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Watch for new dates
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The Mara Crossing!
It’s a classic natural event to witness – and an amazing and challenging photographic opportunity.
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This has all the hallmarks of a great wildlife photography event! Drama abounds – will they or won’t they cross? |
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There is the sinister predator – the Nile Crocodile. |
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Mothers and babies get separated and make costly mistakes looking for each other. |
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The action is frenzied – the crossing suddenly begins and there is a huge amount of splashing, leaping, slipping and falling, and fear! |
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You have to be ready – because the opportunity comes with no warning. It takes a great guide to get you to a good position – and you’ll want all the help you can get for exposure and focusing strategy! |
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Two to three million wildebeest, including a lot of 6-month-old youngsters, and half a million zebras, split into groups of 100 to more than 1,000, following the noses of the wildebeest, find themselves at the edge of the Mara River.
There are cliffs to go down and come back up. Slippery rocks in the river. Deep holes. Crocodiles lie in wait for their annual banquet. And, often, the same rains that draw the migration to the river have swollen the river and created turbulent rapids.
There are no leaders. Wildebeest are followers. They don’t develop a matriarch or dominant bull which is followed by the others. Rather they follow their noses toward rain. And, when confronted with an obstacle, like the river, wait to see which direction the others are going. They often stand there for hours, driven to cross but afraid to start. Sometimes they see a crocodile or something else scares them and they all walk away.
Sometimes they spot other wildebeest on the other side of the river, eating grass, and the herd begins to move toward them. Other times, as the group gathers along the river, one gets crowded off the edge and elects to start across.
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Once one is in the river, others join, then everyone follows. Sometimes they jump down the cliffs and fly from the bank out into the water.
Some slip and panic. Others suddenly find themselves unable to reach the bottom. Moms and calves get separated. There is lots of calling out – in panic, or to try and find a mom. And a tremendous amount of splashing! |
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All of that attracts the crocodiles, which have been waiting for just this moment. They glide silently against the current. Sometimes on the surface and then sometimes invisible in the murky waters. They look for a wildebeest struggling – or one isolated from the flow of crossing wildebeest.
When they attack, their immense size and huge mouths easily dominate. They don’t usually crush their prey – but seek to pull them down. The victims may put up valiant efforts, but the outcome is usually in the crocodiles’ favor. |
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The Great Migration is driven by wildebeests’ unique ability to smell rain falling several days walk away. They walk toward that smell – and, by the time they get there, grass has grown enough to be eaten. The zebras travel with them, knowing the wildebeest know how to find forage. Zebras are much better at detecting predators and alerting the herds to danger. A symbiotic relationship.
The rains vary, year to year and week to week. The Great Migration can encounter the Mara any time starting late July and lasting well into September. Sporadic rains can draw herds north across the Mara and up into Kenya and then turn around and lure them back to the river for green grasses to the south. Some days one herd crosses to the north while another is headed south. It can get crazy. |
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A lot of tours get it wrong. You can say, “we’ll show up the morning of the 25th, watch the migration, and then move on to find some lions”, but it won’t work that way. We’ve heard travelers tell us their operator got them to the river and said the wildebeest aren’t crossing today – referencing the same day we photographed over a thousand crossing.
Our strategy is different. We’ll fly from Arusha to the northern Serengeti and set up a base camp in a fantastic lodge a short drive from a spot where the wildebeest like to cross and close to a bunch of other great locations. Each morning we’ll start by scouting where the action seems to be building and put ourselves in a good position to get to a great crossing point, once it starts. Our great guide will be touching base with comrades who are watching other spots – to cover our bases.
We have five and a half days to work the crossing action from several different angles and in different light conditions. Some days there may not be any crossing action – others we may be hard pressed to look away! |
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If there is no action – we know where to find lions and giraffes and other wildlife – all the while keeping an ear tuned to those who are waiting by the river.
Evenings, we’ll have time to download and review images (to alter strategies for the next day). Our arrangements include laundry, soft drinks, local beer, house wine, and non-premium spirits).
