Our photographic safaris are crafted with one clear goal: to provide you with an unforgettable wildlife experience that is not only exciting but also meaningful and responsible.

Every trip is thoughtfully designed, backed by extensive research, and grounded in strong ethical principles. We partner exclusively with those who share our commitment to preserving the land, respecting local cultures, and protecting the incredible wildlife we are privileged to photograph. Operating in some of Africa’s most iconic and wildlife-rich regions, we strive to keep our safaris accessible without compromising on quality.

Each adventure is hosted by a professional photographer, offering personalized tuition and expert guidance every step of the way. From smooth logistics to creative inspiration, we ensure that all you need to focus on is keeping your batteries charged and your camera ready.

• Experience a more intimate safari adventure with limited visitor numbers, ensuring uncrowded wildlife sightings.

• Home to thriving populations of lions, leopards, and cheetahs, this region is one of Kenya’s best for predator viewing.

• Shares unfenced borders with the Maasai Mara Reserve, facilitating free wildlife movement across vast plains.

• Abundant resident wildlife including elephants, giraffes, buffalo, hyenas, and a variety of antelope species.

• A breathtaking mix of rolling savannahs, riverine forests, rocky outcrops, and winding rivers.

• Tourism directly supports local landowners and conservation initiatives, ensuring the long-term protection of wildlife habitats.

• Dramatic light, open plains, and plentiful wildlife create ideal conditions for photographers of all levels.

The Mara North Conservancy is an exclusive, community-owned wildlife conservancy bordering the northwestern edge of the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Spanning over 30,000 hectares of pristine savannah, acacia woodland, and riverine forest, it is renowned for offering a low-density, high-quality safari experience with strict limits on tourist numbers and vehicles.

The conservancy plays a vital role in conservation and sustainable tourism, partnering with local Maasai landowners to protect wildlife habitat while providing economic benefits to surrounding communities.

It is home to abundant wildlife—including lions, elephants, leopards, cheetahs, and vast herds of plains game—and forms part of the route of the spectacular annual Great Migration. With its intimate tented camps and strong conservation ethos, Mara North offers a more private and immersive alternative to the busier sections of the Maasai Mara.

Photographers benefit greatly from private vehicles, allowing complete control over positioning, timing, and the freedom to wait for the perfect moment without compromise.

The expertise of knowledgeable Maasai guides enhances the experience — they possess an extraordinary understanding of animal behavior, the land, and the light, ensuring you are always in the right place at the right time. Their tracking skills and deep connection to the environment consistently result in exceptional photographic opportunities.

Additionally, a dedicated photographic host is on hand to provide personalized guidance both in the field and back at camp. Whether you’re refining technical camera skills, exploring creative composition, or reviewing and editing your day’s captures, this support helps photographers of all levels elevate their work.

Flexible game-drive hours — including early starts, extended sessions, and night drives — mean you can fully take advantage of the best lighting conditions and capture nocturnal species rarely seen by day.

Together, these elements create a highly focused, immersive photographic experience that makes Mara North one of Africa’s premier locations for crafting truly memorable wildlife images.

The Mara North Conservancy is renowned for its exceptional wildlife density, providing frequent and intimate sightings due to its carefully managed, low-vehicle tourism model. Large predator populations flourish here, with lions often observed in relaxed prides, leopards stealthily navigating riverine forests, and cheetahs surveying the open plains for hunting opportunities. Spotted hyenas and jackals enhance the dynamic predator landscape, while significant herds of elephants, giraffes, zebras, and various antelope species roam year-round.

Mara North Conservancy during the green season transforms into a lush, vibrant landscape that feels worlds apart from the dusty plains of the dry months. Fresh rains carpet the savanna in rich greens, wildflowers add splashes of color, and dramatic, cloud-filled skies create dynamic lighting conditions—ideal for atmospheric photography.

The rejuvenated environment attracts wildlife to newly replenished water sources, offering photographers a chance to capture animals in strikingly scenic surroundings.

Wildlife viewing remains excellent, with resident lion prides, leopards, and cheetahs thriving in the conservancy’s protected habitats. The taller grasses add an element of challenge and excitement, as predators appear and disappear in the vegetation, rewarding those who are patient with intimate, low-angle shots. Herds of elephants, giraffes, and plains game also flourish, often framed beautifully against stormy skies or soft, diffused light after rainfall.

Because the green season sees fewer visitors, Mara North feels especially exclusive and unhurried. Vehicles are limited within the conservancy, allowing long, uninterrupted photography sessions at sightings.

The quieter atmosphere enhances the sense of immersion in the wilderness, while the renewed landscape provides varied textures and tones that elevate every image. For photographers seeking dramatic skies, rich color palettes, and close wildlife encounters without the crowds, Mara North in the green season offers an exceptional and rewarding safari experience.

