Canonical URL: https://natureslens.co.uk/what-you-could-photograph-in-the-next-twelve-months/why-you-could-be-photographing-wildlife-in-september/ # Why September Is a Strong Month for Wildlife Photography Published on July 12, 2026 [![A Lion Silhouetted By The Rising Sun Behind Photographed During A Natureslens Photography Holiday To Photograph The Wildlife Of The Maasai Mara](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/a-lion-silhouetted-by-the-rising-sun-behind-photographed-during-a-natureslens-photography-holiday-to-photograph-the-wildlife-of-the-maasai-mara-1024x683.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/a-lion-silhouetted-by-the-rising-sun-behind-photographed-during-a-natureslens-photography-holiday-to-photograph-the-wildlife-of-the-maasai-mara.jpg) ### Article brief Editorial article Published July 12, 2026 September is peak East Africa season for us, plus one of the richest bird trips we run anywhere on a different continent entirely. Here’s what’s on. [![A Lion Silhouetted By The Rising Sun Behind Photographed During A Natureslens Photography Holiday To Photograph The Wildlife Of The Maasai Mara](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/a-lion-silhouetted-by-the-rising-sun-behind-photographed-during-a-natureslens-photography-holiday-to-photograph-the-wildlife-of-the-maasai-mara-1024x683.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/a-lion-silhouetted-by-the-rising-sun-behind-photographed-during-a-natureslens-photography-holiday-to-photograph-the-wildlife-of-the-maasai-mara-1024x683.jpg) ## Why is September such a strong month for the Maasai Mara? [African Wildlife of the Maasai Mara](https://natureslens.co.uk/2024/10/25/maasai-mara/) covers the tail end of the wildebeest migration this month, with [African buffalo](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/african-buffalo/), [African elephants](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/african-elephant/) & [African leopards](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/african-leopard/) all in play alongside [lions](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/african-lion/) working the same open plains. Predator density is genuinely at its highest this month, as resident cats take full advantage of the concentrated prey. ### Photograph big cats at the peak of the migration season September puts you in the Maasai Mara exactly when predator activity around the migration is at its most concentrated. [Explore our Maasai Mara photography holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/2024/10/25/maasai-mara/) ## Why is Tanzania’s Serengeti worth photographing further south this month? [Lions of the Serengeti](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/tanzania/lions-of-the-serengeti/) gives you the Lobo region’s resident prides in genuinely open country, a different, more spacious version of big cat photography to the Mara’s denser vehicle traffic, & [blue wildebeest](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/blue-wildebeest/) still moving through the same landscape. [![One Of The Larger Lions Who Rule The Lobo Region The Region Of Tanzania That We Use For The Natureslens Wildlife Of The Serengeti Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/One-of-the-larger-lions-who-rule-the-Lobo-region-the-region-of-Tanzania-that-we-use-for-the-NaturesLens-Wildlife-of-the-Serengeti-Photography-Holiday-1024x768.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/One-of-the-larger-lions-who-rule-the-Lobo-region-the-region-of-Tanzania-that-we-use-for-the-NaturesLens-Wildlife-of-the-Serengeti-Photography-Holiday-1024x768.jpg) ## Why is Colombia such a strong choice for bird photographers in September? For something completely different, [Ultimate Birds of Colombia](https://natureslens.co.uk/photography-holiday/ultimate-birds-of-colombia/) is one of the richest bird trips we run anywhere, built around cloud forest species like the [Andean cock-of-the-rock](https://natureslens.co.uk/photograph/andean-cock-of-the-rock/) & the Baudó guan, genuinely different terrain & light to anything East Africa offers. [![A Black Billed Mountain Toucan Andigena Nigrirostris One Of The Species That You Will Be Able To Photograph During The Natureslens Birds Of Colombia Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/A-Black-billed-Mountain-Toucan-Andigena-nigrirostris1-one-of-the-species-that-you-will-be-able-to-photograph-during-the-NaturesLens-Birds-of-Colombia-photography-holiday-1024x768.