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And, once we’ve exhausted ourselves, we’ll hop on another plane and move down to Tarangire National Park, where the river is low, and all the animals are sticking close to the water source. We expect to find many herds of elephants along the river and in a great marsh in this outstanding park. It’s also an excellent place to find giant baobab trees, raptors, lions, and hooved animals.
We’ll have a day and a half to photograph in Tarangire – at the end of the park least visited. And our lodge is a brand-new lodge, operated by the same great company the first lodge is – with the same arrangements for laundry and drinks!
This will be a great wind down – and a chance to make some more great images!
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Our 2025 Mara Crossing Wild Adventure will put you where the action is – and provide you a great support system with a photography guide and a great base camp. We’re limiting the group size in each vehicle – to ensure everyone has a good vantage point when the action is fast and furious.
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Bottom line:
Every night we'll have opportunities to download and recharge.
Our lodging is always close to the action.
We (Diane and Bob) will work closely with the guides to assure that we get to great places in great light and take the time to work quality compositions and action.
We're not there to fill a checklist - we're there to create amazing images. This safari is designed to accomplish that.
- This adventure begins and ends at Kilmanjaro International Airport near Arusha, Tanzania
- Internal flights included with 40 kilograms of luggage per person (hand plus check)
- Group size is 4 minimum, 8 maximum with no more than 4 clients plus one photography leader in each safari vehicle
- Every photographer has a window and an open roof with an unobstructed view toward subjects on his/her side. We reposition vehicles to give everyone a great view
- Most meals included, most drinks included, laundry included outside Arusha
- We have worked to include electricity for recharging and downloading at every lodge
- Limited number of single occupancy spots on this safari
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2025 |
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Borneo! Rainforests. Orangutans. Gibbons. Pygmy elephants. Proboscis monkeys. 420 species of birds, including amazing hornbills and kingfishers, brightly colored little birds. Carnivorous plants. Sun bears. The list goes on and on. We've built an itinerary that takes you into the canopy, on trails by foot, on rivers by boat, and out on night safari. This is not an adventure you want to miss!
Jun 21 - Jul 2
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Join us in Brazil's Pantanal for a wild adventure that features both jaguars and an amazing array of birds, reptiles, and mammals. The Pantanal is the only place in the world where one can reliably find and photograph jaguars - as they are nocturnal hunters everywhere else. The birds here are fantastic - this is one of our favorite places to photograph flying birds (we can help you build your skills). Add in close-up encounters with giant river otters and so much more. Join us for this wild adventure!
Aug 11-23
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Turkey sits at a geographical crossroads, which means that, over history, many cultures have passed through Turkey, each leaving a distinct imprint on the culture and the archaeological record. Let's explore some of the great archaeological wonders - while putting ourselves in great positions make exciting art with cameras. Mosques, Fairy Chimneys, Ephasus, Istanbul, Aphrodisia, Pergamum, Assos and so much more.
Sep 21 - Oct 5
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Three days of classroom and field time with migrating waterfowl, bald eagles, and macro opportunities. You'll learn how to take control of your mirrorless camera - and take advantage of new developments in the digital darkroom - to yield images that closely match your intentions in the field! Embrace manual - it's easier that the auto modes - and easier than ever in the mirrorless era.
Dec 8-10
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2026 |
To sit quietly in a bamboo thicket with a gorilla family, interacting with eye contact, observing, and making compelling images is truly a life changing experience. Venture out into the wilds of Rwanda with a small group to experience photographic encounters with wild gorillas, chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, golden monkeys, and much, much more. Fitness level is necessary to accomplish this adventure. Dates are tentative until we secure permits.
Jan 8-20
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Our new Kenya West Photography Safari explores from Samburu on the north down to the Masai Mara in the south. We'll find 3 kinds of giraffes, two kinds of zebras, rhinos (black and white), gerenuks, big cats, hyenas and jackals, outstanding scenery and a wealth of birds - big and little. We'll see a number of ecosystems, brush up agains several cultures, get a great introduction to the Rift Valley, and so much more. And, if you join both this safari and the next, below, we'll cut $1,000 from your fees.
