Experience an exclusive 16-day Kenya Tour tailored for wildlife enthusiasts. This meticulously crafted itinerary balances adventure and comfort, featuring Samburu National Reserve exploring rare northern Kenya species like Grevy’s Zebra and Somali Ostrich, exclusive boat rides at Lake Baringo for water bird and waterscape photography,3 nights in the legendary Masai Mara National Reserve capturing the Great Migration drama, big cats, and iconic savanna species, and a visit to Amboseli National Park beneath Mount Kilimanjaro where you’ll photograph water birds, elephant herds, and breathtaking landscapes with Africa’s highest peak as your dramatic backdrop.
Exclusive Kenya Photo Tour - Overview
Birdwatching East Africa Tours proudly presents a 16-day Kenya Birding & Wildlife Tour: birding and wildlife, perfect for wildlife and birds enthusiasts and their families. Additionally, this meticulously crafted itinerary balances adventure and comfort, featuring Samburu National Reserve, 3 nights in Masai Mara National Reserve, and a visit to Amboseli National Park beneath Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Moreover, at Amboseli National Park, you’ll photograph water birds, elephants, and breathtaking landscapes with Africa’s highest peak as your backdrop. Our expert guide, Chege wa Kariuki—whose work graces our website—shares pro photography tips, making this tour ideal for beginners too.
Furthermore, our custom safari vehicle offers six window seats, ensuring ample space for three photographers with large lenses. Each gets unobstructed views from both sides, while a fourth can sit beside the guide. For optimal opportunities, the front seat features an open roof for panoramic shots.
Highlights
- Diverse Wildlife: Photograph rare species like Grevy’s Zebra, Somali Ostrich, and Big Five.
- Expert Guidance: Learn from Chege’s 25+ years of field experience.
- Cultural Immersion: Visit Samburu villages and Maasai homesteads.
- Exclusive Access: Boat rides at Lake Baringo and sunrise balloon safaris in Masai Mara.
Itinerary
The 16-day Kenya Wildlife Tour begins with a transfer to Amboseli National Park. (Depending on your country of origin, it may be recommended to arrive previous night before for ample rest time before embarking on our epic birds and big mammals photo tour. Hotel room the previous night could be arranged).
Amboseli National Park, located on the leeward side of Africa’s highest mountain, the Kilimanjaro on the Kenya/Tanzania border. Lunch at the lodge and later an afternoon gamedrive.
Overnight at Amboseli Serena Lodge
Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge was created for adventurers with an African dream. With Mount Kilimanjaro soaring majestically just beyond the golden, acacia-specked savannah, the safari lodge offers a graceful blend of stark beauty and lavish comfort in the heart of Kenya’s Amboseli National Park
Morning and afternoon game drive in the park. Though a relatively dry, dust and mainly open area, it collects lots of underground water from Mt. Kilimanjaro hence several springs of swampy habitats of papyrus that attracts huge concentration of wildlife especially African Elephants, Eastern White-bearded Wildebeest, Common Zebra, Common Warthogs, Masai Giraffe, Gerenuk, Impala, Lesser Kudu with a variety of waterfowls. There’s also the open acacia woodland and Commiphora bushland around the park.
Overnight at Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge
Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge was created for adventurers with an African dream. With Mount Kilimanjaro soaring majestically just beyond the golden, acacia-specked savannah, the safari lodge offers a graceful blend of stark beauty and lavish comfort in the heart of Kenya’s Amboseli National Park
After an early morning breakfast and enroute game drive before a transfer to Thika.
Overnight at Kariminu River Camp
Your ultimate birder’s base camp, just 45 minutes from Nairobi. Set on a premier riverside birding corridor in Kenya, the camp offers exclusive access to a private bird hide right on the property.
Leave for Samburu National Reserve through the central highlands comprising of the small scale farms and large tracks of pineapple and coffee plantations. Lunch along the way.
Overnight at Ashnil Samburu Camp.
Ashnil Samburu Camp is a luxury tented set in the spectacular backdrop drop of the Mighty Ol Olokwe mountain fronting Ewaso Nyiro River.
