Masai Mara Migration Safari 2026
You asked, and we listened! šš¾
Weāre heading back to Kenya at the peak of the Great Wildebeest Migrationāone of natureās most breathtaking spectacles. Picture this: vast plains filled with thousands of snorting wildebeest, their hooves thundering across the savannah. And if luck is on your side, you might even witness one of the iconic river crossingsāpure magic!
This isnāt just about wildebeest eitherāthereās plenty of big cat action at this time of year too. šš¦ Youāll spend 7 unforgettable days (16 incredible safaris!) exploring the legendary Masai Mara alongside our world-class guide team of Andy Rouse, Jamie Peters and Suzie Rouse.
And hereās the icing on the cake: weāve secured the luxurious Soroi Private Wing camp for this trip, an oasis of comfort and style. Our local partner, Sunworld Safaris, is a Gold Eco-Rated camp operator too. Now thatās what we call a win! šļøāØ
Add to that our TTA bonding and carbon offset for the whole trip, and you can see it's an epic package!
Our Advantages
We never like to blow our own trumpet but our safaris are different and we know what we are doing....
1 Pro Guide per vehicle
Our exclusive tours have one professional photo guide per vehicle to ensure that you are positioned correctly for every single opportunity that we encounter. Andy and Jamie are experts at being in the right place at the right time.
Custom vehicles
On safari you see a lot of vehicles packed with photographers. This doesn't work for us so on this safari we have only 3 photographers per vehicle so you get a guaranteed window seat. No one misses the action outside. And you can see there are a lot of shooting angles!
Great food, camps & team
We work in proud partnership with the best safari operator in Kenya, Sunworld Safaris. They own 1 of the 3 lodges where we will be based, which provide real homely luxury in the bush. Plus they own a fleet of modern, well maintained Toyota landcruisers, with awesome Gold standard drivers and backup vehicles too!
Work hard play hard
We are out as early as park rules allow and we stay as long as the light is good. On each drive we go out with a plan, which is based on experience and local knowledge, to ensure that we make the most of the golden light.
A social focus
Your safari is a holiday and so we will do everything we can to make it one you will remember. Every day we will have our breakfast in the bush, and when weather permits dine under the stars after a drink around the campfire.
Trusted Protection
As a member of the Travel Trust Association your money is protected by their financial guarantee and is fully insured against supplier failure and insolvency. So you can travel with us safe in the knowledge that your monies are safe.
Safari Overview
September 10th to 19th 2026
9 clients in 3 exclusive photography adapted vehicles with a professional guide in each
Ā£11,495 per person sharing, Ā£1500 single supplement
Optional beach extension
Includes 16 game drives, full board and accommodation at Soroi Private Wing
Availability - 9 places available
Essential Facts
For this safari we are going to concentrate on the Masai Mara during what should be migration time. It's impossible to predict exactly but traditionally this is when the bulk of the wildebeest herds reach the Masai Mara in their tens of thousands. Enroute they cross two mighty rivers which can be an incredible spectacle to witness and photograph. But the migration is more than just wildebeest, it's a bonanza for cats too. Lion prides concentrate into smaller areas, cheetah families appear and usually shy leopards become bold and visible. Add to that the incredibly game rich plains of the Masai Mara with herds of giraffe, packs of roaming hyenas, and teeming birdlife along the rivers and you can see why migration time is special.
Instead of our usual 2 centre safari we are staying in the Mara for an extended time to give you the best chance of seeing and photographing a migration crossing.
Our safaris are relaxed, personalised and fun, we get great pictures and have a great spirit too.
Read on to find out more....
The Migration
The annual wildebeest migration rolls into the Mara from late August onwards and is a truly spectacular sight with the plains full of thousands of wildebeest and zebra. The noise is simply incredible and any drive through the herds is an experience for all the senses at once!
Of course the migration has become synonymous with the crossings of the mighty Talek and Mara rivers, where thousands of wildebeest charge through the water trying to evade the crocodiles that lay in wait for them. There are numerous crossing points, all with different settings and ways that the wildebeest cross. Of course it's not just about the wildebeest, they are accompanied by herds of zebra that power through the water ahead of them.
These crossings are tough to predict, and no one should ever guarantee one on their tours, all we will say is that we are staying longer in the Mara to try to give you the best chance of seeing and photographing at least one of them.
The Masai Mara
The game rich plains of the Masai Mara have been a mecca for wildlife photographers for many years. With it's stunning grassland habitats, bisected by the awesome Mara and Talek Rivers, it has the most concentrated and diverse wildlife species anywhere in Africa. Our focus for the golden light sessions will be on the lions, leopards, cheetahs, servals, hyenas, giraffes, hippos and of course all the plains game and birdlife, after that we will move onto the migration river crossings to see if one might happen.
