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A shuttle bus will transfer us to Wilson Airport on the Western side of the city. Land only passengers will join us here. This is normally during rush hour so expect some traffic. Wilson is a nice airport and there should be time for some refreshments before boarding the 45 minute flight to the Mara. Here we will be picked up by custom built four- wheel drives and transferred to the camp. After being shown to our spacious walk-in, luxurious tents, we take an afternoon game drive with sundowners. This is the first of many game drives in this prolific area. We recommend our land only clients to book an extra night accommodation in Nairobi the night before the tour starts. Accommodation: Kicheche Tented Camp *Luxury Tented Camp*
Game drives start right from the camp, as it is not uncommon to have wildlife wandering through at some stages of the day. Drives are very much a moveable feast. Some days, the drives will be long, (13 hours or so although not driving all the time) whilst others are much shorter, depending on the movement of the game and tips from the bush telegraph. Paul and his team will try to make good calls when it comes to viewing but they cannot always get it right. They will however be trying their hardest to ensure that photographic opportunities are frequent, but will not be dashing around ticking off species like other mainstream safari companies. Early, very early, starts are the order of the day, though we normally find some shade for lunch in a beautiful spot and to relax a bit. Unless, that is, we come across a migration crossing or hunting cheetah! These drives are not endurance tests but a full day out on the plains can be quite tiring. They also will involve patience, as a hungry cheetah will often wait many hours before making her move. Meal times are a delight under the stars in the evening or in the mess tent in bad weather. During time off you can relax in your tents however, it is the game and scenery that make this area so incredible: huge prides of predators feasting on an abundance of plains game. The camp often has a pride of lion's close-by and their call accompanied by the cackle of the hyena is an occasional nigh time companion. The property is very relaxing for those hours in the middle of the day (when you are there) and the haute cuisine and hot showers are a big bonus, but these luxurious trappings sometimes belie the fact that the camp is right in the heart of the most prolific savannah on earth and this should be respected. Accommodation: Kicheche Tented Camp *Luxury Tented Camp*
Final game drive followed by brunch then late afternoon flight back to Nairobi. There will be time for some shopping and to stop for dinner at nice restaurant close to Nairobi Airport before heading to the airport.
* 6 nights tented camp (see accommodation section for more details)
* Travel is by internal flights; open-topped and open-sided 4-wheel-drive
vehicles in the Mara
* Photographic coaching from Paul Goldstein
At Kicheche the food is superb, very tasty and with plenty of choice.
Breakfasts will be taken out in the bush and so will lunch on full day drives
in the Mara. Kicheche has an excellent reputation for its cuisine.
*Typical meals*
In the Mara hot drinks are brought to the tents each morning.
Freshly baked biscuits and a breakfast consisting of fruit, cakes, bacon,
sausage, egg, juice and coffee/tea is taken out on the plains.
On return there is a large but healthy brunch (if not doing a full day's
drive).
Tea and cakes are taken mid afternoon before the game drive.
A three-course dinner is taken (weather permitting) by candlelight under the
African sky.
Vegetarians are well catered for but please inform us before departure of any
special dietary requests.
* 6 nights tented camp (see accommodation section for more details)
* Travel is by internal flights; open-topped and open-sided 4-wheel-drive
vehicles in the Mara
* Photographic coaching from Paul Goldstein
Small group fly-in safaris, transfer to open topped and open sided
4-wheel-drive vehicles in the Mara. In the Mara all safaris will stay at
Kicheche Camps, tented camps located in fantastic wildlife conservancies. For
animal lovers, photographers and bird lovers there are many chances of seeing
countless game and bird species as well as rare and endangered creatures.
Luxury Tented Camp
This photography holiday stays at Kicheche Tented camps.
*June 2021: *You will spend 6 nights at Kicheche Bush Camp.
*October 2021:* You will spend 6 nights at Kicheche Bush Camp.
*November 2021:* You will spend 3 nights at Kicheche Valley Camp, followed by
3 nights at Kicheche Bush Camp.
*5th January 2022:* You will spend 6 nights at Kicheche Bush Camp.
*11th January 2022:* You will spend 3 nights at Kicheche Bush camp, followed
by 3 nights at Kicheche Mara Camp.
*Kicheche Bush Camp* is located in a superb wildlife area in Olare Motorogi
Conservancy bordering the Masai Mara Reserve. The game viewing is first class
and the exclusivity of the Conservancy ensures a high quality African safari
and Kenya holiday experience with low density tourism.
*Kicheche Mara Camp* is a classic tented camp hidden in a beautiful valley in
a prime wildlife area of the Mara North Conservancy. The luxury tents are
laid out alongside a seasonal stream from where you can observe the resident
birdlife and plains game beyond. The location is ideal as game viewing
frequently starts in the camp itself and there is prime wildlife habitat on
all sides providing an ideal base for your safari in the Masai Mara.
*Kicheche Valley Camp: *Located in a secluded valley in the Naoisho
Conservancy, surrounded by acacia woodlands. This area has the highest
density of giraffes in the Maasai Mara eco-system.
Kicheche camps offer a luxury tented camp experience: en suite tents with
solar electricity, running water, hot showers and superb meals taken al
fresco. There is also a dining tent in case of rain and laundry facilities.
