NORTHERN KENYA TRIBES & WILDLIFE, 27 JUNE-8 JULY, 2025
7 SPOTS OPEN
with Jeremy Woodhouse
(17 days – 16 nights), maximum group size 7
Sakhi Shrine, Kabul
Africa is a tapestry of ancient cultures, exotic wildlife, dramatic ecosystems, and stunning landscapes, all mesmerizing for the eyes, mind, and soul. Nowhere else on the entire continent of Africa can you experience such a vast mix of exotic tribes and wildlife in the same itinerary!
Throughout this life-enriching photographic journey, you will photographic multiple species in stunningly different environments and visit different tribal villages at sunrise and sunset; enjoy an intimate evening with the Samburu warriors, experience the beautiful singing and dancing of the Turkana tribe along the shores of Lake Turkana, witness the ancient fishing ways of the El Molo, capture the ornate details of the Rendile warriors, visit the special villages of the Gabra that hang beautiful African cloths around their huts, and spend an unforgettable afternoon with the Maasai.
Many years, over nearly two decades, were spent establishing friendships with the villages and tribes you will be visiting, which is why your visit will be a much more intimate experience, with over-the-top photographic opportunities - much more than the typical commercial tourist experience filled with only some quick photographic snapshots.
You will come home with more than just a fantastic, diverse portfolio of exceptional images from just one African safari; you will have lived through an experience that is so mind-blowing that you will talk about it for decades!
Samburu
Filled with large, iconic umbrella acacia trees in a stunning, arid environment among the rich, red African soil, Samburu Reserve evokes the traditional vision of “I Dream of Africa.” As the wind blows through the stunning doom palms, one instantly knows they are in a magical place that is home to the colorful Samburu Tribe. Roaming through this primal land and unique to this reserve are the mane-less lions, rare and exotic Grevy’s Zebras, red soil–stained red elephants, reticulated giraffes, Oryx, and Somali ostriches. In the stillness of what seems like an empty land, one might hear the rustle of a bush as a cheetah or leopard makes himself or herself known.
Tribes of Northern Kenya
Known as the Jade Sea, Lake Turkana is formed by the waters flowing down from the Omo River in Ethiopia. Omo. Like the river, the exotic tribes that live in the Omo Valley flow all the way down through the entire Turkana basin, where they have continued living their traditional lives for decades if not centuries. Unique to this area is the town where four different tribes live side-by-side: Turkana, Rendille, Samburu, and El Molo. The magic of this place cannot be described. It simply must be experienced.
Amboseli National Park
At the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, home to the iconic Maasai tribe, dust devils dance across the vast open plains. A place of big dramatic skies and distant horizons, Amboseli is a fine art wildlife photographer’s dream location. The image of big-tusked elephants or a tower of giraffes set against the backdrop of Mt Kilimanjaro has made it one of Africa’s most iconic locations. It is estimated that over 1,000 elephants and 58 matriarchal families trample over this barren wilderness. Each day the large herds, along with many other species, make their way down to the large swamps in the middle of the reserve. Amboseli is also a birder’s paradise, with over 420 documented species.
Itinerary
Day 1 – June 27, 2025
Upon your arrival at the international airport in Nairobi, Kenya, you are met by a member of our ground team and transferred by private vehicle to the historical and tranquil area of Karen. Built in the architecture of the “Out of Africa” era, your accommodation will make you feel like you are more than a guest, but at home in Africa; the perfect place to unwind after your long journey.
Day 2-4– June 28-30, 2025 – Samburu B, L, D
Today, you will awake in a magical new world with the aroma of Kenyan coffee brewing. After a delicious breakfast, you will begin your journey to the North. While is this dreaming environment you will enjoy a mix of game drives and village visits.
Day 5-8 – July 1-5 2025 – Turkana Baisen B, L, D
You will begin your day with a magical sunrise visit with the Samburu, followed by breakfast. Your adventure continues with a stunning drive through the Northern Kenyan landscape to Lake Turkana, the largest desert lake in the world. Known as the Jade Sea, your first glimpse of Lake Turkana is breathtaking. The Turkana Basin is one of the richest tribal regions in Africa. You will feel like you have been transported back to an authentic Africa of bygone days. The following five days will be spent exploring the Randille, Turkana, Gabra, El Molo, and Samburu tribes.
Day 10–12 July 5 -7, 2025 – B, L, D
After one last stunning sunrise shoot followed by breakfast, you will drive to the airstrip to catch your charter flight across the country to Amboseli National Park along the border of Tanzania.
As you arrive in Amboseli, take a moment to catch your breath in this magical environment as you drive across the open plains to the Lodge. You will spend the next three days out on safari, in this incredible ecosystem that lies at the foothills of Kilimanjaro. In the morning, the herds of Elephants, Zebras, and Wildebeests slowly descend from the foothills. Then, they cross the plains of Amboseli on their way to the marshes, which are centrally located in the national park. The bird life along all the marshes and wetlands is superb.
