2015 Kenya Photography Tour I

Travel Plan

Accommodations

Helpful Information

Explorer Testimonials

• 2015 Kenya Photography Tour I Travel Plans

  Thursday, January 8

  Fly from US/Canada

  Friday, January 9 – Saturday, January 10

  Arrive in Nairobi (NBO). Our tour representatives will greet you at the airport and bring you to the Norfolk Hotel upon arrival. Overnight at the Fairmont Norfolk Hotel for two nights.

  We stay two nights in Nairobi to give extra time for unexpected travel delays and to recover from jet lag. We’ll have a little day excursion to the Giraffe Center and go see the adorable baby elephants at the Sheldrick’s Elephant Orphanage. Get up close and personal with these wonderful African animals and support a great cause!

  Sunday, January 11 – Tuesday, January 13

  Fly to Samburu National Reserve. Stay three nights at Elephant Bedroom Camp with game drives daily.

  Wednesday, January 14 – Thursday, January 15

  Drive to Lewa Safari Camp in Lewa Downs during the morning game drive (two hours). Stay two nights with game drives daily.

  This camp is based within the private 65,000 acre wildlife conservancy of the Lewa Wilderness Trust. The conservancy is home to about 10% of Kenya’s Black Rhino population and the single largest population of Grevy’s Zebra in the world. The Big Five are often seen in this area. Lewa reinvests all the profits generated from tourism (including profits from Lewa Safari Camp) into its core programs. When you visit Lewa, you will help thousands of people from different backgrounds and cultures improve their lives, help to give their children a future and also ensure Africa’s wildlife has a stable home. Domestic beers, house wines and laundry included during your stay at Lewa.

  Friday, January 16 – Tuesday, January 20

  Fly to Masai Mara National Reserve. Stay five nights at Mara Intrepids which is located in the Upper Masai Mara. Game drives daily.

  All the Big Cats, Elephant, Black Rhino and plains game spread out before you – it’s better than the Discovery Channel because you are part of the spectacle. We cannot forget the impressive birds including the Crowned Cranes, Tawny Eagle, Secretary Bird and Kori Bustard. Other creatures include Common Zebra, Warthog, Hyena, Gazelle, Hartebeest, Wildebeest, Massai Giraffe, Reedbuck, Banded Mongoose and hippos in the river. Year-round babies and young can be seen. The Mara is spectacular!

  Note: On arrival day at Mara Intrepids, an evening game drive will be with local camp vehicles and guides, so we might not have same the seating arrangements as our normal vehicles for this one game drive. Our guides need to leave early from Lewa to drive and meet us in the Mara. We’ll fly versus drive the long and dusty roads…flying is a perk that adds to the value of your experience traveling with Natural Exposures 🙂

  Wednesday, January 21

  Return flight to Nairobi mid/late morning. Private dayrooms at Norfolk and dinner at Norfolk. Evening flight home. This day will give you time to repack, visit some gift shops or relax at the hotel by the pool. We’ll have our last dinner together as a group before leaving for our return flights home in late PM. You’ll gain a day on the return, so you should be home late day on January 22nd.

  Thursday, January 22

  Arrive home

  

  • Guest Limits

    10 Guests Minimum
    16 Guests Maximum

  • Trip Cost

    We have two different pricing structures depending on your vehicle needs/preference.

    OPTION 1: FULL SEAT Allows each guest to have a seat and window on both sides of the vehicle. This gives ample room for camera gear and allows for photographing from both sides of the vehicle.

    FULL SEAT $11,400 per person

    OPTION 2: SHARED SEAT We have many requests from couples who wish to share this bench reducing the cost of the space. This space is recommended if your spouse or partner does not photograph as much and you have minimal camera gear. We use the third row bench seat (3 seats across) for two guests.

    SHARED SEAT $10,000 per person sharing – few spaces available at this rate

    Single Supplement: $1611

  • Deposit

    $1000 Per person due at time of booking
    Visa, MasterCard, AmEx, Discover, or check accepted

    Deposits are non-refundable. If cancellations are necessary, we require this request in writing. We will do our best to resell your space. Only if we can resell your space, we will refund (minus deposit and discounts given to sell your space). No partial refunds are possible for unused services.

