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A great experience that offered everything we hoped for and more. Game drives were great, with plenty of time spent with individual/groups of animals to ensure opportunities to take the best possible photos. Quite different from a traditional safari drive, where there is often emphasis on seeing as many species as possible, rather than observing behaviour including spending an afternoon with a leopard and its young cub, and improving our photography. John is an outstanding tour leader - very knowledgeable about the local wildlife as well as photography techniques. We learnt so much about camera settings, approaches to wildlife photography, framing pictures and editing. John was always encouraging, patient and helpful. We would be delighted to travel with him again. It was good to have a night in Nairobi to recover from the flight so that we could start our safari fresh, hotel there was good. Also having time at a hotel close to the airport between our flight back from the Mara and the international flight was much better than just sitting in the airport.
S.W. West Yorkshire, Sep24
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Kenya's Maasai Mara - Photo Safari
Tour Code: KEN06Join an exclusive group (maximum 6 people) for expert tuition from naturalist and wildlife photographer, John Haskew, who has spent more than 10 years living and working in East Africa, and is now based full time in the Maasai Mara.
£8,595 (Inc flights)
£7,845
Highlights
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Summary
Kenya’s Maasai Mara Game Reserve is one of the world’s most famous wildlife destinations – home to iconic African wildlife including African Elephant, Maasai Giraffe, Lion, Leopard and Cheetah, along with more than 450 species of bird. This 10-day holiday includes a 7-night stay at Mlima Cottage, a private residence located near the northern border of the reserve, where we will have a safari vehicle for our group (maximum of four per vehicle). We will enjoy game drives in the early morning and late afternoon, when soft light is optimal for photography, and rest back at the camp during the heat of the day. Each evening, we will return to the camp after sunset to enjoy dinner, share stories, and download our photos for reviewing and editing. Throughout our stay we will be hosted and guided by expert naturalist and wildlife photographer, John Haskew, who has spent more than 10 years living and working in East Africa.
- Stay at Mlima Cottage, a private residence
- Hosted and guided by expert naturalist and wildlife photographer, John Haskew
- Mlima Cottage is situated adjacent to prime Leopard and Lion territories
- Birds include Ostrich, Kori Bustard, Ground Hornbills and elegant Secretary Birds
- Maasai Giraffe, African Elephant, Burchell’s Zebra, Eland Topi and Blue Wildebeest all commonly seen
Grading
Grade A. This is a traditional African safari, and therefore suitable for anyone of any age, without any great necessity for extreme fitness.
The Masai Mara in Kenya is one of the world’s most famous wildlife destinations – home to iconic African wildlife including the big cats (Lion, Leopard and Cheetah) as well as browsing and grazing animals including Masai Giraffe, African Elephant, Hippopotamus, Burchell's Zebra, Eland, Topi, Wildebeest, and many, many more. Smaller mammals include Black-backed Jackal, Bat-eared Fox, Warthog and Serval. The Mara is also home to more than 450 bird species including the largest of all birds - the Ostrich - and the largest flying bird – the Kori Bustard. Huge Ground Hornbills and elegant Secretary Birds stride across the grasslands along with Grey Crowned Crane and smaller species such as Temminck's Coursers, Wattled Lapwing, Rosy-breasted Longclaw, Yellow-shouldered Widowbird and Capped Wheatear. Lone bushes or dead trees provide lookout perches for a variety of bee-eaters and rollers, including the beautiful Northern Carmine Bee-eater, whilst above them soar Martial Eagles, Lappet-faced, African White-backed, Hooded and Ruppell's Vultures, the latter four always on the lookout for a recent kill. Our photographic safari is scheduled in the ‘shoulder’ season in the Mara, when the number of vehicles is less than peak season but with still excellent opportunities to photograph the wildlife and resident big cats.
After a flight to Nairobi and an overnight stop, we take the short flight down to the Mara where we will spend seven nights at Mlima Cottage, a private residence located on the northern border of the main reserve and immediately adjacent to prime leopard and lion territories. Our typical day will target the early morning and late afternoon, when encounters with wildlife are most likely and soft light is optimal for photography. There will be an emphasis on the big cats, but also plenty of opportunities to photograph a wide range of species. We will be flexible during the day to adapt to the activity of the wildlife and photographic opportunities; depending on our preferences, we can stay out all day or return to the cottage during the heat of the midday sun for lunch and to rest. We will resume our safari in the mid-afternoon, staying out until sunset, again the optimal time for observing and photographing wildlife behaviour. We return to base after sunset to relax for the evening dinner and to share stories. The cottage has facilities to charge batteries and download photographs to your computer for reviewing and editing.
