Shompole is a hidden gem off the beaten “safari track” just south of Nairobi (2 hours by road or 45 mins by air). This is a new find for us and we are tipping it to be the next big destination in wildlife photography in East Africa. It’s a short flight from the Maasai Mara National Reserve so the perfect add on to a Mara photo safari. Equidistant to the South is Amboseli National Park.
The Shompole Conservancy is owned and run by the Maasai community of around 2000 members and there is a beautiful symbiosis between the wildlife and the Massai people who inhabit the land.
Our private tented camp of choice is Shompole Wilderness which is a great location for groups of photographers wanting to book the camp exclusively.
The lakes are probably one of the biggest photographic draw cards for Shompole with all the flamingoes and pelicans. Lake Magadi is a shorter drive from Shompole Wilderness than Lake Natron and so it is possible to get there by dawn to make the most of the morning light and the reflections of the birds in the water. Being soda lakes, the water is more viscous and so it has a greater reflective property.
Recommended Accommodation
- Soroi Lion Bluff Lodge