Arrival in Nairobi – Urban Conservation Introduction

The 12 Days Kenya Conservation Experience begins with arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), Nairobi. Guests are met by their expert safari guide and transferred to a luxury city hotel, providing a comfortable start to the expedition. After settling in, participants are introduced to Kenya’s pioneering conservation efforts with visits to two iconic centers.

The first stop is the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, where orphaned elephants rescued from human-wildlife conflict zones and poaching incidents are cared for. Guests witness the daily feeding session, offering rare opportunities for close-up photography of playful, curious elephant calves. Guides explain rehabilitation strategies, anti-poaching measures, and the trust’s community outreach programs. Capturing elephant behavior, interaction, and movement allows photographers to practice dynamic wildlife photography in a controlled yet naturalistic setting.

The second visit is the Giraffe Centre, home to endangered Rothschild giraffes. Visitors feed giraffes from a raised platform, allowing for exceptional close-range shots. Guides elaborate on breeding programs and habitat conservation initiatives. These first encounters provide a meaningful introduction to Kenya’s conservation ethos and set the tone for the hands-on experiences to come.

• Animals to Spot: Rothschild giraffes, elephant calves (Sheldrick Wildlife Trust), Nairobi National Park wildlife on the drive
• Birds to Spot: African fish eagle, sunbirds, weavers, hornbills
• Cultures to Experience: Urban Kenyan lifestyle, local artisans, conservation education programs

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy – Northern Kenya Conservation Immersion

Fly from Nairobi to the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and global model of community-based conservation. Nestled in northern Kenya’s semi-arid landscape, Lewa provides vital protection for black and white rhinos, Grevy’s zebras, and numerous endemic species. Guests spend three full days engaged in activities that offer unique insights into conservation and ecological management.

Activities include guided game drives with photography opportunities focusing on rare and endangered species. Tracking black rhinos alongside anti-poaching rangers highlights the methods used to combat poaching and protect vulnerable populations. Guests may participate in bush walks and follow research teams to understand wildlife monitoring techniques. The conservancy also offers cultural immersion through visits to Samburu homesteads, where participants witness traditional pastoralist lifestyles and understand how community involvement is integral to sustainable conservation.

The semi-arid landscapes provide dramatic photography backdrops, with wide-open plains, acacia trees, and rugged terrain under vivid blue skies. Photographers can capture natural interactions among wildlife, such as predator-prey behavior, social dynamics within elephant herds, or grazing patterns of Grevy’s zebras. Morning and evening light is optimal for capturing detailed textures and vibrant colors, enhancing portfolio diversity.

• Animals to Spot: Black and white rhinos, elephants, Grevy’s zebra, lions, cheetahs
• Birds to Spot: Somali ostrich, bateleur eagle, lilac-breasted roller, weaver birds
• Cultures to Experience: Samburu village visits, traditional attire, beadwork, storytelling

Travel south to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa and home to Kenya’s only chimpanzee sanctuary, Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Guests spend two full days engaging with conservation programs and wildlife monitoring efforts. Activities include rhino tracking, lion observation, and learning about habitat preservation and anti-poaching strategies.

Sweetwaters provides rare opportunities to observe and photograph rescued chimpanzees in a semi-natural environment. Photographers can capture detailed expressions, social interactions, and rehabilitation behaviors. Rhino encounters highlight the critical importance of habitat protection and anti-poaching measures. Conservation specialists explain the technological and on-the-ground methods used to safeguard these species.

Ol Pejeta’s spacious plains and waterholes attract diverse wildlife, allowing for dynamic photography. Participants can practice compositional techniques, framing predators in natural habitats, and capturing candid wildlife behavior. Optional night drives provide a chance to observe nocturnal species such as bush babies, genets, and hyenas. This stage of the expedition emphasizes how conservation directly benefits wildlife, ecosystems, and surrounding communities.

• Animals to Spot: Black and white rhinos, lions, elephants, leopards, hyenas
• Birds to Spot: Grey crowned crane, secretary bird, African fish eagle, hornbills
• Cultures to Experience: Engagement with Laikipia communities, conservation education, local crafts

Journey south to Amboseli National Park, internationally renowned for its elephant populations set against Mount Kilimanjaro. Guests spend two days exploring diverse habitats including swamps, savannahs, and woodlands, all providing stunning photographic compositions. Conservation focus in Amboseli emphasizes human-wildlife conflict mitigation, illustrating how communities and wildlife coexist.

Game drives are timed to take advantage of the golden hours, perfect for capturing elephants crossing marshes or lions hunting in open plains. Guides provide insights into Amboseli’s research projects, including elephant population monitoring and tracking predator-prey interactions. Maasai village visits allow for portrait photography and understanding the socio-cultural dynamics influencing conservation. Traditional dances, beadwork, and cattle-herding practices offer authentic cultural imagery.

Amboseli’s contrasting landscapes—from bright open plains to shaded acacia groves—offer diverse lighting and textures, essential for professional wildlife photography. Photographers can practice capturing motion, depth of field, and perspective while documenting both wildlife and human integration into the ecosystem.

• Animals to Spot: Elephants, lions, cheetahs, buffaloes, zebras
• Birds to Spot: Kori bustard, lilac-breasted roller, hornbills, African fish eagle
• Cultures to Experience: Maasai community visits, traditional dance, semi-nomadic lifestyle

Fly or drive to a private conservancy adjacent to the Maasai Mara National Reserve, such as Mara North Conservancy. This three-day experience offers intimate wildlife encounters away from crowds, with a strong emphasis on conservation education and photographic opportunities.

Guests enjoy game drives in open savannahs, riverine forests, and grasslands. The conservancy model demonstrates how land lease payments and community involvement directly support local livelihoods while protecting biodiversity. Photographers can capture rare predator-prey interactions, wildlife behavior, and seasonal Great Migration river crossings. Optional hot-air balloon safaris provide aerial perspectives, highlighting the scale of the ecosystem and herd dynamics.

Cultural visits to Maasai villages complement wildlife photography, allowing for portraits of traditional attire, rituals, and everyday life. These interactions provide a holistic understanding of how community and conservation are intertwined. Each day is carefully timed for optimal light conditions, ensuring the best results for landscape and wildlife photography.

• Animals to Spot: Lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, zebras, giraffes
• Birds to Spot: Martial eagle, grey-crowned crane, lilac-breasted roller, hornbills
• Cultures to Experience: Maasai village interactions, traditional crafts, song and dance performances

Departure – Nairobi and International Flight

After a final morning activity, transfer back to Nairobi for the international departure flight. Guests leave with an enriched understanding of Kenya’s conservation landscape, abundant photographic material, and immersive cultural experiences. The 12 Days Kenya Conservation Experience concludes with memories of hands-on participation in wildlife protection, sustainable community engagement, and exposure to iconic African landscapes and species.