JOIN US IN THE MAASAI MARA IN JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2025
Wildphotos Safaris' Daryl & Sharna Balfour invite you to join them on one of the highlights of their year - the special Big Cats safaris in Kenya's spectacular Maasai Mara National Reserve, undoubtedly one of Africa's premier destinations for the viewing and photographing of lions, leopards and cheetahs! Daryl & Sharna have photographed throughout Africa for the past three decades and are convinced the Mara offers the greatest opportunity to enter the lives of three of the continent's major wildlife attractions...the Big Cats!
These safaris have become among our most popular departures each year, with many of our guests returning year after year to enjoy the Mara's wide open plains, easy game viewing, and the spectacular but homely "Sharna's Camp" where new guests arrive as visitors and leave as family friends!
These safaris have become among our most popular departures each year, with many of our guests returning year after year to enjoy the Mara's wide open plains, easy game viewing, and the spectacular but homely "Sharna's Camp" where new guests arrive as visitors and leave as family friends!
We have endeavored to recreate the atmosphere of the original mobile hunting camps of the past with our private tented camp, and this is the way Ernest Hemingway, Teddy Roosevelt and Robert Ruark experienced and wrote about Africa in previous centuries, (with many more modern luxury trimmings, of course) and is the best way to avoid the over-crowded mass-market tourism of the bigger commercial lodges and safari hotels. We place a premium on the wildlife experience too, with our guides being among the best in the industry not only in finding and locating the game, but also being informative about the country, its people and its wildlife. Our guides are all thoroughly experienced at ensuring you will have the best position and angle to optimize your photography and will offer advice and assistance whenever required.
Your eventful and full days will be spent exploring this, the northernmost limits of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, seeking the area’s abundant wildlife – which at this time of the year should include the big cats for which the Mara is rightly famous as well as many other of the usual plains game species along with elephants, black rhino, spotted hyaenas, giraffe, Cape buffalo, zebra and numerous antelope species. Our guides will do their utmost to ensure you an experience of a lifetime.
Our daily schedule, which we adjust and fine-tune according to the likes and needs of safari participants, usually involves a pre-dawn wake-up call followed by tea, coffee and a light breakfast in the Mess before we head-out in search of the day’s offerings. Each vehicle is equipped with a ‘tea & coffee basket’ along with freshly baked cookies, cinnamon buns or even egg & bacon jaffles (closed toasted sandwiches) for a mid-morning stop out in the wilds. We return to camp around 11.00am for a slap-up brunch, after which most safari-goers enjoy a well-earned shower and siesta. Afternoon tea is served around 3.30-4pm followed by the afternoon drive. Sundowners are often enjoyed in the field, (if we have the time with all the wildlife viewing!) after which we return to camp for pre-dinner drinks at the fireside followed by a three-course dinner. Some days we may modify this schedule and take a picnic lunch with us, staying out all day as we explore furtherafield. The animals and the wilderness dictate our schedule – we place more emphasis on the wildlife experience than we do on camp timetables, and our chefs and camp staff are totally adaptable to our ways!
Your eventful and full days will be spent exploring this, the northernmost limits of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, seeking the area’s abundant wildlife – which at this time of the year should include the big cats for which the Mara is rightly famous as well as many other of the usual plains game species along with elephants, black rhino, spotted hyaenas, giraffe, Cape buffalo, zebra and numerous antelope species. Our guides will do their utmost to ensure you an experience of a lifetime.
Our daily schedule, which we adjust and fine-tune according to the likes and needs of safari participants, usually involves a pre-dawn wake-up call followed by tea, coffee and a light breakfast in the Mess before we head-out in search of the day’s offerings. Each vehicle is equipped with a ‘tea & coffee basket’ along with freshly baked cookies, cinnamon buns or even egg & bacon jaffles (closed toasted sandwiches) for a mid-morning stop out in the wilds. We return to camp around 11.00am for a slap-up brunch, after which most safari-goers enjoy a well-earned shower and siesta. Afternoon tea is served around 3.30-4pm followed by the afternoon drive. Sundowners are often enjoyed in the field, (if we have the time with all the wildlife viewing!) after which we return to camp for pre-dinner drinks at the fireside followed by a three-course dinner. Some days we may modify this schedule and take a picnic lunch with us, staying out all day as we explore furtherafield. The animals and the wilderness dictate our schedule – we place more emphasis on the wildlife experience than we do on camp timetables, and our chefs and camp staff are totally adaptable to our ways!
