BEST OF AFRICA 2027 PHOTO SAFARI
+ MOUNTAIN GORILLAS EXTENSION
Ultimate Wildlife Photography Adventure
Africa’s iconic species – the ‘Big 5’ and many more including lions, leopards, cheetah, elephants, giraffe, hippos, rhino, Cape buffalo, hyena and many, many more
Every guest gets their own row* in our safari vehicles –shoot out both sides with plenty of room for your gear.
Witness The Great Migration, the largest movement of land animals on Earth, on the vast Serengeti plains. Countless wildebeest, zebra, gazelles and the predators that follow.
Learn with personalized instruction on game drives and post processing/image review sessions in camp.
Uganda Mountain Gorilla Trekking –an optional pre-trip extension to sit quietly with our primate cousins. A magical experience but a long hike may be required. Participants should be good physical condition.
At A Glance
Dates:
Feb 8–21, 2027 Best of Africa (Kenya & Tanzania)
Feb 4–7, 2027 Optional Gorilla Trek Pre-trip Extension (Uganda)
Starts/Ends:
Nairobi, Kenya/Arusha, Tanzania
$13,500 Double occupancy,
Single Supplement +$2000
Deposit: $2,000
Instructor:
Leighton Lum
Stephanie Hogue
Group Size: 12
Difficulty:
Easy
(See FAQs for details)
What's Included: Lodging, Meals per itinerary, Transportation (including internal flights), Guides & Photography Instruction
What's Not Included: International flights, Tourist Visas, Travel Insurance, Personal Expenses, Gratuities. Anything not specifically listed as included.
Our 2027 Best of Africa Photography Adventure is the most exciting and comprehensive African safari itinerary we’ve ever offered. Join the optional pre-trip Uganda Mountain Gorillas trekking extension for the ultimate wildlife photography experience.
The Best Locations at the Best Times
February is wildebeest calving season on the vast plains of the southern Serengeti. In the space of a few weeks, a half million wildebeest calves emerge into the world. Such an abundance of prey attracts huge numbers of predators. We’ll be there to capture the drama, including from an (optional) sunrise hot air balloon flight. Other stops on our journey include:
Masai Mara National Reserve – world-renowned for its large numbers of apex predators including lions, leopards and cheetah. That’s why so many wildlife documentary film crews choose the Mara as their base.
Amboseli – known for its large elephant population, this park is also home to an amazing variety of large game. Photograph some of the last big tuskers in front of stunning views of Mt. Kilimanjaro (weather permitting).
Ngorongoro Crater – a true life ‘lost world,’ this unique, isolated ecosystem boasts an amazing density of wildlife, including lions, hyenas & elephants.
Serengeti National Park – watch life and death dramas unfold in the world’s most famous wildlife reserve. Experience the Great Migration at its most spectacular during wildebeest calving season.
Photography Focused Adventure
Every aspect of this trip is designed for passionate photographers by passionate photographers:
Our days start early and end late because that’s when the best light happens, and animals are most active. Long before other tour groups begin their breakfast, we’re firing frames in the field.
Moving beyond snapshots requires patience and perseverance. We put in the time necessary to produce portfolio-worthy images.
We choose our lodges for their proximity to the action rather than their amenities. However, we’re confident you will be pleasantly surprised by our accommodations.
Level Up Your Skills and Vision
Leighton and Stephanie will always be close by to answer questions, provide tips on shooting techniques and offer insights about practical ways to expand your creative vision. Like most pursuits, good coaching and lots of practice are the keys to improving your wildlife photography game. You will get plenty of both on this photography-intensive adventure. Need a little help with camera settings and lens selection? Maybe some advice on composition and ways to move beyond the obvious animal portrait? Or perhaps a few tips on post-processing techniques or workflow might make the biggest difference?
Optional Uganda Mountain Gorillas pre-trip extension
Experience two magical up-close encounters with families of endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park.