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/A-Black-billed-Mountain-Toucan-Andigena-nigrirostris1-one-of-the-species-that-you-will-be-able-to-photograph-during-the-NaturesLens-Birds-of-Colombia-photography-holiday-1024x768.jpg) ## Is East Africa really worth planning a whole trip around in September? Yes, this is usually the strongest single month for it. Our [Kenya](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/africa/kenya/) & [Tanzania](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/africa/tanzania/) departures are built around resident prides & genuinely large mammal densities rather than a single migration event, so the photography holds up well even outside the peak river-crossing weeks most safari photography is built around. ## Which of these September trips should you choose? Choose the [Maasai Mara](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/africa/kenya/) for peak predator density around the migration. Choose the Serengeti’s Lobo region for resident prides in more open, spacious country. Choose Colombia if cloud forest birds are more your discipline than big cats. Peak East [Africa](https://natureslens.co.uk/discover/africa/) on two different landscapes, plus one of the most rewarding bird trips we run anywhere, September is a genuinely strong month to travel. In this articleJump to section 1. [Why is September such a strong month for the Maasai Mara?](https://natureslens.co.uk/what-you-could-photograph-in-the-next-twelve-months/why-you-could-be-photographing-wildlife-in-september/#why-is-september-such-a-strong-month-for-the-maasai-mara) 1. [Why is Tanzania's Serengeti worth photographing further south this month?](https://natureslens.co.uk/what-you-could-photograph-in-the-next-twelve-months/why-you-could-be-photographing-wildlife-in-september/#why-is-tanzanias-serengeti-worth-photographing-further-south-this-month) 1. [Why is Colombia such a strong choice for bird photographers in September?](https://natureslens.co.uk/what-you-could-photograph-in-the-next-twelve-months/why-you-could-be-photographing-wildlife-in-september/#why-is-colombia-such-a-strong-choice-for-bird-photographers-in-september) 1. [Is East Africa really worth planning a whole trip around in September?](https://natureslens.co.uk/what-you-could-photograph-in-the-next-twelve-months/why-you-could-be-photographing-wildlife-in-september/#is-east-africa-really-worth-planning-a-whole-trip-around-in-september) 1. [Which of these September trips should you choose?](https://natureslens.co.uk/what-you-could-photograph-in-the-next-twelve-months/why-you-could-be-photographing-wildlife-in-september/#which-of-these-september-trips-should-you-choose) ## What You Could Photograph in the Next Twelve Months - [What You Could Photograph Over the Next Twelve Months with NaturesLens](https://natureslens.co.uk/what-you-could-photograph-in-the-next-twelve-months/what-you-could-photograph-over-the-next-twelve-months-with-natureslens/) - [Why January Is a Strong Month for Wildlife Photography](https://natureslens.co.uk/what-you-could-photograph-in-the-next-twelve-months/why-you-could-be-photographing-wildlife-in-january/) - [What You Should Be Photographing in February](https://natureslens.co.uk/what-you-could-photograph-in-the-next-twelve-months/why-you-could-be-photographing-wildlife-in-february/) - [What You Should Be Photographing in March](https://natureslens.co.uk/what-you-could-photograph-in-the-next-twelve-months/why-you-could-be-photographing-wildlife-in-march/) - [What You Should Be Photographing in April](https://natureslens.co.uk/what-you-could-photograph-in-the-next-twelve-months/why-you-could-be-photographing-wildlife-in-april/) - [What You Should Be Photographing in May](https://natureslens.co.uk/what-you-could-photograph-in-the-next-twelve-months/why-you-could-be-photographing-wildlife-in-may/) - [What You Should Be Photographing in June](https://natureslens.co.uk/what-you-could-photograph-in-the-next-twelve-months/why-you-could-be-photographing-wildlife-in-june/) - [What You Should Be Photographing in July](https://natureslens.co.uk/what-you-could-photograph-in-the-next-twelve-months/why-you-could-be-photographing-wildlife-in-july/) - [What You Should Be Photographing in August](https://natureslens.co.uk/what-you-could-photograph-in-the-next-twelve-months/why-you-could-be-photographing-wildlife-in-august/) - Why September Is a Strong Month for Wildlife Photography - [Wildlife Photography