THE PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY
Go beyond the view
Join Weixi Lin on an 11-day Kenya route through Amboseli, Bogoria, Nakuru, Naivasha and Maasai Mara for wildlife, wetland birds and Maasai cultural photography. Elephants, flamingo numbers, Big Five sightings and views of Kilimanjaro depend on natural conditions and cannot be guaranteed.
Kenyan wildlife and culture
Weixi Lin leads this 11-day Kenya route through Amboseli, Bogoria, Nakuru, Naivasha and Maasai Mara. Combine wildlife, wetland birds and Maasai cultural photography, looking for elephants, flamingos, hippos and the Big Five. Sightings, bird numbers and views of Kilimanjaro depend on natural conditions.
Amboseli National Park
This renowned African elephant homeland supports more than a thousand elephants across generations, with frequent encounters with old elephants bearing enormous tusks. Open, level grassland with little dense woodland provides clear views: a wildlife photographer's dream canvas.
Lake Nakuru National Park
In the central East African Rift, approximately 160 kilometers from Nairobi, this 188-square-kilometer park lies at 1,753–2,073 meters. Officially designated in 1968, it was Africa's first reserve established specifically for birds and is a world-famous wetland birdwatching site and key Kenyan rhino sanctuary. The lake is an enclosed saline soda lake; volcanic geology creates alkaline, salty water supporting abundant spirulina, natural flamingo food. Wetlands, acacia woodland, and grassland coexist, offering both landscapes and wildlife.
Lake Naivasha
In the southern East African Rift at 1,884 meters, Naivasha is the Rift's highest lake and Kenya's only highland freshwater lake. Unlike saline Bogoria and Nakuru, its clear, gentle water, papyrus swamps, and yellow-barked acacias create a soothing environment. Over 400 wild bird species are recorded here, far exceeding the total for Britain, and it is a notable hippo habitat. Crescent Island, a private wildlife reserve without large carnivores, is one of Kenya's few places for close walking photography of animal herds and a filming location for Out of Africa.
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Maasai Mara lies in southwestern Kenya beside Tanzania's Serengeti. Savanna, Mara River valleys and rocky hills offer wildlife and landscape subjects. From July to October, look for opportunities to photograph wildebeest migration and river crossings. Timing, animal behavior and sightings are not guaranteed.
The journey in pictures
Photographers linked to this route: Weixi Lin →
Itinerary images · Select a photo to enlarge
PHOTOGRAPHY LEADERS
A different way of seeing
Weixi Lin
Has led photography trips to Iceland, Norway, New Zealand, Russia, Indonesia, Semporna, Xinjiang, Qinghai, Niubei Mountain in western Sichuan, Nyingchi, the Qiantang River, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Yangzhou, Wuxi, Yongfu in Fujian, Dongying, Zhongwei, the Yuanyang rice terraces, Xianggong Mountain and Zhangjiajie.
THE DAYS AHEAD
A rhythm shaped by light
DAY 01Jul 17 · Africa/NairobiDay 1: July 17 — Meet in China and depart
Meet from locations across China and take an international flight to Nairobi, Kenya's capital. No accommodation or meals included; the leader coordinates flight arrangements.
DAY 02Jul 18 · Africa/NairobiDay 2: July 18 — Nairobi–Amboseli National Park
Arrive in Nairobi for dedicated airport pickup. After lunch, travel to Amboseli National Park. An afternoon grassland safari tracks wildlife and captures iconic elephants against snow-capped Kilimanjaro, along with swamps, acacias, and a hundred bird species. The outbound flight date and meeting and arrival times are pending confirmation with the operator.
Accommodation:Kibo Safari Camp
Meals:Lunch and dinner included
DAY 03Jul 19 · Africa/NairobiDay 3: July 19 — Amboseli–Nairobi
Take a 2-hour early-morning safari, then return to Nairobi. View city landmarks by vehicle and visit the Giraffe Centre for close feeding interactions and photographs of Rothschild's giraffes. Enjoy a distinctive African game-meat feast in the evening and experience local food culture.
Accommodation:Fairmont The Norfolk
Meals:Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included
DAY 04Jul 20 · Africa/NairobiDay 4: July 20 — Nairobi–Lake Bogoria
Stop at the Equator, then continue to saline Lake Bogoria in the East African Rift. Look for flamingos, lakeshores and cliffs. Bird numbers and distribution vary with season and water levels; sightings and photography depend on conditions on the day.
