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Join Nikon Ambassador Kristi Odom, Photo Educator Extraordinaire Mark Suban and Award Winner Photograpehr Mark Kettenhofen on a Photography Adventure through Kenya's Most Amazing Wildlife Parks!
SOLD OUT
January 21st- January 30th, 2025
Adventure, education and stunning wildlife! With Mark Suban's amazing technical skills combined with Mark Kettenhofen's landscape and portraiture knowledge as well as Kristi's emotional wildlife images, this workshop is designed to teach you everything you need to produce portfolio images of some of the most jaw dropping wildlife in the world.
This workshop takes place over 10-days and explores 3 of Africa’s most famous wildlife parks; Masai Mara, Tsavo East National Park, and Tsavo West National Park.
We prefer to travel in small groups, which allows Kristi and the Marks to have lots of time to spend with each person.
Our mission is to provide our guests with life-changing experiences and to give them the tools to share their stories. Whether you are a professional photographer or just purchased your first camera, we believe that you can change the world through your own visual storytelling. Throughout the workshop, we will be teaching classes, assisting with any photography questions and offering one-on-one mentoring all while being in one of the most photogenic wildlife destinations on this planet.
ITINERARY
Day 1
Today our adventure begins! On arriving at Nairobi International Airport, you will be greeted by one of our drivers and taken to our hotel. Relax and unwind after your flight with a drink and dinner outside on the hotel deck while meeting the group that you will be adventuring with in the days to come!
Day 2
Kenya is known all over the world for its amazing coffee. Today we start the day with tour of a local coffee plantation. The plantation sits on beautiful trails with wildflowers, unique trees (including local fig trees and the Macadamia Nut Tree), filled with birds, and if we are lucky to spot them, chameleons. We will get a tour of the full farm to table process as well as fresh coffee samples. In the afternoon we will stop at the Giraffe center. The center was created by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife to help raise awareness and appreciation for the endangered Rothschild Giraffe. Here we will head to the giraffes' eye level viewing platform to get up close and learn about these beautiful animals. After dinner Kristi will give a lecture, giving you photography tools, you can use on the adventure ahead!
Day 3
After breakfast in Nairobi, we will begin our safari with a scenic drive to our first stop, Tsavo West National Park. The Park is a vast expansion of African savanna with a more diverse array of habitats which include open plains, semi desert scrub, woodland, the Chyulu Hills and rock outcrops. It’s famous for the Red Elephants, Oryx, and Gerenuk among other mammal’s species and bird life. From water to fire, the park is home to the Mzima Springs as well as the Shetani Lava Flow and Ash cones (from a recent volcanic eruption).
We will spend the next 2 days and nights exploring Tsavo West National Park. Photographing red elephants, and other wildlife that we may encounter. Our 4x4 safari vehicles will have plenty of space with a maximum of 4 photographers per vehicle. Kristi and Mark will be rotating which vehicle they are in, so they can help with any technical or creative questions you may have.
There will be private time for one-on-one mentoring with Kristi, Kettenhofen or Suban sharing your images from your first day on safari. No need to edit your work, we want to see all your raw files from the day, that way we can see all the successful images and help with any advice on how to get sharper and more impactful images.
Day 4
Today, we have a full day of game driving in Tsavo West! The expansive and diverse landscape is home to many of Africa's great wildlife including lions, buffalo, cheetah, giraffe, zebras, hippo, and wildebeest. The Mzima Springs are fed daily by 250 million litres of water pouring from the Chyulu Hills and provide an oasis of lush vegetation which is home to several species of monkey, birds, hippo and crocodile. We will spend the afternoon exploring the springs from the walkable nature trails and view hippo from the underwater viewing chamber.
Tonight, Mark Kettenhofen will share a lecture giving you more photography tools for the days to come.
Day 5
We will enjoy an early morning game drive in Tsavo West before breakfast. Upon returning to the lodge we will have breakfast and then drive to Tsavo East. We will arrive in time for lunch then enjoy some down time before heading out in the evening on another game drive. Tsavo East is famous for the ‘Man-eaters’. In 1898, as many as 135 railway workers were attacked and killed by man-eating lions.
A variety of animals can be seen in the park such as lions, leopard, cheetah, zebras, giraffes, serval cats, antelopes, kongoni, lesser kudu, Oryx, klipspringer, impala, stripped hyena, ostriches, gazelles, buffaloes, elephants and many more. A variety of migratory and native birds are seen.
