G R E A T M I G R A T I O N - M a a s a i M a r a - K e n y a

G R E A T M I G R A T I O N - M a a s a i M a r a - K e n y a 1 Copyright WILD4 AFRICAN PHOTOGRAPHIC SAFARIS www.wild4photographicsafaris.com

GREAT MIGRATION - M a a s a i M a r a - K e n y a DOCUMENT CONTENTS DESCRIPTION INCLUDED & EXCLUDED TOUR LEADER & PHILOSOPHY DETAILED ITINERARY TRANSPORT & LODGING BOOKING PROCEDURE MAP FAQ's 2

GREAT MIGRATION - M a a s a i M a r a - K e n y a DESCRIPTION This 9 Day photo safari will begin in Nairobi with a 1 night stop over. A short flight from Nairobi on the following day will take us to the heart of the famous Maasai Mara Reserve. Gentle rolling hills, open savanna grassland, thickets and the famous Mara River, summarises the scenery you will encounter in the Maasai Mara Reserve. 1500sq km or 560sq miles in size, it is a fantastic destination to experience real Africa. During this time of year the rolling hills are covered with the herds of migrating Wildebeest and Zebra which have come to the Mara to enjoy the bountiful grass that it has to offer. We will be staying inside the reserve not far from the major crossing points allowing us quick access to the hotspots. We will spend 7 nights & 8 days focussing our efforts and time on capturing the incredible spectacle that is "THE GREAT MIGRATION". Being amongst the "mega herd", dramatic river crossings, excellent predator encounters and wonderful birdlife are all opportunities we will be looking out for on this safari. The tour will end at Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi, Kenya. This is an exclusive small group photo safari with a maximum of 6 participants in 3 private vehicles (2 participants per vehicle). You will have plenty of space for equipment and guaranteed access to both sides of the safari vehicle. Stu Porter will lead the tour and will alternate between the vehicles each day to offer photo tuition and guidance. During the migration season it is not uncommon to stay out all day waiting (often for hours at a time) for the Wildebeest to cross the Mara River. We take packed food in the vehicles to enable us to stay out and remain in the field for as long as it takes. You will have a good chance to see and photograph the following animals: Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Hippo, Black Rhino, Spotted Hyaena, Jackal, Maasai Giraffe, Zebra, Wildebeest, Thompson's Gazelle, Grant's Gazelle, Olive Baboon, Vervet Monkey Coke's Hartebeest and an excellent variety of birdlife. 3

GREAT MIGRATION - M a a s a i M a r a - K e n y a DETAILED ITINERARY DAY 1 DAY 2 ARRIVE IN NAIROBI KENYA at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport where you will be met and transferred to a Nairobi Hotel for an overnight stay (1 night) Meet up with the rest of the group and our driver / guides who will take our main luggage bags and drive them to the Mara. We will depart after breakfast for Wilson airport and catch the mid morning flight direct to the Maasai Mara carrying only our Camera Equipment. Upon arrival in the Mara we will be met and transferred to our lodge where we will have lunch and a briefing. Our driver / guides will arrive in the early afternoon with our main luggage bags. We will then head out for our first afternoon drive in the Maasai Mara Reserve (overnight in Maasai Mara for 7 nights) DAY 3 DAY 4 DAY 5 DAY 6 DAY 7 DAY 8 DAY 9 Morning & Afternoon game drives in Maasai Mara Morning & Afternoon game drives in Maasai Mara Morning & Afternoon game drives in Maasai Mara Morning & Afternoon game drives in Maasai Mara Morning & Afternoon game drives in Maasai Mara Morning & Afternoon game drives in Maasai Mara Morning game drive en-route to the airstrip where we will catch our flight back to Nairobi - this time taking all our luggage with us. Arrive midday in Nairobi - check into our day rooms then have lunch. Afternoon at leisure before being collected and transferred to Jomo Kenyatta Airport to connect to your international flights home. (DEPART from JOMO KENYATTA AIRPORT - KENYA) 4

