SAFARI OVERVIEW
This specialized overnight hide photographic safari is led by two photo hosts, Mark and Jaren Fernley. With a group size of just six photography guests, the group will be divided in two, making the guest to guide ratio 3:1. Each group will have the opportunity to stay overnight in the photographic hide twice! But the hide is not the only highlight of the area. The Shompole Conservancy is thriving with wildlife and our game drives will provide incredible photo opportunities as well. With the Pink Lakes nearby, guests will have a bit of everything at the tips of their fingers.
Whether it is a trip to photograph the Flamingos of Lake Magadi, game drives or walks in the conservancy, or mornings and nights at the hide, this photo safari is nothing short of incredible. Each day, your photo hosts will provide editing sessions, where the group comes together to learn post processing skills that will allow each guest to return home with a professional level portfolio to share with the world.
TOUR DATE
2025: August 6 - 12
from $5,550 USD pp sharing
Single Supplement: $700 USD
Planning a trip for 2026? View our 2026 Overnight Hide Photo Safari here
BRIEF ITINERARY
DAY 1: Arrival Day
DAY 2: Transfer to Shompole / afternoon at the hide
DAYS 3 - 6: Morning safari / evening safari or overnight at hide
DAY 7: Morning safari in Shompole / Transfer to Nairobi
*The group will be split into two groups. Each group will have two nights in the overnight hide, while the other is out on game drives in the conservancy
(see detailed itinerary below)
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
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Spend two nights in the specialised photography overnight hide where predators lurk in the dark. With spotlights on the waterhole, your camera is in for some great shots!
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Visit Lake Magadi where Flamingos and other water birds blanket the pink soda lake offering bird photographers a morning in paradise. Guests can also participate in a helicopter flight over the lake to get a birds-eye-view for an extra fee
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The area is full of predators including Lion and Leopard that frequently visit the waterhole at the photo hide, both day and night. Cheetahs have also been spotted coming to this waterhole.
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There has been recent sightings of at least five individual Striped Hyena (one of the rarest hyena species), making this an exciting area to spend a night on safari or in the photo hide
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This is an all-inclusive photographic safari where each luxurious tent provides guests with a private veranda overlooking the riverbed. Spend the day out on safari, and return to relax with great views.
THE HIDE
WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE OVERNIGHT HIDE
This exclusive and very active hide is designed to help you get those striking shots without interfering with wildlife at one of the few waterholes in the area.The hide is set underground allowing you to be lower than your subject and provides each guest with a gimbal head and bean bag for comfortable movement. During each overnight photo activity in the hide, your photo host will set up the adjustable lights around the waterhole to obtain the best and well lit photographs possible.
The hide comfortably fits four overnight photographers. Splitting the group in two allows three guests plus one photo host plenty of space. A washroom and a sleeping bunker with beds are provided to allow you to rest while others are on look out for nocturnal visitors such as lions, leopards and other photogenic species. Mirrorless cameras are preferred to be used while in the hide, due to their silent technology.
LOCATION
SHOMPOLE CONSERVANCY, KENYA
Shompole Conservancy is a stunning destination in between Maasai Mara National Reserve and Amboseli National Park. A place where few visitors go but it feels like you are the only guests in the whole ecosystem. The Great Rift Valley wall borders to the western side while to the east the Shompole wetlands and further east is Lake Magadi, well known for its flamingos and stunning colours. South is the Tanzanian border and also Lake Natron also an alkaline lake with flamingos and stunning reds, pinks, greens and yellow colours, just like Lake Magadi. The diversity of landscapes comes with the incredible variety in wildlife, making this area perfect for wildlife photographers.
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
CAMERA BODY:​​
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Guests are encouraged to bring a camera body with a minimum of 24-megapixels to guarantee the best results while on safari. Ideally, you should bring a mirrorless camera on this photo safari, as the shutter and mechanics are much quieter (very important for nights at the hide).​
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A second camera body is always a great consideration, however, this is not mandatory. This can be used as a backup, or you can keep a second lens attached and switch back and forth between cameras.
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LENSES:​​
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A telephoto lens with a reach of at least 500 mm​​. This can be a fixed/prime lens or a zoom lens. ​
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If you intend to bring a fixed/prime lens of 500 mm or more, you will also need a closer range lens. ​A 100 - 400 mm or similar is a great option, as this will allow you to get shots of wildlife that comes closer to the vehicle​
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If you are interested in taking landscape photographs during the trip, we recommend a wide angle lens that ranges anywhere between 12 mm - 105 mm. This can be used for landscapes, astro-photography, close range wildlife, and congregations of wildlife.
TOUR INCLUDES
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Airport pick-up/drop off (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO)
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Ground transportation to Shompole Conservancy (and return)
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All accommodation
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All game drives
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All day time hide visits
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Two nights in the overnight hide
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All meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner each day)
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All beverages (non-alcoholic and local beers, wines and spirits)
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All national park entry fees
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All conservancy fees
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All photographic guidance / tutorials
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one-on-one photo critiques (optional)
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Pre-Tour meeting with your photography guide
TOUR EXCLUDES
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International flights
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Personal Travel Insurance (required for all guests)
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Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra activities, etc.)