You will also spend an incredible evening at a traditional Maasai manyatta; the iconic tribe of Kenya. The big African rains should have just passed, bringing about plentiful grasslands. This means that the warriors, with their authentic long braided ocher hair and decorated bodies, will be in the village and not in faraway lands with their livestock. The Maasai in the Amboseli area is unique because the men mark their high cheeks with circular tattoo scarring. We will have an evening of dancing, feasting, capturing stunning portraits, and learning about their struggles of living in harmony with and protecting wildlife.
Day 13 July 9, 2025 – B
You will enjoy a last sunrise in the Maasai village, return to the lodge for breakfast, check out, and depart for Nairobi with a packed lunch.
You will arrive at the Four Points hotel at the airport early afternoon, where you will have dayrooms. You can enjoy a leisurely afternoon reflecting on the fantastic experience you had, take a nap, enjoy a delicious meal, relax at the rooftop pool and bar, and have time to clean up before your flight back home later in the evening. You will be privately transported to the international airport to catch your flight home in the evening.
Please book outgoing international flights on June 12 after 9:00 PM.
Is this trip for you…?
This photographic safari is tailored to those who want to experience and photograph Kenya’s most exotic tribes and wildlife. Designed to give you incredible opportunities to produce high-quality images of extraordinary subjects you will be rising before first light. This itinerary was designed to maximize your time in the field and is not a formal teaching workshop. This safari seamlessly blends luxury camps in pristine wildlife reserves with a remote tribal area with basic accommodations. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned photographer, this itinerary caters to all skill levels, ensuring an enriching experience for everyone.
If you have not had much experience photographing tribes or indigenous cultures, this is the perfect introductory trip for you.
During your wildlife safaris, you will see a variety of exotic wildlife. However, some special subjects may require watching their behavior and waiting for those special moments. This is when patience pays off, rewarding you with extraordinary photographs. You will spend a great deal of time and effort in the field—unless it is quiet and the light is too harsh—and you will return to the camp/lodge for the midday break. This means there may be several mornings and some lunches that will involve box meals we take with us, rather than eating at camp or the lodge. We will return to our camp/lodge for a nice dinner and drinks around the fire every night.
Piper Mackay Photo Safaris is dedicated to helping the people and wildlife that have inspired us and enriched our lives. We donate a small supply of food to each village we visit. We are mindful to select items that will have sustainability in the harsh environments where they live and are items the women use daily to feed their families such as cooking oil, ugali, maIze, beans, etc We build strong relationships with these local communities to ensure our visit generates meaningful contributions to the local economies, especially those helping to protect wildlife, and to ensure a unique cultural exchange for both host and guest.
END OF THE TOUR
The Price
- The price of this unique cultural and wildlife photographic adventure based on double occupancy (two people sharing one room) is USD $12,995.00.
- A single supplement is USD$995.00 " if available". Single accommodations are limited to 3
- If you are a solo guest who wishes to share a room, we will do our best to match you with another guest of the same gender. If we cannot match you with a roommate of the same gender, then by default, you will be in a private room, and the single supplement of USD$995.00 will apply.
- The cost of this safari is based on a minimum of 7 participants. If there are fewer than 7 participants, a small supplemental fee of USD$995.00 will apply. A minimum of 5 clients is required to run the trip.
- A USD $3,000.00 Non-refundable deposit is due at the time of registration to secure your spot. We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance that will refund your deposit if you have to cancel your trip.
Payment terms
- USD$3,000.00 non-refundable deposit to confirm your place on this safari
- 2nd payment of USD$5,500.00 is due October 15, 2024
- Final payment/Balance is due Feb 15, 2025
- We highly urge you to protect your investment with proper trip cancellation insurance because life is unpredictable, and you never know what surprises it may have in store that might alter your plans.
Arrival & Departure
Weather
Language
Currency
7 SPOTS OPEN
$12,995
SINGLE: $995
This tour is run in collaboration with Piper Mackay Photo Safaris
Tour Price Includes
- Village visits to the Samburu, Maasai, Turkana, El molo, Rendile, Gabra
- Entrance fees and game drives in Samburu Game Reserve and Amboseli National Park
- Private charter to Amboseli
- All airport transfers on arrival/departure dates
- Accommodations on a shared basis
- Transportation and exclusive use of deluxe custom safari built, open side, 4-wheel drive Landcruiser vehicles
- All meals from breakfast on June 28 through breakfast on July 9, as noted on the itinerary – B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
- Evacuation insurance to a Nairobi hospital – cost of hospitalization payable direct
- Bottled drinking water in transport vehicle.
What's Not Included:
- Visas
- Travel and Medical Insurance
- Personal purchases (such as curious, spirit liquors, telephone calls, internet, laundry…)
- Gratuities for guides, camp and lodge staff
- Optional extra activities and photo excursions
- Pre- and post-safari tours
- Meals or accommodation before or after the safari
- International flights to and from the African Continent
- Cost of covid test if needed.
