KENYA PHOTO TOUR

If you want to photograph Africa's iconic wildlife without the congestion that defines peak safari season, this trip is built for you.

The route covers ground most Kenya photo tours skip entirely — Samburu, Meru, and Solio Ranch alongside the Masai Mara — and December puts you in the field when the parks are quiet, the landscapes are green, and you are often the only vehicle at a sighting.

You do not need to be an experienced wildlife photographer. You need to be curious, patient, and genuinely interested in spending time in the field rather than just passing through.

Kenya is a well-established travel destination with a functioning tourism infrastructure and a long history of hosting international visitors. The parks and reserves on this itinerary — Samburu, Meru, the Aberdare region, Lake Naivasha, and the Masai Mara — are all areas with decades of experience welcoming travelers safely.

Standard precautions apply as they would anywhere.

We travel as a private group throughout, which adds an additional layer of ease and security. Our local guide and drivers know this territory well and manage all in-country logistics from the moment you arrive.

We have rated this tour as Relaxed.

Daily activities are primarily game drives, and you will spend most of your time seated comfortably in a private safari vehicle. Roads inside the parks can be bumpy, and some camps have stairs or uneven terrain between buildings. Guests should be comfortable getting in and out of a safari vehicle and managing short walks at a relaxed pace.

There is no significant hiking, no altitude to contend with, and no extended periods on foot. If you have specific health concerns, contact us before booking and we will be happy to talk through the details.

Kenya has several health considerations worth preparing for in advance of your trip.

Malaria is present in all the areas we visit. We strongly recommend consulting your doctor or a travel medicine specialist about prophylaxis at least four to six weeks before departure. Options include Malarone, Doxycycline, and Lariam — your physician can advise on what suits you best. In addition to medication, bring insect repellent with DEET, long sleeves and trousers for evenings, and consider a travel mosquito net if you are particularly sensitive.

Yellow fever vaccination may be required depending on which countries you are traveling from or through before Kenya. Check current requirements for your specific itinerary with your doctor or the Kenyan embassy in your country.

Routine vaccines should be up to date. Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Tetanus are commonly recommended for travel to East Africa. Consult a travel medicine specialist for current guidance.

Bring an adequate supply of any personal medications, copies of your prescriptions, and a brief doctor's letter if relevant. Medical facilities in the parks are limited, so having everything you need on your person throughout the safari is important.

Clothing for a Kenya safari is practical above all else. Neutral colors — khaki, olive, tan, grey — are standard for good reason: they keep you comfortable in the heat and do not disturb wildlife. Avoid white, bright colors, and camouflage patterns.

Clothing:

• Lightweight long-sleeved shirts and trousers for game drives and evenings

• A warm mid-layer — mornings in the vehicles at Samburu and the Mara can be genuinely cold

• A light windproof jacket

• Comfortable walking shoes or boots for camp environments

• Sandals for downtime at lodges

• Hat with a brim for sun protection

• Sunglasses

Photography gear:

• A telephoto lens in the 100-500mm range is the core tool for game drive photography

• A versatile zoom (24-105mm or similar) for landscapes, camp environments, and the Maasai village visit

• A second camera body if you have one — lens changes in the field cost you shots

• Plenty of memory cards and spare batteries

• A good dust cloth and lens cleaning kit — dust is a constant on game drives

• A sturdy camera bag that fits between your knees in the vehicle

Personal:

• High-SPF sunscreen and lip balm

• Insect repellent with DEET

• Personal medications and a small first aid kit

• Reusable water bottle (we provide 1 liter of bottled water per person per day)

• Headlamp for early morning starts

Most international visitors require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) to enter Kenya. It is obtained online before departure, straightforward to complete, and valid for 90 days. The process typically takes a few days, so apply well before your travel date.

Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date from Kenya, with at least two blank pages available for entry stamps.

Keep a copy of your passport and eTA stored separately from the originals throughout the trip. We will provide full entry requirement details and links in your pre-trip information pack.

Yes — travel and medical insurance, including emergency medical evacuation coverage, is mandatory for all participants. Medical facilities inside Kenya's national parks and reserves are limited, and evacuation from remote areas requires specialist resources. This is not optional.

We recommend and partner with RoamRight.

Purchase your insurance as soon as your spot is confirmed to protect your deposit and any pre-trip costs.

The currency in Kenya is the Kenyan Shilling (KES). US dollars are widely accepted at safari camps, lodges, and for tipping, and are generally the most practical foreign currency to carry.

ATMs are available in Nairobi and in larger towns. We recommend withdrawing cash or exchanging currency before entering the parks, as there are no banking facilities in Samburu, Meru, or the Masai Mara. Most lodges accept major credit cards for incidentals, but cash is essential for tips and personal purchases.

Tipping is customary in Kenya and expected by guides and camp staff. As a general reference: safari guides USD $15 to $20 per day, camp staff USD $5 to $10 per day, drivers USD $5 to $10 per day. This is at your discretion.