GREAT MIGRATION - M a a s a i M a r a - K e n y a MAP 5

GREAT MIGRATION - M a a s a i M a r a - K e n y a INCLUDED & EXCLUDED INCLUDED 1 night in city hotel in Nairobi (B) 7 nights Maasai Mara (BLD) 1 Day Room in Nairobi (L) All park entrance fees All road & air transfers Bottled water on game drives Private use of 4x4 Land Cruisers with qualified guides Professional photographic tuition Meals as indicated below (B = Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner) EXCLUDED All drinks Dinners in Nairobi Hotel on arrival and departure days Laundry Curios & personal gifts / items from shops Tips / gratuities for camp / lodge staff and for your driver / guide Internet usage (if available) Personal medical, travel & equipment insurance Visa fees International Flights Any extra nights of accommodation before or after the safari - we can arrange these for you and add it to your statement 6

GREAT MIGRATION - M a a s a i M a r a - K e n y a TRANSPORT & LODGING This Photo Safari gets you straight to the action of the Great Migration with a short 45 min flight from Nairobi direct to the Mara. We will stay at two different areas inside the Maasai Mara which are in prime location, close to the traditional crossing points. Both locations have en-suite bathroom facilities and power to recharge camera batteries and laptops. We will have the private use of Toyota 4x4 Land Cruisers for the duration of the safari. The vehicles are kitted out with 2 way radios and professional beanbags to help make your shooting experience as comfortable as possible. At the end of the safari we will fly back to Nairobi where we will have a day room to freshen up before we depart on our international flights home. 7

GREAT MIGRATION - M a a s a i M a r a - K e n y a TRANSPORT & LODGING Nairobi Hotel for overnight and dayroom Nairobi 1 night Mara 7 nights Mara Serena Lodge in the Maasai Mara Mara Serena Lodge Mara Bush Camp 8

GREAT MIGRATION - M a a s a i M a r a - K e n y a TRANSPORT & LODGING 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser Safari Vehicle & Aeroplane A 45 min flight is all it takes to get you right into the middle of the action We use roll-back canvas roofs which allows a comfortable shooting position when standing Complimentary use of our professional beanbags for a stable shooting platform 9