Big Game here includes species well restricted to the arid conditions and nearly north of equator such as Gravy’s Zebra, Somali Ostrich, Reticulated Giraffe, Gerenuk among large herds of Elephants, Impalas, Bright’s Gazelle and Thompson’s Gazelle, Desert Warthog.
Vulturine Guineafowl is a species we hope not to miss. The Samburu tribesmen (closely resembling and sharing the Maa language with Masai) inhabits the area and a visit to their homestead is a treat to remember.
Overnight at Ashnil Samburu Tented Camp
Ashnil Samburu Camp is a luxury tented set in the spectacular backdrop drop of the Mighty Ol Olokwe mountain fronting Ewaso Nyiro River.
After an early morning, breakfast and game drive, the Kenya photo tour leaves for Ol Pejeta Wildlife Conservancy on the base of Mt Kenya. Late afternoon game drive in Ol Pejeta Conservancy
A game drive across Ol Pejeta Conservancy is nothing short of extraordinary. Unlike traditional national parks, this 90,000-acre wildlife haven — including the last two remaining northern white rhinos on Earth, protected around the clock by armed guards.
Overnight at Serena Sweetwater’s Tented Camp
Embrace the awe-inspiring natural beauty of your surroundings, and set the stage for a visit you won’t soon forget. Located within the sprawling Ol Pejeta Conservancy, one of Kenya’s most noteworthy conservancies and home to the ‘Big Five’ (elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo and leopard), Sweetwaters Serena Camp offers a holiday experience unlike any other.
Spent another day in Ol Pejeta Conservation. We hope to see the thriving populations of black rhinos, lions, elephants, leopards, and rarely the endangered African wild dogs roaming open plains and acacia-dotted woodlands. Beyond the predators and giants, expect herds of Common & Gravy Zebra, Reticulated Giraffe, Common Eland, Beisa Oryx, and African Buffalo gathering at waterholes. The sweeping views of Mount Kenya — especially dramatic at sunrise and sunset — turn every safari drive into a photographer’s dream
Overnight at Serena Sweetwater’s Tented Camp
Embrace the awe-inspiring natural beauty of your surroundings, and set the stage for a visit you won’t soon forget. Located within the sprawling Ol Pejeta Conservancy, one of Kenya’s most noteworthy conservancies and home to the ‘Big Five’ (elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo and leopard), Sweetwaters Serena Camp offers a holiday experience unlike any other.
After breakfast transfer to Lake Nakuru National Park. Afternoon game drive in the park
Overnight at Lake Nakuru Lodge
Lake Nakuru Lodge is a beautiful eco-lodge situated inside Lake Nakuru National Park boasting unobstructed views of the lake and wildlife.
After an early breakfast or picnic breakfast spend the early morning hours in the park photographing, lunch at the lodge and leaving later for Lake Baringo Conservation Area.
Overnight at Tumbili Cliff Lodge
Tumbili Cliff Lodge is ideally located on the banks of Lake Baringo, nestled on a rocky hill, 5 meters above the level of the lake. This privileged position offers a unique view of breathtaking countryside.
Birding around Lake Baringo Conservation Area is interesting by the fact that we spend most of the day outside the car. We hope to see some of the specialties such as the Hemprich’s, Jackson’s Hornbills, White-faced Scops Owl, Bristle-crowned Starling, Brown-tailed Rock Chat. And while on the boat ride close proximity with Hippos and Crocodiles.
Overnight at Tumbili Cliff Lodge
Tumbili Cliff Lodge is ideally located on the banks of Lake Baringo, nestled on a rocky hill, 5 meters above the level of the lake. This privileged position offers a unique view of breathtaking countryside.
Lake Naivasha, one of the two fresh water lakes along the rift valley. A boat ride on the lake gives us opportunities for close shots of some waterfowls such as Great White Pelican, Goliath Heron among the gulls.
Overnight at Elsamere Centre
(The former house of George and Joy Adamson of the Born Free, Living Free, To Walk with the Lions films etc)
Elsamere was not designed as a resort, it was created as a home and by staying here you will feel like part of the family. Learn about the history of it’s wildlife story, as well as plans for it’s future. You can be as active or inactive as you like. Enjoy afternoon tea prepared on the lawn by our chef as you watch the local wildlife wander across the garden. Take a trip across the lake spotting birds with our expert guides in one of the most densely populated bird habitats.