Accommodation:Lake Bogoria Spa Resort
Meals:Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included
DAY 05Jul 21 · Africa/NairobiDay 5: July 21 — Bogoria–Lake Nakuru
At Nakuru's dedicated bird reserve, highly alkaline saltwater supports plankton and flocks of flamingos. Photograph black rhinos, colobus monkeys, and over 450 wild bird species, covering diverse wetland ecology.
Accommodation:Lake Nakuru Lodge
Meals:Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included
DAY 06Jul 22 · Africa/NairobiDay 6: July 22 — Nakuru–Lake Naivasha
Rise early to photograph sunrise over the salt lake, then drive to Lake Naivasha. Take an afternoon boat trip for close photographs of hippo groups and over four hundred freshwater bird species, amid atmospheric lake-and-mountain scenery at this renowned East African ecological photography destination.
Accommodation:Enashipai
Meals:Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included
DAY 07Jul 23 · Africa/NairobiDay 7: July 23 — Naivasha–Maasai Mara
Travel to Maasai Mara, one of Africa's finest grassland reserves. In the afternoon, visit a Maasai village for portraits of indigenous people and tribal traditions, recording distinctive African culture.
Accommodation:Mara Sweet Acacia
Meals:Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included
DAY 08Jul 24 · Africa/NairobiDay 8: July 24 — Full-day Maasai Mara safari
Spend the whole day tracking wildlife across the plains with packed simple meals, seeking Africa's Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo—and continually photographing wildlife on vast savanna.
Accommodation:Mara Sweet Acacia
Meals:Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included
DAY 09Jul 25 · Africa/NairobiDay 9: July 25 — Full-day Maasai Mara safari (in-depth photography from a hotel inside the reserve)
Continue a full-day safari, then check into a hotel inside the reserve toward evening. Stay close to dawn and dusk animal activity, improving opportunities to photograph hunts and groups of animals together.
Accommodation:Pristine Mara Bay Lodge
Meals:Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included
DAY 10Jul 26 · Africa/NairobiDay 10: July 26 — Maasai Mara–Nairobi–return journey
Return to Nairobi after breakfast and transfer to the airport according to flight time. International flight QR1336 Nairobi–Doha, connecting in the evening.
DAY 11Jul 27 · Africa/NairobiDay 11: July 27 — Arrive in Guangzhou and conclude the trip
Flight CZ334 from Doha to Guangzhou lands in the afternoon, concluding the Kenya wildlife photography journey.
Trip staff
- Photography leader · Weixi Lin
- IncludedStaff: One Chinese-speaking guide of foreign nationality;
- ExcludedDriver and guide tips: USD 10/person/day;
View trip staffing details
Photography leader · Weixi Lin Included · Staff: One Chinese-speaking guide of foreign nationality; Excluded · Driver and guide tips: USD 10/person/day; Excluded · Personal tips for hotel porters, restaurant staff, etc. are payable individually; Excluded · Guide and driver service covers 10 hours per day. Overtime is paid separately; calculation and amounts are pending confirmation with the operator.
Transport
- IncludedTwo or three 8-seat safari vehicles throughout (ordinary groups generally use standard open-top minibuses);
- IncludedOne bottle of drinking water per person daily in the vehicle;
- ExcludedAll major transportation expenses throughout;
Travel details and reference schedules
The services below are the tour leader's reference travel options. They are neither mandatory for participants nor confirmed group transport arrangements. Participants may choose suitable services that fit the meeting and departure times. Outbound: CZ633 Guangzhou–Nairobi: departure date and times are pending confirmation with the operator. Return: July 26, 2027: QR1336 Nairobi–Doha 18:00/23:10 July 27, 2027: CZ334 Doha–Guangzhou 01:15/14:05 Before booking transport, please confirm the departure and travel arrangements through this website. Included · Listed admissions: Amboseli National Park once, Lake Bogoria once, Lake Nakuru National Park once, one Lake Naivasha boat trip and Maasai Mara National Reserve twice. Whether the Maasai village visit is included is pending confirmation with the operator. Included · Two or three 8-seat safari vehicles throughout (ordinary groups generally use standard open-top minibuses); Included · One bottle of drinking water per person daily in the vehicle; Excluded · All major transportation expenses throughout; Excluded · Airport taxes, flight insurance, sightseeing outside listed attractions, and optional activities specified in the itinerary;
Photography
- Kenyan wildlife and culture
- Amboseli National Park
- Lake Nakuru National Park
Photography details