GREAT MIGRATION - M a a s a i M a r a - K e n y a FAQ's relevant to this specific safari > Do we fly or drive to the Mara? On this photo safari we will fly into the Maasai Mara carrying our camera equipment whilst our main luggage bags are driven to the Mara by our guides. On our return to Nairobi we also fly but this time we will take all our bags with us on the plane. > Why are dinners at the Nairobi Hotel NOT included? On the day of arrival, clients tend to arrive into Nairobi at different times, some arrive late in the evening, so it makes sense for each client to choose if they want to eat dinner or not. The same goes for the departure day from Nairobi. We will all have day rooms in the hotel to freshen up and we have lunch together which is included. However the same situation applies for dinner as clients will depart at different times. > What are the luggage restrictions? On all our safaris it is preferable to use a duffel type bag for your main luggage (not hard suitcases) as these are easier to pack into vehicles and planes. The normal luggage restriction as far as weight goes are 20 kgs for hold luggage and 8 kgs for Cabin Luggage. We all know that as photographers 8 kgs for camera equipment is not enough However you will find that the size of the bag is more important. A normal Think Tank type camera bag (airport accelerator) should carry the amount of equipment you need for your safari. The only internal flight we have to take will be from the Maasai Mara back to Nairobi. There is much said about these flights and the weight restrictions. In my experience when flying from the Mara back to Nairobi they are not strict at all. As long as you are within a total weight allowance of 30 kgs you should not have a problem. > Can I hire Camera Equipment from you? The only hire item available from me on this safari is a Visual Echoes Panning plate. Please ask us for our up to date equipment hire rates. > What "stable shooting platforms" do you offer? I firmly believe that having a stable shooting platform on the safari vehicles is a crucial element to the success of a photo safari. You need to be comfortable when shooting so that you can concentrate on the image and not how to balance a telephoto lens on a wobbly monopod or on your knees We will often sit and wait patiently for long periods for a shot to present itself so being comfortable is paramount. I have invested in a professional beanbag system which we use in the vehicles in Kenya. This will offer a comfortable shooting position from both sides of the safari vehicle. I personally like to use the Visual Echoes Panning plate along with beanbags as it allows a smooth panning motion from left to right and it lifts the focus ring of the lens off the bag allowing you to focus manually if necessary. > Are we able to go off road to get closer to the animals? In the Maasai Mara NO OFF ROAD DRIVING is permitted. A "grey" area surrounds this rule and it will be up to your guide / driver as to whether he thinks he can take you off road or not. It is not a simple case of crashing off into the bush after wildlife, so that you can "get the shot". Some areas are more sensitive to damage than others and some trees and bushes are more vulnerable than others. You can be assured that your driver / guide wants to show you the animals and get you as close as possible but we will have to use common sense and respect the rules of the reserves, the environment and the comfort levels of the wildlife. > What do you expect the weather to be like? The weather in Kenya at this time of year is very pleasant. Cool mornings are very refreshing and the days can get quite hot, up to 35 C or 95 F. Being near the equator it is difficult to predict the weather. It will not be very cold and it will not be very hot, but all other conditions are possible at this time of year. > What clothing & equipment would be relevant? We would recommend a warm fleece as well as a wind breaker jacket, long trousers / shorts. As far as camera equipment goes, we have a more detailed kit list which we will send out to you at time of enrolment. > Is there a laundry service available? Yes there are laundry services available at all locations at an extra charge which will be added to your room and you will need to settle this on the day of departure from that particular lodge / camp. At some of the smaller camps you must please wash your own "smalls" i.e. your underwear / socks. > How do we recharge camera batteries and laptops? All locations will have power in the rooms or in the case of small tented camps, there will be a central recharging point. Most of the camps do not offer 24hr electricity so you will have to re-charge within the allocated times. There is normally power up until midnight. > Is there internet access / mobile phone reception? There is wifi in the Nairobi Hotel, and at one of the locations in the Maasai Mara. Cell / mobile phone coverage is really quite good in Kenya at all locations. > How early can we leave camp and how late can we return? The general rule for all the locations is that you can leave just before sunrise and return just after sunset. 10

GREAT MIGRATION - M a a s a i M a r a - K e n y a FAQ's relevant to this specific safari > What is a typical day "in the field"? We usually meet up for a cup of tea / coffee in the lodge reception area and then head out just before sunrise. We always take a packed breakfast with us and stop at a convenient time during the morning drive, or we eat in the vehicle whilst waiting at a sighting. If there is something really interesting we want to stay with (ie a river crossing ) then we are able to stay out all day, otherwise we will return to the lodge at around midday for lunch and a short break. We head out again in the afternoon and return to camp at around 7pm. Dinner will be at 8pm. > What is the recommended Tipping Policy on this safari? Tipping is a safari tradition in Africa and it is expected in some form or other. You are welcome to stick to your regular personal tipping policies but we politely recommend you try to follow our guidelines regarding tipping as it helps to set a standard. Firstly, even though it is expected, it is not compulsory. If you feel that you have not been given excellent service then you do not have to tip. I personally feel that if somebody goes above and beyond their job description then it is polite to tip them and I am more than happy to do so. Please ask us to send you our detailed recommended tipping policy for this specific photo safari. It will also be in your Arrival Information Document, which will be sent to you 2 weeks before the start of your photo safari. 11

