The Mara River- A place where wildlife meets conflict: in its millions. The migration is a constant dynamic. But at one point during the cycle, a major obstacle stands in the way of the momentum. At first it causes a stutter and a pause, but then the surge comes, and millions of [animals cross the Mara River in one of the most spectacular wildlife scenes on earth. C4 Images and Safaris have reserved a small, intimate and private camp in the heart of the action in perhaps the best time of year to see this phenomenon.
Price:USD $4 200.00 per person sharing- or rand based equivalent at time of payment- Approx R33 600.00. see www.XE.com for latest exchange rates Single supplement: $500 per person 20% deposit $840.00 confirms your booking All-inclusive tour:Includes return international flights from JHB, local road and flight transfer, all meals and accommodation, daily park entrance fees and game activities. Not included: Drinks, visas, purchases of a personal nature and items not included in the itinerary.
We all know that the Maasai Mara is home to the 'greatest show on earth'. So C4 Images and Safaris decided to run the best photo safari we could muster in the heart of the greatest show. Its simple really- find a camp in the middle of the action, book it exclusively for 12 photographers only with the best camp operator in the business and then have Shem Compion, André Cloete and Greg du Toit personally guide you whilst on safari. Shem, Greg and Andre between them have 12 seasons in the Mara and have mapped their own special places and secret spots which they will share with you while being driven around. The Mara is a very large system and much of the conventional tourist traffic concentrates on a small section of the river. There is so much to see and photograph, and with these knowledgeable professional wildlife photographers as your guides, you will have the best positions available. With Greg, André and Shem as your guides, you will be taken to the far-flung corners of the Masai Mara, you will not only get to experience the migration, but also the beauty, freedom and wilderness of one of Africa's greatest ecosystems. Each person will have their own seat with window and roof hatch, ensuring that everyone has ample room to photograph from. Brackets, braces andc lamps can be fixed onto the rails on the vehicles for tripod heads and flash brackets. Everything is designed to aid your photographic enjoyment. C4 Images and Safaris,in the interest of photographic excellence, have negotiated a camp right in the heart of the action, in the middle of the Mara. Due to having a camp in the best location in the Mara, you will be staying in a classic east African style safari camp. This will be an exclusive, private camp for your own use. Thus we will be the only people in camp for the whole safari. This specific safari has been designed to get away from the mass-market tourism that can ruin an experience of the Mara. This is secluded camp in a quiet corner of the Mara where you will be able to relax with the other photographers on the trip. The camp is a permanent traditional 'meru style', walk-in canvas frame tents each with its own private en suite ablution facilities (flush toilets and hot showers). Most of the tents overlook one of the main crossing points of the Mara River! Meals, prepared in traditional East African safari style by the camp chef, are taken in the large Mess Tent or under the stars. There will be a generator with battery bank to charge laptops and batteries. The central tent will be the area from which to download and edit photographs during the quiet hours of the day or after your day's safari.
The emphasis of this tour is based on two things: Location and your photography. The key points for this as a photographic tour are:
- The camp is inside the Masai Mara reserve with a view of the main crossing point - You are within 5 minutes from the main crossing point and 10 minutes from the other crossing points. Most camps are at least 60 minutes from these central areas. - The position of the camp is within the two main rivers- the Talek and Mara rivers, meaning easy and fast access to the most productive game viewing areas. - No gate restrictions or racing for the gate during the best hours of light. (all gates close at 18h30, and as most camps are outside the reserve, vehicles must leave the reserve) we are inside the Mara, thus can stay till dark - We will have 3 x long wheel base Land cruisers for our use. Thus there will be 4 people per 8-seater vehicle. Ample space for photography and movement- each person will have a whole row to themselves as well as a roof hatch. - We will have the whole camp to ourselves. - The camp is a permanent tent camp- tents have flush toilets and showers. - There is a battery bank and silent generator for charging batteries and laptops
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Nairobi, Kenya. 1 night accommodation- Serena Hotel. Day 2: Flight transfer from Nairobi to Masai Mara. Road transfer to camp Day 3 - 7: Masai Mara, in exclusive camp within the Mara. Day 8: Flight transfer to Nairobi, road transfer to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Breakdown of itinerary:
Day 1: 28 August 2010 1 Night at Serena Hotel
Arrive in Kenya's capital of Nairobi in the early afternoon. A 45-minute road transfer will take you to the arican elegance of the Serena hotel. You will spend the evening in the lush and open surrounds of the Serena Hotel. One of Nairobi's original hotels, this hotel has all the comforts of the past with the convenience of the modern era: The perfect place to relax for the evening.