  • Installments

    May 1, 2014: Half Payment
    September 1, 2014: Final Payment

    Check only for first installment and final payment. Please make check payable to Natural Exposures and mail to:

    Natural Exposures
    810 N. Wallace, Suite E
    Bozeman, MT 59715

  • Included

    • ALL accommodations and meals on safari
    • ALL government hotel taxes and service charges
    • ALL land transport and airport transfers in Kenya
    • ALL game drives in specially built 4×4 safari vehicles
    • ALL national park and reserve entrance fees
    • ALL internal air transport as specified in itinerary
    • Visit to a Masai village
    • Bottled water with meals and during game drives
    • Beverages and laundry at Lewa Downs ONLY
    • Incredibly knowledgeable, KPSGA certified guides
    • Emergency evacuation to Nairobi through AMREF

  • Not Included

    • Personal travel insurance
    • Beverages (bottled water will be in your room and available in your touring vehicle)
    • Personal laundry (except Lewa Downs)
    • International flights
    • Gratuities to guides and camp staff
    • Telephone/fax/e-mail charges – E-mail is VERY slow and difficult at lodges – works best at Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi
    • Any transfers not on scheduled dates in NBO (add $85 per vehicle transfer)
    • Any excursions not related to the itinerary
    • Optional meals in larger towns or cities
    • Optional extra nights at camps or lodges
    • Vaccinations and visas
    • International flights
    • Excess baggage charges
    • All items of a personal nature

  • Flights to Book

    January 9, 2015
    Arrive in Nairobi (NBO) any time of day

    January 21, 2015
    Depart Nairobi (NBO) mid-afternoon or later.
    Most flights depart at 10:00-11:00pm this evening.

  • Travel Insurance

    Travel/emergency medical evacuation insurance is not required for this photo tour, but we always recommend purchasing it for any trip. We recommend one or more of the following, depending on your needs:

    Global Rescue
    (use code natexp)

    Allianz Global Assistance 
    (use travel agency ID F203564)

    Insure My Trip

  • Liability Waiver

    All services are provided by operators who are not owned or controlled by Natural Exposures. Natural Exposures takes all reasonable precautions to make these safaris as safe as possible for travelers and others. Natural Exposures and its agents shall not be responsible or liable for any injury, loss, damage, delay of inconvenience arising out of, or in connection with, any defect in any vehicle or aircraft or any act, including any acts of terrorism, industrial action, acts of governments, war, terrorism and God, omission, neglect, accident, error or omission in the provision of any services. Any travel involves some measure of risk, of which travelers need to determine themselves.

  • Terms & Conditions

    Natural Exposures cannot control nor is responsible for abnormal weather, natural disasters, or any other disaster that might affect the trip. Travel insurance should be purchased to cover any missed flights or medical problems that may affect/delay your travel. National Parks have the right to change our itinerary.

    By booking a trip with Natural Exposures, you agree to the following CANCELLATION AND LIABILITY POLICY

• Accommodations for 2015 Kenya Photography Tour I

  We stay at permanent tent camps for the true African adventure. “Tenting” includes four-post beds, flush toilets and hot water showers. No roughing it here! Swimming pools are at two of the three locations to help cool down midday between game drives.

  January 9 – 10, 2 Nights
  Fairmont The Norfolk Hotel
  The Norfolk is a luxury five-star hotel and is a traditional starting point for safaris. A wonderful gourmet hot buffet breakfast is included each morning.
  

  

  January 11 – 13, 3 Nights
  Elephant Bedroom Camp
  Set on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River in Samburu National Reserve, Elephant Bedroom Camp is a small exclusive luxurious 12 tent camp. Each tent is inspired by the textures and colors of African nature with private verandas and en suite bathrooms with rain showers and flushing toilets. The lounge and dining area offer vibrant safari colors. Huge herds of elephants, prides of lions or a solitary leopard amongst other game are regular visitors around the camp. Elephants often play in the river in front of your tent or eat from the trees near it.

  

  January 14 – 15, 2 Nights
  Lewa Safari Camp
  Lewa Safari Camp is a stunning location within Lewa wildlife / rhino conservancy and has outstanding game viewing along with spectacular views of Mt. Kenya to the south and arid the lowlands to the north. Each tent has a thatched roof, veranda and full en suite bathroom, very much in the ‘Lewa’ style. The central areas have exquisite gardens with a large sunny veranda, a swimming pool to enjoy during the day and cozy log fires in the lounge and dining room for the more chilly evenings.