Sam has been a professional wildlife photographer for over a decade, capturing the stunning flora and fauna of Zambia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, and South Africa—his second home. He spent four years living in Africa, immersed in wildlife just steps away from the famous Kruger National Park, where he taught international guests the art of wildlife photography and contributed to conservation initiatives.

His photography and writing have appeared in esteemed publications like National Geographic, BBC Wildlife Magazine, Travel Africa, Wildcard Magazine, and Africa Geographic. However, he finds the greatest reward in teaching, having successfully guided hundreds of photography guests in honing their creative and technical skills.

Sam will be with you every step of the way, ensuring you receive abundant photographic guidance while making your trip run smoothly.

He’ll provide in-the-field photographic assistance and editing tuition back at the lodge, ensuring you leave with a brand new portfolio of fantastic images.

The latest addition to the world-renowned Offbeat Portfolio, Offbeat Ndoto, opened in September 2021. With just four luxury tents and one luxury villa, it offers the most private way to experience the wonders of the Mara North Conservancy.

In the heart of this ecosystem, wildlife roams freely through the camp. With stunning views, this is truly an ideal base for your safari adventure.

Each of Offbeat Ndoto's four luxury safari tents offers stunning views over the Offbeat Valley. The tents are raised on natural rock bases made from locally sourced river rock and feature a large outdoor veranda, perfect for watching the wildlife that strolls through the valley.

Morning tea and coffee are served on the veranda. Inside, you have your own sitting room with a daybed and safari chairs, ideal for relaxing, private dining, or reading a book. Your bedroom features a super king-sized bed or twin beds for sharing, along with a desk and armchair.

The bathroom is well-appointed with a “rain shower,” flush toilet, double washbasin, and wardrobe. Power for charging cameras and batteries is available 24 hours a day.

Down on the river bank is Ndoto’s “Mess Tent” – here you can relax in comfort, enjoy delicious home-cooked delights, and sip a refreshing cold drink while spotting plenty of wildlife and birds.

Dining is a refined farm-to-table experience that emphasizes fresh, locally sourced ingredients and high-quality service. The camp presents a flexible and creative menu that blends international flavors with regional influences, featuring three-course dinners and daily treats like afternoon tea and cakes.

A hallmark of the stay is the variety of dining locations - savor a bush breakfast with French press coffee during game drives, picnic lunches in the shade of sycamore fig trees on a "secret island" by the river, and sundowner cocktails with snacks by the nightly campfire.

While primarily a communal experience in the mess tent or under the stars, the camp also caters to dietary requests and offers private, romantic dinners on guest verandas.

DAY 1
Arrive in Nairobi and be greeted at the airport. You'll check into a local hotel, meet your group, and have time to relax.

* Breakfast included; drinks, lunch, and dinner are not.

DAY 2
Fly to Mara North Conservancy in the morning, where guides will pick you up in 4x4 Land Cruisers and take you to camp. Enjoy lunch and embark on your first game drive in the mid-afternoon, with dinner back at camp after sunset.

DAY 3 - 9
Depart at sunrise for daily game drives, focusing on photography and wildlife experiences with a short break for a picnic breakfast.

Upon return in the late morning, relax at camp and work with Sam on photography skills with a spot of lunch midway .

Enjoy a second game drive with sunset sundowners and dinner afterward.

DAY 10
Final game drive before heading to the airstrip for your flight back to Nairobi. Day rooms will be provided for late departures, allowing time for relaxation and shopping. After an early dinner, head to the airport for goodbyes.

Consider dressing in layers, as the weather can vary from very cold in the mornings to pleasantly warm and sunny during the day. You may find yourself either too hot or too cold on game drives, making layering essential. Don't underestimate how cold it can get on game drives, especially with the wind chill in the early morning.

Neutral-colored clothing is advisable for a safari, as we want to avoid drawing attention to ourselves; the less colorful we are, the better we can blend in.

• A wide-brimmed hat

• Lightweight shirts and t-shirts

• A light waterproof poncho

• A fleece or hoodie

• An additional warm jacket or coat

• A couple of pairs of trousers and shorts

• A comfy and sturdy pair of shoes or trainers

• A beanie, scarf, and gloves

• Sunglasses

Our accommodations provide soap, shampoo, and conditioner, so unless you have specific requirements, these items are often unnecessary.

• Toothpaste & toothbrush

• Deodorant

• High-quality sunscreen

• Moisturizer

• Hand sanitizer

• Paracetamol / ibuprofen

• Imodium

• Insect repellent (not always necessary, but handy to have)

Travelling to Mara North involves a small flight from Nairobi, typically in a prop-engine plane. Due to this, there are luggage restrictions: any check-in bags MUST be soft-sided and no larger than 24 x 18 x 13 inches. All luggage, including carry-ons like camera bags, is generally limited to a maximum of 15kg per person. However, we're pleased to offer an additional 10kg per person, raising the new maximum to 25kg per person.