We will spend the next 2 days and nights exploring Tsavo East National Park. Our lodge sits inside the park, giving us lots of time for our game drives. In the evening, we will have dinner together watching the sunset over the savanna.
Over dinner there will be time to share your stories and favorite images with the group. Kristi and the Marks will give valuable critique that you can use in the days ahead.
Day 6
Tsavo East National Park is one of the world’s largest game reserves at over 13,000 square kilometers. The park provides a very different landscape than Tsavo West National Park. It is much more arid and offers expansive grasslands and savannah. Tsavo East is not only home to its famous maneless male lions, it boasts one of the most diverse populations of wildlife in the world. Safari during the day, then image share and critiques at night.
Day 7
Today begins with an early breakfast then followed by a morning game-drive in Tsavo East National Park. The early morning is a great time to see active wildlife in the best light for photography. We will head to the local airstrip for a quick, yet scenic flight, to the Maasai Mara. On a clear day, we will hopefully have a view of Kilimanjaro as well as animals in the Maasai Mara. In the evening we will head into the famous Masai Mara for our first game drive!
Day 8 & 9
Before sunrise we are going to head into the Maasai Mara to get the best light for photography! It is one of Africa’s greatest wildlife reserves and is famous for the abundance of lion, it’s without a doubt one of Africa’s most famous safari destinations. The Maasai stretches 1,510 sq. km and offers the best game and bird viewing not only in Kenya but not only in Africa. The views across the rolling golden grasslands studded with acacia tress, rivers and forests a dazzling the sense of space overwhelming. We will spend as much time as we can inside the park today, taking tons of photos.
Day 10
After a leisurely breakfast bid farewell to all the amazing wildlife and depart for Nairobi. On our drive back we will stopover at Narok and proceed to Nairobi. We will head to our Nairobi hotel, have dinner together then we are all going to have our final group dinner sharing our favorite images from our journey together! You are welcome to take a late flight out this day (after 11pm) or stay on for one more night in our Nairobi hotel.
Day 11
Today you'll be transferred to the airport for your flight back home with full memory cards, new friends and lots of new stories!
DETAILS
Dates
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January 21st- January 30th, 2025
Education Overview
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Photographing wildlife to evoke emotion.
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The best camera settings for wildlife photography.
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Getting started with Video (optional).
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Advanced Composition.
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Camera techniques to improve your visual storytelling.
Inclusions
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Airport transfer
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Flight from Tsavo to Masai Mara
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All ground transportation
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Full-time driver/guide
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A full row in the safari vehicle (so you have space for your camera gear)
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Shared rooms*
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Full-board accommodation: breakfast, lunch, and dinner (dinner not included in Nairobi)**
Exclusions
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International Air tickets
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Travelers Insurance***
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Visas
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Immunizations
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Personal expenses such as drinks, tips, telephone calls, etc.
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All optional activities and/or those not specified in the Safari Itinerary
Press Play for some casual behind the scenes footage.
Music licensed at Triple Scoop Music.
Cost
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Price:
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$9,985 US dollars
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$2000 non refundable retainer at time of booking
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Maximum 12 Photographers
*Single room upgrade - $850
**Meals NOT included at Nairobi hotels, or during any additional days
***Guests are required to obtain their own travelers’ insurance
FAQ
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Is January a good time for wildlife?
We have been back and forth to Kenya since 2006, and I can truthfully say, that January and February are my favorite months. Not only is the wildlife in abundance, but the tourism is down. When we asked our guide what his favorite month, he immediately said Feb, which is what started our February trips. Being the dry season, animals gather at the watering holes that make it easy to see and photograph while the migratory birds fly overhead.
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I am not a photographer; can I still attend? or I have a partner who isn't a photographer, can they attend?
Yes of course, you can attend (and your partner)! We have had many non-photographers on this trip (even a few who have gone on repeat trips). You will have a little extra free time at the lodges while we do classes and one-on-ones. There is always lots to do at the lodges, from going for a swim, relaxing at the resaurant, or just hanging at the bar. The biggest difference is that our group spends time with the wildlife, watching behaviors and observing. Non-photographers have expressed that they have enjoyed this and even learn more and gain more appreciation for the animals this way.
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What animals might we see?