The Mara is just awesome, we will never be stuck for anything to do and will always leave camp with a plan.
The Guide Team
Lots of people run safaris, what separates Andys out is the experienced guide team that we have, one per vehicle. They are proven in the field of putting you in the right place at the right time so we thought you should hear more about them...
About Andy Rouse
Perhaps a little about Andy for those that have never worked with him before. He has won 28 major international awards, been a pro for nearly 25 years and has led tours all over the world. He has 200,000 followers across social media, a growing YouTube site, a very successful picture agency and an online photo club.
He is very experienced at leading tours all over Africa but his particular love is Kenya where he works exclusively with Sunworld Safaris. He has a great relationship with all of his driver guides and leads from the front on his safaris, making the big daily decisions with his team.
Andy shoots with the Sony system.
Away from work he is a proud husband, dad and west ham fan!
About Jamie Peters
Andy has known Jamie for 10 years and Jamie was the best man at Andy's wedding. He shoots with the Sony system and is a professional macro and wildlife photographer
In his previous life Jamie was an Army Photographer for 11 years. During that time he has been to many places photographing the army including Afghanistan, Kenya, Nepal, Ukraine and Sierra Leone. In that time he has been an instructor at the Defence School of Photography, Combat Camera Team Leader and was the Chief Photographer for the NATO Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.
Jamie has won awards for his stills and videos in the past including the prestigious and fiercely competitive Army Photographer of the Year. His real passion though is nature photography and he spends his time photographing tough species near his home. He leads tours with Andy in Africa and India and his experience not only covers fieldcraft but all genres of photography and videography.
About Suzie Rouse
Suzie Rouse is an experienced wildlife photographer and birdwatcher, having travelled all over the world adding to her birding life list and capturing images of some iconic species. Whilst guiding Suzie brings her keen birdwatchers eyes and is a fantastic animal spotter. Away from the travel Suzie is a University lecturer; specialising in teaching students all about forensic imaging and photography. As part of her work Suzie has taught countless complete beginners how to image a variety of situations.
Suzie is also a capable videographer; supporting Andy by filming and co-producing video content for Andy's Patreon site. Suzie also post-processes using Lightroom and complements Andy's Photoshop processing tutorials by producing her own tutorials on Lightroom.
Daily Safari Routine
Our safaris are not really governed by a set itinerary, we use our experience and that of our guides to make an informed choice about the plan for the day. Our plan will depend on what we have seen the night before and what we think will happen based on experience. But here's a rough guide to the day plan:
Morning - You will be woken up whilst it's still dark with tea / coffee at your tent in the Mara by our friendly staff. We will always go out with a plan to use for sunrise, usually finding lions or cheetah sitting somewhere nice. Whilst this might not work every day, we will be successful some days. So for the first two hours we will be very very busy!! After the cats we will look for other game.
Breakfast - We will have breakfast underneath a shady tree out on the plains. After breakfast we will head down to our favourite migration crossing points to see if any of the herds have built up enough to cross. If so then we will use our experience to make the best plan to get you close to the crossing and get awesome pictures.
Lunch - Lunchtimes are always taken in camp as you need time to chill, relax and recharge. The camp is beautiful and we want to spend time chilling in them too, after all for you it's a holiday.
Afternoons - Afternoons are usually quieter, once again we will use our local knowledge to make the best plan for you. We will often look for leopards at this time, check out the cheetah or look for birds along the local rivers, returning to camp at sunset.
Evenings - Safari days are long and tiring. Once you get back in the evening a hot shower will always be waiting for you, then itās out to the campfire for a beer or cocktail before dinner. Dinner will be 3 courses of hearty bush cuisine with a great chef. Of course we can cater for special diets too (within reason). Then, after a hearty dinner, it's time to drift off listening to the sounds of Africa.
Soroi Private Wing
Our home for the Masai Mara is Sunworld's own exclusive camp called Soroi Private Wing. It is discreetly ātucked awayā in a riverine forest on the banks of the seasonal Olare Orok River. Itās a camp without borders and fences, a true African experience and one where a drink around the campfire will be an incredible end to a perfect day.
The Soroi Private Wing offers the desired exclusivity for guests who are looking for maximum privacy, with 08 tents overlooking the river. All luxury tents are designed with great attention to detail. The tents are large and spacious with mahogany furniture and luxurious soft furnishings that give it the desired comfort of a luxury camp with a ābush feelingā. All tents are equipped with En-suite bathrooms, a mini-fridge and a fan.There is a lot of distance between each tent, ensuring maximum privacy and giving you the feeling of being able to enjoy your own African nature experience. The tents are very generous in size and offer an incredible ambience of warmth and comfort in the wild. Your bedroom is furnished with a double (king size) and single bed, a writing desk and chair, wardrobe & chest. All bathrooms are partitioned through soft furnishings and offer a vanity unit & double sinks, hot/cold running water & shower and flush toilet.
