Maasai Mara specialist photographic safari
From US$ 10,183 per person sharing (9 days)
Trust us to find you the rarest animals, the most spectacular wildlife events, the remotest landscapes and deeply meaningful cultural encounters!
For this Maasai Mara safari, your small team will benefit from a specially modified photographer’s vehicle and enjoy the company of guides who live in and understand the Maasai Mara ecosystem intimately - giving you the best chance to obtain those unique photos that have us all green with envy.
Your basecamp – Oltepesi Tented Safari Camp – is in a Maasai village, offering a unique and authentic insight into the traditional lives of these pastoralists. This unique safari offers genuine empowerment for local people and helps conserve the greater Serengeti/Maasai Mara ecosystem. There are no fences between the park and the community land, and wildlife roams throughout the area.
Learn from the best to fine-tune your photography - four guests only!
Highlights
Exclusive Access with an Award-Winning Photographer – join renowned photographer Arnfinn Johansen for a once-in-a-lifetime photography-focused safari.
Specially Modified Photography Vehicle – capture breathtaking wildlife moments from a custom-designed vehicle that enhances photographic opportunities.
Expert Local Guides – benefit from the deep knowledge of guides who live in the Maasai Mara, ensuring an immersive and insightful experience.
Authentic Maasai Cultural Experience – stay at Oltepesi Tented Safari Camp in a Maasai village, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of traditional pastoralists.
Wildlife Encounters Beyond the Park Boundaries – with no fences separating the Maasai Mara from community lands, enjoy the chance to witness free-roaming wildlife at any moment.
Conservation and Community Impact – support local communities and contribute to the preservation of the greater Serengeti/Maasai Mara ecosystem.
Locations and Lodges
Your journey begins in Nairobi, Kenya’s vibrant capital, where wildlife meets city life. Then the Maasai Mara, which is renowned for the large numbers of resident big cats, and the Great Wildebeest Migration. Your guides will ensure that you get up close and personal with Mara’s amazing wildlife, and find those unique angles and light conditions that make the difference between good photos and truly amazing photos.
1 night at Tamarind Tree Hotel: Ideally located just 5 km southwest of the city of Nairobi. Hotel has easy access to Nairobi, its national park, and the country’s diverse attractions.
7 nights at Oltepesi Tented Safari Camp: a specialist photographic tented camp located in Mara North Conservancy, bordering Maasai Mara National Reserve next to a small Maasai village.
Read more about the Great Wildebeest Migration here
Guest Reviews
“We have travelled from the US to Africa for safaris 6 times prior to this trip. We have stayed at many camps rated in the top ten on the continent. None, and I mean none, have offered a safari experience equal to Oltepesi Camp. John and Arnfinn were with us, advising on photography for about 13 hours a day. That’s not a typo. It’s 13. Out at 6 am we were in unbelievable positions every day for sunrise and finished the day in perfect position for sunset. The perfect positions continued throughout every day. Multiple kills were seen. Classics such as a lion in a tree, a lioness carrying her baby, a leopard in a tree with a kill and, of course, the huge herds. The difference is you are with the owner. John allows you to share his family's home. He and his family live right next door. The Maasai lifestyle is truly part of the experience, not just a uniform worn by the staff. John helped me enjoy much more than the animals. We discussed his culture, traditions, family, and his hopes for the future. In summary, this trip was extraordinary. Perfect. I can’t recommend it enough.” ~ Don Goldman, United States
Here is another travel diary, this time from Africa Geographic safari client Ruzdi Ekenheim – an extremely experienced traveller.
Finally, our CEO had this to say about his time spent with the Oltepesi team and several AG guests.
Timing
20 to 28 November 2026 8 nights, 9 days
Your photographic safari is perfectly timed for excellent weather and wildlife-viewing. Kenya is an excellent year-round safari destination, with each season offering distinct experiences across Nairobi, Samburu, Solio, and the Maasai Mara. The dry seasons, from January to March and June to October, provide clear skies, excellent visibility, and peak wildlife viewing, with calving season early in the year and the dramatic Great Migration river crossings in the Maasai Mara from July to mid-October. The long rains in April and May bring lush landscapes, vibrant birdlife, and quieter safaris, while the short rains from November to December transform the scenery into green beauty, with active wildlife and fewer crowds.
Once we know more about your experience wish-list and ideal timing, we will tailor-make this safari idea just for you.
