On Open Plains
Photo Safari
Early bird discount if booked and deposit received by 15 March
US$ 13,800 US$ 12,800
US$ 13,800 per person sharing
$2,200 single supplement
On Open Plains | Serengeti
Photo Safari with Laura Dyer
The Serengeti is a wildlife ecosystem that supports an incredible variety of animals and has something for every wildlife lover. Even just the name ‘Serengeti’ gives me goosebumps. There is still a wildness here that grabs at your soul and drags you into an exhilarating adventure.
Known for the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra that follow the rains in search of lush food all the way from the southern parts of the park where they calve (and upwards of 300,000 wildebeest are born), to the north - making the famous Mara River and Grumeti River crossings - the Serengeti is also arguably the best place in Africa to see cheetahs in good numbers. These magnificent predators have the space and freedom to roam in this vast landscape and seeing them reach top speeds on open plains in pursuit of prey is a sight that will never be forgotten.
These plains are also the best places to see an photograph the elusive serval cat. Elegant in design with slim bodies and long legs these beautiful cats make the grasslands of the Serengeti their home where the vast landscape provides protection for raising cubs and an abundant supply of food.
Massive male lions and incredible prides that look like they are straight out of Disney’s The Lion King in their fixation with spending time on rocky kopjes (little outcrops) add to the unique attraction that is The Serengeti.
Tour Date Notes
September/October: This is my personal favourite time of year - particularly in the central section of the park as everyone else is up north still with the migration and you have access to vast swathes of open plains and rocky outcrops that are just perfect for cheetahs, servals and lion prides without having to fight for space with other vehicles. This gives us the freedom to photograph in some of the most famous Serengeti locations in near solitude - especially in the early mornings and late afternoons/evenings - when other vehicles need to leave to return to their camps far from these prime locations. The front end of the migration is also beginning to arrive in the area ahead of the trailing tourists.
Tour Summary
Where: Serengeti National Park
Nights: 8 (9 days)
Group Size: 3
Dates & Prices
September 2027: 28 September - 6 October
Spaces available
Price: US$ 13,800
Single supplement $2,200
Early bird discount: If booked and deposit received before 15 March 2026, receive US$ 1,000 off the cost of the trip
Safari Highlights
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The safari begins in Arusha with a night at Entara’s Katumbuga House - an approximately two hour drive from Kilimanjaro International Airport. Laura will meet you at Katumbuga.
The next morning we will all meet for breakfast (and exceptional coffee) before transferring to Arusha Airport for a short domestic flight to the Serengeti’s Seronera airstrip (~ 1 hour) where our guide from Olmara will be waiting for us to take us through the park to camp arriving in time for lunch.
After the last morning drive we will depart camp for Seronera Airstrip to fly back to Kilimanjaro International Airport making sure to coordinate with any onward travel plans you may have.
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Entara’s Olmara camp is located in the central eastern section of the Serengeti National Park where tourist density is low with only a handful of other camps in the area ensuring that we can enjoy quality time with the wildlife without the chaos that often comes in the higher density areas.
Although we are limited by park rules as to when we can be out and when we have to be back, the camp is in prime wildlife area and therefore allows us to maximise our use of the best light.
We will ensure a maximum of 3 guests per vehicle so there will be plenty of space to store gear and move around freely.
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1 night at Entara’s Katumbuga House before transferring to the Serengeti
All park fees
All internal flights
7 nights at Entara’s Olmara Camp
All food and beverage (excl premium brands)
Laundry (for cultural sensitivity, ladies underwear will not be laundered but washing powder is provided in every room for this purpose).
15kg excess baggage per person ensuring there is no need to worry about your camera gear
Road transfers between Kilimanjaro International Airport and Arusha
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International flights
Premium drinks
Tips and gratuities for staff (optional)
Visas and/or any vaccinations
Additional excess baggage charges
Optional extra activities (eg. hot air balloon)
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The emphasis of this trip is both learning in the field, where Laura has many years of experience under her belt, and in-camp mentoring and guidance in-between drives. With her understanding of animal behaviour as well as how to photograph wildlife, she will spend time explaining the process and settings needed for excellent photography.
Between drives, the small group means there will be ample time for individual attention - learning new skills as well as one-to-one time to edit images and discuss any subjects you would like on an individual basis. The goal is for you to leave with stronger skills, and a beautiful portfolio of images to illustrate the Serengeti, as well as a greater understand of the wildlife that call this wilderness ‘home’.