in October: Kenya & Botswana](https://natureslens.co.uk/what-you-could-photograph-in-the-next-twelve-months/why-you-could-be-photographing-wildlife-in-october/) - [What You Should Be Photographing in November](https://natureslens.co.uk/what-you-could-photograph-in-the-next-twelve-months/why-you-could-be-photographing-wildlife-in-november/) - [What You Should Be Photographing in December](https://natureslens.co.uk/what-you-could-photograph-in-the-next-twelve-months/why-you-could-be-photographing-wildlife-in-december/) - [![A Green Hermit Phaethornis Guy One Of The Species That You Will Be Able To Photograph During The Natureslens Birds Of Colombia Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/A-Green-Hermit-Phaethornis-guy-one-of-the-species-that-you-will-be-able-to-photograph-during-the-NaturesLens-Birds-of-Colombia-photography-holiday-300x225.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/2025/11/19/birds-of-colombia/) ### [Why join our Ultimate Birds of Colombia wildlife photography tour?](https://natureslens.co.uk/2025/11/19/birds-of-colombia/) November 19, 2025 Why would you want to join NaturesLens for our Ultimate Birds of Colombia wildlife photography tour in September 2027, an… - [![A Walking Red Eyed Tree Frog Photographed In Costa Rica In November 2025](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/A-walking-Red-eyed-Tree-Frog-photographed-in-Costa-Rica-in-November-2025-300x225.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/2026/01/20/costa-rica-photography-tours/) ### [Costa Rica Photography Tours – Small Group Wildlife Focused Travel](https://natureslens.co.uk/2026/01/20/costa-rica-photography-tours/) January 20, 2026 Why our Costa Rica photography tours deliver consistent wildlife opportunities across rainforest, wetlands, cloud forest, & coast. Small groups, flexible… - [![An Elephant Walking Amongst The Trees Photographed During The Natureslens Wildlife Of Mana Pools Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/An-elephant-walking-amongst-the-trees-photographed-during-the-NaturesLens-WIldlife-of-Mana-Pools-photography-Holiday.jpg)](https://natureslens.co.uk/2024/11/19/wildlife-of-mana-pools/) ### [Wildlife of Mana Pools — What to Expect from Our September 2026 Photography Holiday](https://natureslens.co.uk/2024/11/19/wildlife-of-mana-pools/) November 19, 2024 Experience the beauty & splendour of Africa's wildlife on our exclusive Astounding Wildlife of Mana Pools photography holiday led by… In this articleJump to section 1. [Why is September such a strong month for the Maasai Mara?](https://natureslens.co.uk/what-you-could-photograph-in-the-next-twelve-months/why-you-could-be-photographing-wildlife-in-september/#why-is-september-such-a-strong-month-for-the-maasai-mara) 1. [Photograph big cats at the peak of the migration season](https://natureslens.co.uk/what-you-could-photograph-in-the-next-twelve-months/why-you-could-be-photographing-wildlife-in-september/#photograph-big-cats-at-the-peak-of-the-migration-season) 1. [Why is Tanzania's Serengeti worth photographing further south this month?](https://natureslens.co.uk/what-you-could-photograph-in-the-next-twelve-months/why-you-could-be-photographing-wildlife-in-september/#why-is-tanzanias-serengeti-worth-photographing-further-south-this-month) 1. [Why is Colombia such a strong choice for bird photographers in September?](https://natureslens.co.uk/what-you-could-photograph-in-the-next-twelve-months/why-you-could-be-photographing-wildlife-in-september/#why-is-colombia-such-a-strong-choice-for-bird-photographers-in-september) 1. [Is East Africa really worth planning a whole trip around in September?](https://natureslens.co.uk/what-you-could-photograph-in-the-next-twelve-months/why-you-could-be-photographing-wildlife-in-september/#is-east-africa-really-worth-planning-a-whole-trip-around-in-september) 1. [Which of these September trips should you choose?](https://natureslens.co.uk/what-you-could-photograph-in-the-next-twelve-months/why-you-could-be-photographing-wildlife-in-september/#which-of-these-september-trips-should-you-choose) ### Author Next step ### Find your next wildlife photography holiday Browse small-group trips by destination, subject, season and photographic goal. [Browse Holidays](https://natureslens.co.uk/) ### Article topics ### Field notes by email New articles, trip reports and wildlife photography holiday announcements from NaturesLens. [Join The List](https://natureslens.co.uk/newsletter-preferences/)