Kenya Photo Safari Adventure
October 19 – 29, 2026
Dates:
October 19 - 29, 2026
Your Pros:
Juan Pons & Jaclyn Merica
Tuition:
$16,595.00 USD
Single Supplement: $3,000.00 USD
Location:
Kenya, Africa
Fitness Level:
Easy
Availability:
2 Seats Remaining
Dates:
October 19 - 29, 2026
Your Pros:
Juan Pons
Jaclyn Merica
Tuition:
$16,595.00 USD
Single Supplement: $3,000.00
Location:
Kenya, Africa
Fitness Level:
Easy
Availability:
2 Seats Remaining
Kenya's Famous Parks and Northern Reaches
Journey with us to the famed parks of Kenya, including Amboseli National Park, Samburu National Reserve, and Masai Mara National Reserve, witnessing the country’s rich biodiversity amidst the most iconic mountains and vistas in Africa. Together, we visit 3 distinctive environments and cultures to give a full scope of this incredible country.
Kenya has varied terrain, including highlands, coastal areas, and arid to semi-arid deserts, hosting a myriad of plants and animals. There is no shortage of wildlife to see in Kenya, with over 20,000 wildlife species calling this equatorial region home.
There truly is something for everybody’s personal interests in Kenya. With luck, we could see larger animals like lion, leopard, cheetah, hippopotamus, hyena, giraffe, zebra, civet, serval, caracal, warthog, a myriad of antelope species like impala, gerenuk, dik-dik, reedbuck, waterbuck, eland, Thompson’s gazelle, and hartebeest, as well as an incredible array of birds like Tawny eagle, Verreaux eagle owl, Pygmy falcon, Kori and White-bellied bustard, Bateleur eagle, Somali bee eater, shrikes, hoopoe, kingfisher, Vulturine guinea fowl, flamingo, pelican, jacana, Pied avocet, goshawk, heron, and many more!
To ensure comfort and ease when photographing this myriad of photo subjects, we’ve arranged for each person to have their very own row in our safari vehicle. Depending on the subject matter, the vehicles are also equipped with a rooftop hatch, so folks can stand and photograph from the top of the vehicle, as well.
During our workshop, guests have ample opportunities to go on bird walks around the grounds of our lodgings, shoot from a state of the art bush hide located at our camp, capture aerial shots from a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the Mara, meet local tribes and observe their deeply rooted cultural practices, and much more.
This workshop offers both in the field instruction, as well as image reviews and editing sessions while at basecamp, so we can best hone in your images and streamline your creative visions while on our adventure.
Despite its remote setting, our revered accommodations caters to a photographer’s every need and offers unparalleled comfort and amenities. Our dining options are incomparable for the remote location we’ll be staying. Just like every photography workshop we lead, food is always top quality, and we prioritize good meals and great group dinners at the end of each day.
I believe that in order to truly enjoy your experience, and to receive the most out of an adventure photography workshop, we must keep groups small and maintain a very high ratio of instructors to participants. However, we’ve organized this trip to host a total of 9 participants, 2 photo instructors, and a team of expert local guides and drivers. Each client will enjoy their own row in our safari vehicles.
This is a unique educational excursion, and by capping the number of participants, we are ensuring everyone gets the attention and one-on-one instruction they need to make once in a lifetime images while visiting Kenya.
You will be accompanied by Juan Pons and Jaclyn Merica during this Photo Adventure. Juan is an accomplished professional wildlife and travel photographer and photographic educator who has a deep passion for the outdoors and conservation. Jaclyn is Juan’s assistant, co-leading workshops in places like Madagascar, Yellowstone, India, Brazil, Cuba, and more.
Juan and his team believe the best way to teach is by demonstrating, and to this end, we will be shooting alongside you, showing you our technique, and sharing our love and knowledge of wildlife and the landscape. However, our priority is always YOU, and assisting you to get the best images YOU can get.
The biggest advantage of having small groups is the flexibility they provide for customizing and adjusting our schedule to accommodate both to the unpredictable weather and the unique interests of the group as a whole. This allows us to cover only those topics that you are all interested in, including:
• Techniques for creating exciting and captivating wildlife images
• Digital darkroom demos to enhance the quality of your images
• Best use of your equipment
• Image reviews
My workshops are fairly intensive experiences, and as such, you should not expect this to be a leisurely vacation. Our goal is to capture the best images we can during our time in this remarkable location. This means there will be days we begin very early and return to camp very late. However, we will always have breaks and long lunch rest hours.
You should expect to receive important details to secure your flights to Nairobi, Kenya 7 months prior to the workshop.
Then, about 3 months prior to the workshop, you will start hearing from me and my team on a regular basis. I will provide you with a Workshop Info Packet with all relevant details, as well as go over more workshop details to get you inspired and thinking about the images you’d like to capture during the workshop. At this time, you will also receive from me a list of recommended clothing, equipment, and even discounts for equipment you may want to acquire for this excursion.
Both Juan and Jaclyn are always available to answer any questions you may have leading up to the workshop- simply call or email and we can help you as best we can.
Additionally, we will schedule a Zoom meeting around 10 – 12 weeks prior to the start of our workshop. There, you can meet your fellow workshop participants, ask any questions before traveling, receive insights and recommendations for reference books, and much more.
