Wildlife of Shompole Wilderness Photography Safari
Special Offer
Reserve with a deposit of £1400
No payment is taken at enquiry stage. We confirm availability first, then send booking forms and deposit payment details. Please read our booking conditions and financial protection information before paying a deposit.
Wildlife of Shompole Wilderness - 3rd - 10th Oct 2027 - Was: £6999 Now: £6499 - Single occupancy
No payment is taken at enquiry stage. We confirm availability first, then send booking forms and deposit payment details. Please read our booking conditions and financial protection information before paying a deposit.
Our Shompole wildlife photography holiday (3-10 October 2027) places you in two purpose-built hides beside separate waterholes in Shompole Conservancy, Kenya, for a week of nocturnal wildlife photography. The Plains Hide & the Kichaka Hide each draw a different mix of species, so every session puts something new in front of the lens. It is a week devoted to the wildlife of Shompole Wilderness at its most photogenic.
Set within the dramatic landscapes of Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, Shompole Wilderness Camp is our base for the week. This remote, unfenced environment is home to the wildlife of Shompole Wilderness & the heart of the trip, placing photographers in a setting where animals move freely through the nocturnal landscape & photographic opportunities evolve naturally.
Why choose a Shompole wildlife photography holiday?
Rather than constant travel, this holiday is built around time, patience & positioning. By staying in one compact area of the Great Rift Valley, you can watch natural behaviour among the wildlife of Shompole Wilderness unfold & create more deliberate, story-driven images.
The wildlife of Shompole Wilderness is drawn to permanent water sources, open plains & seasonal grazing areas. Elephants, giraffes, antelope & plains game are frequent visitors, while predators such as lions & leopards add anticipation & unpredictability to every session.
This trip to photograph the wildlife of Shompole Wilderness suits developing photographers & those with extensive wildlife photography experience alike. Groups are small, with a maximum of seven photographers, so everyone works at a comfortable, considered pace.
Nocturnal hide photography rewards preparation. Low light calls for a camera body that handles high ISO well, a lens that gathers plenty of light, spare batteries & memory cards, & ideally a spare body. The kit list further down this page covers what to pack to photograph the wildlife of Shompole Wilderness, so you can arrive ready to concentrate on the pictures.
What is the photography hide experience in Shompole Wilderness like?
Shompole Wilderness Camp features two dedicated photography hides, each overlooking a different waterhole. While some guests may spend time in both the Plains Hide & the Kichaka Hide during their stay, each attracts a distinct mix of species depending on season, conditions & time of day.
Both hides are carefully positioned to take advantage of natural lighting, with changing angles & reflections shaping the character of each photographic session. Every session offers a fresh view of the wildlife of Shompole Wilderness. The hides allow you to remain concealed, so the wildlife of Shompole Wilderness comes in to drink without disturbance.
Our experienced wildlife photographers are present throughout to share insight into the behaviour of the wildlife of Shompole Wilderness, its movement patterns & emerging photographic opportunities. Their guidance helps you anticipate moments, refine camera settings & make the most of the available light rather than reacting after the event.
Which wildlife of Shompole Wilderness can you photograph?
Images of the wildlife of Shompole Wilderness from previous NaturesLens trips include lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, giraffes, bush pigs, warthogs, antelope & white-tailed mongooses, often with the water adding reflections that give each frame depth. From the hides you may also encounter zebras & a diverse range of bird species.
Each waterhole has its own rhythm & atmosphere, with wide, open views across the surrounding landscape adding scale & context to your wildlife images. With the wildlife of Shompole Wilderness, that variety is the point: you are not chasing a single sighting, you are building a body of work across a week. To see more than the wildlife of Shompole Wilderness, explore our wildlife photography holidays in Kenya.
Reflections are a signature of this trip. Still water at night mirrors eyes, outlines & movement, & learning to expose for both the animal & its reflection is one of the most rewarding skills you will practise.
About the 3-10 October 2027 departure
This departure runs for seven nights, from 3 to 10 October 2027. Join Pui Hang on the Shompole wildlife photography holiday & experience the wildlife of Shompole Wilderness in a way that rewards anticipation, understanding of behaviour & a deep appreciation of light & landscape.
Because the group is capped at seven, there is space in the hide to work & time with our experienced wildlife photographers to ask questions about the wildlife of Shompole Wilderness & fine-tune your approach between sessions.
Prefer a slightly later week? The 12-19 October 2027 departure follows the same format, so you can choose the dates that suit you best.
This trip is one of our wildlife photography holidays in Kenya & part of our programme of African wildlife photography holidays.
The following is the proposed itinerary for this photography holiday, it should be considered provisional & subject to change.
- Day 1 - Assemble Jomo Kenyatta International Airport - transfer to hotel in Nairobi - overnight Nairobi
- Day 2 - transfer to the Great Rift Valley followed by overnight photography from one of the two hides - overnight the Great Rift Valley
- Day 3 - Day 7 - Overnight photography from the plains hide or the bush hide - overnight the Great Rift Valley
- Day 8 - transfer to Nairobi
We have taken care to refine the itinerary for this wildlife photography holiday; as such, we consider the following to be amongst the highlights of this tour.
