APERTURE BY
MASAI MARA PHOTOGRAPHY WITH STEVE WINTER
Right place, right time
Head to the heart of the Masai Mara for a unique photography workshop and safari, where we have reserved exclusive use of a small luxury eco-camp in the centre of the reserve perched strategically above the Talek River. The sweeping views from camp take in the surrounding plains of the Masai Mara, which support some of the greatest and most diverse concentrations of wildlife in all of Africa. We believe it is the best spot in Kenya from which to base this photography-focused trip. Steve Winter, a former BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year and BBC Wildlife Photojournalist of the Year, has worked for National Geographic since 1991. Widely recognised as one of the world’s foremost big cat experts, he will be by your side throughout the trip, helping you hone your photography skills while out in the bush. With one of the world’s most esteemed wildlife photographers mentoring you, there’s no better way to discover the beauty of the Mara.
Price: From US$7,640pp / £6,295pp Dates: 7 February - 15 February 2020
REKERO CAMP
A traditional East African camp evoking
the romance of safaris from a bygone era
Rekero is an authentic safari camp located in the heart of the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve. During this time it serves as a base for some certifiably first-class game viewing, as the surrounding area supports a healthy ecosystem of both predator and prey. Lions, leopards and cheetahs can often be seen on the surrounding savannah, as well as giraffes, elephants and a host of other species. It was at Rekero that Jackson Looseyia, famed Maasai guide and star of the BBC series Big Cat Diary, first cut his teeth; today the camp continues its tradition of guiding excellence while providing impeccable service and an array of safari activities. This intimate venue is every inch the classic safari camp. Each of the nine spacious guest tents comes equipped with an en-suite bathroom, flush toilet and bucket shower, as well as a terrace overlooking the picturesque Talek River. Comfortable chairs and day beds are provided for those wishing to relax in private, and it would certainly be remiss to visit Rekero without taking some time to sit back in silence and drink in the ambience of the Masai Mara. Step beyond the comfort of your tent and you’ll find no shortage of places to unwind or converse in the camp’s communal areas. The stylish lounge tent, laden with sofas, armchairs and coffee tables, is the perfect place to share safari stories (or perhaps an aperitf) with fellow guests. There is also a smaller mess tent, where group dinners can be held by candlelight when the night rolls in. Those who wish to take home souvenirs other than photographs from their time in Kenya can visit the gift shop, which sells handicrafts made by the camp’s staff and their families,
as well as a number of items created by a children’s project in Nairobi. Fantastic farmhouse cuisine is served up by Rekero’s culinary team from sunrise to sundown, and is always best enjoyed under the Kenyan sky on the stunning riverside deck. Breakfasts (continental or Full English) and lunches are both served buffet style, with plenty of fresh ingredients to choose from. Freshly baked bread, biscuits and muffins are available throughout the day, and afternoon tea (served with the customary slice of cake) is a must during your time in camp. Breakfast and lunch can be enjoyed as a picnic out in the bush, but you’ll have to return to camp to indulge in the delectable three-course dinners served up every evening. All aspects of Rekero’s décor exude classic African safari style, from the canvas to the rugs. The open-air construction, ample use of wood and a preference for muted earth colours throughout are all design decisions that help to transport you to a world beyond the confines of modernity, allowing you to get in touch with the natural world that lies just beyond the threshold of your tent. For those who wish to keep in contact with the outside world, there is a separate tent set up with Wi-Fi access that all guests can use. There are charging points in each tent and network coverage for mobile phones is good. Most of Rekero’s energy comes from solar power, with the rest provided by a generator. Kerosene lanterns are used at night. Rekero’s excellence has been recognised with multiple accolades from The Safari Awards and Safari Guide Awards.
ITINERARY DAYS 3 - 8: MASAI MARA
DAY 1: ARRIVE NAIROBI Upon arrival into Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, you will be met by your professional Englishspeaking driver/guide and transferred to your hotel for the evening. The rest of the day is free for you to relax.
DAY 2: NAIROBI – MASAI MARA You will be met and transferred to Nairobi Wilson Airport to catch the internal flight to the Masai Mara Reserve. Upon arrival you are to be met and transferred to the camp, adjacent to the Talek River and surrounded by beautiful plains. You will arrive in time to enjoy an afternoon game drive.
Known as Africa’s greatest wildlife reserve, the reputation of the Masai Mara goes way beyond being simply a wildlife park. It is classic Africa with wide open savannahs and incredible game-viewing potential. A world-renowned place of adventure and exploration, the Mara is a stage where the brutal and unfettered reality of nature is played out in the greatest wildlife show on earth. Its fertile rolling grasslands, bisected by riverine forests, attract countless game – elephants, buffalo and big cats are all seen here, as well as more elusive species such as the serval and caracal. With exclusive use of the camp, you will have its full resources available to you, maximising your wildlife sightings and photographic opportunities on both morning and afternoon game drives. There will also be hands-on photographic advice from Steve and tutorials as and when time allows. Between game drives you can relax around camp and photograph the resident game which is attracted to the area.
DAY 9: DEPART NAIROBI Depart on a final game drive transfer to Mara Airstrip for the morning flight back to Wilson Airport. On arrival you will be met and transferred to a hotel near the airport where you can enjoy dinner (at your own expense), before you are driven to the airport for your onward flight. Price: US$7,640 / £6,295 Single Supplement: US$8,995 / £7,385
ON SAFARI WHAT TO EXPECT ON A TYPICAL DAY
Rekero is an intimate and comfortable riverside safari camp where you are enfolded by the surrounding African wilderness. Hippos grunt in the pools below, the smell of wild sage drifts through the air and herds of wildebeest can often be seen crossing the Talek River from the main deck. This blissful location means that fantastic game-viewing can continue even when relaxing in camp, but the true safari experience can only be enjoyed on that most quintessential of safari activities: the game drive.
