ULTIMATE WILDLIFE SAFARI KENYA 2023

5 DYNAMIC LOCATIONS

September 9 – September 24, 2023

THIS IS A SPECIAL SAFARI PRICE FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF PIPER MACKAY PHOTO SAFARIS.

ONLY 7 GUEST IN 3 DELUXE LAND CRUISERS WITH 2 PHOTOGRAPHIC LEADERS

OFFERED ONLY IN 2023

Known as the top wildlife photography destination, immortalized by countless wildlife films, Kenya needs little introduction. Crafted to exceed a photographer’s wildest dream, this multiple location safari not only takes you to the top wildlife reserves but also offers you the greatest photographic opportunities for low-angle photography, night photography, multiple species and compelling ecosystems with stunning landscapes. 

To ensure the maximum photographic opportunities this safari is open to ONLY 7 GUEST in three specially designed photographic vehicles with two photographic leaders!! This will give you all the room you need and the ability to be eye to eye with the wildlife as much as possible!!

We purposely selected this unique time when the crowds and vehicles have thinned out, yet we still have an opportunity to photograph the migration; important in your ability to frame a great shot!

SAMBURU: Crossing the equator opens a magical new world! 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 knows they are in a magical place.Roaming through this primal land and unique to this reserve are the maneless lions, rare and exotic Grevy’s Zebras, red soil–stained red elephants, reticulated giraffes, Oryx and Somali ostrich. In the stillness of what seems like an empty land, one might hear the rustle of the brush as a cheetah or leopard makes himself or herself known. In stark contrast to this dry, neutral landscape, wander the vivid, semi-nomadic colorful Samburu tribe. 

OL PEJETA – Private wilderness conservancy Home to the last two northern white rhinos, the Ol Pejeta is a sanctuary for over 150 rhinos including both the black rhinos and the southern white rhinos. We will be staying in the private low vehicle density wilderness zone of the conservancy where we will have off-road access for the best positioning and will be able to do night photography game drives. This is also the only place in Kenya where there are Chimpanzees. The Ol Pejeta is home to orphaned Chimpanzees introduced to Kenya by the British researcher Jane Goodall to protect the otherwise endangered species. 

LAKE NAKURU – Near to the water’s edge lies a magnificent Euphorbia Forest, the largest in Africa. Imagine coming around the bend to discover a tower of beautiful Rothschild’s giraffes coming through the majestic yellow acacia trees; the only place in the country to see them. More intriguing is entering the lush forest in search of the rare, tree-climbing lions or finding the prized leopard laying on a branch in a stunning forest photographic background. Lake Nakuru is also a sanctuary for both the White Rhino and critically endangered Black Rhino. Often, you may see up to a dozen white rhinos gathered. From the rocky escarpments to the lush forest, the park is stunning year-round. 

 MAASAI MARA – Known as the wildlife mecca of the world, the renowned Maasai Mara is one of the greatest wildlife reserves on the planet! The vast, open plains are home to large prides of lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, black rhinos, hippos, Maasai giraffes, common zebras, gnu, impala, Thompson’s and grant’s gazelles, topi, hartebeest, black-backed jackals, spotted hyenas and more. It is the best reserve for the big cats, where BBC filmed Big Cat Diaries and where they continue to film regularly. Our safari takes place during the very end of the great migration season when the crowds have vanished, and the grass has been eaten, which makes spotting and photographing the big cats much easier. Depending on the rains earlier in the year and our luck, we may catch some of the last herds crossing the Mara River as they make their way back to Tanzania. 

Turn your safari into a Signature Safari by continuing to Amboseli! 

AMBOSELI PRIVATE RESERVE: Imagine photographing stunning images of the large herds of elephants, zebras, and giraffes as they roam through the dusty plains of Amboseli, with Mount Kilimanjaro as a backdrop. You will have full access to the national park and access to the private conservancy, where you will enjoy exclusivity and the freedom of off-road driving. You can drive across the vast dusty plains, next to the herds of elephants, for exceptional and rare photographic opportunities. Of course, you will also track down predators, visit the swamps with a wide variety of African birds, and take advantage of the spectacular fine art landscape known for the dust devils that dance across the Savanna. 

“I had a truly wonderful trip with Piper. I was not prepared for just how deeply a visit to Africa can effect ones soul. The image you will bring home are second to the experience of being with the animals and people of Kenya Piper’s knowledge and love for the land really makes this trip special and gives you an insight that I don’t think you can get anyplace else. This is a trip of a life time and you will remember forever!” – Beth Tollefsen

Artistic Images

Piper Mackay and Vicki Jauron take great pride in creating artistic wildlife images, using natural dramatic lighting, combined with manipulating camera settings. They will work passionately with you to capture images that stand above the point, click, and simply shoot the action in front of you. 

Deluxe Photographic Safari Vehicles 

Our fully extended Land Cruisers were designed by photographers for photographers to give you the most flexibility and maximum space. The sides of the Land cruisers are open (no small sliding windows), with custom built in bean bags that run the full width of the openings. Small bean bags are supplied to custom adjust the height.  The roof has a special roll back top, so there are no bars holding up a pop-top, which create obstructions of your lens placement.  We have designed special doors that function as a door, but that also drop down for low angle, eye-to-eye, photography; critically important for award wining images.

Experienced Driver Guides

Our driver guides are silver rated and photographically trained by professional photographers. They understand the needs of photographers and the importance of quickly positioning the vehicle for the best light, composition, and exceptional photographs.  They have vast personal networks, through which they receive private information about sightings.  

Extra Weight Allowance 

We have arranged extra weight allowance on your flights so your gear and luggage can remain with you.  This is a big trip, and anything could happen when transferring gear and luggage by ground transfer. 

Mid-day image review

This safari is designed to spend most of our time in the field, behind the lens, capturing award-winning images.  During the mid-day, back in camp when the light becomes harsh and the animal activity becomes quiet, if time allows, we will review images and discuss image techniques, but we do not pull you out of the field for an instructional workshop.

Professional Photography Leaders

• Piper Mackay – has over 17 years’ experience photographing throughout the African continent and lives in Kenya. She is a seasoned expert in guiding photographic safaris in Africa for over a decade. In 2017, she won the prestigious African wildlife category for Natures Best Photography. Her work has been widely published in numerous internationally known magazines and she is an inspirational speaker for Nikon. Her caring approach and sincere care for her clients’ satisfaction and success is palpable!

• Vicki Jauron – Vicki is an award-winning nature and wildlife photographer living in the US, but spends time in Africa every year. She is known for her artistic vision capturing dynamic and powerful moments. In 2021, she was the Grand Prize Winner in the Share the View Photo Competition, the portfolio winner of the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards and she placed in the Top 100 in the National Audubon contest.  Vicki is especially proud to have had her images selected to promote leading international conservation efforts such as Remembering Wildlife, The New Big Five Photography Project and Prints for Wildlife. 

In order to spark a love of nature in young children, Vicki recently authored two Children’s books now available on amazon.com – “The Magical Bird Beach of Long Island” and “The Magical Bird Beach of Long Island in Winter.”   Her images of African Wildlife, Birds and Landscapes can also be found in a wide range of educational publications, travel brochures, books, magazine articles and advertisements throughout the world.   

No other safari offers suchan extreme variety of African wildlife photographic opportunities! You will be editing through your images for years to come!