African Black Leopard Wildlife Photography Workshop

Overview

5 nights 6 days of Wildlife Photography Masterclass Expedition with the Bedi Brothers exploring the raw wilderness of lesser explored Kenya.

DCP Experts

Entry fees

Full Day Safari

Meals

Off Roading

Open Vehicle

Stay

About The Tour

If you are looking for something beyond the regular African Safari, you should not be missing this expedition, because of more than one reason. Laikipia plateau has a lot to offer from spectacular landscapes to its extra – ordinary wildlife. The area is largely unfenced and home to a variety of wildlife, which includes large permanent herds of elephant, lion, leopard, spotted hyena, common zebra, warthog, hippo, buffalo, and many different antelope species.

Rare wildlife, wild dogs and melanistic leopards

The place is home more than 70% of the world’s remaining Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, zorilla, striped hyena, aardwolf, wild dog, and melanistic leopard. Laikipia is famous for some incredible wild dog sightings. The ‘Phoenix Pack’ is a very popular pack and offer frequent sightings.

Laikipia has become famous for sightings of black leopards, since Will Burrard Lucas captured it originally in 2019. The female melanistic leopard is seen frequently is fairly habituated with human presence thus offer amazing photography opportunities.

Quick Information

Route:

Nairobi - Laikipia - Nairobi

Start Point:

Nairobi

Duration:

5 nights 6 days

End Point:

Nairobi

Inclusions

5 Nights 6 Days Wildlife Photography Masterclass Expedition to Laikipia
Laikipia offers spectacular landscapes and amazing wildlife
Known for sightings of melanistic leopards and wild dogs
Hands on training in field by Masterclass Bedi Brothers
Private vehicle (Black leopard special vehicle)
Night safari in private vehicle
Accommodation in river camp (twin sharing basis)
All meals as mentioned in itinerary
All game drives as per itinerary
All park entrance fees
4 x 4 Open Land Cruiser
Services of a qualified English Speaking Driver Guide

Experts

Ajay Bedi

Senior Advisor and Masterclass Mentor

Ajay and Vijay Bedi are Emmy nominated wildlife film makers and photographers for almost 2 decades. They are youngest Asians to have won the Green Oscar. Recently Junior Bedi Brothers used their footage to contribute to a scientific paper in collaboration with scientists. They also won 4 National awards in 2019 and 2021 awarded by the President of India for first natural history film devoted to amphibians of India and endangered Adjutant stork.

Vijay Bedi

Senior Advisor and Masterclass Mentor

Arrive at Jommo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi. You will be met and greeted by our airport manager and will be transferred to Laikipia Wilderness Camp.

Not applicable

Getting Ready

Things to carry:

Telephoto lenses – preferably above 400 mm for distant shots
Zoom lenses – for the flexibility that it offers for unanticipated circumstances
Wide angle lenses for opportunities of landscape photography
Carry fully charged batteries for your camera / flash.
Carry battery charger. Carry extra pack of camera batteries
Carry backup memory cards / HDD storage drives, Laptop
Bean Bag (stuff with Bajra or thermacol or Rice).
Carry a big towel / cloth to protect your gear from dust
Carry a big cloth / bandanna / scarf to protect you from the dust
Body Warmer for the chilly early mornings.
Sun screens are very important
It is advisable to carry basic first aid along with you.
Please carry Odomos to keep you protected from mosquito bites.
Carry a pair of good binoculars

Equipment available on rental - please mail us at rentals@dcpexpeditions.com.

Vaccinations (for Indian participants only)

Please note two very important vaccinations that you need to do.

Yellow fever vaccination to be taken at least 10 days before departure date mandatory for emigration clearance
Oral Polio vaccination to be taken at least 4 weeks and not more than one year before departure date mandatory for emigration clearance

Please get in touch with our team for any assistance.

Itinerary

21st Sep, Day 1 - Arrive at Laikipia

Arrive at Jommo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi. You will be met and greeted by our airport manager and will be transferred to Laikipia Wilderness Camp. Check in and take rest.

Our Masterclass Mentor will brief you on the expectations from this camp and the biodiversity around.

22nd - 25th Sep, Day 2 - 5 - Laikipia Wilderness Camp

Our major attraction for the expedition is the resident female melanistic leopard. We will be on a Private vehicle (PV) which has a priority over others.

However, during our stay, we will have opportunities to photograph rare wildlife like Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, Beisa oryx, zorilla, striped hyena, aardwolf and wild dogs, apart from the regular wildlife like herds of elephant, lion, leopard, spotted hyena, common zebra, warthog, hippo, buffalo, and many different antelope species.

26th Sep, Day 6 - Departure

We will have our breakfast and will be transported to Nairobi to catch our departure flights to our respective countries.

Field Learnings

On field learning from the experts is said to be one of the best methods of improving your skillsets. Our Wildlife Photography Expert will hand hold you at every possible step for a better understanding of perspectives, camera controls and how to make use of the best opportunities to get better images. The training will focus on the following

How to approach Wildlife in the field
Different modes of shooting (Av / A, Tv / S, M and P)
Exposure control in field under difficult light conditions
Mastering metering techniques (Spot, partial, center weighted, evaluative)
Mastering auto focus, focusing points, AF locking and focus tracking for moving subjects
How to get sharp images of moving subjects
Framing and composition in the field
Ethics in Wildlife Photography

Image processing workshop

To maximize and complete your photographic learning, join our evening session of informal discussions on digital image processing. Our Expert will work on few of his own images or a few of yours (which you have clicked during the day) and demonstrate various techniques of image processing to give a final shape to your artwork. The following will be discussed

RAW files processing
Histogram and exposure control
Colour correction methods
Cropping and image resizing
Sharpening, cloning, dodging and burning
Noise reduction
Composition

Package Cost

4500 USD inclusive of all taxes per head
(Those who pay in INR need to pay as per exchange rates as on the date of transaction)

Twin sharing accommodation and only 4 pax in a 4 X 4 Land Cruiser

Cost includes:

Accommodation in river camp (twin sharing basis)
All meals as mentioned in itinerary
All game drives as per itinerary
All park entrance fees
4 x 4 Open Land Cruiser
Hands on training in field by our Masterclass Mentors
Private vehicle (Black leopard special vehicle)
Night safari in private vehicle
Services of a qualified English Speaking Driver Guide

Cost doesn't include

All International Flights + Taxes
Visas and Mediclaim charges
Travel & Personal accident insurance
Tips & personal expenses such as bar, telephone calls, tips, gratuities … etc.
Cost of Meals other than those specified in inclusions
Cost of foreign exchange for personal expenses
Excursions not detailed in above program

Map

Laikipia Wilderness Camp

Policies

Cancellation policy

All cancellations before 30 days of the event date - 80% credit
All cancellations between 20 - 30 days of the event date - 50% credit
All cancellations within 20 days of the event date - No credit possible

FAQ's

Can I get a single room accomodation?

Please write to us on info@dcpexpeditions.com as it is subject to availability.

Can a non-photographer join the tour?

Yes you are welcome. However, the cost remains same for non photographers.

African Black Leopard - Wildlife Photography Masterclass Expedition, Sept 2024

₹ 370,000₹ 450,000

₹370,000₹ 450,000