicheche Laikipia Camp, a luxurious 12-bed tented camp set in the heart of the Conservancy.

Days 6-7
Lake Nakuru National Park

A charter flight brings us to Lake Nakuru, one of East Africa’s celebrated Rift Valley lakes. Nakuru, a shallow soda lake, is home to one of the greatest bird spectacles on earth—the thousands upon thousands (and sometimes millions) of pink flamingos that feed upon its nutrient-rich waters. Other Nakuru wildlife includes waterbuck and reedbuck, who graze the lakeshore’s grassy swards. Sunrises and sunsets here are particularly photogenic. Overnights are at a classic private tented camp.

Days 8-11
Masai Mara National Reserve

A quick flight over the Great Rift Valley to the Masai Mara offers wonderful panoramas of volcanic landscapes, rolling grasslands, and plenty of big game dotting the plains. We enjoy three days of gameviewing in this legendary reserve, noted for its abundance of wildlife and predator sightings. Overnights are at Naibor Camp, set in a riverine forest on the banks of the Talek River in the heart of the Masai Mara National Reserve. Depart via Nairobi on Day 11.

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What the Trip is Like

The trip is rated Level 2+, moderate. This is a deluxe camping and lodge safari with gameviewing by 4WD vehicle and nature walks that can be enjoyed by anyone in reasonably good health. There are a few long driving days over rough roads and rugged dirt tracks. Although this is not a particularly rigorous trip, we recommend that each participant undertake a preparatory program of physical conditioning. Daily walking or regular hiking, jogging, and stair-climbing are excellent for preparing for the trip. Any African safari is an adventure, and the traveler to Africa should bring along flexibility, a sense of humor, curiosity about new peoples and places, and an openness to the unexpected.

Explanation of Trip Levels