Masai Mara Big 5 Safaris

Without doubt, Masai Mara is one of Africa’s most famous wildlife parks and ranks among the continent’s best places to see animals. Wildlife game viewing is excellent throughout the year. Away from the yearly wildebeest migration safari in Masai Mara, all big cats are easy to see while on a safari here.

With the wildebeest river crossings happening in July or August, although the timing is never guaranteed, August and early September is when you’re most likely to see the wildebeest herds making the famous crossings in the Mara River in Kenya.

Masai Mara is amongst the best parks in Africa to see big cats, especially lions. Leopards are easily seen though at times elusive, whereas cheetahs dwell the open savannah, chasing after their next meal. Of the other Big Five, elephants and buffalos are in plenty, but black rhino is shy and at times not easy to see.

Use the provided links below to find the best Masai Mara big five tours, family-friendly vacations, romantic honeymoon safari packages, exciting Africa safaris and affordable holidays. Remember, all our itineraries are totally flexible and can be changed to suit you.

Search Through 20+ Masai Mara Big Five Tours & Itinerary Ideas

Then customise yours with an expert.

Masai Mara is home to the famous tv show ‘Big Cat Diary’, and hosts the ‘Great Migration’ yearly, featuring some of the most luxury safari lodges in Africa. Our listed big 5 Masai Mara tours are chosen to not only inspire but also enlighten you – showing you how top African safari destinations can work together in an itinerary. When it comes to planning Big 5 journeys to Africa, we’re the tailor-made travel specialists. An African Safari Expert will customize your vacation, shaping it around your individual wants and preferences.

No time to browse? Get in touch with a African Safaris Expert to plan a tailor-made tour around your interests, wishes and budget.

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Masai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Lake Manyara Safari

7 Days | Kenya - Tanzania Safaris

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Masai Mara, Lake Victoria, Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Tarangire Safari

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Lake Nakuru, Masai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire & Amboseli Safari

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Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, Masai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Tarangire

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Amboseli, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Masai Mara & Lake Naivasha

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Masai Mara Photography Safari

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Masai Mara Photographic Workshop

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Lake Nakuru & Maasai Mara Photographic Safari

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Masai Mara Great Migration Photography Safaris

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Zanzibar to Masai Mara Flight Safari

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Guided Photo Safari In Maasai Mara & Samburu

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Masai Mara & Amboseli Fly-In Safari

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Amboseli, Meru & Masai Mara Fly-In Safari

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Laikipia & Masai Mara Photography Tour

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Masai Mara & Diani Beach Safari

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Laikipia, Masai Mara & Diani Beach Safari

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Amboseli, Laikipia & Masai Mara Tour

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Samburu, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Aberdares, Lake Nakuru, Lake Bogoria, Lake Naivasha & Masai Mara Safari

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Amboseli, Aberdares, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Lake Naivasha & Masai Mara

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Ol Pejeta, Samburu, Lake Bogoria, Lake Naivasha & Masai Mara Tour

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Lake Nakuru, Bogoria, Naivasha & Masai Mara

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Best of Amboseli, Lake Naivasha & Maasai Mara

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Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha & Amboseli to Kenyan Beaches

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Masai Mara Big Five Safari Animals

The Big 5 safari animals are synonymous with African wildlife and represent the continent’s rich and diverse natural heritage. Originally named by hunters due to the difficulty of hunting them on foot, these animals are critical in the world of conservation and tourism. Each species symbolises unique characteristics and behaviours that have attracted people worldwide, making them the must-see animals on any African safari. What are Africa’s Big 5? Let’s explore:

1. The Lion - “Unmatched Courage & Strength.”

Lions hold a special place as apex predators. This dominance glues their status as the king of the jungle, displaying a supreme attitude.

In the wild, their powerful physique and strategic hunting skills ensure they sit unchallenged at the top of the food chain. Lions stand their ground, preferring to face their supposed challenger than to run and hide, showing confidence, a symbol of strength not just in body, but also in spirit; part of why lions have been associated with leadership and power in the animal kingdom.

Tanzania Safari Packages

2. The Leopard - “Ghosts Of the Forest.”

Known for their stealth, strength, and adaptability, leopards kill more than we think. Leopards are masters of stealth, often referred to as the “ghosts of the forest.” Their ability to move silently allows them to stalk prey undetected, making them formidable hunters. As nocturnal animals, they are primarily active at night, using their keen senses of sight and hearing to track down prey with unmatched precision. The leopard’s hunting technique is to either ambush its prey or to stalk it, a combination of stealth and sensory awareness is what makes leopards such successful predators in the wild.

