Namibia Safari
July 22 – August 3, 2024
Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve and Amboseli National Park
September 20 – October 1, 2023
Join us on an exclusive small-group wildlife safari in Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve and Amboseli National Park! You will be guided to some of the best wildlife photography experiences on the planet in two of our favorite game destinations.
We’ll start our safari in the Masai Mara Reserve along the Mara River, and we are here at the perfect time for the Great Migration, hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra at our doorstep, we hope! We’ve arranged for a private riverside campsite, a snug little setup with plenty of character and an incredible view. We’ll have five days and nights here to photograph the diverse wildlife. We’ll get out of the vehicles when we can, shoot the stars from our stargazing theatre, and burn up lots of memory cards as we go after the hundreds of birds and over 70 mammal species present in the area. We also expect to find many of Kenya’s top predators here: lions, leopards, and jackals thrive on the rich diversity of prey species.
Next up we’ll head to Amboseli. We’ll be based in a private reserve adjacent to Amboseli National Park, which boasts Africa’s highest density of elephants per square mile and abundant other wildlife. Amboseli lies close to the border between Kenya and Tanzania and is dominated by the continent’s highest mountain—Kilimanjaro. Capped with snow and ascending into the clouds, Kilimanjaro soars to 19,340 feet and provides a stunning backdrop. The melting snows of Kilimanjaro nourish the open plains, umbrella acacia woodland, emerald green swamps, and surrounding marshlands of Amboseli, and a dry lake bed dotted with springs rims its eastern margins. Here, ostrich and oryx stalk the shimmering sand, providing for some of the most fabulous wildlife viewing and photography in all of East Africa.
Throughout our safari, we’ll be staying in Muench-style comfort at some of the best camps in the area, with all the expected amenities: amazing food, luxurious accommodations with en-suite facilities, and hot showers. Expect to be immersed in photography and safari from before sunup until after sunset. Everyone can expect to learn the finer points of wildlife photography and to refine “the art of seeing,” where you will work on improving your compositions. In the evenings and during downtimes, we will be working with you on image reviews and post-processing.
Your Pro
Location
Kenya
Tuition
$18,995
Dates
September 20 – October 1, 2023
Availability
Sold Out
Limited to 7 Guests
Itinerary
About the wildlife: This workshop offers significant opportunities for photographing wildlife, and while we do our best to maximize our wildlife encounters—based on past experiences, local knowledge, and the current conditions—we need to impress upon you that the wildlife really is wild and that we don’t control it.
This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, local conditions, and other factors.
September 20, 2023: Arrive in Nairobi, Kenya this day and our VIP service will meet you airside, and guide you through customs and immigration and baggage claim. We will transfer you to our hotel for the night where you can have a light bite, and rest from the long travel day.
September 21–27, 2023: We’ll fly via safari bush plane from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport to the Masai Mara, Ol Kiombo airstrip. Our safari begins!
We are in the Masai Mara Reserve, in the heart of the Masai Mara ecosystem. Our camp is the perfect base from which to explore the wonders of the Mara. The vast, fertile plains of the Masai Mara boast a plethora of wildlife; with over 450 bird species and both resident and transient populations of lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, giraffe, to name a few, the plains are dense with game. It’s a fantastic location for those wanting to observe the spectacle of the great migration, classified among the “Seven Wonders of the World”. From July to November, over 1.3 million wildebeest and zebra cross from the Serengeti in search of greener pastures. The stars to shine bright at night, undimmed by harsh lighting. Guests enjoy the unique experience of listening to the sounds of lion, leopard and hyena foraging and hunting while being cosseted with traditional and modern comforts such as a campfire and cozy duvets.
September 27 – October 1, 2023: After our last game drive in the Mara, we’ll take a private charter bush flight from the Masai Mara direct to Amboseli, arriving in time for lunch at camp, unpacking, and an afternoon game drive. For the next four days and nights we are on safari in Amboseli. During this safari we not only will be photographing in Amboseli National Park, but on private land adjacent to the park as well. Here we have exclusive and unfettered access to the wildlife, we can go off-road as we like, and we can photograph from outside the vehicles as well. While the wildlife is diverse and abundant in Amboseli, our main focus will be the majestic herds of elephant that parade through the landscape. Having a family of these giant creatures march in silence a few feet away from you is an experience you will never forget!
October 1, 2023: We won’t waste this last day, we’ll be out on a game drive first thing in the morning, and again in the afternoon. Then a short drive to the airstrip where our flight will take us back to Nairobi, and to our dayrooms to freshen up before evening flights home. Safari concludes.