Kenyan wildlife and culture Weixi Lin leads this 11-day Kenya route through Amboseli, Bogoria, Nakuru, Naivasha and Maasai Mara. Combine wildlife, wetland birds and Maasai cultural photography, looking for elephants, flamingos, hippos and the Big Five. Sightings, bird numbers and views of Kilimanjaro depend on natural conditions. Amboseli National Park This renowned African elephant homeland supports more than a thousand elephants across generations, with frequent encounters with old elephants bearing enormous tusks. Open, level grassland with little dense woodland provides clear views: a wildlife photographer's dream canvas. Lake Nakuru National Park In the central East African Rift, approximately 160 kilometers from Nairobi, this 188-square-kilometer park lies at 1,753–2,073 meters. Officially designated in 1968, it was Africa's first reserve established specifically for birds and is a world-famous wetland birdwatching site and key Kenyan rhino sanctuary. The lake is an enclosed saline soda lake; volcanic geology creates alkaline, salty water supporting abundant spirulina, natural flamingo food. Wetlands, acacia woodland, and grassland coexist, offering both landscapes and wildlife. Lake Naivasha In the southern East African Rift at 1,884 meters, Naivasha is the Rift's highest lake and Kenya's only highland freshwater lake. Unlike saline Bogoria and Nakuru, its clear, gentle water, papyrus swamps, and yellow-barked acacias create a soothing environment. Over 400 wild bird species are recorded here, far exceeding the total for Britain, and it is a notable hippo habitat. Crescent Island, a private wildlife reserve without large carnivores, is one of Kenya's few places for close walking photography of animal herds and a filming location for Out of Africa. Maasai Mara National Reserve Maasai Mara lies in southwestern Kenya beside Tanzania's Serengeti. Savanna, Mara River valleys and rocky hills offer wildlife and landscape subjects. From July to October, look for opportunities to photograph wildebeest migration and river crossings. Timing, animal behavior and sightings are not guaranteed. Kenyan wildlife and culture Amboseli National Park Lake Nakuru National Park Lake Naivasha Maasai Mara National Reserve Included · Photography instruction and services from the instructor throughout. Excluded · Whether Maasai village photography is paid separately and how any expenses are shared are pending confirmation with the operator.
Accommodation
- 10 nights
- IncludedListed hotels: Standard twin rooms;
- ExcludedAn unmatched male or female traveler, or anyone requesting a private room, must pay a full-trip single supplement;
Accommodation details
Listed hotels: Standard twin rooms; Day 2：Kibo Safari Camp Day 3：Fairmont The Norfolk Day 4：Lake Bogoria Spa Resort Day 5：Lake Nakuru Lodge Day 6：Enashipai Day 7：Mara Sweet Acacia Day 8：Mara Sweet Acacia Day 9：Pristine Mara Bay Lodge Specific hotels and any accommodation arrangements not listed here are pending confirmation with the operator. The number of nights inside the reserve and corresponding properties are pending confirmation with the operator. Day 2 · 2027-07-18 Kibo Safari Camp Day 3 · 2027-07-19 Fairmont The Norfolk Day 4 · 2027-07-20 Lake Bogoria Spa Resort Day 5 · 2027-07-21 Lake Nakuru Lodge Day 6 · 2027-07-22 Enashipai Day 7 · 2027-07-23 Mara Sweet Acacia Day 8 · 2027-07-24 Mara Sweet Acacia Day 9 · 2027-07-25 Pristine Mara Bay Lodge 10 nights Included · Listed hotels: Standard twin rooms; Excluded · An unmatched male or female traveler, or anyone requesting a private room, must pay a full-trip single supplement; Excluded · Personal tips for hotel porters, restaurant staff, etc. are payable individually; Excluded · Maasai Mara hot-air balloon rides and other optional activities. Maasai Mara campsite fees of USD 80/person/night are payable by guests if the government begins collecting them;
Meals
- IncludedMeals listed in the itinerary.
- IncludedOne bottle of drinking water per person daily in the vehicle;
- ExcludedPersonal tips for hotel porters, restaurant staff, etc. are payable individually;
Meal details
Day 2 · 2027-07-18 Lunch and dinner included Day 3 · 2027-07-19 Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included Day 4 · 2027-07-20 Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included Day 5 · 2027-07-21 Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included Day 6 · 2027-07-22 Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included Day 7 · 2027-07-23 Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included Day 8 · 2027-07-24 Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included Day 9 · 2027-07-25 Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included
Visa
- ExcludedKenya ETA electronic visa fees; the organizing team can apply on your behalf;
A CLEAR PICTURE
Know what is included
Deposit in the operator’s published information
per personThis amount reflects the payment terms in the operator’s published information. When booking through this platform, follow the payment schedule shown at checkout.
Public prices may change. Checkout quotes expire at a stated time; your confirmed order records its price and payment deadlines.
