Wild Africa Family Camp

CAMP OVERVIEW

“Wild Africa” is The Outback Experience’s ultimate family wildlife adventure – a journey through some of Kenya’s most spectacular landscapes, wildlife habitats, and wilderness experiences.

This 6-night, 7-day adventure takes you through the wildlife-rich plains of Sweetwaters and the beautiful birdlife and landscapes of Lake Elementaita, before culminating in three unforgettable nights in the legendary Maasai Mara.

Led by award-winning wildlife photographer Phillip Ross, this is more than a safari. It is an immersive wildlife, photography and naturalist experience designed to help families slow down, observe, learn, photograph and experience Africa together.

Nairobi
Your African adventure begins in Nairobi, where you’ll spend your first night settling in and getting ready for the journey ahead. This relaxed start gives everyone a chance to arrive, meet the group and prepare for the adventure before heading into the Kenyan wilderness.

Ol Pejeta Conservancy – Sweetwaters
From Nairobi, we head north to Sweetwaters, located within the renowned Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Here, your first safari experiences begin, with opportunities to encounter some of Kenya’s most iconic wildlife in a spectacular conservation landscape.

Sweetwaters is home to rhinos, elephants, lions, leopards, giraffes, zebras and numerous other species, making it the perfect place to begin learning how to observe animal behaviour and photograph wildlife in the field.

Lake Elementaita
Our journey continues to the beautiful Lake Elementaita, a shallow soda lake nestled within Kenya’s Great Rift Valley.

This is where we slow things down and look beyond the big mammals. Lake Elementaita is an important habitat for waterbirds and other wildlife, offering wonderful opportunities for birdwatching, landscape photography and learning about Kenya’s diverse ecosystems.

For young naturalists and budding photographers, it’s a chance to discover that there’s much more to an African safari than lions and elephants.

Maasai Mara National Reserve
Our final destination, and the grand finale of the adventure… is the legendary Maasai Mara!!!

Over three nights, we’ll explore its vast grasslands and wildlife-rich landscapes, giving us the time to truly settle into the rhythm of the Mara. Expect opportunities to encounter lions, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, zebras, hippos and huge herds of antelope, along with countless smaller and often overlooked creatures.

With multiple safari experiences, we’ll have time to work on wildlife photography, observe animal behaviour, track wildlife and simply enjoy being immersed in one of Africa’s most extraordinary wildernesses.

And then, all too soon, it’s time to head back to Nairobi… cameras full, memories made and hopefully a few stories that will be told for years to come.

This isn’t just a safari. It’s an opportunity for your family to experience Africa, learn from it and discover the wild together.

So pack your bags. Kenya is calling!!!

CAMP ITINERARY

Dates: 9th to 15th May, 2027
6 Nights / 7 Days
Nairobi • Sweetwaters • Lake Elementaita • Maasai Mara

IMPORTANT NOTE:

The camp begins with one night in Nairobi on 9th May 2027, which is included in the tour cost and is on a bed & breakfast basis.
Participants should plan to arrive in Nairobi on 9th May. Once your flights are confirmed, Phillip will assist you with planning your airport transfers and Nairobi stay.

9th May – Day 1: Arrival in Nairobi

Welcome to Kenya!

We begin our adventure in Nairobi, where everyone will meet, settle in and get ready for the days ahead.
Depending on arrival times, there will be an opportunity to meet the group, go over the itinerary, get familiar with your photography gear and talk about what to expect during our time in the Kenyan wilderness.
This is a relaxed first evening, giving everyone time to recover from their journey before we head out on safari. Participants can either arrange to have their dinner at the hotel, or explore one of Nairobi’s many restaurants.