Lions, leopard, cheetah, zebras, giraffes, elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, wild dogs, serval cats, antelopes, kongoni, lesser kudu, Oryx, klipspringer, impala, stripped hyena, ostriches, gazelles, buffaloes and many more. Kenya also has a ton of beautiful bird life, my favorites being the Secretary Bird, Hornbill and the Lilac Breasted Roller
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How do I get there?
You will need to fly into and out of Nairobi International Airport.
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How physically demanding are the wildlife safaris
Our safari vehicles will be doing all the work. So sit back and enjoy being driven around to see and experience the wildlife.
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How many guests are in each vehicle?
Maximum 3 guest in our 4x4 land cruiser, so you will have a window seat and lots of room for your gear. Mark or I will be in the front with the driver.
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Will we have Internet and Phone service?
The lodges will have spotty wifi services. I have found that I often even get reception with my international T-Mobile plan inside the game parks. I am happy to provide my number (in the case of an emergency only) to family back home.
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What happens if there is a medical emergency?
One of the drivers can help take you to seek medical care. We do require that everyone has medical insurance. If this is a concern, I do recommend talking to your insurance company about what it provides. Some policy will even do medical evacuations so you can get treated at home.
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Any recommendation for travel insurance?
I personally use an Allianz Global policy.
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Any shots or vaccines?
You will need to talk to your own travel doctors about your recommended shots and medications. To get an idea, I usually check the Traveler's Health area on the CDC website for Kenya.
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What about Visas?
Check travel.state.gov for up-to-date information on visas.
INSTRUCTORS
Mark is a multi-talented American professional with over 30 years of experience in photography, photography education, photo editing, public speaking, and filmmaking. Mark worked for 12 years at Nikon Inc, including his role as the senior manager for Nikon Professional Services (NPS). For years he led the team of NPS staff and alongside them, he helped provide hands-on technical support for the world's top professional photographers including photographers at the World Cup, Olympics, NFL, he has even taught at NASA helping astronauts prepare to document their historic journeys to space. He also has a lengthy career as a photographer and photo editor, spending 20 years as an Air Force photographer and three years as an Associated Press photo editor.
Mark has presented and led major workshops on various photography genres, including wildlife, weddings, sports, portraits, military, and government photography. He's highly skilled at post-processing and an expert at teaching an efficient photography workflow. Mark has worked with, consulted, and trained a worldwide network of professional photographers from the Associated Press, Getty Images, the Washington Post, and many prestigious White House News Photographers Association members.
He is currently a scientific and technical photographer for a federal law enforcement agency, creating historical photos and documentation at significant events and crime scenes.
With Mark's background teaching the world's best photographers, alongside his own professional career as a photographer, he has all the tools to help teach you how to bring your photography to a different level.
MARK SUBAN
KRISTI
ODOM
Kristi Odom is an internationally acclaimed photographer, a Nikon Ambassador, an associate fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers, and a motivational speaker. A photographer and filmmaker, her work focuses on connecting people emotionally to animals and celebrating those who have a connection to the natural world.
Her accolades include over 60 international photography awards including 2 Nature’s Best Photography awards, which exhibited her images at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Her work has appeared either online and/or in print for the following clients: National Geographic, Nikon, Forbes, Rollingstone, Microsoft and Outside Magazine.
MARK
KETTENHOFEN
Mark’s work spans across decades and genres. He has been behind his camera covering war in Iraq, to spending weeks the jungles of the Amazon River basin for NGOs. His efforts and talent were recognized through numerous awards, including being awarded the prestigious Military Photographer of the Year. After serving 20-years in the US Navy, Mark spent 21-years working for Nikon Professional Services, as a senior staff photographer where he produced several award-winning UHD time-lapse movies highlighting the D850 and Z7. Mark is the co-author of America from 500-feet II, a photographic study of the United States using experimental aircraft with legendary landscape photographer, Bill Fortney. Mark’s passion for photography is only eclipsed by teaching, mentoring and sharing the magic of photography with others. This has allowed Mark to be a workshop leader for Defense Information School, Nikon School, Eddie Adams Workshop, Arizona Highways Magazine, US DOD Military Workshops, Santa Fe and National Geographic’s Lindblad Expeditions. Even after his extensive years working for Nikon, he is an expert at multiple camera brands. Currently he shoots Sony.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Our workshops stay small so we can help mentor photographers at their own skill level. We have a 4-1 student teacher ratio. This workshop has a maximum of 12 spots. If we have 8 or less sign ups, Kristi Odom and Mark Suban will be the two instructors. If we have 9-12 sign ups it will be taught by all three of us.
