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The photographic safaris advertised here are all organised in combination wth PhotoClassic. These are highly respected and popular photographic tours of both Scotland and Kenya, our two favourite countries. These safaris are run by my husband Howard M. Kennedy (a professional photographer) and myself (an ecologist and photographer) giving you the expertise of two people. All our safaris can be provided on an individual bases by sending an email to myself OR by booking a place on one of PhotoClassic's specific group dates. Please note: the exact itinerary of any of our safaris may vary slightly, depending on circumstances.
Over three days you will be given the opportunities to photograph an amazing variety of seabirds found on the East Coast of Scotland. Some of the most impressive are The Isle of May, one of the largest breeding colonies of Puffins; Troup Head, Scotland's only mainland Gannet colony and Newburgh; the largest breeding colony of Eiders in Europe. However, you will also have the opportunity to photograph Shags, Cormorants, Arctic Terns, Common Terns, Sandwich Terns, Little Terns, Razorbills, Guillemots, Fulmars, Kittiwakes, Herring Gulls, Common Gulls, Lesser Black-Backed Gulls, Greater Black-Backed Gulls and more. You are also likely to come across seals, dolphins and may even be fortunate enough to see Minke Whales.
A one or two day trip that is not for the faint hearted but does offer you the chance to visit and photograph, two of the most allusive species in Britain. Due to their habitat requirements these species are only found on a small number of Scottish mountains. In the summer the mountain we use can be climbed by the majority of people with a moderate fitness level however, our winter trips are strictly for the more adventurous photographers.
Every year the biggest and strongest male deer (stag) rounds up a group of female deer (hinds) for mating. They then have to protect and guard their females throughout the matting season, even going without food if necessary. In order to maintain control over a group of females the stag constantly bellows this can go on for days on end. Sometimes shouting is not enough, and when contenders approach the females they need to be chased off. Occasionally fights between males can break out, and this can lead to some serious clashing of those magnificent antlers. This safari can be arranged for two days or a week. However, we recommend at least three to four days to give yourself the best opportunity as the deer do not always rut on cue and the weather at that time of year can be unpredictable.
Tsavo National Park covers an area larger than Wales and is divided unequally into the East and West sections by the Nairobi - Mombasa railway and road networks. We concentrate mainly on Tsavo East, which contains all of the "big five", over 450 species of bird and one of the largest populations of elephants in the World, the 2010 census counted 12,572 an increase of 876 since 2008. The famous "red elephant" of Tsavo has a hide permanently stained by the bright orange-red dust that covers the area. The lions of Tsavo became famous during the building of the railway over a hundred years ago, when two lions earned a reputation as "The maneaters of Tsavo" after they ate over 120 railroad workers, causing work to virtually grind to a halt. These lions are maneless, very few male lions have more than a small beard and a Mohawk hairstyle! This is thought to be due to the extreme conditions in Tsavo, where much of the land is little more than desert scrub for most of the year.
The only continuous source of water in the whole reserve is the Galana river, where we will find the Nile Crocodiles and Hippos as well as numerous other carnivores and herbivores which come there two drink. Another good area for viewing large numbers of animals is the Kanderi Swamp, we have often sat there watching large elephant herds, along with Zebra, Warthog, Baboons and even lions. This area is also home to numerous birds of prey such as Tawny Eagle, White-tailed Sea Eagles, Buzzards and if your lucky you may even get a chance to photograph the Taita Falcon chasing and catching Quelea, which flock there in the millions.
Mudanda Rock and Luggard Falls are worth a visit too. Mudanda Rock is a huge craggy sandstone outcrop which looks like a miniature Uluru, the views are spectacular and at the base of this rock a is a natural dam which provides one of the few almost permanent water-holes in Tsavo East. Luggard Falls is close to the Galana River and was formed by the fast-flowing water which has cut fascinating shapes into the sandstone rock.
On the Tsavo West side of the road we will find the infamous Mzima Spring with its crystal clear waters from the underground streams which flow down from the volcanic Chyulu hills. These springs are full of hippos and crocodiles and include an underwater viewing platform, where you can witness these animals in ways you may never normally see. Tsavo West also has one of the most successful Black Rhino sanctuaries and breeding programmes in East Africa and has recently started reintroducing Black Rhino into other areas of Kenya. This 50km square sanctuary is open to the public daily for visitors to photograph Black Rhino in their natural habitat.
