Kenya, The Great Migration | Overseas | Masai Mara

In the Masai Mara we stay in a tented camp set up in a delightful forested location with comfortable, large, twin or double bedded tents each with en-suite bathroom facilities consisting of a basin, shower and a flush toilet. Tents are furnished with proper beds, and table and chairs are provided on a covered veranda. The camp has a secluded tented lounge with a selection of reference books and easy chairs - the perfect spot to relax in the heat of the day. Power for recharging batteries is available throughout the day. In Ol Pejeta we use a luxury tented camp established by the same team as the familiar camp we use in the Mara and with similar facilities. The camps are ideal for those wishing to experience the real African bush away from large, often noisy and impersonal lodges.

Day 1
Morning departure from London’s Heathrow airport for the flight to Nairobi, Kenya. We arrive in the evening and are transferred to ahotel where we spend the night

Day 2
The following morning we will be transferred to Wilson Airport for the scheduled short morning flight to the Masai Mara. Arriving late morning, we are met and transferred to the camp and are game-viewing on the way! After lunch we will take our first full game drive on the local plains before returning to camp for dinner and an evening around the camp fire

Days 3 to 7
Five full days of game-viewing and photography. Each morning we will leave camp before sunrise and, after a couple of hours game-viewing, we will stop on the plains for our picnic breakfast with the wildlife all around us. After breakfast we will continue our game-drive and return to camp for lunch and a short break in the middle of the day. We then return to the plains in the afternoon which finishes with us stopping at a picturesque location to enjoy a sundowner drink as we watch and photograph the setting sun.On some days we will plan a longer itinerary and take a picnic lunch with us and rest under a tree during the heat of the middle of the day. During our time we will visit the Mara River for the opportunity to witness the annual spectacle of vast herds of migrating Wildebeest, Zebra and Gazelles arriving from Tanzania. In addition we will aim to catch up with some of the stars of the BBC’s Big Cat Week as well as more general game viewing and photography on the local plains near to our camp.The diverse habitat enables many different species to co-exist including Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Serval, Caracal, Elephant, Black Rhinoceros, Masai Giraffe, Cape Buffalo, Eland, Burchell’s Zebra, Topi, Coke’s Hartebeest, Wildebeest, Waterbuck, Impala, Thomson’s Gazelle, Reedbuck, Hyena, Jackal, Hippopotamus, Crocodile, Baboon, Vervet Monkey, Warthog, Mongoose and many more. In addition over 500 birds species have been recorded in the area of which 50 are birds of prey.During our stay there will be the opportunity to learn more about the people and culture of the area. Optional visits may be arranged to a Masai village, a local school we have been supporting and the local town on market day. It is also possible to take a nature walk with an experienced guide to learn more about the plant and insect life of the area, and gain a wider appreciation of thehabitat. These options are generally arranged outside prime game-viewing time, and there will always be the option of continued game viewing or an earlier return to camp for some relaxation or to review photographs. Although we will often be out all day, on those days we return to camp for lunch there will be the opportunity for informal tutorials on various aspects of photographictechnique and equipment to supplement the guidance provided by your Tour Leader in the vehicle.

Day 8
On the final morning we will have a game drive and picnic breakfast as usual. After lunch we transfer back to the airstrip and take the short return flight to Nairobi. On arrival we will be taken to a restaurant for dinner and then later transferred to the international airport to board the overnight flight to London.

Day 9
Early morning arrival into London Heathrow

tour/report/kentabroc.jpg Wild Arena are delighted to announce a return to Kenya’s Masai Mara in early 2007 for our popular Big Cat Week, where the stars of the popular BBC TV series are often seen and photographed. The safari is arranged by African specialists, Safari Consultants Ltd, and the price is fully inclusive of all flights and transfers. You will accompany professional photographer and experienced tour guide Peter Smart who has been instrumental in the outstanding success of Wild Arena’s workshops and tours.

In addition to providing great photographic opportunities, Wild Arena’s safaris are
designed to offer a wide appreciation of the natural beauty of Africa’s wildlife, people and the environment and offering exciting holidays for couples with varied interests. Our itinerary ensures we give you the maximum time in the field and the best photographic opportunities, including help when it is needed. We also aim to give you a highly enjoyable time and for you to feel that our knowledgeable guides have provided you with unique opportunities to view and capture images of the natural world.