Paul, as many of you know, is a pretty decent photographer and a good
teacher. If you are over-sensitive, shrewish or have an egg-shell personality
you are probably best to avoid this safari. He has guided and photographed
all over the world, has won a decent armoury of awards and although fairly
old fashioned is finally getting over his digital hang-ups (with counselling
and medication). However his most important attribute is his palpable love of
the wilderness, Spitsbergen, Antarctica and India are his great loves but his
abiding passion is for the Mara. He is not going to get bogged down in
intricate details, nor is he going to spend hours round the fire boring the
pants off you talking about photoshop, masking or cloning (or other cheating
terms) - however, he is massively keen for you to get the best pictures
possible. So are his guides and this is priceless; even if you feel exhausted
after yet another long day, he will be champing at the bit at five the next
morning to get you into that perfect position to compose another shot for
your wall. He always says 'if I can get you half a dozen blinding images for
your house I will have done my job' - but believe it, that is only half the
story. African bush tales, a seemingly limitless supply of frequently un-PC
jokes and an almost religious territorial nature over the Mara make him quite
a travelling companion. You have been well and truly warned.
At Kicheche the food is superb, very tasty and with plenty of choice.
Breakfasts will be taken out in the bush and so will lunch on full day drives
in the Mara. Kicheche has an excellent reputation for its cuisine.
*Typical meals*
In the Mara hot drinks are brought to the tents each morning.
Freshly baked biscuits and a breakfast consisting of fruit, cakes, bacon,
sausage, egg, juice and coffee/tea is taken out on the plains.
On return there is a large but healthy brunch (if not doing a full day's
drive).
Tea and cakes are taken mid afternoon before the game drive.
A three-course dinner is taken (weather permitting) by candlelight under the
African sky.
Vegetarians are well catered for but please inform us before departure of any
special dietary requests.
We use light aircraft to fly to the Mara (with a 15kg weight restriction) and
4WD vehicles in the Reserve, specifically designed for photographers. All
vehicles will have beanbags; monopods and tripods are NOT required.
Travelling conditions
We fly to the Mara; it makes the safari quite expensive but saves hours and
hours of driving. Please note that the roads in the Mara are quite poor,
especially after rain. It is not unusual on safari for you to have to push
your way out of trouble on the odd occasion.
*Travelling flight inclusive from London: 9 days*
The group flight from London is an daytime flight departing and arriving
the day before Day 1 of the itinerary. A night at the Tamarind Tree Hotel in
Nairobi is included. *Flights from London*We normally use the scheduled
services of British Airways (depending on availability). As flight timings
and schedules change regularly we recommend you call one of our
specialist sales staff or your agent to confirm up‐to‐date timings.
Please note timings may change at a later date and cannot be
confirmed until approximately two weeks before departure.
*Travelling land only: 7 days starting and ending in Nairobi*
Clients who have booked their own flights and are not on the group flights,
will have to meet the group on day 1 (day 2 ex London itinerary) at Wilson
airport to join the internal flight to the Mara.
Airport transfers are included for those on the group flights. Please note
that transfers are not included for clients arriving on any other flight,
even if Exodus has booked it.
If you require airport transfers, you may (by prior arrangement only) be able
to join the group transfer. Transfers are arranged to coincide with the
arrival time of the group flight ‐ please check the group flight details 2
weeks before departure. If you do not take this transfer, or miss it, you
must make your own way to the joining point at your own expense.
Kenya straddles the equator so showers can happen at any time of year,
however the wettest period is April and May. Due to the altitude of the Masai
Mara (1550m) the nighttime temperature is beautiful, cool yet not cold,
although mornings can be quite chilly. Daytime temperatures can get as high
as 30 degrees but with low humidity. There can be some light rains at the end
of the year, but if anything this is a good thing as it cuts down the dust
and brings out the colours. In the wet the roads can become difficult.
In addition to your 'normal' daily clothes, you will need the following:
Torch
Sunhat
Sun cream
Soft holdhall
Daypack or soft bag (please no suitcases)
Camera
Telephoto lens (preferable)
Plenty of memory cards
Lightweight walking shoes
Sandals (no socks with these please)
Fleece for early mornings
Very light wet weather top
Binoculars
*Photography*
Technically the vehicles are designed for photographers, they are all open
roofed and open sided with camera platforms. Bean bags are supplied, tripods
are not recommended, and if you do not have an IS or VR lens you might want
to get them. You should be looking at minimum 400mm zoom/telephoto
capability. Polariser warm ups are good for landscapes and hard drives/memory
sticks essential.
Internal flights in the destination country are subject to a weight limit of
15kg.
**Please note:* *In a move praised by conservation groups and health
organisations, Kenya has taken the lead in banning the use of plastic carrier
bags and certain other plastic bags. Included in the ban are the following
items that travellers might carry:
▪ Duty free carrier bags
▪ General shopping bags
▪ Bin liners (sometimes used to protect luggage during rain)
▪ Dry cleaning bags (commonly wrapped around clothing)
Travellers arriving into Kenya via airports, sea ports or land borders will
be required to leave any bags deemed to be on the banned list at the point of
entry. Travellers will not be fined so long as they surrender any prohibited
bags.
We recommend that you take most of your money in US dollars. We also
recommend you obtain some Kenyan Shillings on arrival at Nairobi airport to
pay for small items such as coffee and refreshments at Wilson Airport.
Should conditions dictate an extra visit into the Reserve please allow $80
USD.
Drinks (including alcohol (house spirits, wine and beer)) are included in the
Mara.
Our local staff are paid well and fairly for their work with Exodus. We
recommend about US$100 on tips for your driver(s)/guide(s) and the camp staff
and manager.
* Travel insurance
* Single accommodation (available on request)
* Visas or vaccinations
Ved skriftlig aksept av vårt tilbud bekrefter du/dere at våre betingelser er både lest og forstått og at evt kansellerings gebyrer kan tilkomme ved en evt. avbestilling av reisen.