Kenya has only 39 Eco Gold-Rated properties and the Soroi Private Wing is one of them. As well as completely stopping the use of single use plastics in all areas of their camp, they excel in community social responsibility, waste management and eco friendly building practices.
The camp is fully solar powered, but a generator (well tucked away to ensure that there is no noise pollution) is available to provide power in order to charge all cameras & equipment.
Wifi is available in the central areas of the camp. On arrival you will be given water bottles to use for the duration of your trip.The camp is operated on an eco-friendly, sustainable basis and provide employment for local people throughout all levels of the operation. In short we are going to have a wonderful stay!
Safari Vehicles
We will be using Safari Landcruisers throughout this trip which are specially modified for photography as you can see. All clients will have a row to themselves with big open windows each side. All vehicles will rotate around between the guides.
The windows in the back are roll up and can quickly be rolled down in case of rain. There is a roof hatch too with shelter from the sun. We remove most of the seats so that you can have the lowest view and most freedom. The guide sits in the front passenger seat next to the driver as this is the most obstructed seat.
They are perfect vehicles for safari and driven by experts!
Travel Trust Association
The TTA is an independent trade organisation of tour operators that we are proud members of. The TTA provides guarantees for your booking with us in two forms.
The first is that all monies are deposited to a trustee managed trust bank account and any payments to / from them have to be authorised at several levels.
Secondly your booking is protected by the TTA Safe Seat Plan and Supplier Failure Cover, both of which are insurance policies to protect your money from fraud and supplier failure.
We include the costs of these policies automatically in your booking fee, so that you can book with us as a trusted and reputable tour operator.
Further details of our TTA membership can be found by clicking here (use your browser back button to return).
Carbon Offset Donation
As a responsible tour operator we are acutely aware of the effect that travel has on the planet. Therefore we have calculated the carbon offset for everyone participating on each of our trips, assuming everyone flies from London, using an established tourism method.
Instead of using the money for carbon credits or other such schemes we have decided instead to donate this money to a science based conservation project working in an the local area and with species we might encounter.
For this tour we will donate the equivalent carbon offset amount to the Mara Meru Cheetah Project, which has been running for 25 years and seeks to promote the conservation of wild cheetahs in the Mara and Meru national parks.
Why an Andy Rouse Safari?
Many of you will come with Andy because you've been with him before and you know that he delivers as much as he can. Of course people will compare safaris like for like but this is a mistake as nothing is left to chance and nothing is done on the cheap!! In short you get what you pay for. You will also know that Andy hates putting all this stuff down but here's a few reasons why we are good at what we do and offer a great package....
- An experienced professional photo guide in each vehicle (Andy, Jamie and Suzie)
- World class logistics from Sunworld Safaris (spare vehicles in case of breakdowns, extra guides in case of sickness etc etc)
- Soroi Private Wing camp which is a really safe and luxurious place to stay
- An amazing local guide team that we have worked with before and all are experienced drivers for photographers and groups. This is an important point. They have great eyes and are willing to go the extra mile. We donāt think that there are many safari drivers who could consistently deliver such great results.
- A complete package including all transfers, internal flights, guiding and accommodation
- TTA bonding so you know that you money is handled professionally and is safe with us as we only deal with reputable and established companies
- An eco focus with camps that are solar powered and work with local communities for conservation. Plus our own carbon offset donation too.
- A social and fun atmosphere throughout
In conclusion an Andy Rouse safari is a great experience!
Who should come on this tour?
The tour is open to anyone who has a good sense of humour and has the right objectives for the trip. These are simply that you love animals, want to experience the best of Kenya, to see the migration and want to be inspired to push your photography forwards. You do not have to be a photographer to come on these trips, we have lots of clients who are not! You must be able to be patient enough to sit in a hot, dusty vehicle for hours on end waiting for something to happen; itās a great time to catch up on your reading.
A good social mix is very important to us, We have a fun environment to let people thrive at their own pace.
Miscellaneous
Some extra bits and pieces that I know you just gotta know!!!
1) Travel - We will be driving from Nairobi to the Masai Mara and back, approximately 4 hours journey time.