Please keep this information in mind as you plan and prepare for your trip!

There is a risk of malaria in Mara North, so you should consult a doctor before your trip to get the correct antimalarial prescription and other advice. Additionally, take preventive measures like using repellent and covering up at dusk and dawn.

Please check in with your local GP or travel doctor to see if you need any vaccinations or boosters before your departure.

It is essential to obtain travel insurance or some form of coverage for the duration of your trip. Participants who do not provide us with policy numbers and contact numbers will be dismissed from the trip prior to departure.

Kenya’s currency is the Kenyan Shilling (KES) for everyday transactions. While credit cards are accepted at many hotels and shops, it’s wise to carry cash for markets and tipping. U.S. dollars are also recognized in tourism settings, but use clean bills from after 2009. ATMs are available in major towns and airports for easy withdrawals.

For tipping, a guideline is $10–$20 per guest per day for guides, and $5–$10 for lodge staff in a communal tip box. Tips are optional, but offering them in shillings or U.S. dollars helps staff use them easily.

To book your place on this photographic safari, or for additional information, simply get in touch with us via the e-mail address below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

info@raw-photographic.com

For more information on RAW Photographic, including more of our trips and offerings, please visit our website and social media via the addresses below.

www.raw-photographic.com

www.facebook.com/rawphotographicexperiences

www.instagram.com/raw.photographic

1. The client accepts the booking on behalf of themselves and others, binding all to RAW Photographic's terms.

2. Estimates and bookings are subject to these terms.

3. A non-refundable deposit is required, refundable only if RAW Photographic cannot accommodate the application. Late cancellations forfeit the deposit.

4. Full payment is due 12 weeks before departure; late payments may cancel the booking.

5. Cancellations within 12 weeks incur a cancellation fee of 100% of the fare.

6. COVID-related cancellations will postpone the trip; no refunds will be issued.

7. Amendments may incur fees and can only be made up to 12 weeks prior.

8. RAW Photographic can cancel tours, refunding amounts received without further claims.

9. No refunds if a client fails to join a tour or use services.

10. RAW Photographic acts as an agent, not liable for loss or injury due to third parties.

11. Travel insurance is mandatory; clients are encouraged to obtain comprehensive coverage.

12. Fare and itinerary changes may occur without notice. Clients cannot cancel for non-substantial changes. Surcharges may apply for reduced group numbers.

If you are a single traveler, we will do our best to find a suitable person to share the room/tent upon request. If unsuccessful, you will be placed in a single room and charged the single supplement fee. We will introduce participants seeking shared accommodation to check compatibility before allocation. If no compatible participant is found, all unshared room/tent occupants will pay the single supplement cost. We will assist but cannot guarantee compatible companions for shared accommodation.

13. These photo safaris are for individuals in good health; walking and carrying equipment may be required. Inquire if unsure about your capabilities.

By submitting a signed Guest Form and deposit, you confirm no disabilities that risk yourself or others. RAW Photographic's agent will assess participation ability. Medical issues are not exceptions to cancellation policy. RAW Photographic is not responsible for medical care.

14. If injured or ill, RAW Photographic may continue the safari for others' benefit, minimizing interruptions. Disruptive behavior may lead to forfeiting refunds.

15. Clients must ensure they have necessary travel documents and vaccinations; RAW Photographic assists but is not liable for non-compliance.

16. RAW Photographic acts as an agent for travel arrangements, disclaiming liability for issues caused by third parties.

RAW Photographic is not responsible for losses from delays or changes; participants bear these costs. Baggage is at the participant's risk and should be insured.

While information is accurate, circumstances may change, including costs and schedules. RAW Photographic reserves the right to alter the trip date or price.

RAW Photographic may substitute accommodations, cancel trips with refunds, or refuse participants at their discretion.

If cancellation occurs due to conflicts or insufficient numbers, refunds are the final settlement. The operation of the safari is at RAW Photographic's discretion for participant safety.

The Guest Form must be completed 4 weeks before departure; participation will be declined without it.

17. Clients must comply with RAW Photographic's conduct standards.

18. Clients traveling with others warrant authority to bind all to contract terms.

19. RAW Photographic's guide holds authority during the safari, collaborating with other leaders.

20. These terms are the entire agreement; no other statements apply.

21. Special requests must be specified during booking; fulfillment is not guaranteed.

22. Amendments or waivers must be in writing and signed by both parties.

23. No refunds are considered, except in cases of death or serious illness.

24. Payments form a binding agreement governed by RAW Photographic's terms.

25. All image rights remain with RAW Photographic's employees and subcontractors; clients cannot prevent photography.

26. Online card payments incur a surcharge.