About this expedition
Marsh and open ground give this Kenyan landscape a different photographic rhythm from the Mara. Kenya’s Maasai Mara forms part of the grassland ecosystem shared with the Serengeti. Its rolling plains are Maasai country. One strand of its conservation history sits in the Mara Triangle: when the Mara Conservancy began work there in 2001, it recorded just one known black rhino in that sector.
7 May is the transit day. Arrive Nairobi on 8 May, then Amboseli, Lake Naivasha and Maasai Mara; return to Nairobi on 15 May.
Browse the field photographs ↗Journey highlights
- Kenya programme: 8–15 May
- Amboseli, Naivasha boat experience and Mara
The experience
Luxury city, lodge and tented-camp stays across the route.
- Price basis: Per person, sharing · flights excluded
- Photography host: Deepak Shankar
Your days in the wild
Day 1 · 7 May · Outbound travel
Travel to Kenya; this is a transit day before the land programme.
Day 2 · 8 May · Nairobi
Airport pickup, check-in and rest after arrival.
Day 3 · 9 May · Amboseli
Road journey to Amboseli and an afternoon safari.
Day 4 · 10 May · Amboseli
A relaxed morning followed by an afternoon safari.
Day 5 · 11 May · Lake Naivasha
Travel to Naivasha and enjoy the planned boat experience.
Day 6 · 12 May · Maasai Mara
Road journey to the Mara and an afternoon safari.
Day 7 · 13 May · Maasai Mara
Full-day safari in the reserve.
Day 8 · 14 May · Maasai Mara
Another full-day safari, following wildlife activity.
Day 9 · 15 May · Nairobi departure
Road transfer back to Nairobi for onward travel.
Inclusions & exclusions
Inclusions & exclusions
Included
- Airport pickup and scheduled road transfers in the safari vehicle.
- Seven nights: Nairobi 1, Amboseli 2, Naivasha 1 and Maasai Mara 3.
- Meals on the published breakfast-to-breakfast basis during the land programme.
- Listed safaris, Naivasha boat experience, park and driver fees.
Not included
- International and domestic flights.
- Applicable taxes, insurance, vaccinations and medical requirements.
- Tips, personal expenses and unlisted activities.
What to expect from this tour
Amboseli
Look for elephants moving between feeding areas and birds along wetland edges. Kilimanjaro may be visible when cloud lifts.
In your viewfinder. Try a sequence that shows the group moving together rather than isolating only the largest animal.
Maasai Mara
Look for lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo. Black rhino completes the Big Five but is particularly elusive. On these January and February departures, think resident wildlife, open skies and long views rather than counting on a migration crossing.
In your viewfinder. Try one frame wide enough to show the distance between predator and prey. Then watch for the moment one notices the other.
Wildlife moves freely. Your guide follows local access rules and the conditions on the day.
Wildlife to look for
A field checklist for this route. Some subjects are elusive or seasonal; sightings depend on habitat, access and the day.
- Lion
- African elephant
- African buffalo
- Leopard
- Cheetah
- Spotted hyena
- Plains zebra
- Blue wildebeest
- Masai giraffe
- Common eland
- Impala
- Thomson’s gazelle
- Grant’s gazelle
- Common warthog
- Olive baboon
- Vervet monkey
- Common ostrich
- Secretarybird
- Lilac-breasted roller
- Black rhinoceros
Key Essentials
Connectivity
If you want mobile data, compare roaming with a local SIM or compatible eSIM before arrival. Check activation requirements and coverage for the route. Download your itinerary for offline use.
What to pack or hire
Bring a spare battery, memory cards, a dust cover and binoculars. Ask about luggage limits and space for a long lens before renting camera equipment.
What to budget separately
Use this departure’s inclusions and exclusions to check transfers, flights, insurance, tips, camera fees and optional activities. Ask us for a written price before adding an extra.
Booking terms
Payment terms
- Per person, sharing · flights excluded: USD 3,600. Booking amount: USD 900. Remaining balance: USD 2,700.
- Single occupancy: USD 4,200. Booking amount: USD 1,050. Remaining balance: USD 3,150.
- Reserve your seat with 25% of the quoted trip price. Rupee deposits are rounded to the nearest ₹1,000; dollar deposits are calculated in USD to the nearest cent.
- The remaining balance is due 60 days before departure. For bookings made 60 days or less before departure, the full price is due when you book.
Cancellation policy
- Email info@shuttermonks.com to cancel. The date we receive your written notice determines the cancellation period.
- More than 60 days before departure: we retain half of the booking deposit. The rest of the deposit and any additional balance paid are refundable.
- 60 days or less before departure: the full tour price is non-refundable.
Important journey notes
- USD 3,600 per person sharing; USD 4,200 single occupancy.
- The land programme runs 8–15 May; 7 May is the outbound transit day.
- Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed. The sequence of activities may change with permits, weather and local conditions; final arrangements are confirmed before booking.