Prices and dates
Rates - 20-28 November 2026 | |
Per person sharing based on 2 participants | US$ 10,185 |
Per single based on 2 participants | US$ 10,945 |
Per person sharing based on 3 participants | US$ 8,300 |
Per single based on 3 participants | US$ 8,875 |
Per person sharing based on 4 participants | US$ 7,230 |
Per single based on 4 participants | US$ 8,000 |
Rates - 24 October-1 November 2025 - FULL | |
Per person sharing based on 2 participants | US$ 10,690 |
Per single based on 2 participants | US$ 11,495 |
Per person sharing based on 3 participants | US$ 8,720 |
Per single based on 3 participants | US$ 9,435 |
Per person sharing based on 4 participants | US$ 7,605 |
Per single based on 4 participants | US$ 8,320 |
Price Includes:
Meet and greet in Nairobi. Transfer to hotel in Nairobi on day 1. Overnight in Nairobi on a bed and breakfast basis at Tamarind Tree Hotel. Transfer to Wilson airport. Return flights from Nairobi Wilson Airport to Mara Olkiombo Airstrip, extra baggage allowance (30 kg per person checked-in baggage and hand luggage), return transfers between the camp and Mara Olkiombo Airstrip, accommodation in shared safari tents as described, all meals and drinks starting with lunch on arrival day, and ending with lunch on departure day. All game drives by guide John Siololo, personal photography and instruction from award-winning wildlife photographer Arnfinn Johansen, all entry into and transport in the Mara, daily use of specially modified safari vehicle for low angle wildlife photography, 24/7 office support.
Price Excludes:
Flights to Nairobi, travel insurance and cancellation insurance, tips and gratuities (recommended 10 USD per guest/day to the Maasai guide and 5 USD per guest/day to the camp staff). any costs of a personal nature and other costs not specified as included, visas (should your country require one), excess baggage charges.
“Golden photo opportunities”
Linda Fox, AG Kenya Safari expert: One of my favourite moments in the Maasai Mara was setting out at dawn to photograph lions, golden light in their manes, eyes fixed on us and set against the Mara’s sweeping savannahs, winding rivers, and dramatic escarpments.
“Sustainable safari haven”
Christian Boix, AG Kenya Safari expert: "Oltepesi impressed me with its photography-focused guides, vehicles, and ethos, crafted by a true master. You’re cared for, contributing to the community, and part of a sustainable model that will thrive for years to come.."
"Welcoming Maasai spirit"
Our CEO, Simon Espley, says, "I loved that I could wander around the small village at Oltepesi and feel welcomed by the local people. I was free to take photos of village life, while obviously respecting privacy and dignity."
Your safari day-by-day
This photographic safari begins with your arrival in Nairobi, where you are met and transferred to Tamarind Tree Hotel for a restful night. The next morning, you’ll fly into the Maasai Mara, where award-winning photographer Arnfinn Johansen welcomes you to begin your wildlife adventure. From Oltepesi Tented Safari Camp, located near the park boundary, you’ll set off on your first game drive, immediately immersing yourself in the wilderness.
Over the following six days, you’ll explore the sweeping plains and riverbanks of the Mara with expert Maasai guide John Siololo and Johansen, who will provide invaluable photographic guidance throughout. Days begin at sunrise and end after sunset to capture the best light, with breakfast and lunch enjoyed on the savannah. The custom-designed game vehicle allows low-angle shooting for dramatic, eye-level perspectives of the region’s extraordinary wildlife, which includes over 100 mammal species and 570 bird species.
Evenings are spent around the campfire, sharing stories before a wholesome dinner under the stars. On the final day, you’ll enjoy one last game drive before flying back to Nairobi, where an Africa Geographic representative will assist with onward travel or additional arrangements, concluding a memorable photographic safari in one of Africa’s most iconic landscapes.
Safari planning
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Maasai Mara specialist photographic safari
Tell us about your dream trip - our travel experts will craft a no-obligation itinerary just for you. We have crafted over 5,000 safaris since 1991. Your personal details are protected; we only use this information to contact you.
Why choose us to craft your safari?
Handcrafted experiential safaris since 1991.
Travel in Africa is about knowing when and where to go, and with whom. A few weeks too early/late or a few kilometres off course, and you could miss the greatest show on Earth. And wouldn’t that be a pity?
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Make a difference
We donate a portion of the revenue from every safari sold to carefully selected conservation projects that make a significant difference at ground level.
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