6-Day Masai Mara Photography Tour Package — Led by Usha Harish
6 days · Max 4 photographers per vehicle · All levels welcome · Private modified 4×4s · Full board at Mara Siligi Camp
Join Usha Harish — wildlife photographer and co-founder of Mara Siligi Camp — for a six-day Masai Mara Photography Tour designed entirely around photography in the Masai Mara. This is not a standard safari with a camera on the side. The itinerary is built around light, animal behaviour, and the moments that don’t happen on a fixed schedule.
Whether you’re shooting with a DSLR for the first time or you’re building a professional portfolio, this package puts you in the right place, at the right time, with someone who has spent years learning how to read this landscape through a lens.
Package Overview — 6-Day Masai Mara Photography Tour
Duration | 6 days / 5 nights |
Start / End | Nairobi pickup and drop-off included |
Best for | Wildlife photographers of all levels · nature lovers · content creators · solo travellers |
Vehicle | Private modified 4×4 Land Cruiser — open sides, low-angle doors, bean bags, power inverter |
Max group size | 4 photographers per vehicle — no exceptions |
Your base | Mara Siligi Camp — eco-friendly, photographer-focused, 10 minutes from Mpuaai Gate |
Season | Available year-round · Great Migration window: July–October (book early) |
Mentorship | Daily hands-on guidance from Usha Harish throughout all drives and workshops |
Itinerary — 6-Day Masai Mara Photo Safari
Day 1 — Arrival and First Light
- 08:00 AM — Pickup from your Nairobi hotel or airport
- Scenic road journey via the Great Rift Valley viewpoint — your first photographic stop
- Arrive at Mara Siligi Camp, check in, and settle into your tent
- Lunch at camp — meet Usha and the rest of the group
- 03:30 PM — First game drive: orientation drive to key game areas near Mpuaai Gate
- Sunset drinks in the bush — your first look at Mara light
- Dinner and overnight at Mara Siligi Camp
Days 2–5 — Dedicated Photography Days
These four days are the core of the package. Each day is built around two principles: the light and what is moving. Usha and your guide plan each session based on overnight intelligence from ranger networks — so you are not driving blind.
- 05:30 AM — Early wake-up call. Tea or coffee before you leave
- 05:45 AM — Depart for sunrise golden hour drive. This is the non-negotiable slot — the light and predator activity at this hour is unlike anything later in the day
- Picnic breakfast in the bush — served in the field, not back at camp
- Return to camp by midday — lunch, rest, and battery charging
- Early afternoon — Lightroom workshop or image review session with Usha
- 04:00 PM — Afternoon drive timed for golden hour light and evening predator movement
- Full-day option available on select days — packed meals, extended time at specific subjects
- Dinner at camp — image discussion, debrief, and plan for tomorrow
Day 6 — Final Morning and Departure
- Last sunrise drive — one final golden hour session in the Mara
- Breakfast at camp
- Check out and pack up
- Return drive to Nairobi — arrive mid-afternoon
- Drop-off at your hotel or airport
What’s Included in the 6-Day Package
Included Item | Detail |
Accommodation | 5 nights full board at Mara Siligi Camp — breakfast, lunch, and dinner |
Game drives | Daily morning and evening drives in a private modified photography 4×4 |
Nairobi transfers | Pickup and drop-off from your hotel or JKIA airport, both directions |
Photography mentorship | Hands-on guidance from Usha Harish throughout every drive and workshop session |
Vehicle setup | Bean bags, open-side doors, low-angle shooting positions, power inverter for charging |
Lightroom workshops | Daily post-processing sessions — image review, editing technique, and shot discussion |
Night sky session | Star photography opportunity on clear nights from camp — landscape and astro |
Masai cultural visit | One guided visit to an authentic Masai village — included in the itinerary |
In-field refreshments | Tea, coffee, and water on morning drives. Picnic breakfast served in the bush |
What Is Not Included
- Tips for guides and camp staff (recommended: USD 20–25/day/vehicle for guide)
- Personal expenses and shopping
- Travel and medical insurance — essential and required
- Optional hot air balloon safari (approximately USD 500–600/person — can be arranged through camp)
- Optional cultural excursion add-ons beyond the included village visit
What to Bring on the 6-Day Photography Safari
You do not need to be a professional. You do need a camera that can reach your subject. Here is what matters:
Camera Gear
- DSLR or mirrorless camera — any brand, any level
- Lens with minimum 300mm focal length recommended. 400–600mm for the best field results
- Spare batteries — cold mornings drain faster. Bring at least two
- Multiple memory cards — you will fill more than you expect
- Lens cleaning kit — dust is a constant in dry season
- Laptop (optional) — useful for Lightroom sessions, though Usha can work from your camera tethered
Clothing and Personal
- Neutral colours for drives — khaki, olive, beige, grey. No white or bright patterns
- Warm layer for morning drives — temperatures drop to 12–15°C before sunrise
- Comfortable walking shoes for camp and village visit
- Sunscreen and insect repellent — apply before leaving your tent each morning
Documents
- Kenya ETA (electronic travel authorisation) — apply at etakenya.go.ke before travel
- Travel and medical insurance documents — required, non-negotiable
- USD cash for tips and personal expenses
Why Choose This Masai Mara Photography Tour Package
There are game drives in the Mara, and then there are photography drives. These are not the same thing. Here is what makes this package different from a standard safari with a camera:
- Led by Usha Harish — One of India’s most respected wildlife photographers and co-founder of Mara Siligi Camp. Every drive, every session, every image review is with someone who has been shooting this ecosystem for years. This is mentorship, not just guiding.