  

  January 16 – 20, 5 Nights
  Mara Intrepids
  Mara Intrepids has been honored on the Gold List for Conde Nast Traveler in 2008/2009 as “one of the best places to stay in the world”. The best saved for last!

  The Mara Intrepids is a permanent tent camp that is spread over a large riverside site. Each tent includes large four-post beds, teak floors and moderate en suite bathrooms with hot showers and flush toilets. There is a pool area, large terrace dining room and lounge for refreshments before dinner.
  

• Helpful Information for 2015 Kenya Photography Tour I

  FLYING DOCTOR SERVICE

  Each safari guest will automatically be registered as a member of ‘The Flying Doctor Society’ (AMREF) in East Africa. Applicable charges are included in the cost of the trip. AMREF emergency air evacuation is limited to safaris in East Africa.

  FLIGHTS TO NAIROBI

  (Airport Code NBO)
  Dan and Tanya fly Delta via Minneapolis and Amsterdam. They find there has been more restrictions in the past on British Airways for carry-on weight and size. We suggest going through Amsterdam if possible. You can usually get one free stop on the return (e.g. Amsterdam) with this long of an international flight. Some people will stop for a few days on their return in Amsterdam for a visit. Talk to your airline representative for details when booking.

  VISAS

  Tourist Visa needed: EASY – Purchase it upon arrival at the Nairobi (NBO) airport. We’ll send you a form to fill out for customs prior to arrival in Kenya. $50 (USD) per person. Please bring “newer” US bills. Kenyans will not accept older bills due to counterfeit problems. Ask your bank before departing the US for new bills. You may also want to get multiple $1 and $5 for easy tipping – it is hard to get small change in Kenya.

  CLOTHING

  Morning safaris can be chilly – you may want to wear a sweater/fleece with a t-shirt underneath as it will warm up considerably by mid-morning. The afternoons will be very hot and the evenings are mild but not cold.

  On safari, most people wear shorts and a t-shirt during the day and put on long-sleeved shirts and long pants in the evening for protection from mosquitoes. Should you be particularly sensitive to the sun, a loose cotton shirt is essential during the day.

  List of suggested items to bring:

  • 2 pair khaki cotton pants (jeans are rather hot)
  • 2 pair sturdy shorts
  • 1 skirt or dress slacks for hotel evenings (optional)
  • 2 long-sleeved shirts (for sun protection as well as warmth)
  • 1 light sweater or sweatshirt
  • 1 lightweight, waterproof windbreaker
  • 1 pair sturdy walking or running shoes
  • 1 pair sandals
  • 3-5 short-sleeved t-shirts
  • 1 bathing suit
  • 1 bandanna (many uses – I usually wet mine and wrap it around my neck for the afternoon tours to keep me cool)
  • 1 hat with a brim (baseball caps cover your nose but not your ears)
  • Sunglasses
  • A flashlight will be in each tent for when the generator is turned off later in the night. We usually bring an extra one or a headlamp. It is also good to have one during night walking to and from the dining area.
  • Anti-bacterial wipes
  • Any RX medicines needed, bee sting kit etc.
  • Pepto-bismal, sunscreen, feminine protection, cold/allergy caplets, cipro (prescription – used for any anti-diarrhea problems)
  • Ear plugs (for plane, always good to have)
  • Hairdryer with adapting voltage (220-volt needed)
  • Binoculars
  • Paperback reading material for the afternoons and around the pool
  • Snacks, trail mix, gum, hard candies – I usually bring the single serving sizes of Crystal Light to add to my water bottles and if you have any extra at the end of the trip leave them for the guides – they love them!
  • 3 prong (triangle shape) UK plug adapters – 220-volt
  • Luggage tags on all bags
  • A few plastic grocery bags (always needed for something)
  • Alarm clock – Every night you’ll be asked at dinner what time you would like a wake-up call and your room staff will come to your tent each morning and wake you up with cookies and coffee/tea 🙂
  • Clothing – Carry essentials in your carry-on, half your clothes in your bag and half in your partner’s bag if traveling with someone. If one of your bags is lost, you’ll still have half of your clothes.
  • Flight Bag – This is a small, lightweight carry-on that can be folded flat and takes practically no room when it is placed on the bottom of your bag. Comes in very handy when you bring back more than you can place in your luggage.