2) Temperature - Of course we cannot predict this as the world is changing! But in general it's cool in the morning, warming to high 80's in the day and down to cool again in the evening so a very nice time to come! It might rain whilst we are there, it always does in Kenya, usually at night but you never know. It can be cloudy too, who knows what the weather will do now!
3) Kit - full info will be given in plenty of time for the trip. A minimum of reach of 400mm is preferred, 500mm is better but you will need a wider angle too.
4) Branded clothing - as always you will get some cool collectible ARWP branded clothing for the trip, likely a very smart safari shirt.
Dates and Itinerary
Ok here are the dates and itinerary for this safari:
10th September 2026 - leave UK, clients arrive Nairobi late pm, transfer to airport hotel for o/n Nairobi
11th September 2026 - morning flight to the Masai Mara with extra baggage allowance, check-in and lunch at the camp, afternoon game drive
12th September 2026 - All day Masai Mara
13th September 2026 - All day Masai Mara
14th September 2026 - All day Masai Mara
15th September 2026 - All day Masai Mara
16th September 2026 - All day Masai Mara
17th September 2026 - All day Masai Mara
18th September 2026 - All day Masai Mara
19th September 2026 - Morning game drive, breakfast in camp, 11am flight to Nairobi, lunch and craft shopping, day room at airport hotel to freshen up and re-packing, airport drop offs for outbound departure.
20th September 2025 - Home
Obviously this assumes that you are flying from the UK, don't worry we can sort anything for you!
Beach extension
Fanch totally chilling out at the end of your safari on a safe, beautiful palm fringed beach? Well Soroi are now opening a beach lodge on the world famous Daini Beach which is south of Mombassa (just a 1 hour internal flight away). Think relaxing by the pool, swimming and snorkelling in warm, clear water and eating great local food. It's barefoot chic at it's finest. Well for this safari we are pleased to offer a two night beach extension to the new Soroi Blue beach lodge including flights from the Mara to Daini Beach and then back to Nairobi to get your flight home. Details soon but in the meantime check this out!
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Price and booking
The costs for this wonderful safari is Ā£11,495 per person sharing, with a single supplement of Ā£1500.
Competitiveness - We have looked at our competitors that we respect and this price is competitive considering the standard of service that we provide. We can never compete with single photographers that have clients spread across vehicles, we have a one guide per vehicle policy which is in your interest. We also cannot compete against single vehicle operators (of which there are many) - we have the incredible logistical backup of Sunworld Safaris, a top category member of the Kenya Association of Tour Operators and Gold Eco-Rated. This is also in your interest as things can and do go wrong on a safari and Sunworld have the vehicle and personnel backup to sort anything. Therefore considering all these factors, and being guided by world class photographers who you know and names you trust, the price is a competitive one for such a safari.
Includes - the price includes all park fees and licenses, accommodation from arrival to departure, all meals at camp and non premium drinks, emergency evacuation insurance to Nairobi, all pickups and transfers and return internal flight with additional baggage allowance.
Excludes - The price excludes your international flights (see below), tips (driver and hotel), meals in Nairobi on the 10th and 19th and items of a personal nature.
Payment - A deposit is required to secure your place of Ā£1500 per person. You will be provided with a booking confirmation on receipt of this deposit. The balance will be split and will be due 120 and 60 days before departure.
Cancellation Policies - Our cancellation policies are strict and come from experience. We operate a non refundable policy to protect the other clients on the tour. This applies to both deposit and balance. Therefore it is a requirement of booking that you take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover all eventualities. By booking this safari you agree to these conditions and no discussion will be entered into. If we postpone then your payment will be held over for a replacement safari at a later date or you will of course be entitled to a full refund. If you have to cancel then we will provide you will all the necessary documents for an insurance claim. In some instances it may be possible to fill your place at short notice, at which point you will receive a partial refund of monies paid, but this very much depends on the time of the cancellation and not guarantees can be made.
Travel Insurance - You must take out adequate travel insurance to cover all eventualities.
International flights
For the international flights we have given up with including them as so many of you have your own frequent flyer deals and preferences. So instead, as we do for our Tiger Safaris, we will tell you when you need to be in Nairobi and give you some flight recommendations. It's upto you then to book your flights accordingly within these guidelines and let us know what you have booked. We will then arrange pickup's etc to the team hotel if necessary, or transfers at the airport if you are coming direct. This is now standard policy for all of our safaris. Obviously we will help you with all the necessary eVisas and docs that you need for the trip after booking.
The usual flights are BA / Kenya Airways from LHR direct or Air France via Paris, both connect well. KLM offers flights from Schipol with connections from all over the UK and so does Lufthansa. Plenty of choices.
