Tanzania 2026 - 1 open spot

Cost

• $17,500 (Price includes all lodging, food, transportation, internal flights, park entrance fees and airport transfers throughout the whole trip. All participants will have their own room for the duration of the safari. International airfare, visa, alcoholic drinks, and tips for the driver are not included. Please note that tips for the driver are $400 per person.

• Due to the overall cost of the safari, all payments must be made by Zelle or check. This policy helps avoid significant processing fees and ensures that the full amount of your payment goes directly toward the trip logistics and services.

• $6,000 non-refundable deposit due on signup. Balance of $11,500 is due by March 15, 2026.

• Free 4 Hour Image Review and Processing Bonus Session after the tour to help with processing questions.

Tour Objective

The objective of this Tanzania photography safari is to deliver a premium, immersive experience dedicated to producing exceptional images of both mammals and birds in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Led by Isaac Grant, the tour is designed to emphasize image quality by focusing on optimal light, thoughtful composition, animal behavior, and natural habitat. Through carefully structured game drives and professional photographic guidance, participants will create a diverse, refined portfolio that showcases not only Tanzania’s iconic mammals, but also its rich and often underrepresented birdlife.

Description

This photography-focused safari in Tanzania is a carefully designed journey dedicated to producing high-quality images of both mammals and birds, with equal emphasis on each. Led by expert guide Isaac Grant, the tour combines world-class wildlife destinations with a structured schedule that maximizes photographic opportunities in the best light and locations.

This safari is intentionally limited to just three participants in a single vehicle, ensuring an exclusive and highly focused photographic experience. Traveling together the entire time, we can make quick decisions based on light, subject behavior, and positioning without coordinating with other vehicles or schedules. This means we never have to worry about group convoys lining up, blocking angles, or compromising the best light. The result is complete freedom to position the vehicle exactly where it needs to be, giving each photographer unobstructed views and the ability to fully concentrate on creating the strongest possible images.

In addition to the first night in Arusha, the safari includes 9 full days and 2 half days in the field, allowing ample time for immersive wildlife observation and photography without rushing. Activities are organized into dedicated photographic sessions, conducted in the morning and afternoon when light and animal activity are at their best.

The itinerary is split between two iconic ecosystems:

Ngorongoro Crater
Over 3 days, you will have 6 photography sessions within the Ngorongoro Crater. This compact, wildlife-rich caldera offers exceptional opportunities to photograph dense concentrations of mammals such as lions, elephants, buffalo, hippos, and black rhinos, alongside an abundance of birdlife including flamingos, raptors, and waterbirds. The dramatic crater walls and varied habitats provide striking backgrounds that enhance image quality and composition.

Serengeti National Park
The heart of the safari takes place over 7 days in the Serengeti, with 14 photography sessions across its vast plains, river systems, and woodlands. Here, the focus expands to include large predators, herbivore herds, and classic African landscapes, while also dedicating time to the Serengeti’s extraordinary bird diversity. From colorful rollers and bee-eaters to bustards and abundant songbirds, sessions are planned to ensure birds receive the same thoughtful attention as mammals.

Throughout the tour, Isaac Grant emphasizes image quality, guiding participants on positioning, light direction, backgrounds, and subject behavior to create clean, impactful photographs. Sessions are paced to allow flexibility, repeat encounters, and refinement of compositions. This unique safari is ideal for photographers seeking a balanced, professional-level experience that results in a diverse portfolio showcasing both Tanzania’s iconic mammals and its rich, often under appreciated birdlife.

The safari vehicle is designed for photographic flexibility, allowing participants to adapt quickly to different subjects and shooting conditions. It features unobstructed side windows that can be fully opened, making it easy to shoot low from the window for intimate, eye-level perspectives of mammals and birds. In addition, a pop-up roof allows photographers to stand and photograph comfortably when animals are higher up, such as birds in trees or giraffes and elephants on raised terrain. This versatility ensures optimal angles, cleaner backgrounds, and greater creative control in a wide range of wildlife encounters.

Throughout the safari, we will stay in beautiful luxury tented camps that combine comfort with prime wildlife access. These camps are carefully chosen for their ideal locations within the Serengeti and near the Ngorongoro Crater, minimizing travel time and allowing us to spend more time in the field during the best light. Being so close to key wildlife areas makes early pre-sunrise departures and late returns after sunset easy and efficient, while still providing a relaxing, well-appointed place to rest between sessions. This balance of strategic location and high-end comfort ensures that your energy stays focused on photography while enjoying an exceptional safari experience.

