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Masai Mara, Kenya!

Take part in one of our exclusive photography workshop guided by SIGMA Referenz Photographer Andreas Knausenberger!

The Maasai Mara offers one of the best game viewing in the world. Fascinating landscapes and gorgeous wildlife, including one of the highest cat populations in Africa, makes the Maasai Mara to a perfect destination for wildlife photography. Pangolin Safaris, in cooperation with SIGMA wildlife reference photographer Andreas Knausenberger, offers a unique possibility to learn everything about wildlife photography in Africa.

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced photographer. Starting from how to use your equipment in the wilderness, to how you can improve your photographic skills in the wild. Our guided photo safaris are providing a detailed theoretical and practical part in German or English language.

Learn from the pros!

Andreas Knausenberger has gained experience in the field of wildlife and travel photography for several years. He traveled in numerous countries around the globe. The Kenya-based photographer, Andreas Knausenberger, has specialized on the wildlife photography in Africa over the years. Andreas will lead the workshop and will also be available as your guides and give you professional advice for the entire duration of the tour.

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We place the highest value on quality and top service. For this reason, we use only Toyota Landcruisers or Land Rover 8-seater in our photo workshops. The vehicles are also modified for photo workshops. The vehicles have a 220 V power supply. So you can charge your batteries and cameras in the bush at any time. Our drivers are trained guides with many years of experience in the field of photo workshops.

All of our vehicles are equipped with own radios. This allows good communication with each other on private frequencies. Thus, you won’t miss any highlight and are always up to date. During the photo workshop we provide beanbags to hangup and stabilizing your camera.


Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi

You reach Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and be picked up directly by us. All participants will first meet in the Ole Sereni hotel and spend the first night there. This gives you the opportunity to get to know the other participants and to chat with Sabine and Charl about the forthcoming days. The Ole Sereni hotel has a very good restaurant and is located in the direct proximity to the airport outside Nairobi.

Day 2: Charter flight into the Masai Mara

After a good breakfast in the Ole Sereni hotel you are brought to Wilson Airport by our shuttle service. From there you’ll fly with a charter flight directly into the Masai Mara. You’ll reach it after a one hour flight. On the airfield you’ll be picked up by Andreas Knausenberger and our vehicles and brought to the Mara Bush Camp. Before lunch, you’ll learn the basics of wildlife photography by Andreas, Sabine and Charl in the theoretical part of the photo safari. Here you have plenty of time to get to know your equipment properly and adjust it before you go on the evening game drive.

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Andreas, Sabine and Charl will give important tips and tricks to allow you to take the perfect picture. In the afternoon you go for the game trip. The Masai Mara is home to lions, cheetahs and leopards and offers very good photographic opportunities like no other area in East Africa! After the game drive along the Mara River and over the wide savannah, you return to the Mara Bush Camp. Here, a rich dinner awaits you. Depending on the weather conditions, you can use the night to photograph the stunning African night sky. Andreas will give you important tips for sensational star images.

Day 3-7: On Safari in the Masai Mara

You will make intensive game drives in the Masai Mara reserve the next days. For full day game drives we will take breakfast as well as lunch for you. In the open savannah, we will then enjoy breakfast and lunch. Therefore, no important time to take a picture is lost. In the evening, we analyze the taken pictures with you and finish the day with a cool drink around a crackling campfire. On request, we can organize a balloon ride across the African Plains. A balloon ride over the plains of the Masai Mara is a unique experience which you will never forget. Please contact us if you are interested.

Day 8: Departure to Nairobi & Departure to your home country

On the last morning of your trip, once again, you have the option for a safari along the Mara River. It's after lunch when we return to the airfield and fly back to Nairobi by a private charter.

You’ll be taken to the international airport by our shuttle depending on the time of your departure. From there, you’ll fly back to your home country.

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The Mara Bush Camp

Mara Bush Camp is a mobile camp and discreetly ‘tucked away’ in a riverine forest on the banks of the seasonal Olare Orok River. It is less than 1 km from Ol Kiombo airstrip and hence situated in the Maasai Mara heartland. Mara Bush Camp is small & offers personalized services while providing all amenities to make you feel at home. Get spoilt after an exhilarating day out in the bush in your luxurious walk–in tent with a spacious veranda overlooking the Olare Orok & its numerous hippos.

All 12 river front tents have been placed far enough apart to guarantee complete tranquillity & privacy. The luxury tents are equipped with a comfortable 4 Poster bed (double / twin available on request) with a mosquito net, en-suite flushing toilet and sink unit in the bathroom with running water, hot bucket shower, clothes rack & storage chest, writing desk & veranda furniture, 1 litre of Mineral water daily to brush your teeth, towels & shampoo / conditioner & liquid wash soap.

A fully equipped Mess Tent is situated close by, where all meals are served. Adjoining, is a luxurious and comfortable Lounge Tent, where one can meet up with other clients to exchange safari experiences and highlights of the day or catch up on reading a book from the in-house library. A Sundowner cocktail will help you unwind in front of a cozy campfire under the African stars with all its sounds of nature. All meals at the camp are freshly prepared by the camp’s head chef, offering buffet lunches and set a’ la carte dinners. Our chef will also ensure that picnic meals are readily available for all those who prefer to stay out in the bush all day long.

This is particularly interesting for photographers and keen game viewers. Early morning coffee / tea can be served on your private tent veranda. The camp is fully solar powered, but a Generator (well tucked away to ensure that there is no noise pollution) is available to provide power in order to charge all cameras & equipment. Mara Bush Camp is not fenced, therefore Maasai ‘Morani’s (warriors) will look out for your safety while you are sleeping. The camp is for the visitor who appreciates simplicity and privacy away from mass tourism and wants to enjoy an authentic ‘safari’ experience rather than a large, crowded lodge with swimming pool & entertainment.

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Our Phptography Landcruiser

In the upcoming season we will use our newly modified Landcruisers. We have changed several Landcruisers over the last weeks to be more convenient for photographers. Therefore we have removed the sliding windows and replaces them with a canvas modular system. This will allow the photographers to use even bigger lenses without and space issues. On top we have insalled a bean bag bar which will be fittet with an additional wood planket as well. It will also have a trip pod mount as well.

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The wooden plank will be 20 centimeters wide and will provide enough width to fit your bean bags perfectly. The bean bag bar can be foldet away during your travels. These modifications will upgrade our cars to one of the best available in Kenya.

All our cars have a roof hatch, bean bags and also an inverter to charge your batteries during the game drive. We have two sockets in each car and can also provide a socket bar if necessary. Our radios will allow all our cars to communicate during the game drive on a private frequence. This will give the advantage that our cars can split in search for the best motives and guide each other to the sightings. Our driver guides are all bronze and silver guides and know everything about the animals, birds and the area you will visit!