A team of professional rangers and trackers will lead us to a family of mountain gorillas. Upon making contact, we will have exactly one hour with the family (all mountain gorilla treks everywhere work like this). Take plenty of photographs but don’t forget to pause and appreciate the experience.
Trekking duration and difficulty varies widely depending on the location of the gorilla families assigned to us and weather/trail conditions. Porters are available for hire to carry equipment, but participants should be physically fit and able to hike for up to several hours in hot, humid conditions. See itinerary below for more details.
Ready to Join the Adventure?
| Day | Date | Itinerary Summary | Overnight | Included Meals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Feb 8 | Nairobi - Welcome to Kenya! Our Concierge Service includes greeting upon arrival, escort through Immigration/Customs and transport to our hotel. Relax until 4pm when we gather for introductions, workshop overview and a crash course of wildlife photography fundamentals. | Nairobi Hotel | D |
| 2 | Feb 9 | Nairobi – Half Day Game Drive in Nairobi National Park starting pre-dawn. A great opportunity to dial in your settings, ask questions and work out any kinks in this excellent wildlife park inhabited by rhinos, lions, hippos, giraffe and more on the outskirts of Kenya's busy capital. Lightroom Importing & Organization discussion in the evening. | Nairobi Hotel | B |
| 3 | Feb 10 | Nairobi–Maasai Mara National Reserve – Depart Nairobi after breakfast & drive to Masai Mara National Park, Kenya's richest game reserve. Lions, leopards, cheetah, elephants, giraffe and countless other species call the Mara home but this reserve is particularly famous for its abundance of big cats. Afternoon/sunset game drive followed by dinner. | Maasai Mara Safari Camp | B,L,D |
| 4–6 | Feb 11–13 | Maasai Mara –our schedule is the same for the next 3 days starting with an early morning game drive. We can have our morning meal after we return to camp or enjoy a bush breakfast in the field. Enjoy a bit of down before lunch or download & review images. Lunch in camp followed by Lightroom image processing session, discussions/demos on various topics. We head out again late afternoon for another game drive. Return to camp after sunset for dinner. | Maasai Mara Safari Camp | B,L,D |
| 7 | Feb 14 | Maasai Mara NR- Amboseli National Park – after breakfast we board our small plane flight to Amboseli National Park near Kenya's southern border. Amboseli boasts stunning views of Mt. Kilimanjaro in neighboring Tanzania and is also renowned for its large elephant population including some of the biggest tuskers in Africa. | Amboseli Lodge | B,L,D |
| 8 | Feb 15 | Amboseli NP – Early game drive. Return to lodge for breakfast. Relax, work on images by yourself or get a professional’s input. Lunch at lodge followed by afternoon/sunset game drive. Overnight at Amboseli Lodge. | Amboseli Lodge | B,L,D |
| 9 | Feb 16 | Amboseli NP – Ngorongoro Crater National Park today is a travel day. After breakfast we travel by car to the border where we will cross into Tanzania and meet our Tanzanian guides. Afterwards, we continue to our lodge near Ngoronoro Crater. Remainder of the day at your leisure. | Ngorongoro Camp | B,L,D |
| 10 | Feb 17 | Ngorongoro Crater NP – we descend into the crater for an all-day game drive with packed breakfast and lunch. Naturally isolated by its steep walls, the crater is inhabited by the descendants of creatures who wandered in and never left because this unique ecosystem contains everything necessary for wildlife to flourish. An awe-inspiring real-life lost world, Ngorongoro at one time boasted the highest density of lions in all of Africa. | Ngorongoro Camp | B,L,D |
| 11 | Feb 18 | Ngorongoro NP–Serengeti – after breakfast depart for the Serengeti with a stop at a Maasai village to experience a bit of the culture of the local inhabitants. Our base is in the Ndutu area, on the border of Serengeti and Ngorongoro reserves, where the Great Migration of over 1 million wildebeest, zebra, gazelle pauses in February to graze the green grass and birth their offspring. Predators follow. Afternoon/sunset game drive followed by dinner at camp | Nudutu Migration Camp | B,L,D |