GREAT MIGRATION - M a a s a i M a r a - K e n y a TOUR LEADER & PHILOSOPHY I was born and raised in Africa. From a young age I spent many family holidays enjoying Africa's diversity of wildlife and wild places. As a family we have lived in Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia and South Africa, which we now use as our home base from which we personally organise and lead authentic small group photographic safaris. In 1999 I became a qualified FGASA Field Guide and THETA Tourist Guide and in 2003 I obtained a BA (Hons) Degree in Wildlife Photography at Blackpool & the Fylde College, an associate college of Lancaster University in the United Kingdom. The combination of these two passions helped me to achieve my long-held dream of operating my own photographic safari tour company. My images have been published in Outdoor Photography, Getaway, Africa Wild, Photo Comment, 50/50 Veld Focus TV show, Fuji Film awards and National Geographic Website. They are also for sale through a number of online stock libraries. My wife, Justyna, was born and bred in Poland and is a handy photographer herself as well as a qualified tourist guide. Justyna worked on first class cruise liners, the world famous Harrods in London and as a top seller for the UK's largest travel consolidator. Customer service is just one of her many strong points. Justyna looks after the office and all the important administration of our business. We have two daughters, Molly and Jenny and my parents, John & Ann offer us tremendous support and help out with background logistics and catering whilst in the Kruger National Park. We are a small family business with a sincere and genuine passion for our company and our clients. Through our experiences, we have built a strong product that offers our clients the best opportunities to photograph African wildlife. Stu Porter 12

GREAT MIGRATION - M a a s a i M a r a - K e n y a TOUR LEADER & PHILOSOPHY After 14 years of leading many successful tours, we feel strongly that the following principles and photographic details are crucial to the success of a photo safari: > Quick response to clients' enquiries and personal attention to each client's travel needs > Specialisation in small groups of only 3 to 6 photographers per tour > Never more than 3 photographers per safari vehicle > Careful planning of logistics to ensure maximum time in the field > Use of locations that, through experience and over time, have consistently offered excellent photo opportunities > All scheduled tours are personally led by myself > Specially designed photographic platforms on the safari vehicles we use at all locations > 24/7 tuition available, tailored to the individual needs of the client. In the field workshops and WILD4 tuition booklet provided > Regular use of the same local driver / guides, who are familiar with the needs of photographers through our training manual and who operate to our specific guidelines > An ethical approach to wildlife photography and genuine respect for the animals we photograph and the environment they live in. Sticking to the above principles and details has been the number one reason why we have a high percentage of repeat clients and clients who approach us via word of mouth. Stu, Molly, Justyna & Jenny 13

GREAT MIGRATION - M a a s a i M a r a - K e n y a BOOKING PROCEDURE: > First contact us to confirm that there are spaces available on the photo safari that you are interested in. > Once confirmed, you will need to complete our Photo Tour Booking Form and we will send you details of how to make the deposit payment > To secure your place on the safari we will need a completed Photo Tour Booking Form per person as well as proof of payment of the tour deposit. > You will then receive a statement from us indicating that you have paid your deposit. The statement will also detail the outstanding amount and the due date for this payment (90 days prior to departure). We will also send out the following documents: - Wild4 suggested clothing & equipment lists - Wild4 plug & voltage info - Wild4 pre-safari camera setup - Wild4 Photographic Safaris tuition booklet Please note that it is compulsory for you to take out your own travel insurance to cover unexpected trip cancellation, medical, personal and photographic equipment. WILD4 will not be held responsible in any way for the loss of or damage to any photographic equipment or personal belongings, nor for any medical expenses. Our medical insurance will only cover you for evacuation from the field to the closest most appropriate medical facility, at which point your medical insurance would take over. CANCELLATION POLICY: We must receive a formal written notification of your cancellation. Deposits are non-refundable. If for any reason a participant ends a tour early or does not make use of a service that has been included in the price of any scheduled tour, tailor-made tour or tour extension, no refund for this unused portion or service will be made. Tour fees are not transferable. All tour deposits are non-refundable. Full payment of the tour fee is due 90 days prior to the departure date. We must receive written notification of your cancellation, at which time the following fees apply: 89 to 60 days before departure: 75% of tour fee 59 or fewer days before departure: 100% of tour fee BOOKING PROCEDURE Wild4 Booking Form Wild4 suggested Clothing & Equipment Wild4 Plug & Voltage info Wild4 Photographic Safaris TUITION BOOKLET "seven top tips" Wild4 pre-safari Camera setup 14

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