Safari Camp Life
In short, you'll feel like you're in a luxury hotel! We've handpicked our camps for comfort, knowledgeable and friendly staff, great food, and convenience to our main objective, the wildlife. We also place considerable value on isolation and exclusivity. You won't find us in areas where there are dozens of other vehicles at a sighting—you'll feel like you own the land, and the animals are there just for you! Typical tented accommodations feature twin beds or queen bed, high thread-count linens, storage for clothing, sitting area, verandah, and of course en suite bathrooms, with toilets, hot water, and showers. They are enormous in size, bright, open, and airy.
Our days start early before sunrise. We'll have a quick coffee or tea, maybe a cookie, and off on our first game drive of the day. The animals are just starting to stir as the day begins, and we want to be there, and in the best light. We'll stay out for a few to several hours, depending on the sightings. After a mid-drive coffee break, we'll continue on until mid to late morning. We typically have breakfast in the field to maximize our game-viewing and photographing time. Back in camp, it's time for offloading cards, one-on-one instruction, or just taking time to relax and do nothing. Read a book, take a walk, or take a nap and recharge. Of course, there will be lunch, and then In the mid to late afternoon, we'll again head out for another game drive, chasing the best sightings. Enjoying your favorite drink while watching and photographing the sunset is a popular activity. Arrive back at camp after sundown, enjoy a hot shower if you like, and then join us by the campfire or in the living area for cocktails followed by dinner.
Food in our camps is superb—you'll be served both dishes you know and local specialties, too. Of course any dietary needs can be accommodated.
We've arranged for the best safari vehicles—custom Land Cruisers which feature ample room for you and your gear, and excellent visibility. And only one photographer per row of seats (note that front seat next to driver counts as a row). All of our camps feature optional daily laundry service (but not on days we travel in between camps).
Why a Muench Workshops Safari?
We know you have choices, and yes, you can spend less on another Safari. Our aim is to give you the best possible experience, maximizing your time and minimizing the hassle, while providing the best photographic experience and instruction available anywhere.
Photography and Safari Guiding: We've personally chosen only the best local safari guides for this photographic safari.
Details Matter: Our itinerary is carefully set to bring you the best game viewing and all that the region offers. We arrange things so that we're in areas that are not overly crowded with many other safari vehicles, and we get off-road when possible so we can get close to the action and our subjects.
Photography Instruction: This is a workshop, not just a tour. We will work hard on this safari, with instruction in the field and in camp. Many evenings feature critiques and post-processing instruction after dinner, and during the daytime we offer one-on-one instruction as needed. You'll come away with a wealth of new knowledge not only on how to create great imagery but how best to process those images in Lightroom and Photoshop.
Years of Experience—Happy Repeat Customers: We've been leading, guiding and teaching photographers for a long time—and we have thrilled customers who come back on our workshops again and again to prove it. If you'd like to speak to someone who has been with us on a workshop or safari, just let us know, we'd be happy to arrange a phone call.
Gallery
Fitness
Easy: You must be able to get in and out of the custom land cruisers, and ride for several hours on possibly bumpy terrain.
Flights
Arrive Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), Nairobi, Kenya anytime on September 20, 2023. Flights out can be made after 6:00 PM on October 1, 2023.
What to Bring
Please see our page How To Prepare For Your Workshop. We will send you a detailed information document 90 days before your workshop. This document will include specifics of where and when to meet, gear and clothing recommendations, and more.
What’s Included
- Double occupancy lodging. Single available for $2,500 supplement.
- All meals, soft drinks, and snacks during the workshop.
- All permits and park fees.
- Internal flights during the workshop.
- All transportation during the workshop.
- Tips for crew, drivers, and local guides.
- English-speaking local guide throughout the workshop.
- Photographic guiding and instruction from Andy Williams.
- Image reviews and post-processing instruction.
- Adventure, fun, inspiration, and a great time!
Not Included
- Travel to and from Nairobi, Kenya.
- Passport and visa fees (if applicable).
- Any meals or accommodations before or after the workshop dates.
- Items of a personal nature.
- Alcoholic beverages.
- Medical Evacuation Insurance (required).
- Travel Medical and Trip Cancellation Insurance (optional, but recommended).
- Anything else specifically not listed as included.
- Single rooming available for $2,500 supplement.
Payment Terms
- Your deposit of $6,995 will hold your space in this workshop.
- Further payment of $6,000 is due by February 1, 2023.
- The balance is due not later than June 1, 2023.
- All of our standard Terms and Conditions apply.
- Need special payment arrangements? No problem, just ask us.
Testimonials
“Muench Workshops' Kenya & Tanzania workshop significantly exceeded my expectations. Phenomenal wildlife—much more abundant, much closer interaction, much more photographic opportunities than I could have ever imagined. The experience was much better than marketing would have led me to believe it would. It wasn't cheap, but after it was over I realized what a great value I had for the money I paid. My highest recommendation! ”