| 12 | Feb 19 | Serengeti – begin this day with a magical experience, a sunrise hot air balloon safari over the Serengeti plains followed by a gourmet bush breakfast. If we are lucky, we may observe and photograph some of the migratory herds from this unique perspective. A highly recommended but optional (extra cost) excursion. Return to camp for lunch and a bit of downtime followed by our late afternoon game drive. Return to camp for dinner. | Nudutu Migration Camp | B,L,D |
| 13 | Feb 20 | Serengeti – early morning game drive followed by breakfast at camp. Use the middle of the day to get some rest or work on images. Your instructor will be available for individual coaching. Head out again late afternoon for our game drive followed by dinner at camp | Nudutu Migration Camp | B,L,D |
| 14 | Feb 21 | Serengeti -Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) – a final early morning game drive followed by breakfast at camp. Then we drive to Ndutu airstrip where a scheduled flight will transport us to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in Arusha, TZ where you can check in for your homeward flight. End of Service. | – | B, L |
| Optional Pre-Trip Uganda Mountain Gorillas Extension Feb 4–7 | ||||
| 1 | Feb 4 | Kigali, Rwanda-Ichumbi Hotel, Uganda – arrive Kigali airport (KGL), Rwanda. Transfer by car to Ichumbi Hotel in Uganda. | Ichumbi Hotel | D |
| 2 | Feb 5 | Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge – Depart hotel after breakfast and drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park . Gorilla trek with professional tracker/guide. We’ll spend 1 hour with a gorilla family, but total trek time depends on location of gorilla families. Return to lodge with stop at Batwa cultural village. Dinner & overnight at lodge. | Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge | B-L-D |
| 3 | Feb 6 | Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge – Depart hotel after breakfast and drive to Bwinidi Impenetrable Forest NP. Gorilla trek with professional tracker/guide. We’ll spend 1 hour with a gorilla family, but total trek time depends on location of gorilla families. Dinner & overnight at lodge. | Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge | B-L-D |
| 4 | Feb 7 | Ichumbi Lodge- Kigali – Depart hotel after breakfast and drive to Kigali, Rwanda. Lunch in Kigali with optional Kigali city tour. Transfer to airport for your flight to Nairobi. End of Service. | B-L | |
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Hawaii native Leighton Lum’s jaw-dropping images simply speak for themselves. Led by his creative eye and passion for adventure, Leighton has traveled the globe to destinations like Africa, South America, Iceland, Indonesia, and Antarctica, leading photography workshops and making his own award-winning photographs. Leighton hopes his photography inspires others and raises awareness about conservation to ensure future generations can enjoy the natural world he cherishes. Read more about Leighton and see a selection of his images.
Texas native Stephanie Hogue moved to southern California to pursue her passion for photography at the highly regarded Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara.
She eventually settled in Ventura, California and began a very successful wedding and portrait business, earning the respect and admiration of clients including the Hollywood elite, and presidential and senatorial candidates. Read more about Stephanie and see a selection of her images. -
We understand life happens and plans may change. If you need to cancel your reservation, the following policies apply :
Deposits are NOT refundable but may be transferred to another Art of Seeing workshop for up to 24 months from date of cancellation in accordance with the following schedule:
Regardless of when you cancel, if we fill your spot*, you will receive a refund of all fees paid less your deposit and $150 processing fee. If we cannot fill your spot, the amount of your refund is based upon the cancellation date:
Cancellation 120 days or more from workshop start date: 100% refund of fees paid less deposit and $150 processing fee. Deposit transferrable up to 24 mos.
Cancellation 90 – 120 days from workshop start date: 50% refund of fees paid less deposit and $150 processing fee. Deposit forfeit.
Cancellation less than 90 days from workshop start date: No refunds.
