- MAJESTIC AFRICA -
Instructors: Mike Mezeul II & Mital Patel
Dates: August 3-12, 2024 - SOLD OUT!
Tuition: $9549 (Payment plan information available below)
If you’ve ever wanted to photograph some of the most amazing wildlife this world has to offer, while feeling like you’ve stepped into a real world version of the Lion King, then look no further! Come join myself and wildlife photographer, Mital Patel, for an amazing 10 days in Africa! We will be taking nine lucky participants through both Amboseli National Park & Masai Mara National Park to photograph all the wildlife you can handle. From lions to elephants, hyenas, hippopotamus, zebras, giraffes, cheetahs, and so much more, you better empty those memory cards and charge those batteries, because your camera is going to be hard at work! Oh and did I mention that for some of these animals, you’ll have Mt. Kilimanjaro as your backdrop? Okay if that hasn’t caught your attention yet, let us tell you a bit more about what to expect! Amboseli is home to some of the last big tusk African elephants, and we will be putting forth all the effort we can to document them. We will also take a day to visit with and learn about the culture of the Masai Tribe! Oh and did I mention that we will be timing this workshop with the migration of the famous wildebeest? With some luck on our side, we will be able to photograph this magnificent migration as they cross the many rivers in their path.
Alright, we’re almost done with discussing the awesomeness of this trip, so here’s just a few more details! We will have three amazing safari vehicles set up for these excursions, with each participant having their own row. This allows for flexibility to photograph wildlife from both sides of the vehicle. Mital and myself will spend time with participants in each vehicle throughout the workshop. So, what do you say? Ready to witness the beauty and amazingness of Africa?!
What You Will Learn:
How to create stunning and emotional wildlife imagery.
How to discover and utilize your camera to its fullest capabilities.
How to create a variety of scenes with multiple lenses and how to think “outside the box.”
An understanding for light and how to take advantage of it in all conditions.
How to bring your wildlife imagery even more to life through post-processing.
An introduction to black and white photography for wildlife photography.
How to pick your jaw up off the floor because you’re experiencing the real life version of “The Lion King.”
What You Will Need:
A DSLR or mirrorless camera body.
An assortment of lenses. NOTE* - It is HIGHLY recommended to have at least a 400mm or longer lens for this tour. If you need help renting a lens, please contact us and we will be more than happy to help. Recommended focal lengths are: 24-70mm, 70-200mm, 200-500mm, 600mm.
A monopod.
A headlamp or flashlight.
At least the trial version of Lightroom or Photoshop on your laptop.
Multiple batteries and required power converters for Africa (Type G).
A valid passport, visa and required vaccinations for Africa.
A desire to learn, have fun, be flexible, and experience some of the most breathtaking wildlife in the world!
What's Not Included:
Airfare to & from Nairobi, Kenya.
Visas and required vaccinations.
Beverages.
Hotel accommodations for any nights before the 3rd / 15th or after the 11th / 23rd of August. We will be more than happy though to help you arrange for nights prior or after if you’d like!
What's Included:
Accommodations based upon double occupancy.
Single occupancy rooms available for $1450.
Transportation within the workshop.
Photo safari jeeps for every excursion with a local park guide.
All meals.
On-hand post-production and critique sessions.
Post-processing video set.
Wifi at the hotel.
Access to our brains 24/7.
Itinerary:
DAY 1 (August 3rd /15th): Arrival Day in Nairobi
Meet & greet dinner at 6:30 P.M. at our host hotel in Nairobi, the Four Points Sheraton, where we will all get to know one another, discuss our itinerary and plan our photographic goals for our workshop!
DAY 2: Nairobi – Amboseli National Park (approx. 4.5 hours drive)
We will depart for Amboseli National Park at 7:30 A.M., driving through the scenic southern part of Kenya towards the Kenya - Tanzania border, Namanga. We will arrive in time for lunch at Ol Tukai Lodge where we will then get settled in and head out for an afternoon game drive in this scenic and wildlife rich park.
DAYS 3 & 4: Amboseli National Park
Another exciting day in Amboseli National Park! We will depart early morning (6:30 A.M) where we can experience excellent game viewing and an unprecedented view of the snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro. We will return after our safari to the lodge for a delicious breakfast. During our down time in the middle of the day, we will be having various educational sessions. From post-processing, to critiques and portfolio reviews…your education won’t be just out in the safari jeeps. In the late afternoon we will resume a game drive in anticipation of seeing the “BIG FIVE”.
DAY 5: Amboseli National Park – Masai Mara Game Reserve
After breakfast, we will transfer to the airstrip in Amboseli for our flight to Masai Mara departing at approx. 9:30 A.M. After an approximately one hour long flight, we will arrive, be picked from the airstrip and transfer to the Mara Serena Safari Lodge for check in and lunch. After lunch, we will depart for yet another game drive around Masai Mara National Reserve! You will most certainly be impressed by the wide variety of species present in this area. The Maasai Mara has the highest concentration of land mammals compared to any other park or reserve in Kenya!