Included
Listed admissions: Amboseli National Park once, Lake Bogoria once, Lake Nakuru National Park once, one Lake Naivasha boat trip and Maasai Mara National Reserve twice. Whether the Maasai village visit is included is pending confirmation with the operator.
Listed hotels: Standard twin rooms;
Meals listed in the itinerary.
Two or three 8-seat safari vehicles throughout (ordinary groups generally use standard open-top minibuses);
Staff: One Chinese-speaking guide of foreign nationality;
One bottle of drinking water per person daily in the vehicle;
Photography instruction and services from the instructor throughout.
Not included
All major transportation expenses throughout;
Kenya ETA electronic visa fees; the organizing team can apply on your behalf;
Driver and guide tips: USD 10/person/day;
An unmatched male or female traveler, or anyone requesting a private room, must pay a full-trip single supplement;
Personal tips for hotel porters, restaurant staff, etc. are payable individually;
Maasai Mara hot-air balloon rides and other optional activities. Maasai Mara campsite fees of USD 80/person/night are payable by guests if the government begins collecting them;
Whether Maasai village photography is paid separately and how any expenses are shared are pending confirmation with the operator.
Airport taxes, flight insurance, sightseeing outside listed attractions, and optional activities specified in the itinerary;
Additional expenses caused by personal circumstances, transport disruption, strikes, typhoons, or other circumstances beyond the organizing team's control;
Guide and driver service covers 10 hours per day. Overtime is paid separately; calculation and amounts are pending confirmation with the operator.
In exceptional circumstances caused by force majeure, such as natural disasters, war, strikes, airline delays or cancellations, or consular visa delays, the organizing team may cancel or alter the itinerary. We may charge additional expenses based on the actual additional expenditure incurred, including overseas visa extensions, accommodation, meals, transport, and national airfare adjustments, while doing our best to minimise everyone's losses;
Any other additional expenses not listed under inclusions;
Tax is excluded; the applicable invoice tax must be paid additionally if an invoice is required.
Single-room supplements, additional local expenses and the final total must be confirmed in writing.
BEFORE YOU GO
What to know before you go
Availability and booking
Let us know if you’re interested in this trip. Availability is not updated in real time, so please contact us to check whether the trip is confirmed, how many places are available, and the final total and booking terms.
Trip information
[Transport] 1. Flights arranged by the organizing team use economy-class group tickets. Before tickets are issued, check the airline's rules for changes and refunds. 2. Flight, road and boat journey times may vary with conditions on the day. 3. The airlines and flight times listed are for guidance only. Flight changes may require minor adjustments to the itinerary. Please follow the final trip details sent before departure. [Accommodation] Accommodation is arranged for two people sharing a room. We'll try to match solo travelers with a roommate of the same gender. If you prefer not to share, or no roommate is available, you must pay a single supplement for your own room. [Group meals] We aim to serve meals suited to Chinese tastes. We make sure everyone has enough to eat. [Photography] 1. Photography sessions follow the itinerary, but conditions on the day may affect how long we spend at each location. 2. Read the itinerary carefully and choose a trip that suits your health and circumstances. Skipping part of the itinerary for health or other personal reasons, or choosing not to use the arranged accommodation or transport, counts as voluntary withdrawal from those arrangements. You are responsible for your own safety while not taking part in the itinerary. 3. Stay with the group during photography sessions unless you have permission to leave. This does not apply during free time. The organizing team is not responsible for accidents that occur while you are away from the group. 4. Typhoons, blizzards or other events beyond our control may require changes to the itinerary. [Fuel surcharges] The organizing team reserves the right to adjust the amount payable if fluctuations in global oil markets lead to a substantial rise in fuel surcharges. If the team can absorb the increase, the amount payable will remain unchanged. [Before departure] 1. We'll send your final trip details no later than the day before departure. If arrangements are confirmed sooner, we'll let you know as soon as possible. 2. If the online itinerary differs from the final trip details sent before departure, the final trip details take precedence. [Optional activities at your own expense] Under the Tourism Law provisions prohibiting travel agencies from arranging optional paid activities, please contact the provider directly for details, charges and bookings if you wish to take part. If you need language assistance from a guide or tour leader, any help is provided in a personal capacity, whether paid or unpaid. It is not provided on behalf of the organizing team or the local tour operator. The organizing team is not involved in the payments, transactions or service standards for activities during free time. You are responsible for the outcome of those arrangements.
Itinerary notes
Photography locations, accommodations and transportation are subject to final confirmation before departure. Weather and local conditions may affect the itinerary.
Itinerary dates use Africa/Nairobi. Flight, transfer and other times follow the time zone stated for each location. Please confirm any time without a stated time zone before departure.