- The camp is a picturesque destination in Kenya, perfect for wildlife photographers.
- The camp is situated in a private conservancy, offering a unique opportunity to capture stunning wildlife & landscapes.
- You can enjoy breathtaking views of the Great Rift Valley, with its dramatic cliffs & expansive plains.
- The camp offers accommodations in eco-friendly tented suites, providing a comfortable & immersive experience in nature.
- You can spend time at the conservancy's purpose-built hides, waiting patiently as elephants, lions, zebras & giraffes come to you at the waterhole.
- Indulge in delicious meals prepared using fresh, local ingredients, & unwind by the campfire under the starry African sky.
- Capture a portfolio of stunning photographs & unforgettable memories of your stay in the Great Rift Valley.
What Do You Need To Bring With You?
The items listed below are intended as guidance rather than requirements. They outline optional & recommended clothing & camera equipment to help you prepare for the conditions & photographic opportunities you may encounter.
Clothing suggestions for the conditions expected.
- Clothing suitable for hot conditions
- Lightweight, breathable clothing
- Comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots
- Sun hat or cap
Suggested camera equipment for the opportunities expected.
- DSLR or mirrorless camera body
- Spare camera body
- Spare batteries, charger & memory cards
- Lens cleaning kit
- Laptop or storage device for image backup
What's Included & What's Not Included On The Wildlife of Shompole Wilderness Photography Holiday
Before booking the Wildlife of Shompole Wilderness Photography Holiday, we recommend reviewing what is included in the trip price, along with any items that are not. This helps ensure you have a clear understanding of what is covered, allowing you to focus fully on the photographic experience.
Most services & experiences are included in the trip price.
- Guidance from our experienced team members
- Accommodation on a Single occupancy basis
- Internal transfers
- Hide access
- Permits
- Meals on a full board basis
- All local drinks
Some items & services are not included in the trip price.
- International flights
- Internal flights
- Camera equipment
- Travel insurance
- Visas
- Gratuities
- Personal expenses
Travel Insurance – it is a requirement when booking on any wildlife photography holiday scheduled by NaturesLens that you have adequate travel insurance, we suggest a policy from TrailFinders or Campbell Irvine.
Over the duration of this safari, the locations should provide opportunities for capturing images of lion, leopard, elephant, giraffe, zebra, hyena, buffalo, civet, genet, mongoose, wildebeest & more besides. Both hides attract a remarkable diversity of species, with regular nocturnal visits from predators & plains game alike. Every night brings the potential for something extraordinary to appear in front of your lens, making Shompole Wilderness one of Africa's most rewarding destinations for wildlife photographers seeking truly unique after-dark encounters under the experienced guidance of one of the NaturesLens team.
NaturesLens photography holidays do not include flights unless it is explicitly stated on the event page. When it is time to book your flights, we will send you the details in plenty of time to allow for bookings at the best available price.
The photography holiday itinerary is subject to change & is to be considered provisional.
NaturesLens photography holidays require a minimum number of participants in order to be viable. If this minimum number is not met, the photography holiday may not go ahead.
In the event that the minimum number for a photography holiday to go ahead is not reached, NaturesLens reserves the right to cancel any given photography holiday. In that event 100% of monies received will be returned. However, NaturesLens is not responsible for expenses incurred by its customers.
Not all mentioned wildlife can be observed & photographed at all times of the year, thus some activities may be considered seasonal & not available.
Please note the cuisine on many of the NaturesLens photography holidays is authentic & typical of the region in which you are travelling. International or western cuisine is often NOT available. If you have any concerns over the food arrangements or have any special dietary requirements, please contact us prior to making a booking.
All personal luggage are the responsibility of the owner & we request that photography holiday participants limit their luggage to the equivalent of one suitcase, one flight bag, one camera bag & tripod. We do not wish to appear dictatorial in this matter & the request is made to ensure space & comfort for everyone in our vehicles.
NaturesLens & its agents act only as agents for the passenger in all matters relating to travel arrangements, & as such, do not assume responsibility for injury, accident, damage, loss, delay or irregularity which may occur via defect of transportation or any other cause.
NaturesLens reserves the right to substitute hotels, & other previously outlined arrangements as necessary, to either improve or equal the travel experience.
NaturesLens reserves the right to pass on to photography holiday participants any additional & unplanned expenditure incurred during a photography holiday, via events beyond the control of NaturesLens. NaturesLens reserves the right to accept or decline any person as a member of any photography holiday.
Payment of a deposit by photography holiday participants or their representative constitutes their acceptance of all conditions contained herein.
All bookings are made subject to our terms & conditions.
Photograph the nocturnal wildlife of Shompole Wilderness in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley. Two waterhole hides, varied species & experienced guidance.
Combine This Trip
This photography holiday pairs perfectly with the trips shown below. Running immediately before or after this tour, they allow you to extend your time in the region, photograph additional species & habitats & make the most of your international travel arrangements.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve compiled answers to the questions we are most commonly asked about this photography tour, covering everything from accommodation, transport & group size through to photography opportunities, fitness requirements & what to expect in the field. If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, please don’t hesitate to contact us – we’re always happy to discuss any aspect of the trip before you book.