Safari Overview
This 8-Day Kenyan Culture & Photography Safari is designed for travellers who want more than wildlife. It combines Kenya's most photogenic landscapes — dry Samburu, the rhino sanctuary of Ol Pejeta, and the open savannah of Masai Mara — with meaningful cultural encounters including a visit to an authentic Maasai village.
Your guide is selected for photography knowledge: understanding light, positioning, and the patience required to capture behaviour. Every game drive is conducted in a private pop-up roof 4x4. You are never sharing a vehicle with other guests, which means you stay longer at sightings and move at your pace.
Whether you shoot on a smartphone or a long telephoto lens, this itinerary gives you the access and time you need to come home with photographs you are proud of.
Safari Highlights
•Samburu Special Five — reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, beisa oryx, Somali ostrich, and gerenuk
•Ol Pejeta Conservancy — the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa, also home to chimpanzee sanctuary
•Masai Mara Game Drives — big cats, elephant herds, and the iconic open plains that defined the classic safari image
•Maasai Village Visit — authentic cultural experience, meet community elders and learn about Maasai traditions
•Photography-Focused Guiding — guides briefed on light, composition, and staying at sightings until you have the shot
•Sunrise & Sunset Drives — golden hour game drives across all three destinations
Safari Itinerary
Click each day to expand the itinerary details.
Your PMK guide collects you from your Nairobi hotel or JKIA early morning. Drive north through the Laikipia highlands — a landscape that changes dramatically as you leave the green highlands and drop into semi-arid bush country. Arrive at Samburu in time for an afternoon game drive. The Ewaso Ng'iro River is the lifeblood of this park and the best place to photograph elephant and leopard coming to drink. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
A full day dedicated to Samburu. Morning drive before sunrise — the light across the Mathews Range is exceptional for photography. Look for the Samburu Special Five species that exist nowhere else in Kenya. After a midday break at camp, an afternoon drive takes you back to the riverbank. Sundowners in the bush. Dinner and overnight.
Morning game drive in Samburu, then depart for Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia. Ol Pejeta is home to the largest population of black rhinos in East Africa, as well as the last two northern white rhinos in the world. Check in to your accommodation and enjoy an afternoon game drive focused on rhino tracking. Dinner and overnight at camp.
A full day in Ol Pejeta. Morning game drive targeting rhinos, lions, and the large buffalo herds the conservancy is known for. Optional visit to the Chimpanzee Sanctuary — a rescue centre for chimps confiscated from the illegal trade. Afternoon drive as the golden light returns. Dinner and overnight.
An early departure for the Masai Mara. The drive takes you through the Rift Valley — stop at the escarpment viewpoint for landscape shots. Arrive at the Mara in time for a late afternoon game drive as the sun gets low. First encounters with the vast Mara plains, lion prides, and the herds of wildebeest and zebra. Dinner and overnight at your camp.
The Mara deserves a full day. Predawn departure for the morning drive — the best light of the day. Your guide knows where the big cat territories are. Afternoon drive across the open plains, with time to position for the perfect sunset shot. If the Great Migration is in season (July–October), this is when you will see the river crossings. Dinner and overnight.
Morning game drive. After breakfast, visit an authentic Maasai village on the edge of the Mara. Meet the elders and community members, hear about the Maasai way of life and its relationship with the wildlife that surrounds them. This is a genuine cultural exchange, not a staged performance — ask questions, learn, and photograph respectfully. Return to camp for one final sunset drive. Farewell dinner at camp.
One last dawn drive before breakfast and check-out. The drive back to Nairobi takes around 5–6 hours. Your guide will drop you at your Nairobi hotel, airport, or any city centre location. This concludes your PMK Culture & Photography Safari. We hope you come home with both incredible images and a deeper understanding of Kenya beyond the wildlife.
Your Accommodation
All lodges and camps are pre-arranged and included in your package price. Accommodation is on a full-board basis (all meals included).
Seasonal Pricing
Prices vary by season. All rates are per person in USD, based on 2 travellers sharing. Contact us for solo, group, or family rates.
| Season |
Travel Period |
Per Person (Sharing) |
Single Supplement |
| Low Season |
Jan 1 – Mar 31 |
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| Green Season |
Apr 1 – Jun 30 |
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| Peak Season |
Jul 1 – Oct 31 |
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| Low Season |
Nov 1 – Dec 22 |
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| Festive Season |
Dec 23 – Dec 31 |
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Prices include all accommodation, park fees, transport, meals, and guide. Contact us for an exact quote for your travel dates.
What's Included & Excluded
✓ Included
- Private 4x4 safari jeep with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking guide/driver
- All park and conservancy entrance fees
- Accommodation as per itinerary (full board)
- All meals at camps and lodges
- Drinking water during all game drives
- Maasai village cultural visit
- Ol Pejeta Chimpanzee Sanctuary entry
- Airport/hotel pick-up and drop-off in Nairobi
- PMK 24/7 support throughout
✗ Excluded
- International flights
- Kenya visa fees
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Tips for guides and camp staff
- Personal expenses & souvenirs
- Hot air balloon safaris (optional add-on)
- Alcoholic beverages
- Professional photography equipment hire