Tuition for the workshop is $16,595.00 USD for double occupancy per person.
On this trip, there are some single occupancy rooms available for an additional fee of $3,000.00 USD.
If you would like to reserve your spot on this workshop, you can do so with a deposit of $7,995.00 USD. The balance of the workshop fee ($8,600.00 USD), is due 6 months prior to the first day of the workshop.
If you are in need of a special payment arrangement, please reach out and we are happy to work with you.
• 10 nights of lodging
• Twice daily safari excursions (AM/PM)
• All permits, fees, and gratuities
• All meals and snacks during the workshop
• Non-alcoholic beverages during the workshop
• In-the-field instruction
• Creative Inspiration
• Camaraderie
• An unforgettable time
• Air travel to and from your home to Nairobi, Kenya (Airport code NBO)
• Overnight lodgings in Nairobi/other Kenya locations before or after workshop dates
• Any applicable passport and visa fees or items of a personal nature, such as laundry and alcoholic beverages
• Travel, Medical, and Trip Cancellation Insurance (optional, but highly recommended)
• Anything else specifically not listed as included
• You are responsible for making your own flight arrangements to and from Nairobi, Kenya (Airport code NBO). We will assist you with flight arrival times and departures prior to your booking. Please do not book your flight reservations until you receive explicit instructions from our team.
• Deposit is fully refundable up until 6 months prior to the start of the workshop, NO REFUNDS are permitted within 6 months of the start of the workshop.
• Dates are subject to slight changes as we finalize our itineraries.
• Make sure to check the Terms and Conditions for all my workshops.
We highly recommend Travel Insurance from a reputable insurance company. I have partnered with Squaremouth, a website that allows you to compare multiple travel policies from multiple providers to choose the best one for you based on your needs and costs. Check them out here: https://www.squaremouth.com/
When photographing wildlife, it is crucial to remain flexible in order to maximize our daily itinerary as needed to observe wildlife behaviors and weather conditions. This schedule may be subject to change.
Our sample itinerary is as follows:
Day 1: Arrival into Nairobi, Kenya
Arrive into Nairobi, Kenya anytime on this day. Guests will be met by instructors or a local guide and privately transferred to a nearby hotel from the airport. There, you can take time to relax before a group welcome dinner.
Day 2 – 4: Amboseli National Park
After an early breakfast at our Nairobi hotel, the group transfers a short distance to the local airstrip, where our chartered plane awaits us. We make the short flight southeast over to Amboseli, witnessing our first sights of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.
Amboseli is globally renowned for its impressive big tusker elephants, a remarkable genetic trait unique to this area. If elephants are of interest to you, there’s no place like Amboseli to get your dream shot of a lone bull or sizeable herd walking across this picturesque landscape shadowed by Mount Kilimanjaro. Once you’ve grown tired of photographing elephants, the incredible concentration of lions, cheetahs, giraffes, hyenas, and more await you!
Our group utilizes 3 safari vehicles to explore the expansive park, from its more populated western side to it’s quieter eastern boundary. Our group is very fortunate to have been invited to lodge in a brand new boutique bush camp away from the hustle and bustle of other hotels and mobile camps. For 3 nights, we enjoy the serenity of campfires and group meals together, as well as a dedicated space for image reviews and group editing sessions to set you on the right path at the start of the workshop.
Day 5 – 7: Samburu National Reserve
On day 5, we say goodbye to Amboseli and board a plane headed northwest to Samburu National Reserve for the next 3 nights. This is not only a destination for the bird lovers of the group, but also an amazing location for cultural enthusiasts keen to learn about Kenya’s northern villages.
Samburu National Reserve is owned by a local council made up of the Samburu people, called the “Butterfly People”, who have inhabited this are of Kenya since the 15th century. Our visit to the region directly supports this semi-nomadic community and its conservation efforts.
The Samburu people are adorned in colorful, intricate fabrics and beaded jewelry pieces, and they welcome us into their village to meet their community and learn of their cultural practices. We recommend leaving extra space in your suitcase so you can bring home some of the unique Samburu crafts, textiles, and more!
For those who are keen to solely focus on wildlife, don’t worry, there is an abundance of wildlife in the region. We have the opportunity to frequent the state of the art bush hide on our camp’s property, which is a hot spot for birds and other animals looking for a drink in the heat of the day.
Day 8 – 10: Masai Mara
On day 8, we head south via chartered flight to our final location on our trip- Masai Mara. This reserve is arguably the most photographed and recognized location in Africa for photo safaris. Mara means spotted bushes in Swahili, which describes the vastly open landscape dotted with sparse trees, and it is a sight to behold as the open terrain stretches for miles in every direction.
Big cats have a strong hold of this region, and it is possible to see some interactions between species here. With a little luck, we could even catch some migratory action, where wildebeest, zebra, and more cross treacherous rivers filled with crocodiles in search of more grasslands to feast on.
During our stay, we have the chance to take in the terrain with a sunrise hot air balloon ride, which is an experience you can’t miss when visiting the region.
Day 11: Final Farewell to the Mara and Return Home
After one final morning outing and bush breakfast with our group and Masai guides, we say goodbye to the Mara and board our charter flights back to Nairobi.
Guests may depart after 6:00 PM from Nairobi, or choose to overnight and depart the next day.