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Activities not listed in itinerary (i.e. Helicopter ride over Lakes)
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Premium alcoholic beverages
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Gratuities/tips for guides and staff
ITINERARY
DAY 1:
ARRIVAL DAY
The first day is designed for all photography participants to arrive in Nairobi at their own leisure. Untamed Photo Safaris will arrange transfers from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (airport code NBO) for each photographer’s arrival.
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The tour will start at 6 pm on this day, where the group will meet for the first time. Myself and Mark, your Photo Hosts, will be awaiting you with welcome drinks as you go through the itinerary, ask any questions, and get to know the fellow photographers in your group.
After our briefing/meet and greet, we will move over to the restaurant for dinner. After dinner you will have the opportunity to relax at the bar with the others in the group.
DAY 2:
TRANSFER TO SHOMPOLE / AFTERNOON IN THE HIDE
Early start to the day followed by a road transfer south to Shompole Conservancy. This is a short 3 1/2 hour scenic drive into the bush, allowing us to arrive for lunch. After the group is checked in as settled, your photo hosts will introduce you to the underground photo hide. This evening will be spent allowing guests to get used to the gimbal heads, get to know the area, and of course, start getting some great shots!
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The group will return to the lodge for dinner. This is a great time to ask your photo host any additional questions that you may have. Ask for a one-on-one if you would like any additional tutorials.
DAYS 3 - 6:
MORNING ACTIVITY & ALTERNATING NIGHTS AT THE HIDE
On the morning of day three, the group will take a drive to Lake Magadi where you will commence on a stunning flamingo photographic experience. The morning will be spent walking the edges of this pink lake as flamingos fill your frame. We will return to the lodge for lunch, where your photo hosts will then split the group into two, GROUP A & GROUP B. Both groups will have the same about of time in the photo hide, but splitting the group offers a more comfortable and exclusive use for each guest.
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Our morning activities will vary depending on the wildlife activity in the area. Your photo hosts will inform you of what activities your will be doing each day. Photo activities include morning game drives, mornings in the photo hide, and the occasional bush walk. Regardless of the activity, guests will return for lunch with some great shots! Both groups will meet back at the lodge for lunch and some photo editing before heading out for their afternoon activity. Afternoon activities will be as follows:
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OVERNIGHT IN THE HIDE: After lunch, the group will have a bit of time to prepare for the night in the hide. Later in the afternoon, this group will head out for a shorter game drive that will finish at the photo hide. Once you arrive, your photo host will get you all set up and ready for whatever comes your way. Hides are all about the wait, so be sure to bring your laptop to do some editing with your photo host while you are in there. Guests will take turns resting/napping in the bunker, while we have someone on the lookout at all times, sure to wake you up when something comes into frame. When the sun rises, the group will head back to the lodge for breakfast. A morning activity will be offered, however, if you'd like some well deserved sleep, that is an option.
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AFTERNOON GAME DRIVES: Shortly after lunch, this group will head out on an afternoon/evening game drive to photograph the wildlife in the area. With only three guests and one photo host, the vehicle has plenty of space for all of your gear. With your photo host by your side, you will be guided around the conservancy in search of predators including Lion, Leopard, and Cheetah. Hyenas, Elephants, Buffalo, and other larger mammals also roam the area so there will be ample photo opportunities. After the safari outing, guests can meet their photo host in the main area of the lodge with their laptops to start some editing before dinner is served. After dinner, guests can take part in an editing session, or head out on a night drive in the conservancy in search of those rarely seen nocturnal animals.
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DAY 3:
GROUP A: Afternoon/evening game drive + optional night drive
GROUP B: Overnight at the photo hide
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DAY 4:
GROUP A: Overnight at the photo hide
GROUP B: Afternoon/evening game drive + optional night drive
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DAY 5:
GROUP A: Afternoon/evening game drive + optional night drive
GROUP B: Overnight at the photo hide
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DAY 6:
GROUP A: Overnight at the photo hide
GROUP B: Afternoon/evening game drive + optional night drive
DAY 7:
MORNING SAFARI / RETURN TO NAIROBI
This morning, the group will go on their last safari outing in the Shompole Conservancy in hopes to get those last minute photographs of the wildlife in the area. We will return to the lodge for lunch before heading back to Nairobi.​
ACCOMMODATION
SHOMPOLE WILDERNESS: All six tents are set within the thick cordia bushes; two with river view, two looking out over the plains and two with a treehouse feel. They are all hidden from each other and totally private with large verandas. They have large netted windows all the way round to allow a good air flow through the tent.
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The bathrooms are all en-suite with flush loos and hot and cold running water for showers. The tents are situated on raised platforms and surrounded by vegetation which gives one the feeling of being in a tree house as well as providing shade to keep the tents cool. The camp has been designed to keep a traditional feeling of being in the bush while maintaining a comfortable, homely feel.
The coolness of the river brings lots of birds, monkeys and other animals to the river to drink while you watch from your veranda.
