Overview
The African Getaway at Masai Mara is designed to prioritize spotting and shooting the Big Five. These are the African lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, African leopard and Black rhinoceros. Considering Ashish's know-how and expertise at The Mara, this task is completed sooner than you think (although most of these animals are also the most elusive). Not only do you shoot them in their natural habitat, but under Ashish's expert guidance, you also make images that you would love to print extra wide and adorn your home walls with. A typical photo at The Mara would be of a huge African male lion in its prime, walking at you in the setting sun through the low grass, mane flying in the wind and looking you in the eye! One of Ashish's favourite award winning images has been a full frame of a male cheetah, mid chase in full stretch. Evidently, his fondness for cheetahs arises from their uncanny attraction towards him and the top of his vehicles!
The Ashish Parmar Photography advantage is the best drivers and guides that Kenya has to offer. Our drivers and guides are routinely used by the world's best wildlife photographers as well as international travel and wildlife channels. They have been trained in the basics of wildlife photography by none other than Ashish Parmar himself, so they position the vehicle in a manner where the light, angle and lack of shadows are conducive for ideal pictures. We believe that our guests will only get their dream pictures, if they are divested of other hindrances. So our 8 seater vehicles are converted to 4 seaters and each vehicle is shared between 4 guests. This is the only way that eye level shots can be got from the windows without spraining an ankle or breaking a lens.
The most magical thing about Masai Mara is the light. The rising and setting sun throws glowing beacons across the vast untouched land. Any animal shot in the right angle in that light makes for an image that can be printed and plastered with pride across any living room. Ashish ensures that these are the kind of shots his people take home. It is said that once you've been to Africa, 'Africa gets into your blood'. This is especially true for those who have witnessed sunrises and sunsets in Africa. With Ashish Parmar Photography, you have sunrise to sunset access to the game reserve. Every morning, the African skies explode into vibrant hues of crimson, amber and golden. Every evening, the setting sun paints the skies shades of ruby red, magenta and deep purple. The vast grasslands gives the illusion of a massive drowning sun as the backdrop, with silhouettes of thorny acacia trees, thousands of wildebeests and a lone giraffe perhaps in the foreground.
You will also have great opportunities to photograph spotted hyenas lurking around a big cat's kill waiting to steal it. You might see a mating pair of ostriches, the largest living bird on Earth. The ungulates that roam these plains include Thomson's gazelles, impalas and Coke's hartebeests. Warthogs, hippopotami, vultures, marabou storks, secretary birds and lilac breasted rollers are also easily sighted and a delight to photograph.
Masai Mara is said to be a haven for passionate wildlife photographers. Be it the river crossing of thousands of migrating wildebeest or the chance of a bold cheetah using your vehicle as a termite mound. But even for non-photographers or wildlife enthusiasts, Masai Mara holds a treasure of experiences which will give anyone and everyone bragging rights abound when you return home. Through the tour, people have felt and commented about how the experience is comparable to being on a National Geographic documentary.