*Canceled spots are filled after the workshop reaches full capacity
All cancellations must be made in writing. Refunds will be paid by the same method that the original payment was made.
Payments made for private workshops that you arrange with us are not refundable.
Travel Insurance
A travel insurance policy which covers medical evacuation is a requirement for participation in this workshop. Such policies typically also provide other benefits, including coverage for lost luggage or trip cancellations.
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If you've traveled with us before, thank you! You're the reason our passion is our profession, and we are deeply grateful for this blessing.
To express our appreciation, we've launched our Alumni Rewards Program which gives our 'frequent flyers' discounts on future Art of Seeing Photography Adventures. Click here for full details
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Q: What makes this trip different or better than other African safaris?
Locations & timing – we’ve chosen the very best parks at the best time of year including The Great Migration in the Serengeti at the height of wildebeest calving season.
100% Photography focused - everything from our itinerary, choice of lodging and daily schedule is designed around maximizing opportunities to produce portfolio-worthy images of African wildlife.
Every guest gets their own row in our safari vehicles -shoot out both sides with plenty of room for your gear. Note: 1 guest occupies the front “shotgun” seat in one of our vehicles on a rotating basis. Extra photo gear can be stored in the back rows.
Individualized instruction – a maximum 5:1 instructor to student ratio ensures plenty of personal attention to help you raise your wildlife photography skills to the next level.
Top notch logistics & support – we partner with top notch lodges, camps and safari outfitters to ensure a safe and glitch-free experience for our guests.
Q: How should I make my travel arrangements?
A: Book your international flights to arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (airport code: NBO) in Nairobi, Kenya and depart from Kilimanjaro International Airport (airport code: JRO). Additional information to help you plan your travels will be provided to registered participants
Q: Do I need a tourist visa to enter Kenya, Tanzania or Uganda?
A: If you are an American citizen, a tourist visa is required to enter Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. You can obtain all visas easily online. Detailed instructions will be provided to registered participants
Q: What if I want to arrive early or stay after the workshop dates?
A: No problem, let us know your arrival/departure details and we will book the additional hotel nights on your behalf (additional cost).
Q: Which parks/reserves will we visit?
A: The parks we will visit include Nairobi NP, Masa Mara NR, Amboseli NP in Kenya & Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti national parks in Tanzania. See the Daily Itinerary for more details.
Q: What species of wildlife will we encounter?
A: Typical species in the locations and times we will be visiting include lions, cheetah, leopards, hyena, elephants, rhinos, Cape buffalo, hippos, giraffe, wildebeest, zebra and many more.
Q: What’s a Game Drive?
A: Game drive is the term we use for a photography excursion in our safari vehicles (modified 4X4 Landcruisers with pop-up roofs).
Q: What’s the difference between a Lodge and a Camp?
A: Lodges are permanent hard-sided accommodations while camps use temporary tents for lodging. Glamping is an understatement for these tents however, which include electricity, hot showers, flush toilets, real beds and furniture.
Q: What’s the food like?
A: Most meals are served buffet style. The cuisine is mostly western, and the selections are comparable to what you would expect at a nice resort hotel.
Q: Can my non-photographer friend/partner attend?
A: Absolutely, travel partners who may not share your passion for photography are very welcome. Just make sure they can handle being part of a group that wants to do nothing but eat, sleep and talk about photography. Unfortunately, due to limited space, we cannot offer a discount for non-photographer partners.
Q: What is the fitness level required for this trip?
A: The Best of Africa (Kenya & Tanzania) is classified as Easy from a physical fitness perspective. No hiking or long walks are planned but lots of riding around in safari vehicles on ‘roads’ that can be very bumpy and dusty. If you are pregnant or have back issues, please contact us for more details.
The optional Uganda Gorilla Trek is classified as Difficult. Extensive hiking in steep terrain may be required. You don’t have to be a super athlete –most participants are 55+, many 65+ years old– but you must be in good physical condition.
Anything we missed?
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