05:30 – 06:00: Wake to the sounds of the bush and usher in the day with a hot tea or coffee on your private veranda.
Rekero’s friendly and highly skilled camp crew have worked together for many years; together with their internationally recognised guiding team, they do their utmost to maximise your chances of intimate wildlife encounters on the African savannah. As a result, the camp is a favourite among Disney and BBC film crews who operate in the Mara.
12:30: Head to the mess tent or the dining tables set up on the main lawn, where you can enjoy a sumptuous lunch in the sun. On several days picnic lunches will be arranged to maximise photographic time out in the field.
In Kenya, the very best time for rewarding game-viewing is in the cooler early mornings and late afternoons, when the animals are at their most active. The general pace of life in Rekero Camp is focused on giving you the very best possible game-viewing experience. The safari vehicles you’ll become acquainted with during your game drives are specially adapted Toyota Land Cruisers, either fully open-sided or equipped with roof hatches that allow guests to stand and get a better view of the wildlife. The following is a brief rundown of what a typical day’s itinerary may look like at Rekero.
06:30 – 07:00: After a hearty buffet-style breakfast at camp, head off for your morning game drive. Alternatively, depart slightly earlier and take a picnic breakfast with you en route. 09:30 – 11:30: Arrive back in camp following your game drive, taking some time to relax and freshen up before sitting down to lunch.
13:30 – 16:00: With temperatures heating up, follow the animals’ lead and indulge in a siesta in the shade. Alternatively, spend time reviewing and editing the morning’s images in the mess tent with Steve. 16:00: Afternoon tea is a must at Rekero. Enjoy a slice of cake too on the outdoor deck. 16:30: Depart for your afternoon/evening game drive, with sundowners in tow. 18:30: Arrive back in camp and wind down after your day of safari activities. 19:30: Share a drink with your fellow guests by the campfire before sitting down to a delectable dinner.
STEVE WINTER NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC WILDLIFE PHOTOJOURNLAIST
Wildlife photographer and big cat specialist Steve Winter has been a photographer for National Geographic for over two decades, and has been named both BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year and BBC Wildlife Photojournalist of the Year. Growing up in rural Indiana, he was given his first camera by his father on his seventh birthday, and in 1991 he realised his ambition of becoming a photojournalist for National Geographic. Since then, Steve has been stalked by jaguars in Brazil, trapped in quicksand in the world’s largest tiger reserve, and charged by a grizzly bear in Siberia. He has slept in a tent for six months in -40 °C temperatures while tracking snow leopards and visited remote villages where residents have never seen a camera before. He now gives lectures across the world on wildlife photography and conservation, and has appeared on CBS Nightly News, BBC, CNN and other media outlets. His photography book, Tigers Forever: Saving the World’s Most Endangered Cat, was published in 2013. Steve has also filmed numerous shows for NatGeo and NatGeo Wild, including two Mission Critical films focusing on the leopard and the jaguar. Steve is incredibly committed to big cats and wildlife conservation in general, and feels that he has a great responsibility to get people excited about both the natural world and
its fascinating people and cultures. Above all, he wants to give people a front-row seat to the action, making them part of the team alongside the photographer, writer and filmmakers. Steve led his first expedition with NWS in 2018, an 8-day journey in search of the jaguar in the Brazilian Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland. Our clients were blessed with a great number of sightings, and had nothing but praise for their photographic guide. “The trip was fantastic,” said Mahesh. “Steve is such a great teacher and human being. His knowledge of jaguars seemed limitless, and his stories were just as amazing to listen to as his teaching.” Steve’s expertise in capturing big cats on camera will prove invaluable during your time in the Masai Mara. The lions, leopards and cheetahs that roam the plains may be no stranger to the world’s cameras, but with Steve by your side you may well return from Kenya with a photographic legacy that sets you apart from the crowd. Whether you’re after feline photographs or shots of a different species, Steve will help you to translate the beauty of the Masai Mara into images you’ll treasure forever. Steve will be hosting at Rekero from February 7th - 15th 2020, offering hands-on mentoring and workshops throughout.
MASAI MARA WILDLIFE Covered in savannah grassland, acacia plains and rocky hills, the diverse habitat of the Masai Mara supports a whole host of wildlife. Many of Africa’s most iconic species can be seen here, including the continent’s three largest feline predators. The healthy lion population has made this reserve a favourite among documentary filmmakers for decades, but leopards and cheetahs are by no means uncommon sights here too. The impossibly vast herds of zebra, wildebeest and gazelle synonymous with the Great Migration will not be present at Rekero during February – they are situated further south at this time, in the Serengeti – but there will not be a dearth of herbivore sightings during your safari; far from it. The species mentioned will still be present at lower densities, often seen sharing the savannah with well-known megafauna like the African elephant, giraffe and Cape buffalo. February is also a great time to see animals with their young – great for safari-goers, that is, but also for predators. The circle of life is ever on full display on the Masai Marai, and the hunt is an inescapable part of this grand tableau. In addition, if luck is on your side and your guide’s eyes are sharp, you may be able to spot rarer and more elusive species like the aardvark, aardwolf, serval, caracal and honey badger. The Masai Mara is also great for birdwatchers, with over 470 resident and migrant species able to be spotted in the reserve.
W H Y U S // N W S At Natural World Safaris we are wildlife specialists, delivering some of the most immersive experiences available in the natural world. Our focus is creating extraordinary journeys, putting you in the right place at the right time for up-close and personal encounters. We are proud to be known for our traditional values, solid ethics and the extraordinary journeys we craft for our clients. We’ve won various awards for our unique and carefully crafted safaris. We’ve also featured in the press around the globe, receiving rave reviews from some of the world’s most respected travel writers.
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