Mara Photo Safari 2016: Sudhir Shivaram (Sept 17 – 22)

Arrive into Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta Interational Airport. Go through immigration and visa formalities. Our reps will be there to transfer you immediately to your private charter flight to the Masai Mara. We arrive by lunch time to the camp, have lunch and head for the afternoon safari.

Four full days in Governor’s Main Camp and aiming for full day safaris, with your days organized in conjunction with Sudhir. The focus of these full days will be to capture your river crossings and other action sequences. The variety and density of wildlife in the Mara never disappoints, and especially not in peak season. Sudhir will interact with the group during the workshop so that you can benefit to the fullest from his expert tutelage.

Today, after a morning game drive followed by lunch, you will be driven to Musaira to catch your private charter flight backto JKIA, Nairobi, from where you will catch your international flight home. Working on the basis of your international flight, the charter flight will be timed accordingly. Once again, this is door to door service, with no wasted time at all.

The Great Migration is an event not to be missed. Be part of this Wildlife Photography Worksop designed for photographers to capture all the action in an exclusive way. Every single aspect planned to make the best out of the trip.

Important aspects of the entire workshop

Your travel from Nairobi to Masai Mara:
Travel by private charter flight to the Masai Mara.

– No wasting precious time spending the whole day on the road to the Mara.
– No wasting time transferring to Wilson Airport and thence to the Mara – your private charter flight will be waiting for you at JKIA itself and you will fly directly to the Mara as soon as you exit your international flight.
– We have booked two seats per person : Instead of the usual 15kg luggage allowed on normal bush flights, you will be allowed 30 kgs per person.

Accommodation: Governors’ Main Camp (Click here for camp website)

The setting is magical. So much so that almost a century ago it was reserved, exclusively, for Kenya’s colonial Governors. Governors’ Camp nestles in the forest along the winding banks of the Mara River, it’s waters teeming with bird-life, hippo and crocodile, in the heart of Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve.
Some of the tents line the riverbank, tucked into the forest they enjoy uninterrupted views over the Mara River, others have views across the sweeping plains of the Masai Mara. Created in 1972 Governors’ Camp set new standards in luxury for a tented camp. Today it’s still Africa’s best.
Everything is under canvas, all tents have en-suit bathrooms with hot and cold running water and flushing toilets. There is a bar tent with deck overlooking the Mara River and dinning tent with views over the plains.
Governors Camp has just been awarded a Silver Eco Rating from Eco- Tourism Kenya due to our sustainable tourism practices in place in camp.

Location of the Camp:

Highlights of the Camp:

Property facilities:
– Bar
– Conference Centre
– Internet Access
– Mobile Connectivity
– Restaurant

Room facilities:
– Complimentary Wi-Fi
– Dressing Gowns
– En-Suite
– Shower
– Verandah

Included
– Full Board
– Drinks (local brands) included

The All-Important Safari Vehicle

Perhaps nothing is as important to the wildlife photographer as his vehicle. Here is a photo of the type of vehicle we will be using on this safari:

– Fully open-sided vehicles which will give you fantastic angles and make for a comfortable shooting environment. When you are spending long hours in a vehicle, then this becomes paramount.
– The top is removable and can be taken down upon request for a totally open vehicle.
– Although these are large enough to comfortably accommodate six people, on this safari there will be only 4 people per vehicle. More space for you. More room for your equipment as well.
– Make a 6 seater vehicle into a 4 seater vehicle by removing 2 centre seats for better shooting flexibility and space.

Price
Based on 12 persons travelling together with Sudhir as Photo Mentor and Tour Leader

USD $4200 per person (Double Occupancy) inclusive of Service Tax @ 3.5%
USD $4600 per person (Single Occupancy) inclusive of Service Tax @ 3.5%

INCLUSIONS
Accommodation
– Arrival Meet and greet at JKIA.
– Twin beds/Double beds.
– Bonfire in the evening.
– Wifi in camp.
– In tent charging facilities.
– Meet and bid goodbye at JKIA.
– All park fees.
– Laundry.
– Hot water for bathing.
– Hot tea and coffee during the morning.

Meals
– Alcohol (House drinks, Gin, Vodka, Beer, soft drinks included)
– Snacks (Juices, Fruit and Sandwiche) on arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta Airport.
– All meals – Breakfast, lunch  and dinner
– Indian food will be served courtesy a trained chef – vegetarian and non-vegetarian selection.
– Hot lunch delivered to you in the field, in case you are doing full day safari.
– Lunch on last day, since you are departing in the afternoon

Activities
– Silver level guides
– Flexibility of doing game drives as per requirement of group
– Full day game drives to be done, if required.
– Masai Dance
– Hot Air Balloon -OPTIONAL @ USD 450 pp for participants

Vehicles
– 3 x Open vehicles
– 4 pax per vehicle
– Vehicle with Charging points
– Vehicle with wifi hotspots
– Bean Bags
– Rope wrapped bamboo pole or rod to side of vehicles for resting camera and shooting.
– Make a 6 seater vehicle into a 4 seater vehicle by removing 2 centre seats for better shooting flexibility and space.

FLIGHTS
– 2 x Charter Aircraft (13 seater each) JKIA – Governors
– 2 x Charter Aircraft (13 seater each) – Governors – JKIA
– Luggage allowance – 30 kgs pp, inclusive of hand luggage. Each passenger will have 2 seats in charter flight – one for self and one for camera bag. Please ensure that the camera bag is ot too large. There is no cabin hold in these aircrafts
– Clothes etc in soft top bag in bottom hold.

Excluded

– International air tickets & visa fees;
– International travel and medical insurance & vaccinations (please see https://www.chaloafrica.com/travel-insurance-a-guide-for-african-safaris/ for additional information);
– Porterages, tipping and gratuities to staff and guides;
– Extra meals, visits and activities not indicated;
– Shopping and other items of a personal nature;
– Anything else not mentioned in the inclusions;