Overnight in Nairobi

10th May – Day 2: Nairobi to Sweetwaters

After breakfast, we leave Nairobi and begin our journey north towards Sweetwaters, located within the renowned Ol Pejeta Conservancy.
The drive takes us through changing landscapes as we leave the city behind and enter the Kenyan countryside.
After checking in and settling into camp, we’ll head out for our first safari.
This is where the adventure really begins!
Keep your cameras ready for encounters with rhinos, elephants, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, lions and, if we’re lucky, some of Kenya’s more elusive predators.
Phillip will begin introducing everyone to the fundamentals of wildlife photography, observation and animal behaviour, helping you get comfortable photographing wildlife in the field.

Overnight in Sweetwaters

11th May – Day 3: Sweetwaters to Lake Elementaita

We’ll enjoy our morning experience at Sweetwaters before heading south towards Lake Elementaita, one of the beautiful lakes of Kenya’s Great Rift Valley.
After checking into our lodge, we’ll spend the afternoon exploring the area and discovering a different side of Kenya’s wildlife.
Lake Elementaita is particularly special for birdwatchers and nature photographers, with a rich variety of waterbirds and other wildlife.
This is a chance to slow down, look closely and practise photographing birds, landscapes and smaller details, not just the big animals!
As the sun begins to set over the Great Rift Valley, we’ll have the opportunity to work on landscape photography, composition and storytelling.

Overnight in Lake Elementaita

12th May – Day 4: Lake Elementaita to Maasai Mara

After breakfast, we leave Lake Elementaita and make our way towards the world-famous Maasai Mara.
The journey takes us through the spectacular landscapes of the Great Rift Valley and towards the open grasslands of the Mara.
After checking into our camp and enjoying lunch, we’ll head out for our first safari in the Maasai Mara.
With its incredible concentration of wildlife, the Mara is the perfect place to put everything we’ve learned so far into practice.
Keep your cameras ready for lions, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and countless other species.

Overnight in Maasai Mara

13th May – Day 5: Exploring the Maasai Mara

Today is all about getting into the rhythm of the Mara.
We’ll head out early, when wildlife is most active and the light is at its most beautiful.
We’ll spend time observing animal behaviour, learning how to anticipate wildlife movements and developing our wildlife photography skills.
After returning to camp for lunch and some downtime, we’ll head out again in the late afternoon for another safari.
As the sun drops towards the horizon, we’ll work on creative techniques such as silhouettes, backlighting, golden-hour portraits and environmental storytelling.

Overnight in Maasai Mara

14th May – Day 6: Maasai Mara – Wildlife, Culture & Photography

Our final full day in the Mara gives us time to explore without rushing.
We’ll head out for another morning safari, making the most of our final opportunities to photograph the Mara’s incredible wildlife.
We’ll also have the opportunity to experience Maasai culture, with a visit to a traditional Maasai village and an insight into the people, traditions and communities that call this region home.
Back in the Mara, we’ll enjoy our final safari and photography session.
This is our opportunity to put everything together – observation, composition, light, patience and storytelling, and create our own visual story of Africa.
We’ll end our final evening in the Mara celebrating the adventure, sharing our favourite sightings and, of course, our favourite photographs.

Overnight in Maasai Mara

15th May – Day 7: Maasai Mara to Nairobi & Departure

After breakfast, we say goodbye to the Mara and begin our journey back to Nairobi.
It’s our final chance to take in the Kenyan landscape and reflect on everything we’ve experienced over the past week.
We’ll arrive in Nairobi in time for participants to continue to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for their onward flights home.
For those with later flights, we’ll ensure there is sufficient time to reach the airport comfortably.
And then, all too soon, our Wild Africa adventure comes to an end… with new photographs, unforgettable wildlife encounters, new friendships and memories to last a lifetime.

Departure from Nairobi

THE JOURNEY AT A GLANCE

9 May — Nairobi
10 May — Sweetwaters
11 May — Lake Elementaita
12 May — Maasai Mara
13 May — Maasai Mara
14 May — Maasai Mara
15 May — Nairobi → Home

6 nights • 7 days • 3 destinations • 1 unforgettable African adventure