The tour includes all meals, park fees, and activities as listed, so your main out-of-pocket expenses will be tips, alcoholic beverages, and any personal items.

Accommodation on this safari moves from a well-located airport hotel in Nairobi to a series of tented camps and lodges chosen for their access to wildlife and their sense of place in the landscape.

In Nairobi, we use the Hilton Garden Inn Nairobi Airport — practical, comfortable, and close to the terminal for early departures and late arrivals.

In Samburu, Ashnil Samburu Camp sits directly on the Ewaso Nyiro River, which means wildlife passes through camp. In Meru, Ikweta Safari Camp provides a quieter base in one of Kenya's most beautiful and least-visited parks. The Aberdare Country Club offers a very different setting — a historic property with sweeping views and excellent access to Solio Ranch. On Lake Naivasha, Enashipai Resort and Spa is a well-regarded property on the lakeshore. The Masai Mara closes the safari at Mara Intrepids Camp, one of the established camps in the reserve.

All accommodations are en suite with full facilities. This is a comfortable safari, not a camping expedition.

Safari camp food in Kenya is consistently good and often genuinely impressive given the locations. Camps take hospitality seriously, and meals are a proper sit-down affair — breakfast before the morning drive, lunch back at camp, dinner under the stars.

Expect fresh produce, local proteins, a mix of East African and international dishes, and strong coffee. Dietary restrictions are well accommodated at all the properties on this itinerary — let us know at the time of booking and we will confirm arrangements in advance.

All breakfasts, lunches, and dinners as listed in the itinerary are included in the tour price, along with non-alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic drinks are available at the camps and billed separately.

Coverage varies significantly across the itinerary. In Nairobi, mobile and Wi-Fi service is reliable. In Samburu and Meru, coverage is limited and inconsistent — expect to be largely offline, especially in the field. The Aberdare region and Lake Naivasha have better coverage. The Masai Mara has patchy service in some camps and none in others.

If you plan to stay connected, a local Kenyan SIM card purchased at the airport in Nairobi is the most cost-effective option. Major carriers include Safaricom (the most widely used and recommended) and Airtel. Most lodges provide Wi-Fi in common areas, though speeds vary.

Plan for several days with limited or no connectivity during the safari. Let family and friends know before you leave.

Kenya uses 240V at 50Hz. The standard plug type is Type G — the same three-pin rectangular format used in the UK. Travelers from North America will need both a plug adapter and, for devices that are not dual voltage, a voltage converter.

Most modern electronics — laptops, camera chargers, phone chargers — are dual voltage (100-240V) and only need a plug adapter. Check the label on your devices before you go.

All lodges and camps on the itinerary provide standard power outlets. Bring a multi-port USB charger to keep batteries topped up overnight, and consider a small power bank for full days in the field.

1) Booking procedure:

All prices for the tours are quoted in US Dollars.

We require a deposit to reserve a place on the selected photo tour. The deposit is due at the time of booking and can be paid online via credit card; ACH and Debit Cards are also accepted.

Other than the deposit, you must complete the registration form for you and your guests, if any.

If you are traveling solo and want to share a room, we will try our best to find you a match. However, if, for any reason, we don't find a suitable match, the single supplement fee will apply.

We will email you shortly after confirming your booking. Please do not book your flights at this time unless otherwise indicated by us. We will email you once the minimum number of guests to run the tour has been reached.

2) Balance of Payments:

The final payment for the trip is 90 days before departure. Such payment shall be made via credit card or wire transfer. Failure to meet the payment schedule will result in cancellation and forfeit of the deposit.

3) Cancellations and Refunds:

If DAK Photography Inc. must cancel the trip for any reason, 100% of paid deposits will be fully refunded. We reserve the right to cancel any trip/tour/group due to insufficient registration at any time. In the event of such cancellation, those with reservations shall be notified as soon as possible, and a full refund of the trip payment will be given.

Please note that deposits are non-refundable. However, they may be applied as a credit toward a future trip with us, provided the credit is used within 12 months of the original trip's start date.

If a guest needs to cancel, we must receive written notification. Email is accepted.

The following cancellation fees apply:

• 120 days or more before departure: no charge.

• 61 days to 119 days before departure: 50% of the tour fee.

• 60 days or less before departure: 100% of the tour fee.

In the event that you have to cancel, we will do our best to fill your spot. If we do so, we will refund 100% of the tour fee minus an administrative fee of $250.

Refunds will not be made for any other costs you may have incurred as a result of your booking.

Travel and medical insurance, including emergency evacuation coverage, are mandatory for all participants. To safeguard your investment, we strongly recommend purchasing this coverage as soon as your trip is confirmed. We also encourage you to select an insurance policy that covers non-refundable deposits and other pre-trip expenses in case of unforeseen cancellations.

All refunds will be processed within 30 days of receiving written confirmation of your cancellation.