The safari starts with an overnight flight from Heathrow, arriving in Nairobi the next
morning. A short internal flight will transport you to a friendly and comfortable tented
camp in time for lunch, and you will take your first game drive that afternoon to catch up with the local big cats and other animals. During the safari we will venture further afield to find a wide range of other animals and birds. On most days we will take picnic breakfasts and lunches to truly experience life in the bush and appreciate all it has to offer.....

To see the latest Brochure Click Here

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KENYA, SEPTEMBER 2004: THE GREAT MIGRATION – TOUR REPORT

Peter Smart, Wild Arena’s photographic guide and tour leader, accompanied a group on an amazing 9 day safari to Kenya’s Masai Mara in September 2004. At this time the huge herds of Wildebeest and Zebra are flooding into the Masai Mara on the northernmost section on their annual migration which began with the birth of their young on the nutrient-rich, short grass plains of the Serengeti in Tanzania earlier in the year. The millions of animals are driven north in their instinctive search for food but, in addition to the arduous journey, they are also faced with the ever-present dangers of predators and the need to cross the mighty Mara river full of huge crocodiles.

Although the actual dates for reaching and crossing the Mara river vary from year to year, expectation was high amongst the group that during the safari a crossing might be witnessed. They did a little better than that! In addition countless lions were seen during the safari including the ever-growing pride near to the camp, as well as most of the other species that could be expected. Even a Serval Cat showed itself on the day of the arrival.

Taking a picnic breakfast every day and leaving camp before dawn allowed the best use to be made of early morning light, offering wonderful photographic opportunities for many animals and birds. Nearly 40 species of animal were seen and (without trying too hard!) around 100 species of birds were identified. Many of the latter provided superb viewing and photographic opportunities such as Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, Secretary Bird and the relatively common but always photographable Lilac-breasted Roller.

A full tour report by Peter follows and an album showing a selection of photographic highlights may be viewed by clicking Here

The images have been chosen to show the wide range species and habitat that we seen, and the extensive photographic opportunities that were available. They are not necessarily the best photographs that were taken and, to improve the download speed of images, the quality has been kept low. All photographs were taken by Peter Smart on a Canon EOS10D D-SLR and mostly with the Canon 100-400mm IS lens.

The 2005 Kenya migration safaris have already been announced and are filling quickly, with the 3 similar Taste of Africa trips in early 2005 having been filled for some time. The first of the migration safaris will start with 4 nights at Lewa in the north of Kenya to see a range of species not seen further south and then be followed by 4 nights in the Mara. The second tour will be a repeat of this year’s 9 day trip exclusively to the Mara. Both trips may be combined to provide a varied safari and offer an extended opportunity to follow the migration at a highly competitive price. Full details may be found at www.wildarena.com.

We wish to thank Julius and Boniface, our superb driver/guides, and all the management and staff at the camp and also Safari Consultants Limited who handle our African travel arrangements. They are a fully bonded UK tour operator holding ATOL licence 3783. Also bonded through AITO Trust (No. 1091) and holding an IATA licence. Your financial protection when travelling on safari.

So now here is Peter’s Kenya: The Great Migration tour report for September 2004 …

“In less than a day from taking our overnight flight from Heathrow and the short internal flight to the Masai Mara we were standing by the side of the Mara river viewing a large pod of Hippos under the heat of the African sun! We then moved on to our wonderful, wilderness camp for the week to be greeted with a welcome drink and with time to unpack before lunch. After a brief siesta we were soon out on our first game drive on the local plains to be greeted by species such as Thompson’s and Grant’s Gazelles, Topi, and Impala feeding on the Red Oat grass which had transformed the area since the Taste of Africa safari earlier in the year to something resembling golden fields of corn. One of our vehicles was fortunate enough to see an elusive Serval cat leaping though the grass!

