The Ultimate Best of Kenya Safari: Above & Below the Equator

Originally coined by historic big-game hunters, the term “Big Five” refers to the five most formidable and dangerous African animals to track on foot: the African Elephant, the Black and White Rhino, the African Lion, the Leopard, and the Cape Buffalo. Today, the term represents the pinnacle of an African wildlife viewing experience. Because our 10-day itinerary crosses both the predator-dense Mara North Conservancy and the highly protected sanctuary of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, you will have an exceptional opportunity to view and photograph all five of these legendary species in their natural, unhurried habitats.

The “Northern Special Five” is a celebrated collective of unique, visually striking species specifically adapted to the semi-arid, rugged ecosystems north of the equator. Because they are geographically isolated from the southern savannahs, you will not encounter them in places like the Maasai Mara or Serengeti. Spotting them all requires traveling to specialized northern reserves like the Laikipia Plateau, making them highly prized additions to any photographer’s portfolio. 

The Northern Special Five consists of:

1. The Reticulated Giraffe: Famous for its striking, hand-painted geometric coat pattern of deep liver-red polygons separated by crisp white lines.
2. Grevy’s Zebra: The largest and most endangered wild equine species, distinguished by incredibly narrow, tightly packed stripes, a solid white belly, and huge, rounded ears.
3. The Gerenuk: One of Sean’s favorites from the Northern Special Five – a gerenuk is a remarkable “giraffe gazelle” with an elongated neck that stands completely upright on its hind legs to browse high acacia branches. 
4. The Beisa Oryx: An elegant desert warrior featuring sleek parallel markings and perfectly straight, rapier-like horns that can reach a meter in length.
5. The Somali Ostrich: A distinct species where the males feature vivid, slate-blue skin on their necks and thighs, which turns an intense, bright red during mating season.

Certainly. We understand that international flight schedules vary and many travelers prefer to arrive a day or two early to shake off the jet lag, or extend their stay at the conclusion of our journey so as to maximize their time in East Africa. Sharp Wildlife is always happy to assist our guests in arranging premium, secure hotel accommodations in Nairobi or the surrounding region on either side of our official safari itinerary, ensuring your entire travel experience flows seamlessly.

Absolutely. Designing customized add-ons for individual guests and their travel partners on either side of our scheduled journey is something we are completely capable of doing and always happy to tailor just for you. Whether you would like to expand your time in Kenya or a nearby country with another wildlife specific safari or if you would like Sharp Wildlife to custom tailor a mix of cultural, wildlife, and eco activities, we would be thrilled to work with you to build an add-on from the ground up that meets your wishes.

This is a great question and when planning what camera gear you might want to bring and how to pack, please keep in mind our luggage weight restrictions (20.5 KG / 45 lbs. per person) and the fact we will often position ourselves as close to the wildlife action as possible – so no extreme telephoto lenses needed.

Depending on the camera gear you own or want to rent, we would advise bringing a backup camera body if able along with two sets of batteries for each body (if your camera requires two batteries, bring four; if your camera requires one large battery, bring two). You will be able to charge your camera batteries each afternoon and evening, so only bring a set of backup batteries for each camera in case your camera’s battery runs out of juice in the field.

Do you absolutely need to bring two camera bodies if that is a stretch for you? No, you do not. We do not want you to spend more money than you need to and we will not be asking you to do anything dangerous or risky with your camera. We only advise a second camera body in case an accident happens or if you would like to have a second camera with a different lens attached to complement your main go-to camera and lens combo.

Now, what lenses do we recommend? We know there are a lot of options out there for each camera brand so we simply advise considering bringing lenses in similar ranges as the following:

• As your main go-to lens: Either a versatile zoom lens such as a 100-400mm or 200-600mm; or a prime lens such as a 300mm or a 400mm (both with an available teleconverter to add if needed); or a 600mm prime lens if you really want the extra reach (but please be aware that often a 600mm prime is too much lens when the action gets close and you would likely want to have a supporting versatile zoom lens with a shorter range on hand for when the wildlife gets too close).
• As a second supporting lens: For wider landscape photos, fitting a bigger scene of multiple animals into your frame, or capturing nice tight headshots when a species gets close, we suggest bringing a supporting lens in the range of 24-70mm or 70-200mm. Or if you are bringing a prime lens as your main go-to lens, then consider bringing a second lens such as a 100-400mm or similar range.

Of course, if you still have camera gear questions, we are available to chat or message more as you plan for this safari.

100%, yes! We warmly welcome anyone who wants to experience the magic of East Africa. Sharp Wildlife is built around a deep passion for the natural world, and we love sharing that wonder with non-photographers, partners, friends, and family members alike. While we place a strong emphasis on experiencing wildlife during golden hours and pursuing the most ideal angles for viewing animal behaviors through a photographer’s eye, the privilege of witnessing these ecosystems from your own dedicated vehicle row is a world-class adventure for any travel enthusiast (photographer or not) – and we would love to welcome you and your travel party!

As fellow photographers and travelers ourselves, we know that when a spectacular wildlife moment unfolds the last thing you would want is to be blocked by a seatmate in our safari vehicle and to not be allowed to move to each side of the vehicle as often and whenever you want. With that in mind, we have worked with each of our safari lodging partners to arrange for an additional and exclusive vehicle to be made available for our small group.