The Kakamega Forest National Reserve sits near the Kenya/Uganda border and is the last remaining rain forest in Kenya. The reserve is home to many primate species, including Red and Black Colobus Monkeys, DeBrazza's Monkeys, Blue Monkeys and Red-Tailed Monkeys. It is also home to a huge variety of birds and butterflies, many of which are not seen elsewhere in Kenya. Our one-week photo safari in Kakamega can only be undertaken by physically able photographers, as it involves walks of up to ten miles through the rainforest.
As well as the a long walk through the rainforest, during which you will see numerous birds and butterflies, as well as several species of monkey where you will cross the fast-flowing Isiukhu River several times there will also be the opportunity to climb into the hills on the edge of the reserve to an abandoned gold mine, where you will find several species of bat to photograph. Night safaris can also be organised for those who want to see some of the more exotic species such as bats, snakes and lizards.
The Masai Mara is probably the most well known of Kenya's Game Resrves, due to the annual migration of over a million Wildebeest as well as several hundred thousand Thomson's Gazelle and Burchell's Zebra. The migration enters the Mara in June/July and returns to the Serengeti in October, if you wish to visit during these dates please contact us as soon as possible as these dates book up over a year in advance.
The Mara is also home to one of the largest concentrations of lions in the World, as well as Cheetah, Hyena, Giraffe, Ostrich, Elephant, Serval, Leopard, Thomson's Gazelle, Grant's Gazelle, Topi, Eland, Cape Buffalo, Olive Baboon and many others. Like Tsavo the Mara has several hundred species of birds ranging from the various species of Vultures and Eagles to the smaller but more beautiful species like the D'Arnaud's Barbet.
The lakes of the Great Rift Valley; Naivasha, Elmenteita, Nakuru, Bogoria and Baringo, provide a haven for many species of birds not seen anywhere else in Kenya. Lake Nakuru is most famous for its flocks of Lesser and Greater Flamingos, although due to the pesticide run-off from the flower plantations on the surrounding hills which has severely affected the micro-organisms on which these birds feed on the presence of large numbers of these glorious birds on the lake is not guaranteed. The National Park surrounding the lake does provide a wealth of wildlife, including lion, leopard, Rothschild's Giraffe, White Rhinoceros, Olive Baboon, Cape Buffalo, Impala, Grant's Gazelle and Hyena, as well as some small species such as Rock Hyrax and hundreds of species of bird.
Lake Baringo, is a freshwater lake, where we can photograph the hot springs and the amazing changing colours of the lake itself. Lake Bogoria and Lake Elmenteita, is where many of the Flamingos absent from Nakuru may be found and Lake Bogoria is also the only place in Kenya to find the rare Greater Kudu antelope.
This is the ultimate photography experience for the more adventurous photographer. This safari is simply an opportunity to join us on one of our "back-to-basics" photo-safari trips in Kenya. We camp in the African bush and drive ourselves. One of the downsides of most safaris is that they are too organised and too luxurious. Guides know that to get a big tip they have to satisfy the interests of a wide range of guests and cannot afford to waste too much time in one place. This can be very disappointing to photographers, who may be taken away from somewhere that is just beginning to look promising because the rest of the guests want to move on. As we drive ourselves, we are free to seek out the photo-opportunities and to stay as long as necessary to get the shots. Another downside to many luxury safaris is that you never really get to know the people. On the nights we are not camping in the bush, we stay in the hotels and lodges the Kenyans themselves use, not the over-priced luxury facilities designed to keep rich tourists away from the natives! Camping in the African bush does present its own challenges and is not for the faint-hearted.
The itinerary for these adventures change from year to year but always covers a three week experience incorporating a large selection of places to visit. On one occasion we visited the East Coast from Mombasa to Malindi visiting places like the Gedi Ruins; then onto Tsavo East, Kimana (a small conservancy near Amboseli) and Masai Mara. Another visit covered Tsavo East and West, Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Kakamega Rain Forest and Nairobi. For 2011 we are planning to concentrate on three reserves and spend an extended time in each so that we have more time to get the shots we really want. We are spending one week each in Tsavo East, Tsavo West and Masai Mara, this year we have also arranged to be in the Masai Mara at a time to coincide with the October Great Migration.
We are planning on spending the last two nights winding down in the friendly and relaxed atmosphere of the Milimani Backpackers Hostel. This will leave time for some souvenir shopping and sightseeing in Nairobi. A must see for everyone when spending time in Kenya's capital city has to be the National Museum of Kenya, which is one of the best museums in the world. Among the exhibits are every single one of the 1,058 species of bird found in Kenya, as well as the early hominid skulls and the Turkana Boy skeleton, which shed so much light on the evolution of mankind. I have been several times now but will be back again this year!