Managing Expectations
Unfortunately in light of recent experiences we have been forced to add this section. Photographers see our image collection and always expect to get the same on a trip. You have to realise that we has been doing this for a long. BUT, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT, ALL THE PICTURES THAT YOU SEE IN THIS BROCHURE WERE TAKEN IN THE MARA.
We will try their absolute best to get everyone the best photographic opportunities possible, but of course this can be out of our control as the wildlife has other ideas!!! So whilst we show leopards, cheetahs, lions and lovely birds, we absolutely cannot guarantee in anyway shape or form that you will see any of these. It can rain. It can be cloudy. The lions can go on holiday. The migration can be early / late. You must come with this realistic expectations, we do not make false promises. What we can promise is that the team will work 150% to give you the best chances and best experiences possible. That is GUARANTEED!!
Terms and Conditions
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS
WILDBUNCH EXPEDITIONS LTD
1. The meaning of some words used in these Terms and Conditions.
We, us or our is a reference to Wildbunch Expeditions Ltd. You or your is a reference to the person to whom we are providing our services and who is required to pay for the services we provide. Services means the trips ( including abroad ), tours, tuition or workshops we will organise. The precise services we will be providing to you will be stated in the literature including website(s) and newsletters advertising the services on offer and as we may agree from time to time.
2. Legally binding contract
2.1. A legally binding contract between you and us will come into being when you accept the offer of services from us by booking your place.
2.2. We suggest that before you accept the offer and book your place you read through these Terms and Conditions. If you have any questions concerning them please contact us.
2.3. You should keep a copy of these Terms and Conditions for your records.
3. Providing the Services
3.1. Our aim is to always provide you with the Services using reasonable care and skill.
3.2. There are certain situations or events which occur such as but not limited to adverse weather, non or poor appearance of wildlife, Acts of God, war, acts of terrorism, riot or civil commotion, fire, strike and government or other official intervention which are not within our reasonable control and will affect our ability to provide the services. Where this occurs we will where possible attempt to recommence performing the services as soon as we are able to. In such circumstances there may be a delay before we can start or continue performing the services. Sometimes we might have to bring the start time for the services forward. If we are able to start or continue performing the services or bring the start time forward but you choose not to participate for any reason you will not receive any refund.
4. Expulsion from Services
You agree to act in a suitable and proper manner whilst participating in the services with particular reference to the safety and welfare of wildlife and the enjoyment of the service by other participants and their safety. Should you be in breach of this we reserve the right to expel you from the services and in those circumstances you would not receive any refund.
5. Cancellation by us
5.1. If we cancel the services before they start you will receive a full refund of the money you have paid to us for the services. This does not include any other payments you have made such as for flights or accommodation. It is your responsibility to make sure you have in place appropriate insurance to cover these payments in the event that you do not take up or use whatever you have paid for.
5.2. We shall not refund to you any money which you have paid to us for the services which we have paid to third parties such as for accommodation abroad, internal flights or other travel arrangements abroad which we cannot recover from a third party. We will always try to obtain a refund from the third party and will pay this back to you if received by us.
5.3. If we cancel the services after they have started for any reason you will not receive any refund.
6. Cancellation by you
6.1. Once we and you enter into a binding contract you will not be able to cancel the contract. This is so that the services we are providing can continue for the benefit of other clients. Any money paid by you will not be refunded whereas paid as a deposit or in full payment.
7. Insurance It is your responsibility to ensure that you have adequate travel or other insurance to cover all eventualities where you do not receive a refund from us.
8. Restrictions and Assumptions We will assume that all information and facts that you provide are accurate and true such as your level of fitness or health if this is relevant to the particular services. It is your responsibility to draw to our attention anything which may be relevant or which may affect you from participating in the services we provide before booking and making your payment to us.
9. Exclusion and Limitation of Liability
9.1. We do not exclude or limit liability for our negligence or negligent omission which causes you personal injury or death.
9.2. We will not accept liability for any loss of or damage to photographic or any other equipment no matter how caused during or as a consequence of the services we provide.
9.3. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have adequate insurance to cover loss or damage to photographic or any other equipment before participating in the services.
9.4. In circumstances where we may be liable for any loss or damage suffered by you which is a reasonably foreseeable consequence of a breach by us of this Agreement, our maximum liability will be the amount of payment received from you for this particular service.
10. Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999. For the purposes of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, give any person who is not a party to it any right to enforce any of its provisions.
11. Entire Agreement These Terms and Conditions of Business constitute the entire Agreement between us and you and shall apply to all services provided by us. The invalidity or un-enforceability of any particular term of this Agreement shall not affect the other provisions herein.
12. Law and Jurisdiction - This Agreement shall be governed and construed by the Law of England and you and we agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales.
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