  TIPPING SUGGESTIONS

  $1 per meal at table for serving staff
  $1 per bag for porters
  $3-5 per day for room staff
  $20 per day per person for guides

  We’ll put a collection together in an envelope on the last day of the trip for the guides. We split gratuities equally among guides. Dan and I will leave an additional envelope for lodge staff from our group as a thank you. The service is excellent, the guides are excellent, and their livelihoods depend on our help. Tourism supports Kenyans which in turn protects the animals.

  LAUNDRY

  You can leave your laundry each morning on your bed in your tent with the plastic bag provided and your clean laundry will be returned to you by the time you are back from your evening game drive. No need to overpack please!

  NETTING

  There is netting around your bed in each location in case of mosquitoes. There are few insects but possibly mosquitoes in the evenings. The lodges provide insect repellent wipes in your tents to use too.

  CAMERA NEEDS

  Batteries, charger and adaptor plugs, wide angle lens and telephoto lens. Dan will phone each of you personally prior to trip time to discuss camera gear he suggests for bringing on safari.

  A roller backpack style bag works well. You can usually roll your bag to and from your tent to the vehicles. Nothing too big for the international flights – they are not as easygoing as they are in North America about carry-ons.

  VACCINATIONS

  The suggested vaccinations are:

  • Hepatitis A and B (now given as a combo shot – good for life)
  • Typhoid
  • Yellowfever (suggested but optional)
  • Polio (one-time booster shot)
  • Tetanus
  • Malaria Pills (Malarone is a good one)

  SAFARI VEHICLES

  The word ‘safari’ in Swahili means journey. We seek to offer the best all-around journey by ensuring that our guests travel in comfortable, reliable custom-built vehicles. We offer two types of seating in safari vehicles with only three to four guests per eight-passenger vehicle. We work with only professional local guides that we consider family who will ensure your experience in Kenya will be unforgettable.

  Modern fleets of 4-wheel drive Land Rovers and Toyota Land Cruisers are specially designed for easy observation and photography. Each vehicle is customized to give extra leg room and plenty of head room. Extra large windows and windscreens improve all-around game viewing and there is plenty of room for those with cameras with big lenses. Three generous roof hatches in the rear offer plenty of room for overhead game viewing. We will supply each guest with a complimentary bean bag to use rather than tripods in the vehicles.

  Why visit Kenya in January/February versus the “popular time” in August/September?

  For good reason, no crowds of people! The last thing you want is to be around clusters of safari vehicles and people “corralling” the herds. Kenya has so much to offer year-round versus trying to hit the wildebeest migration. It is impressive to see masses of wildebeest, however, they are not a “beauty” animal to photograph…they are actually quite “ugly”  in Tanya’s opinion :). Wildebeest and their young being eaten or blood-stained cats do not make good wall decor! If it is your first time to Kenya and possibly the only time you will experience it, we feel this time of year is perfect. There are short rains usually in December that make the area green. Babies are possible to see all year round along with more wildlife than you can imagine…enjoy the quiet camps and lodges, hear nature’s sound…

  Have a question?

  Have a question about this tour? We're happy to answer any queries you may have.

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• Testimonials from Natural Exposures' Explorers

  • "This is our third trip to Africa and the first time with Dan and Tanya and it was the best of all three trips."

    Lynne & Jim Edwards, Washington

  • "Class and comfort all the way. Natural Exposures photo tours are run with the smoothness and efficiency of high-end travel outfits."

    Miriam Stein, Washington DC

  • "In the truest sense, expert guides in all the fauna and flora of Kenya and greater East Africa accompanied by a wizened mentor of photography."

    Steven Chang, Hawaii

  • "The Kenya trip was our vacation of a lifetime – just when you thought it couldn’t get any better – every day it did. Excellent and knowledgeable guides, small group experience with fellow photographers was a very enjoyable trip."

    Joanne Dougherty, Hawaii

  • "If you visit Africa, you will want to experience the land, the people, and the wildlife. On this, my first trip to Africa, I have been fortunate to travel with Dan and Tanya Cox. They put together a trip that far exceeded my expectations using first-class accommodations and Kenya’s best wildlife guides. The sights, the photography, the food, and the comradely will always be remembered."