Throughout our stay at Mlima Cottage we will be hosted and guided by expert naturalist and wildlife photographer, John Haskew, who has spent more than ten years living and working in East Africa.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
We spend the first night at a comfortable hotel in Nairobi, followed by 7 nights at Mlima Cottage. This private residence is situated on the northern border of the Maasai Mara Reserve, in a prime location for wildlife viewing, close to renowned leopard and lion territories.
- Food:
All food is included in the price of the tour.
Reviews
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This was a superb trip. John was a great trip leader. He has the unique mix of great local knowledge of the area and wildlife along with huge photographic expertise which he was wager to educate us on. He was good humoured and dealt with the mix of people well. The two guides were equally excellent, often managing to find great photo opportunities when other safari vehicles seemed to be failing. The ability to get so close to so many different animals and seeing them interact with one another was truly magical.
I.S., Cambridgeshire, Nov '21 -
John is not only a great source of guidance with the technical side of photography, but his knowledge, experience and fieldcraft really allowed us to focus on taking photographs in great light and/or capturing photographs of the animals’ behaviour. Not only that, he was also able to support everyone’s learning, despite us all having different abilities and interests, and he made sure we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves in the process. The staff at Mara Olapa Camp and the food and accommodation were nothing short of a constant joy. The drivers/guides were some of the best I have met. It was a really enjoyable, fun week of constant highlights; the wildlife and photography opportunities were second to none. Everything about the trip was brilliant - I have travelled with Naturetrek many times now and have always enjoyed my trips - but this one was really special.
L.H., Renfrewshire, Nov '21
Dates & Prices
2025
Tour Leader: John Haskew
John is a wildlife photographer and filmmaker and has filmed on natural history productions for BBC, Netflix, Apple, Disney and National Geographic, including Planet Earth 3 and Our Planet 2.
He has travelled all over the world in search of wildlife, including Western Lowland Gorillas in the Congo, Lemurs in Madagascar and Orangutans in Sumatra, and has filmed in Antarctica and on the summit of Everest.
John has spent more than ten years living and working in East Africa and has an intimate knowledge of the wildlife of the Mara. He hosts and guides our photo safaris there, which highlight the very best wildlife and photography opportunities that the Mara has to offer.
2026
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The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.
Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:
- Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
- The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
- Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
- Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
- Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
- Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar
Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
Our specialist recommends...
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
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Mammal Watching Holidays
Many of the world’s mammals are instantly recognisable to us. Animals such as Lions, Tigers, elephants and bears capture our imaginations from an early age. At Naturetrek, we take great pleasure and pride in helping people to fulfil their lifelong dreams of seeing these iconic species in the wild. We also enjoy introducing our clients to some of the world’s more unusual mammals, many of which are just as fascinating.
Naturetrek Mammal Watching Tours
Many of our tours have a primary focus on mammals and we offer the widest choices of mammal-watching holidays across the globe, from the poles to the tropics. Our holidays are guided by at least one professional naturalist tour leader and usually benefit from additional guiding by expert local naturalist guides. We have holidays to see an incredible range of the world’s most sought-after mammals, such as orangutans, lemurs, bats, polar mammals, big cats, and mammals of the African savannah. A significant number of tours also targets some of the planet’s more unusual and elusive species, from pottos and pangolins to slender lorises and obscure cetaceans.
Here’s a selection of our mammal tours:
- India’s Kanha and Pench Tiger Reserves
- A cruise to Spitsbergen in search of Polar Bears
- A chance to see the ‘Big Five’ and much more in South Africa’s Kruger National Park
- Search for Blue, Fin and Sperm Whales in the Azores
- Close-up views of Brown Bear and Wolverine in Finland
- Enjoy the mammals of Kenya’s Masai Mara, while staying in luxury camps
- Search for elusive nocturnal mammals, such as Aardvark, Black-footed Cat and Aardwolf, in the Kalahari Desert
Bargain mammal selection
We offer a range of action-packed bargain holidays for the dedicated mammal enthusiast, which are exceptional value for money, from Belize to Zambia.
Our specialist recommends...