Girls just wanna have fun!
The
Maasai Mara is renowned for its predators - lions, leopards and cheetah
are there in abundance - all attracted by the large numbers of
herbivores, and is regarded as one of the best wildlife viewing
destinations in Africa by Daryl & Sharna Balfour, as well as by many
other top wildlife photographers and film makers. The Mara is
specifically featured in the BBC’s acclaimed documentary series Big Cat Diary and Big Cat Live and we are likely to see many of the lions, leopard and cheetah that have become the stars of this TV series.
Birding in the area is also excellent, and first-time visitors to the area are sure to see a number of “lifers”.
Transport will be in comfortable customised Toyota 4x4 safari vehicles equipped with cooler bags with cold drinks and water, with a maximum of four guests to a vehicle (as opposed to the East African safari norm of six –eight, or even nine). Each person will have their own open window as well as a large open roof hatch overhead. Ample large beanbags are provided for the use of photographers in all our custom-built vehicles, and we assure everyone of opportunities to capture award winning images!
Birding in the area is also excellent, and first-time visitors to the area are sure to see a number of “lifers”.
Transport will be in comfortable customised Toyota 4x4 safari vehicles equipped with cooler bags with cold drinks and water, with a maximum of four guests to a vehicle (as opposed to the East African safari norm of six –eight, or even nine). Each person will have their own open window as well as a large open roof hatch overhead. Ample large beanbags are provided for the use of photographers in all our custom-built vehicles, and we assure everyone of opportunities to capture award winning images!
A lion cub gives dad a playful tap!
All Big Cats of the Mara safaris begin and end in Nairobi. You should make your own flight or other arrangements to be in Nairobi on the morning of or the day your safari begins. In recent years we have included the first night of your safari in an hotel in Nairobi and Meet & Greet assistance along with transfers from the international airport on arrival, and to the domestic airport the next day for your charter flight into camp. Kenya Airways & SA Airlink offer daily flights to Nairobi from Johannesburg. Delta Airlines?Kenya Airways have introduced direct flights from New York, while BA, Kenya Airways, Virgin, Air France and KLM also offer direct flights from the UK and Europe. Emirates & Qatar offer connections from most locations worldwide.We use a private charter flight in a 12-seater Cessna Grand Caravan C208 direct from the domestic Wilson Airport to the Maasai Mara at 10h30 on the day your safari begins, and returning to Wilson Airport at the end of your safari, arriving about 11h00 well in time for outgoing international connections.
Many international flights to Nairobi arrive in the early morning, allowing guests to transfer from the international JKIA airport to Wilson Airport on the same day if required. For guests arriving the day before, which we would prefer, we include the night at one of Nairobi's newer hotels, The Tamarind Tree, and all transfers. Should you require other hotel accommodation and transfers in Nairobi either before or after your safari, we will be happy to make these on your behalf.
The cost of the safari excludes airfares to Nairobi, allowing you to make your own personal flight arrangements, utilise frequent flyer air miles, arrive from other destinations, etc.
The cost of the safari includes the night before the safari in the Tamarind Tree Hotel, conveniently located near the Wilson Airport for your charter flight on Day 1 of the safari, transfers in Nairobi, a private charter flight by 12-seater Cessna Caravan C208 from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara at the start of your safari, full board in camp for six nights, all drinks including beer, imported wine, spirits and soft drinks, all Park fees, services of the camp staff (including complimentary daily laundry), and the assistance & guiding of world-renowned wildlife photographers and photo-journalists Daryl & Sharna Balfour. Our other guide & long-time partner Pierre Burton is among the leading naturalist-guides of East Africa and are indeed involved in the training of other up-and-coming guides in Kenya, while since 2018 our nephew & protege, FGASA-qualified Stevan Loffler has joined us on some departures.
