Kenya: Photo Hide, Aerial Photography and Amboseli
This safari is one of the more unique trips we have offered, combining 3 photographically rich experiences: evenings spent in an underground photo hide, aerial photography from a helicopter and pursuing photographs of elephant herds with Mount Kilimanjaro as our backdrop, all while being able to exit the vehicle for lower shots.
We have selected these areas to watch and photograph the large elephant herds of Amboseli, the nocturnal visitors at our underground hide and photographing flamingos from the air. When we are near Amboseli we have access to community Maasai land, enabling us to drive off road to position our vehicle for the best shooting angles. We often see processions of elephants that fill our camera frames. It isn't all about elephants, though, as we will spend four consecutive nights in an underground photographic hide, watching and photographing wildlife as they come to the water hole. We often see lions, leopard, elephants, giraffes and many other mammals.
The Schedule
October 22, 2026; (1 Night)
Karen Blixen Coffee Gardens - Nairobi, Kenya
On your arrival in Nairobi, you will be met by our local representative, who will assist you across the terminal, drive you to the hotel and help you get checked in.
Karen Blixen Coffee Gardens is very close to both airports and will make our journey to Nairobi Wilson Airport easy tomorrow morning. On the morning of the 9th our group will be transferred to Wilson Airport, where we will board our flight to Amboseli. If you have the time, we do recommend arriving a day earlier to shake off the long journey and to get settled into the trip in a nice and easy pace.
October 23-27, 2026 (4 nights)
Kitirua Plains Camp - Kitirua Private Conservancy, Amboseli
Today the small group of five will fly from Nairobi to Amboseli and will begin time on safari. We will be staying at Tortilis Camp for 4 nights, in order to take our time and enjoy the process of watching and photograph the largest tusks and elephant herds in east Africa. Kitirua Plains Camp is brand new and has access to local Maasai land, which is outside of Amboseli National Park, allowing us to have freedom to drive where we want to and to position our vehicles for the best photographs.
With the majestic backdrop of Africa’s highest mountain, and the world’s highest free-standing mountain, Kitirua Plains Camp is widely regarded as the prime location for witnessing the majesty of snow-capped Kilimanjaro.
Amboseli is also known for its magnificent elephants – a population of over 1800 individuals, and some of Africa’s largest, reside in the park’s unique ecosystem. Game drives, walks, sundowners and bush meals all take place both inside the Amboseli National Park and within a private 30,000 acre game concession, offering fantastic opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography.
October 27-31, 2026; (4 Nights)
Lentorre Lodge - Southern Rift Valley, Kenya
Today we are taking a private plane to the southern Rift Valley, along the border with Tanzania and to a very special place. The area is in the heart of Maasailand and it is a harsh and dry environment with beautiful landscapes and good light for photographers.
We are flying to Lentorre Lodge, a small camp that is set on a spur that runs off the Nguruman Escarpment and beside a natural spring. The camp has one of the few water sources for the resident wildlife, and thus is very productive for wildlife viewing at camp. Lentorre has a photographic hide that is air conditioned and behind privacy glass, making for a comfortable experience for photographers. This hide has ample space for photographers, 6 beds, a bathroom, a refrigerator and a local Maasai spotter who stays up all night so we don't always have to be awake.
The group will head into the hide after dinner, spending the nights taking photographs of nocturnal wildlife. During the day we will head into the local Maasai community for some amazing cultural photographs, as well as spend time in the helicopter taking photos of flamingos and the beautiful waters of the local alkaline lakes.
October 28, 2026
The mornings at Lentorre are a time to relax, catch up on sleep and get ready for the afternoons and evenings. If you are feeling energetic, spend time at the bird hide, which is outdoors, taking photos of birds coming in for a bath or a drink.
In the afternoon we will have time in the helicopter, taking photos above Lake Magadi, Lake Natron and the surrounding land. This will likely be some of the most productive time you will have taking photos of wildlife. We are flying in a helicopter from Nairobi and it will stay with us for two days, as we swap participants for an hour of photography each time we board.
After dinner under the stars we will head back into the photo hide, for another night of exciting photo opportunities.
October 29, 2026
Another relaxed morning we will go back into the helicopter for some more aerial photography. We always take the doors off of the chopper and we will rotate the time guests fly (i.e. if you flew first yesterday you will fly last today). We will have headphones to chat with our pilot, who will describe what is coming up so we will have the best chance of success with our photographs.
Lake Magadi is the southernmost lake in the Kenyan Rift Valley, lying in a catchment area of faulted volcanic rocks. During the dry season, which includes October, it is mostly covered by soda and is well known for its wading birds, including flamingos. Lake Natron is a mineral-rich soda lake in northern Tanzania and southern Kenya. It is a breeding ground for hundreds of thousands of lesser flamingos, despite the high alkalinity of the lake.
Tonight you will have your third evening in the photo hide.
October 30, 2026
Perhaps today the group will head to the local Maasai community for some more cultural photographs, watching the herdsmen bring their livestock back home for the night. This is a great time to photograph, as the dusty environment creates for dramatic lighting.
Tonight you will have your fourth evening in the photo hide.
October 31, 2026
Today you will enjoy an casual morning, emerging from the hide at sunrise for a casual breakfast. Departing camp in time to make it to the airstrip for your flight back to Nairobi Wilson airport. The group will be transferred to Four Points by Sheraton, near the airport, for a day room and will be transferred by the hotel to Jomo Kenyatta International airport in time for your evening flight.
NOTE: Customized extensions to this safari, including Tanzania, mountain gorillas in Rwanda, additional time on safari in Kenya, Cape Town, Victoria Falls and other destinations may be arranged through us as desired. Ask us for further information.
The Cost
The cost of this all-inclusive safari is $18,900 per person. This fee includes all in-country ground and air transportation as well as hotel accommodation (double occupancy) and all meals.
Due to the limited number of spaces available, if a solo guest is willing to share a room and we can match with another guest of the same gender, we will do so. If a solo guest is unwilling to share, then a single supplement will be charged $2,200 (please contact us if you would like to have your own accommodation as we have a very limited number of single slots available).
Please note: We will attempt to adhere to this itinerary as much as possible. However, certain conditions (political, climatic, environmental, cultural, or wildlife migrations) may necessitate changes in the itinerary. We reserve the right to alter any itinerary at any time, if necessary. We will attempt to notify travelers of changes, if they occur, as far in advance as possible. Costs incurred by such changes will be the responsibility of the participant.
What Do I Do Next?
This group will be super small so space is limited. If this exciting trip has your name on it; if you're excited by the thought of becoming a member of this trip, then now is the time to register. Remember, there will be limited space available for this workshop. When they're spoken for, that's it. If you have any questions before registering, send us an e-mail with any inquiries to hello@andybiggs.com.
Trip Details
Safari Leader: PJ Hicks
Dates: October 22-31, 2026
Cost: $18,900
Single Supplement: $2,200
What's Included?
•Accommodation on a shared basis (single rooms in Nairobi).
•Private safari vehicles
•All safari activities and transfers to/from the airports and the hotels.
•Daily laundry.
•Amboseli park fees.
•Meet & Assist service on arrival in Nairobi.
•All meals and drinks at camp.
•The current Tourism Levies and all relevant Value Added Tax or Government Sales Tax
What is Not Included?
•International airfare and/or other transportation between your home and Nairobi.
•Visas
•Travel Insurance (required for this safari. We do offer travel insurance at competitive rates)
•Personal purchases (including curios, spirit liquors, telephone calls etc.)
•Gratuities for guides and hotel staff
•Pre- and post- safari tours and meals or accommodation before or after the safari