Kenya Safari & Digital Photography with the Scotts - Maasai Mara

Join us, Jonathan and Angela Scott, as we visit one of our favourite locations in Africa in conjunction with Wildlife Worldwide. The Maasai Mara in western Kenya calls us back again and again. The Mara is home to one of the highest concentrations of Lions in Africa, and good populations of Leopards and Cheetahs, some of which we have followed from birth. The wildebeest and zebra migration is still as dramatic a spectacle as ever, with up to 600,000 wildebeest flooding into the Mara during the dry season.

On this unique journey, we want to retain the intimacy of a small group of friends travelling together, with a shared passion for wildlife and photography. We have hand picked what we consider (from personal experience) to be one of the region's top camps and wildlife locations where we can customise your safari to achieve our aim of making this a unique experience.

During the trip, each of you will have the opportunity for one on one coaching and will be able to experience first hand how Jonathan has customised the vehicles for filming. Angie's role will be to give digital training back at camp at appropriate times during your safari. We will be travelling alongside you to give you the benefit of our knowledge and experience, in conjunction with specialist local guides. This one-off trip will be the journey of a lifetime!

Saturday 07th February 2009 - DEPART UK

Fly with British Airways from London Heathrow to Nairobi. You will arrive in the evening and be met and transferred to the Intercontinental Hotel for an overnight stay.

Sunday 08th February 2009 - MAASAI MARA REKERO CAMP

After breakfast you will be transferred to Wilson Airport to board a one hour internal flight directly to the Maasai Mara. After a short road transfer, you will be welcomed to Rekero camp, which will be your base for the next seven nights.

Amidst the teeming herds of wildlife in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Rekero's tented camp is nestled in riverine forest on the banks of the Talek River, an area that your hosts and local guides know intimately. At an altitude of 1463 metres and close to the confluence of the Mara and Talek rivers this is a prime location to enjoy the abundance of life around you. The camp is ideally situated to experience for the annual migration of wildebeest and zebras from the Serengeti through the Maasai Mara. The camp is within close proximity to large pools of hippo and crocodile, and offers some of the finest big cat viewing in Africa. There are seven spacious double/twin tents, which can all be used as triples if required and which all have en-suite flush loos and safari showers. There is 24 hour solar power to provide lighting and kerosene lanterns are situated in front of the tents to provide a more subtle lighting to the exterior and front. The safari chefs produce appetising 'farmhouse' meals, which utilise skillful blends of flavours and cuisine from both east and west. Any special dietary requirements can be accommodated with prior notice.

Once settled into your accommodation we will gather before lunch for drinks and an informal briefing about the trip ahead, we will then have an afternoon game drive to familiarise you with the area. The evening will be spent relaxing and getting to know one another over dinner and drinks in preparation for an early the following morning.

Monday 09th - Saturday 14th February 2009 - MAASAI MARA

Each day you will have the opportunity of an early morning game drive, which will leave before sunrise in time to catch the best light for photography and game viewing. This will then be followed by brunch and the chance to participate in various workshop/discussions or to simply relax and enjoy the experience of being in Africa before you set off on afternoon/evening game drives.

The Maasai Mara is Kenya's finest wildlife sanctuary, and has been a second home to Jonathan for much of the past thirty years. Everything about this reserve is outstanding. The wildlife is abundant and the gentle rolling grasslands ensure excellent visibility for tracking down the Lions and Cheetahs that everyone wants to see. But there is much more besides, with large herds of elephants and buffalos and the chance to search for the more illusive creatures such as Black Rhino and Leopard. This is also one of the best places for birding with over 500 species of birds including a staggering 53 species of birds of prey.

The wildlife is not confined to the reserve wandering freely through the surrounding areas where the Maasai people live. The Maasai and their cattle have for centuries lived side by side with the animals of this region, roaming the grasslands in their endless search for grass and water. Our local guides are Massais and are always delighted to share their culture with visitors, offering a unique insight into life here in Maasailand.

The first sight of this natural wonderland is breathtaking. Here, Elephant wander across the plains in search of forage with an occasional sighting of a solitary rhino. Thomson's and Grant's Gazelle, Topi, Eland and many more species of plains' game offer rich pickings for the predators: Lions, Leopards, Cheetahs, Spotted Hyenas and jackals which hunt in this pristine wilderness. The Mara River is home to some 2,000 hippos that gather along sandy banks in large groups. Seemingly drowsy crocodiles sunbathe at the water's edge, mouth agape, waiting for an unwary animal to set foot in their world.

In our experience there is nowhere else on earth to compare with a good day in the Maasai Mara, there are so many resident animals that live here year round: elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, numerous species of antelopes from Dik-dik to Eland.

The combination of a gentle climate, scenic splendour and untold numbers of wildlife makes the Maasai Mara Kenya's most popular inland destination, and our second home.

Sunday 15th February 2009 - HOMEWARD

Today we will have our last game drive and then fly to Nairobi where we will enjoy a farewell dinner and drinks at a local restaurant. You will then join you homeward overnight flight back to London Heathrow.

Monday 16th February 2009 - ARRIVE UK

Early morning arrival back in to London Heathrow.