July–October Itinerary
On this Tanzania photo safari, your Expedition Leader is a wildlife photography pro who will help you capture iconic images of the Migration and African wildlife. With just four travelers per safari vehicle, everyone gets a "window" seat and extra room for camera gear. Photo safari guests get to carry up to 60 pounds on our chartered flights—a much higher limit than most companies allow.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive beneath Mount Meru before your Tanzania photo safari
Settle into a 1905 colonial farmhouse surrounded by lush gardens and birdlife
Sip a sundowner with views toward Mount Kilimanjaro, then join your Photo Expedition Leader for a welcome dinner
Arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport and transfer via our electric vehicle to our lodge in the rolling foothills of Mount Meru. Photograph flowers in the beautifully landscaped gardens that offer a relaxing respite after our long travels or relax by the pool or on your private veranda. This evening, gather for a welcome dinner and orientation from our Expedition Leader, who offers a preview of the incredible photography opportunities ahead.
Day 2: Search for wildlife in Arusha National Park
Capture images of elephants, giraffes, buffalo and antelope across forests, wetlands and savannas
Look for black-and-white colobus monkeys in the forest canopy
Photograph some of the park’s more than 400 bird species
Cradled between Mount Meru’s towering volcanic cone and Kilimanjaro’s iconic peak, Arusha National Park unveils a diverse landscape brimming with photo opportunities. A rich tapestry of habitats shelter an array of wildlife, including elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebra, various antelope species and the photogenic Colobus monkeys. More than 400 bird species nest in amid the park’s wetlands, forests and savannas. We spend the entire day here with ample opportunities to capture classic landscapes and wildlife shots from unique vantage points.
Days 3 to 6: Capture images of the Great Migration from Nat Hab’s private camp
Stay Nat Hab’s Migration Camp—Serengeti North along a major migration corridor
Capture images of vast wildebeest and zebra herds crossing the Serengeti
Photograph lions, cheetahs and hyenas shadowing the migration
Early this morning, depart for our flight to the northern Serengeti. This legendary savanna derives its name from a Maasai word meaning “endless plains,” and the vista of golden grasslands stretching to the horizon under a blue bowl of sky provides an iconic image of East Africa. Our destination is Nat Hab’s private Migration Camp, our base for a four-day immersion in Africa's Great Migration. In accord with the herds’ seasonal movements, we locate our mobile camp in the northern Serengeti from July through October. This deluxe tented outpost rests within one of the main movement corridors for more than 2 million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle that make this annual trek, plus an accompanying cast of predators. Each year, the herds follow an ancient circuit covering 1,800 miles from Kenya’s Maasai Mara to the southern Serengeti and back again. On daily game drives, witness this remarkable spectacle as the enormous herds traverse the savanna while big cats and hyenas steal behind, following them in open safari vehicles with superb photography access.
The days of heavy canvas hunting camps set for the likes of Roosevelt and Hemingway were nearly over until photo safaris gained popularity in the 1970s, and our secluded camp, with its walk-in canvas tents and crackling campfire, is redolent with that vintage atmosphere. Yet despite our remote location, we enjoy impressive luxuries, including candlelight dinners served under a canopy of stars.
Days 7 to 9: Photograph big cats from Nat Hab’s secluded Serengeti East Camp
Fly to Seronera and begin exploring the eastern Serengeti
Search for lions, cheetahs and leopards among the granite kopjes
Photograph with just four travelers per vehicle for greater flexibility and unobstructed views
Fly this morning to Seronera within Serengeti National Park. Meeting our safari vehicles and drivers, we set out on our first wildlife drive. With only four people per vehicle, there's plenty of room for camera gear to take full advantage of photo opportunities. Our destination is our exclusive bush camp in a remote sector of the Serengeti.
Surrounded by open range and kopjes—large granite outcrops that dot the plains—our own private camp offers fabulous wildlife photography in diverse habitats, with top subjects being the abundant feline predators that live and hunt in this area. It also provides exceptional seclusion away from crowds and thrilling game drive encounters.
Day 10: Return to Arusha for a farewell beneath Mount Meru
Fly to Arusha for a farewell lunch at Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge
Refresh in a day room before evening international flights
On the last morning of our photo safari, we make our way to Seronera Airport for our flight to Arusha, arriving at Ngare Sero Lodge at the base of Mount Meru, where a farewell lunch is served on arrival. Day rooms await in this peaceful setting, offering a chance to relax and refresh before your transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport for international departures this evening.