    Art Simmons, Texas

  • "I am so happy I went to Kenya again. Everything was handled so smoothly and so well. Dan and Tanya made everything easy. We stayed at great lodges where the food was fantastic and the accommodations first-rate. I will definitely be traveling with you all again."

    Allison McClure, California

  • "Tish and I thank you profusely for helping make our trip to Kenya an amazing experience. The logistics, accommodations, guides, wildlife viewing opportunities, cultural immersion, photography mentoring and help with Tish's bad ankle were all superb. The trip experience will stay with us forever as an inspiration to appreciate the world around us and to be thankful of our blessings. As you can imagine, it will take us months to sort through our photos and put them in a presentation format."

    Mike and Tish Cromwell, Maryland

  • "It's one of the best trips we've taken with superb guides! "Even though I'm a point and shoot photographer, I felt very much a part of the program. Dan was there to answer questions....but most of all, I was most impressed with the guides, making sure each one of us had a chance to get 'that shot' of an animal!
    
    "The individual attention was phenomenal; the tour guides took care of every detail; one would not have to carry a camera to see and enjoy all the wonderful animals of Africa. It was a trip of a lifetime and I would go back again!!"

    Pat Alley, Arizona

  • "Traveling with Dan and Tanya is a truly special and delightful experience! Dan's incredible expertise in all things photo and Tanya's exceptional attention to details and sensitivity to needs (be those of guests, guides, or the environment, cultures and wildlife you are going to see) makes for an amazingly well balanced team! Our recent trip to Kenya was just AWEsome - - in the true spirit of the word! The wildlife viewing was fantastic! In spite of heavy rains creating tall grasses, our exceptional guides (hand picked by D and T) consistently found not only wonderful wildlife sitings, but fabulous photographic opportunities! Along with exceptional accomodations and delicious and plentiful food the overall Kenya experience was absolutely incredible! Thank you Tanya and Dan for creating SUCH a wonderful and memorable experience!!"

    Christine Crosby, Oregon

  • "It’s February 9th and I can’t believe that Cathy and I have been home for two weeks already. Our experiences in Africa are so fresh it seems as though we were just there. I’ve enjoyed blogging about our experiences over the past 10 days, hoping to share with you just a tiny flavor of what it was like. It truly was a powerful experience and we hope to go back some day. Perhaps to Botswana or Namibia.
    
    There are many things that made this a wonderful experience. At the top of the list are Dan and Tanya Cox. We have taken two tours now with Dan and Tanya and both were extremely enjoyable. Tanya is a magnificent organizer and makes sure that all of our needs are met. The tours are designed to place you in the best locations and give you the best opportunities for capturing great photographs and having great experiences. These tours are not highly structured photography teaching sessions but more informal learning opportunities."

    Cathy and Mark Pemberton, California

  • "I want to thank you for the most inspiring trip I've ever taken. Africa is forever in my heart & soul. It was more fabulous than I could ever imagined. And thank you so much for all the hours of preparation and the sweat & worry that I'm sure went into the trip. It was glorious..the accommodations were fabulous (love the elephants on my veranda!), the food was scrumptious (thanks for the extra lbs!) and everything was smooth and relaxing. I really liked the photo instructions too...learned alot from Dan and the others. It was a very fun group! Thank you for everything and I hope to join you again soon."

    Susan Duffy, California

  • "Hi Tanya and Dan: The 2011 Kenya safari was everything we expected and more. The guides were extraordinarily knowledgeable and skilled. We still cannot figure out how Henry found the baby Leopard hiding in a thicket! We took almost 6,000 images and have just reduced them to about 1200. Cannot imagine a better safari. Thanks to Tanya for putting together a great trip and Dan for his photo instruction. We look forward to joining you on safari in India next year."

    Doug and Debra Bray, California

  • "I love you and Dan, and love traveling with you. It was such an incredible trip all the way around, just like the last time, but better. I relished in every moment on every game drive, just how fortunate I was to be there with such wonderful people. I can't tell you how many times the emotions welled up inside just at the sight of such beauty. Thank You!, for letting me be a part of it."

    Jim Carlin, California

  • "Just returned from Kenya. Awesome trip with Daniel J Cox, Tanya Smith Cox, Natural Exposures and a bunch of fellow trekkers. Made a bunch of new friends."

    Kenya Explorer

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