We soon came upon the local lion pride preparing for a night’s hunting. The pride is thriving and promises to be one of the largest in the Mara, given the sad demise of the Marsh pride regularly featured on BBC’s Big Cat Diary. Two quite young and – it has to be said! – rather scruffy males took over the pride late in 2003 but are now looking very handsome, and their young offspring from two of the seven pride lionesses seen in February are now healthy and boisterous 6 and 8 month old cubs. Many of the other lionesses are believed to be pregnant, and one was seen suckling extremely young cubs away from the pride later in the trip, promising great sightings for clients already booked on the safaris in early 2005. A highlight after dinner on many evenings was hearing the lions roar!

The following morning we set out before dawn (as we did each morning, taking a picnic breakfast) for the Paradise Plains in the hope of seeing the Wildebeest crossing the mighty Mara river. This didn’t stop us spending time with the local pride once more, in gorgeous early morning light, as the cubs played amongst themselves. We also saw two huge bull elephants close to camp beautifully lit amongst the Red Oat grass.

When we arrived at the Paradise crossing we saw huge herds of Wildebeest and Zebra on the far side of the river … not to mention huge crocodiles patrolling the river. Expectations of a crossing were high and so we waited. Without warning the first Wildebeest finally entered the water and soon many more followed, with some leaping across others until the air was filled with dust and the water was filled with animals and foamed white.

It was an amazing spectacle to witness. As I had explained to the group, the migration is a continuous cycle and seeing the huge herds moving through the vastness of the Serengeti Plains earlier in the year is one of the wonders of the natural world, and there is never any guarantee of seeing a river crossing which is only a short period of that cycle. However, needless to say, everyone was extremely happy to have the opportunity to witness it - including yours truly … tick!

After a delayed picnic lunch and with the prospect of another crossing unlikely we slowly made our way back towards camp, finding Kike – Big Cat Diary’s Cheetah mother. Her cubs, now independent, has meant she is now believed to be pregnant which again bodes well for the 2005 safaris! A large group of giraffes and elephants added interest to the return drive, while a heavy shower resulted in a glorious rainbow which had us searching for some foreground interest to capture some unusual landscape photographs.

Relying on our drivers’ expert knowledge regarding crossings we decided to return to Paradise Plains on the following day. Once again we had some lovely sightings and photographic opportunities as the sun rose, including the local breeding herd of elephants with some delightful youngsters. Taking a different route we passed through the Musiara Marsh, which sadly devoid of lions. However many birds were seen feeding around the marsh itself including the huge Saddle-billed Stork, the unusual Woolly-necked Stork, African Fish Eagle and many smaller species.

Once again we found Kike, the lovely Cheetah, who was clearly intent on hunting and offered some superb photographic opportunities. After all the pleasant distractions we finally arrived at Paradise Plains which could have been an anti-climax after the excitement of the previous day … and we were rewarded with two river crossings!

During our leisurely return to camp a large herd of elephants crossed our path and we had incredible views of them as they passed very close to our vehicles, while nearer to home we came upon one of the local lionesses who had just killed a Wildebeest. Preoccupied by her supper, we had superb close-up photographic opportunities as she set to work.

By the following morning she had left – presumably with a very full tummy – and the scavengers had moved in. As with each morning, the glorious early morning light enhanced the images of vultures, Tawny Eagle and Black-backed Jackal as they set to work on the gory remains. Later, the opportunity was also taken to photograph other species such as Impala and a pair of very co-operative Secretary Birds before the light became harsher and a picnic breakfast was taken by the side of the river to the accompaniment of grumbling hippos.

Some of the group took the opportunity to spend an enjoyable couple of hours at a local Masai village before returning to camp for lunch. In the afternoon we decided to visit a project which is introducing White Rhinos to an area near the camp. White Rhinos are not native to Kenya but with the sad decimation of the Rhino population throughout Africa, localised schemes such as these to save this animal in the wild are to be applauded. After a rather fruitless trek through the bush initially, suddenly we were confronted with three of these magnificent animals just a few yards away. I noted that they were very large and there were no barriers between us and them, and I was only slightly reassured by the guard armed with an umbrella! However, despite their bulk and the fact they confirmed the text book descriptions of being able to move quickly, it was an incredible experience and provided superb photographic opportunities. Sadly, although free to roam during the day – they are wild animals – they have to be protected 24 hours a day and in the evening they are (somehow!) rounded up in to an enclosure to keep them safe from poachers. While this would have been happening, we were out on the plains partaking of a new and very welcome offering by the camp – Sundowners!