Day 2: 29 Aug - 4 Sept 6 Nights at Entim-Mara Tented Camp
We depart for the Masai Mara at 10am on a scheduled flight and we touchdown at Kichwa Airstrip after a short 1-hour flight. From there we are transferred by road to our base camp situated in the actual Mara itself. You will be staying in a classic East African style safari camp consisting of canvas tents, staffed by local Maasai. You will have en-suite bathrooms with flush loos, flowing water and hot showers. While traditional, the camp is comfortable with large beds and private verandah's. That afternoon we will enter the reserve for the first time and sample one of Africa's greatest ecosystems.
Day 3 - 7: For these five full days, we will focus on showing you the best of the Masai Mara and this will include tracking the migration and getting to the heart of the action. Shem, André and Greg will take you out each morning in the first light. We will have long wheel base vehicles with roof top hatches and large windows from which to photograph. Each person will have their own seat with window and hatch, ensuring that everyone has ample room to photograph from. Brackets, braces and clamps can be fixed onto the rails on the vehicles for tripod heads and flash brackets. Everything is designed to aid your photographic enjoyment. Depending on how and where the migration is moving, we might spend whole days in the reserve taking a picnic lunch along with us. We will find the best crossing points on the Mara River and spend pleasant hours watching the wildebeest mass on the banks with hungry crocs waiting below. If we are patient enough and fortune favours us, we will witness a wildebeest crossing, arguably the most spectacular wildlife event on the planet. Beside the actual visual spectacle, the noise of the crossing is something that will never be forgotten. Besides tracking and following the migration, we will search for as many predators as possible, including cheetah, as the great plains are home to these majestic cats. You will also enjoy unfamiliar sights of general game such as Topi standing aloft termite mounds and tiny shy dik diks going about their daily routine. The Mara also houses some of the largest buffalo bulls on the continent and a huge density of raptors. A special for birders, amongst others, is the large and relatively common rupell's griffon.
Our time in the Masai Mara will not just be about the wildlife though. We will take you to seldom-visited parts of the ecosystem and indeed right up to the southern boundary where the Masai Mara and Serengeti adjoin. Here, there is little human traffic, and we will enjoy the peace and quiet of the great plains as well as some private game viewing. This element of our safari is unique as most safari operators concentrate all their efforts on the river but we feel that by combining superb game viewing with a wilderness experience, we will offer our guests the very best of the Masai Mara.
The evenings will be spent sitting around the camp fire where and dining on excellent camp cuisine. As the coals die down, the warm camp beds beckon and everyone retires to bed.
Day 7: 4 September Return to Nairobi for international flights home
After a last morning drive, we return to camp for a hearty brunch before departing to the airstrip at 12h00 where we return to Nairobi. A transfer back to Jomo Kenyatta international Airport concludes the safari. Most of the international flights depart in the early evening and this fits with most connections. This is unfortunately the end of the tour and another special package from C4 Images and Safaris.
C4 Images and Safaris look forward to hosting you in the Maasai Mara for the greatest wildlife show on the planet.
What our Safari includes:
The above costs include: - Pickup and transport for the entire Safari and drop off at your destination. - Entrance and accommodation (2 persons per tent) to all reserves. - All meals, non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks. - Game activities. - The services of our guides.
Costs not included: - Gratuities to staff and guides. - Extra activities not included- ie hot air balloons. - Personal expenses - Travel insurance - Travel visas
Upon deciding to book a Safari with us, please contact us via telephone, facsimile or e-mail. We will forward you a booking form, which needs be completed and returned. A 20% deposit of the total amount must be paid to secure a booking. Final payment is due four weeks before the Safari