Meet your guide
Laura is an award-winning wildlife photographer with many years' experience exploring Earth’s wildest places from the plains of Africa to the frozen ice of the polar regions. Having grown up in South Africa, she spent all her free time in the bush and has an extensive knowledge of wildlife behaviour. With 20 years of safaris under her belt she knows how to anticipate, visualise and capture the perfect shot.
“I love teaching guests how to capture those perfect moments on safari and seeing their faces light up when using a new technique or nailing a shot for the first time - creating memories that last a lifetime. It is a real privilege for me to see and be a part of these experiences and I absolutely love it.”
Details
Day 1: Arrival and Katumbuga House
On exit from Kilimanjaro International Airport you will be met by a representative from Entara, who will drive you from the airport to Katumbuga House on the outskirts of Arusha (~2 hour drive depending on traffic) where you will be able to relax in splendid rooms and enjoy a good night’s sleep before the safari begins the next day.
Days 2-9: Entara Olmara Camp
After a delicious breakfast (and exceptional coffee) where the group will all meet for the first time, an Entara representative will transfer us to Arusha Airport for a short domestic flight to the Serengeti’s Seronera airstrip (~ 1 hour) where our guide from Olmara will be waiting for us to take us through the park to camp arriving in time for lunch.
Olmara is famed for Africa’s magnificent big cats and it is a Serengeti wilderness haven for wildlife photographers. I have spent many weeks here at this amazing camp and know the guides and staff well, as well as the area and wildlife. The camp is open to the comings and goings of animals giving a stay here a true feel of being at one with the wilderness. Apart from cheetah, the area teems with lion, leopard, serval and other wildlife, providing visitors with an unsurpassed display of predator and prey activity.
The tented suites merge seamlessly into an ancient grove of acacias and offer vistas of endless grassy plains and the Ngare Nanyuki river valley, dotted with time-weathered rocky outcrops. Set in a unique expanse of the Serengeti – unspoiled, wild, and remote.
After the last morning activity and breakfast, we will transfer back to the Seronera airstrip for our flight back to Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Our Focus
Whilst here our focus will definitely be on looking for cheetah and serval on these incredible open plains. The Serengeti is arguably the best place in Africa to see and photograph these cats. Heading out early when the park opens will give us great opportunities to find and photograph cheetahs as they wake for the day - often climbing termite mounds at dawn to scan the surrounding plains for both danger and prey. The camp is located in a quiet area with only a handful of other camps in the wider vicinity meaning that we have a few hours in the mornings before tourist vehicles from the busier central area arrive where we can maximise our chances of finding cheetahs and serval all to ourselves, and in the best light.
Serval have very long legs, almost super-model like compared with the other cats. As a result they stand taller than you might suspect, but their super-model legs are inversely proportionate to their shorter tails - as if only so much length was available and so the tail lost out. There is, however, an evolutionary reason for this. Cheetahs, lions and leopards often put in higher-speed chases, catching their prey over longer distances (particularly cheetahs), and their long tails help them to maintain balance and change direction quickly during the chase. You have just to watch a cheetah hunt to see how much of an anchor and directional assist the tail provides. Serval however, hunt via pouncing on their quarry, or jumping to grab it in the air as it makes its escape. The long tail is therefore not necessary, and in fact could easily get tangled up in the undergrowth through which they hunt. Instead, the shorter tail helps them land a perfect 10 on their feet after these acrobatics. The grasses covering these vast plains provide cover for ambush as well as a safe place to hide from larger predators, and the many termite mounds found over the plains provide safe and readily accessible den sites for moms and their kittens making this area fantastic to see and photograph these elusive cats.
Of course, the area is also teaming with big prides of lions and impressive males who enjoy spending time on the rocky outcrops (koppies) that dot the landscape here and we will definitely put in time looking for these opportunities.
We will do a morning and afternoon drive with an optional image review and editing session in between where I will be on hand to provide personal assistance and help you learn to edit your photos, or discuss new skills or techniques learnt or practiced during the morning.
Pairs well with
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Ngorongoro Crater
One of Africa’s greatest natural wonders and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ngorongoro Crater is a site to behold. And one you will never forget. The view down from the crater’s rim makes even the largest elephants look like small ants moving in slow motion across the crater floor.
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Northern Serengeti
At this time of year, the great migration is still in the northern section of the Serengeti and southern Maasai Mara in Kenya. However, they are crossing back into the Serengeti at the Mara River (so generally crossing towards us. It is quite a sight to see. There will be crowds, however.