During the night, the local lion pride made a successful kill and we witnessed one of the males carrying a large chunk of Zebra across the plains the following morning and saw the rest of the pride feeding on or playing with the remains. The local elephant family were also seen drinking at a small water hole and the antics of the youngsters offered good photography … and even greater amusement!

After a late breakfast, some of the group took the opportunity to visit a local school which the camp is planning to support as one of a series of community projects. We were warmly welcomed by one of the two teachers and the many pupils and it was a very enjoyable experience. However, the small school building has to cater for well over a hundred primary age pupils with few desks and only a limited selection of basic materials such as books, pencils and paper. The one toilet for staff and pupils was in a state of disrepair and funds were insufficient for materials to complete a replacement. By the end of our visit, it was apparent that a little cash could go a long way and the group had already pledged some initial funds to the camp’s Community Project and plans were hatched to help produce a regular newsletter and a web site to attract further much-needed funds. (And, yes, any donations will be gratefully accepted and will go directly towards supporting the school!)

Before lunch, the group were delighted to have the opportunity to chat with Jonathan Scott who happened to be in camp! He related details of his future projects as well as answering many questions. Thank you Jonathan!

Our final full day became the Day of the Lions as we set off towards the Talek river. An incredible number of prides, groups and a breeding pair with a magnificent black-maned male. Some obligingly posed on mounds looking towards the river and the large herds that now filled the plains on both sides of the river. Some lions made opportunistic attempts to hunt in the middle of the day, but unsuccessfully. It was clear that their time would come with the cover of darkness.

As we returned towards camp we were greeted with the news that Amani, the local Cheetah mother, had returned to the area having been absent for some time. Earlier in the year she had been the star of the Taste of Africa safari with her 3 cubs. Sadly, now only one survived but both looked very healthy cats and we later learned Amani had successfully hunted earlier in the day.

On the day we were due to depart we still completed a full morning of game viewing. As we left camp we followed one of the local male lions (coming from pretty much the same direction as we did!) and also caught up with many of the other animals we had seen during the safari bathed in warm morning light. Superb views of a magnificent Verreaux’s Eagle Owl and a pair of beautifully composed Giraffes were a fitting finale to a full and varied safari!

A total of 37 animal species were recorded and a list of these may be found here: Here

Being an experienced ornithologist, I am always happy to assist in identifying the vast range of colourful (and often similar!) bird species that can be found. While not a ‘twitching’ tour, I believe most people think that seeing, identifying and photographing the birds adds a further rewarding dimension to a safari. A total of 102 species were recorded and that’s excluding many of the LBJs (little brown jobs) that we didn’t have time to identify. For those people who have not yet been fortunate enough to visit Africa (and as I hope the album shows) many of the birds are either large and/or colourful and, using the vehicles as mobile hides, provide great photographic opportunities. The full list and birds recorded may be found Here

My personal highlight of safari has to be the three river crossings we witnessed. (If nothing else, it ensured the tour lived up to its billing of The Great Migration!) However I never tired of seeing lions who, in many cases, were doing things other than sleeping which lions are generally renowned for during the day. We were also extremely fortunate with our Cheetah and Serval sightings. The glorious early morning light each morning ensured that the photographic opportunities for most species was excellent but, more importantly - with camera put to one side – reminded me that I was watching a wonderful, animal-filled landscape that could only be Africa.


Peter Smart, October 2004

tour/report/kenta.jpg In August and September 2005 Peter Smart, Wild Arena’s photographic guide and tour leader, accompanied three groups to Kenya. The first group visited Lewa Downs and the Masai Mara on Kenya: North & South, while the two later groups (some clients joining both!) enjoyed Kenya: The Great Migration.

The Overview folders contain a selection of images that have been chosen to show the widerange of species, habitat and the local people that were seen in Lewa and the Masai Mara, and the extensive photographic opportunities that were available. Additional folders contain
more of the birds that were seen, and further images of Cheetah, Lion and Leopards. All photographs were taken by Peter Smart, mostly using a Canon EOS20D D-SLR with the Canon 100-400mm IS lens.....


To see the FULL 2005 Tour Report Click Here

Requires Adobe Acrobat reader available Here

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