Masai Mara Photographic Safaris

3. The Cape Buffalo - “The Aggressive Bunch.”

The Cape Buffalo’s most characteristic feature is their horns. Both males and females have heavy, ridged horns that can grow to impressive sizes. The horns are formidable weapons against predators and jostling for dominance within the herd, they play a dangerous game. The African buffaloes are the most dangerous animals due to their physical size, aggressive nature, and formidable horns.

Big Five Africa Safari

4. The African Elephant - “It Never Forgets.”

Given that Elephants can swim – they use their trunk to breathe like a snorkel in deep water; they are also quite smart, and when faced with something or someone that does not intend them harm they are gentle and peaceful. A herd of elephants is led by their mother, an older female (the matriarch)… When a group of elephants is travelling, the matriarch always takes the lead and directs the rest of the herd.

Tanzania Safari Packages

5. The Rhino - “The Special One.”

The rarest of The Big Five is the rhino. Divided into two, the black and white rhino’s; rhinos are large (the second-largest land animal in the world, next to elephants) but quick, nearly as fast as the leopard when charging, and because of their elusive nature, they are quite a treat to photograph in your Canon while on one of our African photo safaris.

Olpejeta Safari Packges

Best Places To Go On A Big 5 Safari

Members of the Big 5 are found in different concentrations across Africa. If you want the best chance of seeing them all on a single safari – sometimes, if you’re really lucky on a single game drive or in a single day – then head to the following places:

African Beach Holidays
Kenyan Beach Holidays at Diani Beach
African Beach Vacation Packages - Big Five Safaris

Where to See the Big 5 Wildlife In Kenya

Tried and tested experiences on your photography expedition, so you can really get stuck into and involved with the destination you are travelling to.

All of our photography programs are designed for amateur photographers of all levels interested in improving their skills.

Combining Big Five Safari and Beach Holiday

Tried and tested experiences on your photography expedition, so you can really get stuck into and involved with the destination you are travelling to.

All of our photography programs are designed for amateur photographers of all levels interested in improving their skills.

Frequently Asked Questions About Big Five Photographic Safaris

Let’s put your curiosity to rest by answering some of the burning questions you might have before booking an African photographic tour in Kenya.

African photo safari tours are perfect for a range of enthusiasts, from solo travelers, couples or groups of friends who wish to sharpen their photography skills, or have a shared passion for photography with an added advantage of ensuring everyone has space and time to photograph at their own pace without feeling rushed.

Our African photo safaris are designed for passionate photographers and less skilled beginner wildlife photographers. Everyone was a beginner once and everyone still has lots to learn; so whether you’re a beginner just learning a few tricks here and there or a semi-professional with some solid foundation in wildlife photography, Kenya photo safaris offer a learning-rich environment.

To those who are new to wildlife photography, we are offer plenty of African photographic itineraries that will not only improve your skills during this African holiday safari with us but also allow you enjoy wildlife & the landscapes for the same reason, leaving you prepared and confident when you’re out in the field on your next adventure.

Having the right wildlife photographic equipment’s can make a big difference on an African photo safari however, what you bring in the long run is up to you. Most travel operators allow you to bring your own gear (highly recommended), while some offer photographic equipment rentals.

From our African safari photography tips and advice on the essential gear and settings, you will be expected to have an SLR (Single Lens Reflex), DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) or mirrorless camera, as opposed to a point-and-shoot.

It’s a good idea to have at least two lenses on a photographic tour, including a telephoto lens. How big a telephoto lens you need depends a little on where you will go on your African safari. If off-road driving is allowed, you’ll be able to get quite close to animals and in these cases, a 200mm or 300mm lens will be satisfactory. Even better is a 400mm or 500mm capacity lens, especially in main national parks where off-road driving is not allowed.

It is great if you can avoid having to change lenses by having your lenses permanently set on different cameras. That way, you don’t lose time changing lenses during fast-moving action. Another downside of having to change lenses is that dust gets in and settles on the sensor. An off-camera flash set-up is great for night safari photography in Kenya. For more on photo safari equipment’s, reach out and we see how we can assist you with a guide on the best cameras for safaris and the best types of cameras for safari photography.

The cost of photographic safaris in Africa is much dependent on when you want to travel, where you want to visit for photographing wildlife, and what level of luxury you would like on your African safari trip.

“The price of a Kenya photo safari ranges between US$3500 and US$4000 per person, greatly depending on the safari destinations you want to visit, accommodation levels, duration of stay, and must-see and must-do activities.”

Some of our photography tour packages are at times hosted at safari lodges and camps that favour the wildlife experience above everything. We truly put the effort in ensuring our guests are comfortable, and more than happy with a comfy bed, hot water on tap, delicious home-cooked food, and plenty of wildlife photography opportunities!