Jan 22 - Feb 2
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Our new Kenya Southeast Photography Safari explores the exciting region along the Kenya/Tanzania border. Starting with Amboseli, we'll work east to Tsavo west and east and Taita, finding dramatic scenes with elephants, some big tuskers, the oasis of Amboseli and all its concentration of wildlife, lions, leopards, cheetahs, a variety of ungulates, a spring where hippos swim in clear water, lodges on waterholes, and so many more exciting things. Pair this adventure with the adventure above and we'll cut $1,000 from your fees.
Feb 3-14
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If you only go to Sub-Saharan Africa once in your life, this is the photography safari you want. If it's your first photography safari, you'll measure all the others against this one. The Great Migration in the Serengeti. A glimpse at Africa before colonization changed it forever. A great mix of animals, both predator and prey. The Ngorongoro Crater - a virtual fishbowl filled with so many species. Tarangire with its gian baobabs and healthy elephant herds.Great lodging where you can recharge and download every night. And outstanding guides.
Feb 21 - Mar 5
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Private India Tigers Photography Safari
Private tiger photography safari.
Check with us about a private adventure of your own!
Mar 24 - Apr 2
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Join us in 2026 as we'll explore favorite haunts and add new landings and vistas. Giant tortoises, flightless frigates, 3 kinds of boobies, land and marine iguanas, sea lions and fur seals, flamingos, and the northernmost penguin in the world. The list goes on and on! Exciting landscapes. So much to learn about geology, biology, and evolution.Truly an inspiring experience - ties the Serengeti in client feedback as the "most life-changing" experience of their lives.
Apr 17-27
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Waterfalls. Puffins. Volcanic craters. Glaciers. Floating icebergs. Black sand beaches. Dramatic cliffs. Deep canyons. Did we mention waterfalls and puffins? Skuas and arctic terns! Sheep and Icelandic horses. Viking culture. The photography opportunities don't stop! Join us in July of 2026 - we'll show you a great time and send you home with outstanding images and improved photography skills.
Jul 11-20
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Join a small group of photographers as we fly in float planes and tundra planes out into the wilderness of the Katmai Peninsula - in search of great bear photography opportunities. We'll go where the bears are actively catching salmon, including Brooks Falls, and other locations drawing off the Bristol Bay watershed which has the largest salmon runs in the world. Plan to be close to bears - to have great vistas from planes - and to marvel at the vast expanse of wilderness. Group size limited - secure your space.
Jul 27 - Aug 2
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Turkey sits at a geographical crossroads, which means that, over history, many cultures have passed through Turkey, each leaving a distinct imprint on the culture and the archaeological record. Let's explore some of the great archaeological wonders - while putting ourselves in great positions make exciting art with cameras. Mosques, Fairy Chimneys, Ephasus, Istanbul, Aphrodisia, Pergamum, Assos and so much more.
Sep 20 - Oct 4
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Step outside your comfort zone to experience and photograph tribes of Ethiopia's Omo River Valley. These tribes were never dominated by colonialism and have held onto traditions others have lost. This is your chance to see Africa, indeed all human culture, as it was - and be one of the few people on the planet to experience these unique cultures. This is a wild adventure - we'll sometimes have modest lodgings, eat foods we're not familiar with, and venture beyond basic services as we visit these remote tribes.
Oct 21 - Nov 3
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Redesigned for 2027, our Costa Rica Photography Adventure give you great opportunities for birds, landscapes, waterfalls, frogs, macros and so much more. We put you in several distinct ecosystems, each with their own set of flora and fauna. Three significant "photography by boat" outings provide both riverscapes and wildlife. Birds, caimans, crodociles and several species of monkeys. Then there are the frogs and sloths. And leaf cutter ants. You'll be overwhelmed by the opportunities to design great images on this adventure.
Jan 27 - Feb 8
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Let's photograph tigers! Join us in India for a custom safari designed to put you in the best places at the best times to photograph tigers. We have built in more time than most tiger safaris - and it's all about time in Kanha, Pench, and Bandhavgarh National Parks. We have arranged to put you two to a vehicle - and to enter the parks at daybreak, just when the tigers are most active. The group will be quite limited in size. Secure your space soon!
Feb 28 - Mar 11
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