u/Regular-Walk924

Hi everyone,
I’m planning my first Kenya safari for January/February 2027, mainly for wildlife and photography. I’d like a good mix of elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes and other wildlife, rather than focusing only on the Big Cats.
I currently have something like this in mind:
Amboseli – 2 nights
Lake Nakuru – 1–2 nights
Masai Mara – 5–6 nights -> Possibly Kicheche Mara Camp / another conservancy camp

My budget is around 5k (solo traveller).
The part I’m struggling with most is the Mara. I understand that conservancies can offer a better, less crowded safari experience, but they can also be significantly more expensive.
So I’d really appreciate advice on:
Is it worth paying extra for a conservancy?
Can a good conservancy stay realistically fit within my budget for the whole trip?
Is Kicheche Mara a good choice, or are there better-value conservancy camps you would recommend?
Would you stay all 5–6 nights in one conservancy, or split between a conservancy and the main Mara Reserve?
For the other transfers, would you drive or fly?
Would you change anything about this itinerary?
Basically, if you had this budget and these priorities, how would you structure the trip?

Thanks!

Hi all,

I’m planning a trip to Yellowstone, and since I’m coming from Greece and it will be my first time in the USA, I’m considering a wildlife‑focused photography tour to make the most of it. My main interest is wildlife photography (wolves, bears, bison, birds), with some landscape shooting as well.

Has anyone done a wildlife photography tour there?

• Any guides or companies you’d recommend?
• Does it really help with finding wildlife and getting enough time to shoot?

I’m an experienced nature photographer and, considering the cost of wildlife tours, I have fairly high expectations in terms of actual wildlife opportunities and time spent shooting.

Thanks!
Luk