Masai Mara Photo Safari | A Wildlife Photography Guide
For wildlife photographers, the phrase “safari” is practically a synonym for Kenya, thanks to the country’s enduring popularity in both award-winning nature documentaries and Hollywood blockbusters. In addition to its incredible wildlife, this East African country boasts some of the most stunning scenery in all of Africa, making it the perfect destination for wildlife photographers.
Located in northern Tanzania, the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem includes the Maasai Mara and the adjacent Loita Plains. This 25,000 km² wildness is home to the yearly wildebeest migration, the most spectacular wildlife show on Earth. In the Serengeti–Mara environment, these grazers and their predators go on a migratory cycle. Other grazers that participate include plains zebras and Thompson’s gazelles.
These species also have year-round residents in the Mara who don’t migrate, but their numbers explode from July to November, when it’s dry, into the astronomical hundreds. An unforgettable opportunity to see this incredible migration is available on ORYX Photography’s Kenya migration safari.
Due to the Mara part receiving the most rainfall in the ecosystem, over 200,000 zebra and one million wildebeest are attracted to the area during the dry season to feed on grasses that have been depleted further south. These incredible animals can be seen overcoming their biggest challenge—crossing the Mara River—on our Masai Mara Photo Safari. Thousands of years of herdsmen have been preyed upon by the giant Nile crocodiles, who pose the greatest threat of all, together with the river’s steep banks and powerful currents.
The abundance of herbivores in the Mara makes it an ideal hunting ground for predators. As shown on BBC’s Big Cat Diary, large carnivores include spotted hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, and lions. While the world-famous black-maned Mara lions undoubtedly steal the show, visitors may also expect to see monkeys, waterbuck, wildebeest, topi, kongoni, Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelle, and more on a Masai Mara Photo Safari unlike any other in Africa. Specifically, the Mara’s incredible cheetah provide unparalleled photo opportunities—possibly the best chance to see these cats anywhere!
Birdwatchers and avian photographers will find fantastic possibilities here, as they do throughout Kenya. In their quest for a free meal, the Mara terrain is frequented by a variety of vulture species, including Ruppell’s griffon and the largest of them all, the hideous lappet-faced vulture.
Among the world’s top photographic safaris, this Kenya migration tour is the bee’s knees.
Masai Mara Photo Safari Highlights
There aren’t many African locations that can guarantee an abundance of animals for photographers than the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.
Known worldwide for photographing the Great Migration of wildebeests and zebras, this renowned location offers much more than just that.
The Mara consists of several unique regions, including as the National Park, the Mara Triangle (across the Mara River), and community conservancies, all of which provide excellent chances for wildlife photography.
Simply said, the Masai Mara is located at the northernmost extremity of a much bigger cross-border national park that is bisected by the boundary between Tanzania and Kenya and, to the south, by the Serengeti. Unlike zebras and wildebeests, who can freely cross the border, there is currently no border post in the park, thus it is not possible to just drive to the opposite reserve.
During the wildebeest migration, it is possible to witness a river crossing. Be warned, though; these animal displays are among the most spectacular on the planet, and they can be just as violent as they are spectacular. The river crocodiles are enormous and merciless. Animals stampeding in fear also causes a significant amount of collateral harm.
We want our guests to be ready for what they will witness, but we aren’t attempting to discourage anyone from coming to watch the migration.
Surprisingly, most of the Mara’s most picturesque vantage points are located outside of the crossings. You will be kept somewhat occupied all day long by the Masai Mara guides, who are all expert photographers and who actively seek out photo chances.
With fewer cars in the way and, as we indicated earlier, the big cats having to work harder and being more active, wildlife photography is just as good outside of migratory season.
Hot air balloon or helicopter aerial photography over the Mara is an absolute must.