DAY 6: Masai Mara Game Reserve
Another full day of photographing and exploring at Masai Mara!
DAYS 7 – 9: Masai Mara Game Reserve
After another exciting morning game drive and breakfast, we will transfer to the Mara Bush Camp in time for lunch. We will spend the next 3 nights on game drives exploring the Mara, home to the proud and traditional Maasai tribe. On one of the days, we will visit a local Maasai Village. The Mara is more than just the most popular wildlife park in the country and in many cases, it is the reason why people come to visit Kenya. This is a classic African savanna, and the sheer density of wildlife is amazing. Gazelle, wildebeest and zebra graze in large numbers and where prey is found so are predators. Watered by the Mara River and its tributary the Talek, the park here compromises 1510 square kilometers of open grassland tucked away in the south west corner of the country. In the Mara you will see an astonishing amount of wild life, including the big cats, where lions are found in large prides everywhere and it is not uncommon to see them hunting. Cheetahs and leopards are harder to spot, but are still fairly common. Elephants, buffaloes, zebras and hippos also exist in large numbers.
DAY 10 (August 12th / 24th): Masai Mara Game Reserve to Nairobi
On our last day of this amazing expedition, we will have a final morning game drive in Masai Mara. After breakfast, participants will transfer to the airstrip for flight to Nairobi departing approximately 11 A.M. Our workshop will officially wrap after breakfast.
Where Will We Be Staying?
- Ol Tukai Lodge -
With stunning views of the wetlands or Kilimanjaro, you will absolutely enjoy your stay at Ol Tukai Lodge as we explore Amboseli National park. Being a world renowned location for African Elephants, we will be a short drive away from photographing these amazing animals and much, much more.
- Mara Serena Safari Lodge -
During the first part of our time exploring Masai Mara, we will lodge at the safari lodge in the famed Mara Triangle. With five star amenities, we will rest comfortably before heading out each day in search of creating stunning wildlife imagery.
- Mara Bush Camp -
For part of our time exploring the beautiful Masai Mara Game Reserve, we will be lodging at the beautiful Gold-Eco rated Mara Bush Camp. We will be centrally located to access some of the best big cat sightings possible. On property as well is a large hippo pool as well!
Experience the African Culture
During one of our days out in the Maasai Mara, we will have the opportunity to visit with the Maasai Tribe and learn a bit about their culture and way of life in Africa. We will get to tour their homes, chat with them about their day-to-day lives, sing, dance, learn how to create fires and more! Of course, there will be time for photography as well!
Physical Requirements:
There will be minimal hiking involved in this workshop and we will be in safari jeeps for our excursions. The ride on the safari jeeps can be bumpy. Those with back or neck injuries should consult with their doctor prior to registering.
Where To Fly Into:
You will want to fly arrive and depart from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. It is highly recommended to arrive a day prior to our workshop start and depart a day after our workshop concludes. There are a variety of airlines that fly to this airport including American Airlines, British Airways, Qatar Airlines, United Airlines, Emirates and Lufthansa.
Workshop Start & Wrap:
Our workshop will begin with a meet and greet dinner in Nairobi at our host hotel at 6:30 P.M. on August 3rd. We will conclude our workshop on August 10th at the air strip in Masai Mara around 11 A.M. Please note, you will have an approximately one hour flight back to Nairobi from Masai Mara which is included in the workshop.
About Your Instructors:
Mike Mezeul II
Mike Mezeul II is an extreme nature and landscape photographer based out of Dallas, Texas. His work focuses on documenting the power and beauty within the worlds most powerful natural events, focusing primarily on severe weather and volcanoes. When he is not on a project or assignment, he spends his time leading workshops around the world in which he shares his passion for photography through inspiring and educating individuals of all ages and skill levels.
Mital Patel
Mital Patel is an internationally recognized nature and wildlife photographer who focuses on capturing all aspects of wildlife, landscapes, the night sky and more. He has a distinct passion for displaying the beauty of life through his images through a visual representation of movement, emotion and mood. His photographic compositions strive to bring viewers a unique view of nature through detailed abstracts and storytelling.
Majestic Africa
Payment Options:
We want nothing more than you to come join us for this incredible workshop in Africa, and that’s why we are breaking down our tuition payments into increments that we feel will make this workshop affordable for all!
Payment 1 - 25% of total tuition - Due upon registration (non-refundable)
Payment 2 - 25% of total tuition - Due by August 31, 2023
Payment 3 - 25% of total tuition - Due by February 3, 2024
Final Payment - 25% of total tuition - Due by May 3, 2024
JOIN THE ADVENTURE!
*A 25% Non-refundable deposit is required to register*
