Explore abundant wildlife in stunning landscapes with your private guide
Kenya is a photographer’s paradise. The country’s diverse cultures, abundant wildlife, and stunning landscapes make it an ideal destination for photography.
The colours are earthy during the dry season. However, the flora burst forth in hundreds of vivid colours when the rains arrive, and dramatic cloud formations add drama to landscape photography.
Our personalised photo safaris in Kenya allow you to set the goals, and we make it happen. A private vehicle and guide give you flexibility, so if you want to wait for the right moment or move on, you’re in charge.
Photography safaris in Kenya cater to photographers of all levels, from complete beginners with a single camera to veteran photographers with years of experience. The passion for capturing beautiful photographs is important.
We highly recommend a private safari with your own expert guide. With years of experience, our guides have the skills to position you in the right place and time to compose beautiful pictures.
Moreover, you’ll never have to worry about vehicle companions who want to move on while you want to wait for the perfect photo.
Each safari is tailored to your preferences, whether you stay in a luxury lodge or fully immerse yourself in the wild at a tented camp or camping safari.
If you love observing wildlife in stunning landscapes and yearn for an experience in nature, a photo safari in Kenya is the perfect choice.
‘I love taking guests on photo safaris because I take great pleasure in helping them achieve their goals. I truly enjoy the challenge and derive just as much satisfaction from being a part of their success in capturing stunning images.’Simon | Kenya Safari Guide
Visiting remote parks during the shoulder seasons will provide a secluded experience where you can take photos without other vehicles in the frame.
Meru National Park and Samburu National Reserve are great examples.
For a dry season safari during the peak season, consider private conservancies like the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, which restrict visitor numbers.
During the low season, popular parks like Amboseli or the Masai Mara have fewer visitors and offer incredible landscape photography.
Visit the parks during the shoulder seasons: from November to the third week of December, January to March, and the first three weeks of June, when there are fewer visitors and a better experience.
Consequently, you’ll have a great chance of capturing natural photographs without signs of other visitors. The low season during long rains has even fewer visitors, making it an excellent time to go on a Kenya photo safari tour.
Kenya’s wildlife and landscapes endure a five-month dry season. The final month, October, is dramatic, with dust devils swirling around the wildlife congregating at the last remaining water source.
When the dry season breaks in November and rain returns to the plains, it is a fantastic time to be in nature. Towering storm clouds fill the air, and the rain breathes new life into landscapes.
If you are a landscape or wildlife photographer, this is an epic time to capture beautiful photos.
June to October, January & February Best time for wildlife photography
June to October, January & February Best time for wildlife photography
During the dry season, sparse vegetation and a high concentration of wildlife gather near permanent water sources, making game viewing easier.
The colours during this season are earthy. However, dust in the air can limit the clarity of the views. For instance, at Amboseli National Park, the view of Mount Kilimanjaro may be obscured during this period.
January to March, another dry period, also offers excellent wildlife viewing.
April to May & NovemberBest time for landscape photography
April to May & NovemberBest time for landscape photography
Kenya’s tropical climate experiences two rainy seasons. The short rains, also the shoulder season, occur unpredictably from November to December. If it does rain, it usually transpires in passing afternoon thunderstorms.
The long rains take place from April to May with daily heavy rainfall. Some parts of the parks become inaccessible; however, it is the low season with low visitor numbers, which is ideal for a Kenya photo safari.
The rains clear the air of dust, turn landscapes green and create stunning cloud formations.
Our service-oriented travel expert can tailor any of the below trips to your personal preferences and photography goals.
Alternatively, let us know what you have in mind, and we plan your journey from scratch.
Together, we create your individual dream photo safari. Get in touch!
Places Masai Mara National Reserve
from 2,210 USD (based on 7 persons)
Places Solio Game Reserve, Samburu National Reserve, Ol Pejeta Conservancy
from 1,610 USD (based on 7 persons)
Places Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Lake Nakuru National Park, Crescent Island & Lake Naivasha, Masai Mara National Reserve
from 2,170 USD (based on 7 persons)
Places Tsavo West National Park, Amboseli National Park, Lake Naivasha, Masai Mara National Reserve
from 2,755 USD (based on 7 persons)
Places Mara North Conservancy
from 3,785 USD (based on 2 persons)
Places Samburu National Reserve, Aberdare National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Masai Mara National Reserve
from 3,100 USD (based on 7 persons)
When choosing accommodation for a Kenya photo safari, there are two things to consider:
Firstly, we recommend overnighting inside the national park or protected area. This way, you can start your game drive early in the morning and don’t have to spend the Blue Hour en route to the park gate.
Secondly, we recommend including camps with photography hides when possible. There are a few select camps that offer the opportunity to spend the night in a specifically designed photo hide.
This is a fully equipped lowly built room on eye-level with the wildlife, usually next to a water hole. Capture wildlife at the Golden Hour and nocturnal secretive creatures.