As Vulture African Safaris, the type of photographic safari vehicles used are the customized 4×4 land cruiser safari jeeps which are open sided providing you with that 360° degrees view and ability for improved views, all enhancing the photographic experience. Additionally, this will allow you to simply pivot into the perfect position with adequate room for your lens support, improving opportunities to capture that sought after shot when the action takes place.

Still on our photo safari packages these specially designed and equipped photo expedition vehicles, provide photographers with essential features; Beanbags, foam camera support props, and battery charging ports are always available.

We welcome non-photographers on all of our photo tours in Kenya, maybe it’s your partner or involve cases where couples don’t share the same interest in photography, yet would prefer to go on safari together.

That said, partners are allowed to join the tour as long as they understand that the tour will be focused on photographers and their specific needs. However, we still have to remember that first and foremost, this is a wildlife experience whether you are travelling with camera equipment’s or not. Whatever you’re looking for be it photography safaris for beginners, pro level safaris, or just doing it for fun – we will be here to make it happen for you.

We believe that Africa is worth visiting throughout the year. When you should travel is very much dependent on what you would like to see and photograph. For example, if you’re into bird’s photography safaris, the right time ranges from January to March when the migratory bird species are in residence. As for photographing wildlife, it is good all year round.

The advantage you have is that you will be on a private photo safari, giving you the flexibility you need and control of what you would like to focus on as compared to joining a group photo safari which limits your freedom due to different traveler tastes and preferences on what to do.

Wildlife photography takes preparation, patience, and persistence. Below are just some of the few beginner tips to help you get high-quality images on your safari every time.

Know your gear ; reason being that some of the best wildlife sightings and action-packed safari moments often last for only a few momentary seconds, and if you’re not familiar with the settings of your camera or the abilities of your lens, you’ll end up missing out on fantastic photo opportunities.

Always be prepared; when photographing wildlife, you have to be ready at all times. Always keep your lens attached to your camera, and ensure that your camera settings are already in place; the faster you can react, the more likely you’ll be able to capture an incredible moment.

Use the light to your advantage; the prevailing light is key, and your guide does everything possible to ensure you are perfectly positioned to snap the most evocative colours. Keep in mind, wildlife is typically more active during the morning and late afternoon periods, making these the favoured times for most photographers. Some of the best animal sightings while on an African photo safari are enjoyed in the early evening when the light of the fabled ‘golden hour’ paints all it touches in a soft and warm glow. Catch the breathtaking African sunsets on our famous bush sundowner with cocktails and snacks as you wind up your day.

Know your subject; understanding your subject and animal behavior is another key to being a good safari photographer, this is especially when your subjects are completely unpredictable. Before you go on any safari, read up about the animals you’ll be photographing to get a clue of what you will do when the moment comes.

Boasting unbeatable vistas, an astounding amount of wildlife and impressive big-5 game viewing, Masai Mara Park and Serengeti National Park are two of Africa’s best national parks for a photo safari.

Masai Mara Park is the best destination for wildlife photography, boasting a good number of Lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras, and hippos which wander around their natural habitat, and the famous wildebeest migration safaris which takes place every year. This can be your chance to go on a wildebeest migration photo safari.
Serengeti Park in Tanzania is another top safari destination for photographic tours with awe-inspiring Great Migration moments and Ngorongoro crater views, not forgetting beautiful moments at Tarangire where you can capture the tree climbing lions.
Kruger National Park is another fantastic destination for photographic safari holidays; this famous game reserve is home to the big five, as well as the cheetah and the endangered wild dog.

The most popular African photo safari destinations include:

Kenya; which as far as safari tours go, it’s hard to beat Kenya’s abundance of wildlife and incredible natural beauty makes Kenya photographic safaris even more memorable.
Tanzania; Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park is no surprise known as one of the best photographic safari destinations in the world.
Botswana; This is one of the most expensive safari destinations and for a reason, Botswana’s unique landscapes and dense concentrations of wildlife make it a haven for nature lovers.
South Africa; South Africa’s Kruger National Park is a popular choice for those heading to Africa for the first time safari.
Explore Africa with us; our photo safari planners are on hand to help you choose the right photo safari for you so please feel free to reach out using the contact button at the top of this page or filling out our enquiry form.

Our passionate safari guides go above and beyond to ensure photographers capture unforgettable wildlife moments from the comfort and flexibility of specially designed 4 x4 safari vehicles.

Capture jaw-dropping wildlife action at some of the top wildlife photography destinations in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. Hosted by our resident wildlife safari guide, your photo safari itineraries can be customized to suit your specific wildlife photography goals.

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