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
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Wildlife Photography Workshops with Expert Tuition
Our dedicated wildlife photography workshops are aimed at wildlife photographers of varying levels of experience and ability, including beginners with ambitions to learn and improve, keen amateurs looking to hone their skills, and accomplished photographers seeking exceptional photographic opportunities.
Naturetrek Wildlife Photography Holidays
We work with outstanding photographers who share our goals of spending quality, informed time watching – and capturing – once-in-a-lifetime moments. Joining one of our wildlife photography tours will not only improve your technique and sharpen your reflexes, but will also optimise your chances of capturing memorable, high-quality images of some of the world’s most sought-after species. Group sizes on these holidays are strictly limited, not only to allow you plenty of room in which to work, but, just as importantly, to enable you to benefit from the dedicated time of our expert leaders. Our leaders aim to challenge your approach to photography, giving you the chance to pursue new avenues of creativity. They are also expert naturalists, enabling them to provide insight that will help you see your subjects in a new light, and improve your ability to predict and capture interesting behaviour.
Our tours offer:
- Expert advice on how to get the most out of your equipment
- Expert advice on composition and photographic technique
- Photo editing tuition fills time that is unproductive for shooting
- Extended time in hotspots to allow a focus on target species such as Jaguars, Tigers, bears, puffins and otters
- Picturesque landscapes, visited at optimal times
- Limited group size
- Like-minded travelling companions
Our specialist recommends...
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
Safari Holidays – Experience Earth’s Greatest Continent for Wildlife
Why choose Africa for wildlife safaris?
When people think of visiting Africa, safari holidays are regularly at the top of the list. Riding in an open-top jeep along dusty tracks and looking out across sun-baked savannahs teeming with big game is arguably one of life’s best experiences.
For the nature enthusiast, Naturetrek’s African safari holidays offer unparalleled opportunities. Africa is the world’s greatest continent for wildlife, being home to many of the planet’s most iconic mammals and birds.
Many of these animals are relatively easy to observe and exist in scarcely believable abundance, guaranteeing that our African safari tours are always full of amazing sightings.
From the Okavango Delta in Botswana and Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park to Namibia’s Etosha National Park and the superb Kruger National Park in South Africa, our African wildlife safaris will take you to all the continent’s most unmissable destinations.
Classic African safari holidays
We offer classic safari-style packages to Botswana, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and Namibia.
On these African safari tours you will stay in or very near the prime game-rich areas such as national parks and reserves, heading out daily for wildlife watching in vehicles. There will usually be additional chances to join night drives and look for nocturnal species.
On the majority of our African wildlife safaris, even those in our bargain range, we are able to use superb accommodation, including in remote locations. Tented, fully serviced camps with private facilities are the norm.
Expert naturalist guides
All of our African safari tours are led by expert naturalist guides. Most of our tours are led by superb local guides (the quality of guiding in many parts of Africa is second to none), while some of our longer tours are joined by a UK leader.
What wildlife might I see?
Africa is the best place in the world for seeing large concentrations of big game such as African Bush Elephant, Lion, Cape Buffalo, Giraffe and Blue Wildebeest. On Naturetrek’s African safari tours we visit some of the world’s most famous national parks and reserves, such as the Serengeti, Kruger and Okavango Delta, as well as some less well known regions, in search of a full range of the continent’s most spectacular mammals, from Hippos, Wild Dogs and White Rhinos to Leopards, bushbabies and African Wildcats.
The birdlife is equally staggering, with an enormous variety of charismatic species found across the continent, from bee-eaters and hornbills to finches, weavers and a stunning diversity of birds of prey. Naturetrek’s African wildlife safaris offer a chance to search for a superb variety of species and avian spectacles, such as flamingo-lined lakes in the Rift Valley, bizarre Shoebills in Uganda’s swamps, and giant Ostriches strutting across endless savannahs.
See our list of the best African Safari Holidays
Our specialist recommends...
"We offer a superb choice of expert-led African safari holidays ranging from 9-day bargain tours in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park to a 17-day birdwatching and mammal-viewing safari through Namibia, Botswana and Zambia. For those who have previously enjoyed a traditional safari, I would recommend our ‘South Africa’s Rare Mammals’ tour, which targets some of the continent’s most rarely seen creatures, such as Aardwolf, Black-footed Cat, Cape Porcupine, African Wildcat, Brown Hyaena and the iconic Aardvark
Paul Stanbury – Operations Manager
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
Enquire
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
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