What that means for our six guests is that each guest will have their own row in an exclusive, custom safari vehicle. Our group will have two vehicles total—three guests per vehicle (each with their own row).  Sean will lead from one of our game drive vehicles, and Laurie will lead from the other, each sitting in the front passenger seat next to our dedicated local game drivers. Sean and Laurie will work with our drivers to observe, track, and anticipate animal behavior and will direct our drivers to best position our vehicles for the best possible angles for each of our guests in the rows behind.

Additionally, if we are viewing a wildlife moment in a tight spot—and if we have the time to do so—Sean and Laurie will work with the driver to move forward and backward as much or as little as needed so each guest in their individual rows will be able to have a turn lining up their ideal shot without background distractions.

Now, what if you are traveling with a friend or family member and you would like to share a row? No problem at all; it is not a rigid rule that each guest must sit alone. Instead, just know we have thought through all the little details and have engineered the logistics so that having an entire row to yourself is always available should you want that option.

Yes, for sure. Both our hidden riverine camp in the Mara and the exquisite kitchen team at Lewa House cater completely to all dietary needs, including gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, and specific food allergies. Upon securing your space on the safari, we will send over a detailed guest profile form where you can list your preferences so our culinary partners are thoroughly prepared before you arrive.

As we get closer to our departure date, we will provide you with a comprehensive, professional packing list. In the meantime, the golden rule for safari comfort is to dress in layers. Mornings and late evenings on game drives can be quite brisk, while midday temperatures become beautifully warm. We recommend packing comfortable pants or shorts, long-sleeve sun shirts, a fleece, a lightweight jacket, and a compact rain shell. Additionally, ensure you pack your required personal medications, sunblock, lip balm, a light hat, and US currency for gratuities and personal shopping.

Yes, and for this reason, we highly recommend not over-packing! Both of our exceptional lodge locations offer premium, daily laundry services with a remarkably fast turnaround. Each accommodation provides a dedicated laundry basket in your room.

Simply place your items inside each morning, and the camp staff will typically place your freshly washed garments on your bed while we are out enjoying our evening game drives – or if it is a raining day, they will be hang drying your laundry indoors and may note return your garment until the next morning at the very latest.

(Ladies, please note: We do apologize for this exception, but due to local cultural preferences, our lodging partners respectfully request our female guests not to give staff ladies’ undergarments to wash. Again, we apologize for this inconvenience and we share this so you can be prepared to pack accordingly. All other clothing items will be accepted though).

This specific seasonal window is strategically selected for clear tracking conditions and excellent light. Below the equator in the Mara North, you can expect gorgeous, warm safari weather with average daytime highs reaching around 82°F to 84°F (28°C), dropping to a comfortable 55°F (13°C) under the stars. When we travel north of the equator to the Laikipia Plateau, the slightly higher altitude of the Lewa Conservancy shifts the climate beautifully. Daytime highs average a pleasant 78°F to 80°F (26°C), while the crisp mountain air brings refreshing evening lows around 52°F (11°C).

Yes, you will have continuous access to electricity throughout the trip. Reliable power is available directly inside each guest’s luxury tented cabin at our Mara North camp, as well as within our premium Earth Pods at Lewa House. There are no restrictions or limitations on charging your camera batteries, laptops, power banks, or phones at either property, allowing you to keep your workflow fully fueled every day.

Complementary WiFi is available at both our hidden Mara North Eco Camp and Lewa House in the main guest lounges, allowing you to stay connected with family and friends back home. However, please note that WiFi upload speeds might not be fast enough for large image uploads (social media posts should be no problem).

When it comes to cellular networks, Kenya possesses surprisingly robust infrastructure, and you may find unexpected signals out in the bush. However, remote game drives take us all over; for this reason, we recommend not relying on consistent or seamless cell phone coverage once we depart from Nairobi.

To protect our intimate operational roots and ensure our guests enjoy a peaceful, uncrowded experience away from mass-market tourism, we do not publish the name of our private riverine hideaway online. Additionally, this helps ensure fewer operators rushing to this region at our time of year. However, once your booking down payments have been received and as our safari gets closer to departure, we will be sharing the full detailed itinerary with the names of our locations.

Yes. To protect our small-group operational logistics and ensure your absolute safety in remote environments, comprehensive personal travel insurance is required for all Sharp Wildlife guests. Your policy must cover emergency medical evacuation, trip cancellation, and interruption. We highly recommend securing your coverage immediately upon booking to protect your investment.

If you are curious to what travel insurance plan options cover and what they may cost, you can easily initiate your travel insurance research with our trusted affiliate provider, World Nomads, using the link below:

Review World Nomads Coverage Plans

Because entry requirements and personal health factors vary significantly based on your individual medical history and country of origin, Sharp Wildlife cannot provide official medical advice. We strongly recommend scheduling a consultation with your personal physician or a specialized travel medicine clinic at least 60 days prior to departure so they can evaluate your health profile and cross-reference current international health directives to determine exactly which vaccinations or preventative measures are right for you.

Securing your space is simple and starts with a direct conversation. Because we strictly limit our group configurations to ensure an unrushed, intimate experience, spaces fill exceptionally fast. Simply scroll down to our multi-step booking form below to initiate a consultation or secure your pre-registration deposit. Once received, Sean or Laurie will personally reach out to welcome you to our Sharp Wildlife travel family and walk you through the next steps and the safari itinerary.