Activities On Masai Mara Photo Safari
1. Game Drives
A Masai Mara game drive is a thrilling 4×4 vehicle safari to see abundant wildlife, including the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo) and the Great Wildebeest Migration (July-Oct) in Kenya’s iconic landscapes, typically done in early morning or late afternoon for peak animal activity, often with expert guides and customizable options like full-day drives with picnics.
Inside the Mara, we travel in spacious Land Cruisers with long wheelbases, pop-up roofs, and lots of bean bags. No more than four clients, including the photographer, will be allowed in the vehicle at any one time.
Due to the fact that off-roading is not allowed within the Masai Mara National Park or the Mara Triangle, we must rely on our knowledgeable guides to navigate the road network and anticipate animal behavior in order to capture the perfect photo. This is the key distinction between a photo-conscious guide and any other kind of guide. Our guides are experts in this field, and we chose them specifically because of it.
2. Flights over the Masai Mara
Hot air ballooning; If you only get the chance to go hot air ballooning once in your lifetime, there’s no better experience than gliding over the Masai Mara. We take use of the balloons from Governer’s Camp, which take off near the Mara River and float downstream to the Tanzanian border, where we land for a champagne breakfast!
Not much place for additional camera equipment in the basket due to its limited space. A telephoto and a wide-angle lens are ideal for shooting landscapes, in our opinion. Large prime lenses lack the adaptability of telephotos and might be a pain to carry around.
Helicopter — We hire a professional pilot to fly you over the majority of the Mara for an hour during migration. In contrast to the hot air balloon, where you’re at the whim of the wind, this aircraft has open doors and the major benefit is that it can hover for a specific shot. The helicopter is an add-on that the majority of clients choose.
3. Masai Mara Village Visit
Guests interested in cultural immersion and portrait shooting can have a trip to a nearby Maasai village arranged for them. Despite its perhaps forced nature, it provides excellent photo ops and an opportunity to back a local cause.
Arguably the most famous tribal group in all of Africa, the Maasai, who populate huge sections of Southern areas of Kenya are the major ethnic group around the Masai Mara. This nomadic, warrior tribe which previously dominated great stretches of pre colonial Kenya, still preserve many of their traditions as they live relatively unspoiled by modern day civilization, in areas bordering Masai Mara. So why visit a Maasai village and what do you get to see? This one hour visit to a Maasai hamlet is a chance to connect with the Maasai and gain a look into their culture, unique way of life and observe first hand some of their rituals and practices.
The Maasai village visit is normally a part of a lengthier multi-day safari to the Masai Mara. It’s a short, participatory visit that takes place on the outskirts of the main Mara game reserve, and it’s usually scheduled for a couple of hours. A lot of people who are interested in visiting a Maasai village want to know the price. A village tour can cost anything from USD 25 to USD 50 per person, and it includes a charge that goes towards the village and return road transportation from your Masai Mara lodge or camp to the village.
When you have your very own driver-guide who can pay the entrance charge, the cost of a road safari tends to be less. When you fly in on a package safari, the higher price of USD 50 per person usually applies. The camp will then charge you for the village visit, which can vary in price from USD 30 to USD 50 per person depending on the camp you stay at and the village you visit.
Although it is not required to purchase anything after paying the entrance fee, it is customary to purchase a curio or souvenir from the inhabitants after you reach the hamlet. However, you should be ready for some of the Maasai villagers to make persistent attempts to sell you some reasonably priced handcrafted crafts. This may be an annoying aspect of the trip for some, but we think it’s only a small annoyance that has gotten ingrained in the experience, and the good things about the trip far exceed the bad.
Wildebeest Migration Photo Safari
A Great Wildebeest Migration Photo Safari offers unparalleled opportunities to capture dramatic wildlife action, focusing on the massive herds moving through Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Maasai Mara, especially river crossings with crocodiles, predator hunts (lions, leopards, cheetahs), and vast landscapes. These specialized trips use custom vehicles with fewer guests for unobstructed views, often include expert photography guidance, and strategically position travelers near key migration points for iconic shots of light, dust, and raw survival drama.