Kenya photo tour visits Crater Lake Sanctuary or Lake Oloiden where flocks of Lesser Flamingoes gather on the alkaline lakes to feed on the Blue Green Algae making it a “Little Pink Lake”. At the sanctuary, we will walk with the game that includes herds of different species of gazelles, impalas, giraffes, zebras etc camp.
Overnight at Elsamere Centre
Elsamere was not designed as a resort, it was created as a home and by staying here you will feel like part of the family. Learn about the history of it’s wildlife story, as well as plans for it’s future. You can be as active or inactive as you like. Enjoy afternoon tea prepared on the lawn by our chef as you watch the local wildlife wander across the garden. Take a trip across the lake spotting birds with our expert guides in one of the most densely populated bird habitats.
After an early morning breakfast Kenya photo tour heads to our final destination, Masai Mara National Reserve where we’ll spend our next 5 nights in the central part of the reserve and not far from the banks of the Mara River in a luxurious tented camp.
Overnight at a Matira Bush Camp
Nestled in the heart of Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve, Matira Bush Camp is a serene eco-retreat enveloped by lush forest vegetation and intersected by a gentle river. This prime location places guests at the center of the Mara River basin, offering immediate access to the reserve’s rich wildlife and breathtaking landscapes.
In the camp’s forest a flock of both the Shallow’s and Ross’ Turacos may appear and herds of large mammals may be well visible from the dining area. During the famous Serengeti White-bearded Wilderbeest migration the big herds fills the area and you may frequently encounter large cats such as Lions, Hyenas and Cheetah.
Here we may also opt to take a bird’s eye view balloon flight over the plains and wildlife of Masai Mara.
Overnight at Matira Bush Camp
Nestled in the heart of Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve, Matira Bush Camp is a serene eco-retreat enveloped by lush forest vegetation and intersected by a gentle river. This prime location places guests at the center of the Mara River basin, offering immediate access to the reserve’s rich wildlife and breathtaking landscapes.
We take a morning game drive and later transfer to Nairobi. a short visit to Giraffe Centre and Kazuri Beads Factory before an early dinner at the famous Carnivore restaurant.
Overnight at Ole Sereni Hotel
In close proximity to the Airport, Ole Sereni is the most iconic hotel in Nairobi that sits opposite the Nairobi National Park. Where you can watch zebras stopping for their morning drink as you sip your own out on your room’s private balcony. Under the constant protection of local tribes, we’ll take you in the bush for an exhilarating safari or a game drive.
And the last day we spend the whole day birding and photographing in Nairobi National Park, only 10km off the cosmopolitan city and has one of the greatest avifauna with a record of over 520 species in an area of only 117km².
The park has big game such as the Cape Buffalo, Burchell’s Zebra, Hippo, Masai Giraffe, Coke’s Hartebeest, Vervet and the Syke’s Monkey, both Black and White Rhino, Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, Eastern White-bearded Gnu, Black-backed Jackal, Hyena, Grant’s & Eastern Thomson’s Gazelles, Bohor Reedbuck and Southern Bushbuck, Common Warthog among others. Later in the early evening, we go out for dinner before transfer to the airport for your outbound international flight, marking a spetacular end of the Kenya photo tour.
Cost
The Cost Includes
- Transport with exclusive use of the safari van.
- Pick up and drop off on arrival and departure at the airport.
- Accommodation in lodges as per the itinerary & all meals
- -Services of an English speaking safari guide.
- Parks, reserve and conservation areas entry fee.
- Emergency evacuation.
- Drinking water available from the van cool box.
- Other pre-tour information.
The Cost Excludes
- Medical and travel insurance including luggage.
- Other extras such as balloon Safari, Masai Village visit
- Tipping of Safari driver guide roughly between $8-10 a day
- Visa, airport tax
- Beverages
- Items of personal nature such as telephone, laundry, gifts among others


















