Kenya Photo Safaris

As the co-owner and operator of Ontdek Kenya, the leading outfitter of truly nature based walking, birding and wildlife safaris in Kenya since 1996, I've had great photo moments in the course of guiding the safaris. Samples of my photography work are all the images in this website and it is with a strong conviction that I persuade anyone interested in photography, that Kenya is the ultimate destination for nature photography.

We organize quality wildlife photography safaris for discerning clients who want a detailed photo experience that goes beyond "aim & shoot" snapshots safaris. As serious photographers know, technology has made positive changes in the photo optics we use today but to get a good photo experience, good optics must be backed by quality time spent in the field - this is Ontdek's guiding principle in designing and delivering photo safaris.

We spend more time in the sites we visit giving you the opportunity to shoot and re-shoot for the perfect shot. We don't want you to just fill several memory sticks for reviewing at home - we want you to have good memories of a detailed photo safari that you enjoyed in a relaxed way. Our well researched and tested photo itineraries give you ample time to observe and record nature: a bird in its flight, animals grooming each other, a cloud cover moving over a mountain and the big game in Masai Mara.

While we admit that people have a limited time for holidays we are continuously amazed at the rushed "photo safaris" that we now see covering Masai Mara-Amboseli -Nakuru-Aberdares-Samburu, all in a record 2 weeks. But as many clients who unfortunately book into such tours come to learn (only when they are in Kenya), a tour of this type is exhausting as it has very long transfers which take a lot of time, leaving very little for quality photography. As certified by many photographers that we have arranged safaris for - the only way of getting a one-off photo safari is in a slowed down itinerary with good ground logistics.

What Makes An Ontdek Kenya Photo Safari Unique?

We create opportunities for good photography by using our experience on park selection and combinations enabling you to see as much as possible with minimal transfers thereby having maximum time for quality photography. We encourage our clients to stay in one location for a min of 2-3 nights (and in bigger national parks at least 4) so as to have enough time for thorough photo exploration. This way your tour is relaxed and with productive photography.
Our photo safaris are not all-vehicle-bound affairs in crowded national parks. Our clients appreciate the fact that we include private game conservancies and the small national parks that are full of easy to see game while on walking safaris. Nothing beats the experience of setting up your photo gear in the plains full of giraffes, zebras and gazelles and you shoot to your hearts content without the disturbance from minibuses.

Ontdek's photo safaris are not restricted to the standard safari rule of morning and afternoon game drives. We go for maximum time in the field as defined by you - the client. Yes, we will be out there for the first pictures with the low light of the morning and you will find us enjoying a lion chasing a prey at 12 noon - the very time that other tourists are idling away in hotel lounges waiting for the 4pm game drive!
We are proud of our photo safari staff who are accomplished naturalists with many years of experience in safari and are able to interpret animal behavior, alerting you for the opportunities for perfect photos. They are also patient and handle the long hours of photography with ease mainly because they enjoy being out in nature. Count on them to know how to position the vehicle for the best light and also when to switch off the engine for maximum silence etc.
All Ontdek's safaris are about stress free travel. We are thorough in all that we do - we don't just quote prices - we ask a lot of questions from our potential clients to make sure we fully connect with their needs. We give you candid ground information that goes further than the guide books and when you land in Kenya we execute flawless ground logistics. For this we have been rewarded with a good portfolio of overseas tour operators and a loyal following of independent travelers. See our references.
We encourage photographers to take their safaris as private as this affords them a lot of flexibility on the period of travel as well as the day-to-day schedules - things they obviously can't have in a group tour. We run tours even with 2 clients or small groups of friends who have previously traveled together and have already worked out their group dynamics. While we don't like to use price as our marketing pitch - because we first and foremost want to be known for quality safaris - it comes as a pleasant surprise that our direct prices are just a fraction of what one would pay from overseas operators.
On the right-hand side menu, we have info on some of our favorite areas for photo safaris which we can mix and match to suit your needs, always giving you genuine info to add value to your Kenya photo safari. (see a past client's tour feedback).

In choosing an outfitter for your African photo safari it matters that you pick one who shares your interests and is of course reliable. Ontdek Kenya fits this bill and we invite you to consider traveling with us. We look forward to consulting with for your Kenya photo safari. Contact us.

Peter Huysman
Ontdek Kenya