- Maximum 4 photographers per vehicle — Not 6, not 8. Four. That means every seat is a window seat, every lens has a clear angle, and nobody is waiting for someone else to finish shooting.
- Vehicles built for photography — Modified 4×4 Land Cruisers with open sides, low-angle shooting doors, roof hatches for 360° coverage, and an inverter to keep your batteries charged in the field. Bean bags are standard.
- Drives built around light, not a clock — Most camps run drives at fixed times. We don’t. Morning departure is 05:45 AM because that is when the light starts. We stay until the subject moves or the light goes. If something is happening, we stay with it.
- Daily Lightroom sessions — After the morning drive, Usha reviews images with the group. Not just technically — but editorially. Why this shot works. How to approach the same subject differently tomorrow. What to look for in the afternoon.
- Night sky photography — On clear nights, the Mara has some of the darkest skies in East Africa. We run optional stargazing and landscape photography sessions from camp — a completely different discipline, and one most guests have never tried before.
- Cultural experience included — A visit to an authentic Masai village is part of the itinerary — not an add-on. Portrait photography in a community context requires a different approach, and Usha will guide you through it.
Your Creative Base — Mara Siligi Camp
Your base for the six days is Mara Siligi Camp — a small, eco-friendly tented camp at the foothills of Oldonyo Loip Hill, 10 minutes from Mpuaai Gate and 15 minutes from Talek Gate. Small enough to feel like home. Close enough to the reserve that you are in the game loops within minutes of leaving each morning.
What the Camp Provides
- Spacious safari tents with private ensuite bathrooms, hot water, and private decks
- Solar-powered electricity and charging points in every tent and the lounge
- Reliable WiFi in the guest lounge — for uploads, backups, and editing
- Fresh meals throughout: bush breakfast in the field, lunch at camp, campfire dinners
- Vegetarian, vegan, and allergy-specific dietary options — tell us before you arrive
- Photography lounge: dedicated space for image review, editing, and gear maintenance
- Massage area for post-drive recovery — book in advance at camp
- Evening bonfire sessions: informal shot reviews, planning for tomorrow, and stories from the guides
You wake up to the sounds of hippos and bush. You go to sleep under a sky you will not forget. In between, you shoot.
Book Your 6-Day Masai Mara Photography Tour Package
Spots are limited to 4 photographers per vehicle, and migration season dates fill several months in advance. Contact us with your preferred dates and group size and we will come back within 24 hours with availability and a personalised quote.
This package is offered year-round. If you want the Great Migration as your backdrop, July to October is the window — and August dates in particular move fast. Reach out before they are gone. |
Looking for a different length or format? This 6-day photography package is part of our wider range of Masai Mara travel packages — from 2-day mid-range stays to family safaris and honeymoon packages.
Frequently Asked Questions
01. Is this package suitable for photography beginners?
Yes. This package is designed for all levels — from someone who has just bought their first DSLR to a working professional. Usha adjusts her guidance based on where each person is. Beginners get fundamentals: exposure, framing, light reading. More experienced photographers work on editorial instinct, behavioural anticipation, and post-processing decisions. You will be challenged at whatever level you arrive.
02. What camera gear should I bring on the 6-day tour?
A DSLR or mirrorless camera with a lens of at least 300mm focal length. 400–500mm gives you more flexibility for distant subjects. Bring spare batteries (cold morning drives drain them faster), multiple memory cards, a lens cleaning kit, and a laptop if you want to work in Lightroom during the afternoon sessions. A wide-angle lens is worth bringing for camp and night sky photography.
03. Are park entry fees included in the photography package?
Yes — park entry fees are included in the package price. Non-resident fees are currently USD 200 per person per day, valid from 6am to 6pm. Kenyan residents pay USD 30. We plan your drive timing to maximise value from each fee day and always clarify the daily fee structure when we confirm your booking.
04. What is the maximum group size per vehicle?
Strictly 4 photographers per vehicle. This is not a guideline — it is a hard limit. Four people means every seat is a window seat, every angle is clear, and nobody is waiting for someone else to finish shooting. If you are travelling in a larger group, we will discuss options when you enquire.
05. What happens during the Lightroom workshop sessions?
The workshops happen in the early afternoon between drives. Usha reviews a selection of images from the morning — chosen by the group or herself based on what was interesting. The session covers editing technique in Lightroom, but more importantly, it covers the editorial questions: why does this image work, what would make it stronger, how to approach a similar situation differently tomorrow. You will improve faster than you expect.
06. Is the Great Migration guaranteed during this package?
The migration follows rainfall and grass, not a calendar. The peak river crossing window in the Masai Mara is typically August 12 to September 25. If you book within that window and stay for 5 nights, the probability of seeing at least one crossing is very high. Outside that window, the Mara still has exceptional resident wildlife — lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, and hundreds of bird species are present year-round.
07. How do I get to Mara Siligi Camp from Nairobi?
Nairobi pickup is included in the package — we collect you from your hotel or JKIA airport at 08:00 AM on Day 1 and drop you back on Day 6. If you prefer to fly, daily charter and scheduled flights operate from Wilson Airport to Ol Kiombo (Mpuaai) airstrip — approximately 1 hour. Airstrip transfer is arranged separately; mention this preference when you enquire.