The fully inclusive cost of the seven night safari in 2025 is US$ to be confirmed per person sharing. We can accommodate up to six singles at no supplementary charge. (SINGLES, APPLY EARLY!). Please note that due to currency fluctuations and other possible increases and surcharges beyond our control the tour price remains subject to change. A 30% per person non-refundable (but transferable in event of Covid-19 needs) deposit will be payable to confirm a booking. Full payment is required 100 days prior to commencement of the safari. The price does not include the airfare from your home to Nairobi, visas, airport departure taxes, curio purchases, gratuities for guides and camp staff or other personal expenses.
Daryl & Sharna Balfour have been among Africa’s leading wildlife photographers and authors for the past 34 years. They have published more than a dozen best-selling coffee-table books including: Simply Safari; African Elephants – A Celebration of Majesty; Chobe – Africa’s Untamed Wilderness; This is Botswana; ETOSHA; and Rhino – The Story of the Rhinoceros. Their work is represented worldwide by several of the world’s leading image libraries, and they have been published in magazines such as National Geographic, Audubon, BBC Wildlife, Africa Geographic, GEO, Stern! and numerous others.
Many international flights to Nairobi arrive in the early morning, allowing guests to transfer from the international JKIA airport to Wilson Airport on the same day if required. For guests arriving the day before, which we would prefer, we include the night at one of Nairobi's newer hotels, The Tamarind Tree, and all transfers. Should you require other hotel accommodation and transfers in Nairobi either before or after your safari, we will be happy to make these on your behalf.
The cost of the safari excludes airfares to Nairobi, allowing you to make your own personal flight arrangements, utilise frequent flyer air miles, arrive from other destinations, etc.
The cost of the safari includes the night before the safari in the Tamarind Tree Hotel, conveniently located near the Wilson Airport for your charter flight on Day 1 of the safari, transfers in Nairobi, a private charter flight by 12-seater Cessna Caravan C208 from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara at the start of your safari, full board in camp for six nights, all drinks including beer, imported wine, spirits and soft drinks, all Park fees, services of the camp staff (including complimentary daily laundry), and the assistance & guiding of world-renowned wildlife photographers and photo-journalists Daryl & Sharna Balfour. Our other guide & long-time partner Pierre Burton is among the leading naturalist-guides of East Africa and are indeed involved in the training of other up-and-coming guides in Kenya, while since 2018 our nephew & protege, FGASA-qualified Stevan Loffler has joined us on some departures.
The fully inclusive cost of the seven night safari in 2025 is US$ to be confirmed per person sharing. We can accommodate up to six singles at no supplementary charge. (SINGLES, APPLY EARLY!). Please note that due to currency fluctuations and other possible increases and surcharges beyond our control the tour price remains subject to change. A 30% per person non-refundable (but transferable in event of Covid-19 needs) deposit will be payable to confirm a booking. Full payment is required 100 days prior to commencement of the safari. The price does not include the airfare from your home to Nairobi, visas, airport departure taxes, curio purchases, gratuities for guides and camp staff or other personal expenses.
Daryl & Sharna Balfour have been among Africa’s leading wildlife photographers and authors for the past 34 years. They have published more than a dozen best-selling coffee-table books including: Simply Safari; African Elephants – A Celebration of Majesty; Chobe – Africa’s Untamed Wilderness; This is Botswana; ETOSHA; and Rhino – The Story of the Rhinoceros. Their work is represented worldwide by several of the world’s leading image libraries, and they have been published in magazines such as National Geographic, Audubon, BBC Wildlife, Africa Geographic, GEO, Stern! and numerous others.
The Mara remains one of the very best places in Africa to photograph hunting cheetahs.