Travel

On the first day of the trip, you will be picked up at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) upon arrival and transferred to a comfortable hotel in Arusha for the night. This allows time to rest, recover from travel, and prepare for the safari ahead. The tour officially begins the following morning. After breakfast, we will depart Arusha and drive toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, arriving in time to begin our first photography sessions in and around the Ngorongoro Crater.

On the final day of the safari, we will enjoy a morning photography session in the Serengeti, making the most of the early light for one last opportunity in the field. After the morning safari, we will transfer to a local airstrip and fly back to Arusha Airport. Upon arrival, you will be met and assisted with onward arrangements. Participants can either be transferred directly to Kilimanjaro International Airport for their flight home, or, if preferred, we can arrange a day room or overnight stay in Arusha to better accommodate international travel schedules. Please note that any additional hotel accommodations in Arusha are not included in the safari cost, but we are happy to assist with arranging them as needed to ensure a smooth journey home.

Hotel 

included in the safari

Schedule

Morning Sessions:

Each day is structured to take full advantage of the best photographic light. We will depart before sunrise so that we are already on location as the first light reaches the landscape, allowing photographers to capture wildlife in soft, directional morning light and dramatic early colors. Morning sessions extend through peak activity hours,

Lunch Time: Optional image review session where we will review the images from the morning. We will work on things like processing and composition and I will make suggestions or answer any questions.

After Lunch: we will have some personal time before our evening sessions.

Evening sessions:

In the afternoon, we head back out for evening sessions that continue through sunset, positioning ourselves to photograph animals in warm, low-angle light and rich skies. This approach ensures maximum time in the field during the most visually rewarding moments of the day.

Meals

All meals while on safari are included. This does not include the first night in Arusha and the last day after we land back in Arusha.

What to Bring 

Photography Gear

• Many of the mammals and birds can be very close. I brought my 600 F4, my 300mm F2.8 and my 24-70, F2.8. The 600 is used most often for birds. I mostly used a combination of the 300mm and 24-70mm for mammals. I highly recommend a quality zoom lens such as a 100-400mm or 100-500mm for maximum flexibility and I will bring one of those as well for 2026. If we have clear skies we can also take some shots of the milky way and a lens like a 14mm would be great for that.

• 1.4 teleconverter is optional but highly recommended

• I recommend bringing a back up camera.

• Bring lots of extra batteries and a rapid charger.

• Bring as many  memory cards with as much storage as you can as it is not uncommon to take an immense amount of photos in a single session.

• I also highly recommend bringing a laptop or other external storage to transfer your images from your memory cards.

Other Gear

• Head lamp if you wish to have one for evenings in the Serengeti

• Bug Spray

• Sun block

Clothes

• Fast drying and loose fitting, neutral colored safari clothing. Please avoid wearing dark colors like blue and black so we do not attract tsetse flies

• Rain gear

• Hat to protect your head and neck from the sun

Weather

We will be out in all weather conditions and will shoot in the sun or rain. Temperatures are cooler in the mornings and at night in the Serengeti and typically warm up to the mid 80’s or warmer in the middle of the day. The crater can be just as warm durning the day but the crater rim is about 2000 feet higher in elevation and can be quite cool in the early morning or late evening with temperatures in the low 50’s. I recommend layers so that you can shed them as the temperature warms up.

Physical Activity

The vast majority of the shooting will be done from the vehicle so this is an extremely easy trip as there is little to no walking or carrying gear involved.

My Responsibilities

I will get you in front of the mammals and birds and assist in creating the highest quality photos as possible with each opportunity we have. I will help with obtaining the most pleasing backgrounds and compositions. I will also put us in the most productive spots to be able to produce high quality photographs of the highest species diversity possible. I will be there to answer all questions and to help facilitate any other needs you may have.

My Ask

Enjoy yourself as much as possible and get cards full of beautiful photos.  I am here to help so anything that you need, please just ask.

Cancellation Policy

All safari deposits are non-refundable, as they are used to secure accommodations, flights, vehicles, and permits well in advance. However, in the event of a genuine emergency, I will make every reasonable effort to work with the safari company to arrange a partial refund if the participant’s spot can be filled. While a refund cannot be guaranteed, this policy allows for flexibility when circumstances are beyond a participant’s control and provides the best possible option under challenging situations.

Insurance

Travel insurance is mandatory for this trip. Because the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater are remote wilderness areas, access to advanced medical facilities can be many hours or even days away by road. In the event of a serious injury or medical emergency, the fastest and safest option is often air evacuation to a hospital in a major city. Emergency medical evacuation insurance is therefore mandatory to ensure that any participant can be transported quickly and appropriately without delay. This requirement protects both the individual and the group, allowing the safari to operate responsibly while providing peace of mind when traveling in some of Africa’s most spectacular but isolated landscapes. If you need recommendations for suitable insurance providers, please feel free to ask.