When going on a private photography safari, the right vehicle is crucial. We provide a specially adapted Land Cruiser 4×4 with large sliding windows, charging points to charge your devices, and a roof hatch to take unobstructed photos.
An expert guide is equally important. We will pair you with an experienced guide who knows how to get their guests in the right place to take the perfect photo. Together, you will explore beautiful wildernesses in search of picture-perfect images. Additionally, you will stay in exceptional accommodation and enjoy great food and hospitality on your Kenya photo safari.
Photography hides offer the rare opportunity to capture wildlife at night. Like these two lionesses drinking at a waterhole at Lions Bluff Lodge in Lumo Conservancy.
Larsen's Camp in Samburu is one of the select camps that have a professional photography hide.
Diverse habitats during different seasons of the year offer diverse landscape and wildlife photo opportunities.
During the day, take advantage of unobstructed views from large sliding windows and pop up roof in our safari vehicles.
On a private photo safari in Kenya, you can wait for the right moment to take photos home that tell magical stories.
Camps like Lentorre Lodge facilitate aerial photography excursions in the Great Rift Valley and across Lake Magadi. Photo: Jeffrey Wu.
Photography hides usually offer comfortable chairs, a fridge and even beds, so you can spend the night waiting for the perfect moment.
Landscape photography is at its best during or right after the rainy seasons. The air is crisp, the light is golden, and the landscapes under a vast African sky are at their most beautiful.
Amboseli National Park, Nakuru National Park, Tsavo West National Park and Samburu National Reserve are stunning at this time of year.
Wildlife photography is fantastic from June to March. Ol Pejeta Conservancy has one of the highest densities of predators in Kenya, not to mention many rare species.
Along with Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, they are excellent places to take wildlife photographs. At Ol Pejeta, you can join their lion tracking team for the day.
Underwater photography is superb at Watamu and Malindi Marine Parks, both belonging to a UNESCO-recognised biosphere.
At Tsavo West National Park, you can enter the underwater room at Mzima Springs to capture photos of hippos and crocodiles underwater with some luck.
Night sky photography in Kenya is incredible thanks to its position on the equator, making it possible to see northern and southern hemisphere constellations.
Most places far from civilisation offer superb night sky views, and if you visit just after the rains, the sky will be dust-free
Urban photography is outstanding throughout Kenya. Thanks to colourful buildings and entrepreneurial comings and goings, everyday life makes for great photos. Make sure you ask permission before taking someone’s photo. Many herders are especially sensitive to people taking photos of their cows.
The old town of Mombasa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers Arabic and Portuguese architecture. The intricately carved door frames on many of the buildings make exquisite photos.
On a safari, you will find the charging facilities inside the vehicles extremely useful. Large sliding windows and a roof-hatch, added to the fact that your guide will stop at precisely the angle you want, will enable you to capture beautiful photos. Additionally, a small bean bag helps rest large lenses on window frames.
No matter how good our vehicle’s seals are, dust will likely enter the vehicle and cover your belongings. Therefore, we recommend packing sensitive equipment, like lenses, in dry bags to limit exposure to dust. We also recommend wrapping delicate equipment in a soft material to avoid damage.
When you arrive at your camp or lodge, you’ll find an area to set up your laptop so you can scrutinise the pictures you took during the day and back up your work.
There are a some select accommodations in Kenya specialising in catering for photographers. Among them are the Soroi Lodges with a photography hide in Samburu National Reserve and Lumo Conservancy in the Tsavo West area.
Another example is Lentorre Lodge in the Olkirimatian Conservancy in the Great Rift Valley past Lake Magadi. They offer the use of a professional photography hide as well as aerial photography from a helicopter.
Lentorre’s unique location gives you the opportunity to capture a remote and untouched region of Kenya, with stunning wildlife and landscape photography – day as well as nighttime photography.
Adding these types of accommodation to your Kenya photo safari will make it a true highlight.
We suggest reading our Where to Go and Best Time to Go guides, giving you a better idea of where and when to travel on your Kenya photo tour. You can also read our reviews and talk to one of our travel experts for all the information you need, obligation-free.
If you book with us, a travel expert will work with you to plan your perfect photography safari based on your preferences. They will offer several options without overwhelming you with information. You can be involved with every detail or leave it to us.
During the planning phase, we recommend booking a private safari. This will allow you to stay at a sighting for as long as you need to capture the perfect shot.
Choosing accommodations inside the parks is also an excellent idea to minimise travel times during the blue and golden hours.
Additionally, we suggest visiting during the shoulder season when there are fewer visitors and planning your trip during or after the rains for stunning scenery.
After booking your Kenya photo safari, we will send you several information guides to help you prepare, including what to pack. Moreover, we will be available to assist you with anything you need from the time of inquiry until you return home. We look forward to making your dream safari a reality.
We will get back to you within 2 working days.
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