Maasai Mara in Action

A crocs view of a herd of wildebeest crossing the Mara river in front of camp

In my opinion October must be the best time to go to Kenya’s Maasai Mara. The weather is generally much drier that a few months earlier while many of the concentrations of people that came to see the migration have already gone. It does however also mean that the chance is good that the migration herds have also gone. But on our approach to Ol Kiombo airstrip it became apparent that the herds are still around – probably as a result of some late rains on the Mara. Meaning that we get the chance to see crossings! Although there are much more to the Mara than just crossings its understandable that it’s a highlight for many. And none better than a private crossing right in front of camp. In two years living in the Mara and never having this view I made sure to get the eye level perspective I always wanted. The highlights are really too many to mention but one worth mentioning is spending the week there observing the adventures of a mom cheetah and her six cubs. Indeed a privilege to get the chance to spend time with these animals to see what they get up to and not just a mere glimpse as can be the case in other parts of Africa. Here follows some pics from the trip and I hope it can convey in a small the wonder of this fantastic region. Then lastly to everyone who joined us – thanks for all the laughs!! Below follow some pics of the last C4 images and Safaris trip.

PS Jan I am really sorry I nearly lobbed elephant dung on you and Chris I am really sorry I missed you.

Zebra stallions battling it out on the plains.

A Black Backed Jackal pup at first light.

Aggressive Lioness.

We were privileged to follow the adventures of this family of cheetah throughout the week we were in the Mara.

Cheetah cubs in playful mood.

Mashatu Photographic Workshop

What a blast! The latest C4 images and Safaris Mashatu workshop could hardly have been more fun. And again, credit to everyone who made it such fun for us all. Amorien and Johan, Melissa and Graham, Gary and Paula, Ed and Nicky, David and Judith, you made our trip most memorable. And also a special thanks form me to Villiers. It was great working with you and your knowledge of the Tuli area proved invaluable. I am looking forward to many more trips in future. Thank you everyone.

Dappled shade can prove difficult to photograph but even this was overcome.

As normal the workhop was packed with action and after an initially slow start the predator sighting started filling our drives and it wasn’t uncommon to find more than two of the apex predators on a single game drive. In the end we managed to photograph Lion Leopard, Hyena and Cheetah (with a kill on our last drive as cherry on top) under various conditions ranging from the most fantastic evening light to dappled shade, all of which posing its own range of photographic challenges. At the end I am happy to say that everyone managed to overcome these challenges and walk away with some striking images

Although predators are always the indisputable highlight of any photographic safari no one passed on the opportunity to photograph Birds, Impala and even the enigmatic Boababs that dot the landscape of Northern Tuli. Again thank you guys and we are looking forward seeing you all in the bundus sometime soon.

Even with all the predators around the birds never disappoint.

The big guns in action!

Richard our local guide is very well experienced in getting into the best position for photography.

Anyone interested in booking their Lowveld workshop in Hoedspruit click on the below Logo.

Wilddogs Up Close

Portrait of a wilddog.

After spending more than a decade in the bush and hardly having seen these animals, let alone photograph them, it was indeed a privilege to get to know Africa's second most endangered carnivore. These highly social carnivores never fail to impress and must rate as the most interesting of animals to view. It was quite a surprize to know that after all the publicity they have received over the past few years many if not most tourists were hardly aware of them. Many thought that they were mere feral dogs from the neighboring village quite likely as a result of them being referred to as "dogs". Anyway we did manage to swing that opinion. Below a few pics from Northern Kenya.

We often had sightings on foot.

To view the drama of a kill from below eye level at ten metres is just surreal.

Only in Africa

Make sure you take the right offramp.

Yield to oncoming traffic!

Its always a good idea to get a good vantage when searching for wildlife.

Once you find them you'll feel like a kid in a candy store.

More of the Mara

Some pictures just have Mara written all over them!



Birding the Mara.

One may be forgiven to think that when you are in one of the world’s wildlife hotspots why take the time to look at birds. Well even when looking at the feathered variety the big game is never too far.




Quintessential Cat
One wouldn’t like to be caught one the wrong side of this glare. For the most part of its life an average lion remains inactive for the major part of its day. However when hunger awakens them they mean business and it all start with a determined stare.



On the hoof.

In single file the herds move past on a journeys that never actually starts or ends anywhere. Mating only occurs on the day when female wildebesst comes into oestrus.
When the herds reach the northern limit of their march male wildebeest joust and jostle amongst one another in order to secure dominance and their access to mate. In a march stretching thousands of miles much of the rutting takes place on the hoof. Even at a gallop one male takes the opportunity to ascertain his dominance over another.




Thief

Probably not even properly cold this fresh Thompson’s gazelle carcass is stolen from a Cheetah by a Spotted Hyena.

Maasai Mara

Elephant Plain
Probably the most photographed animal in Africa, elephant still remain a real tricky subject to me to do justice on camera. Yet sometimes all one has to do is press the shutter. When a weak sun filtered through the clouds and lit up the bull against an approaching storm it just begged to be photographed. It was only after the image was reviewed on the computer screen that I realized how both the colours and textures of the landscape are perfectly mirrored in the animal.

Eye to eye.
From beneath the vehicle a few metres away from the kill I slowly crawl into position to photograph this primeval scene.
Having chased off hundreds of vultures the Spotted Hyena moves the carcass away from the scavenging birds and jackals nearby. At one point during its determined slow retreat away from its competitors the predator suddenly focuses on the strange horizontal shape in the grass, its piercing eyes in stark contrast to the inert gaze of the departed stallion.

On the hunt
Although not unheard of it is indeed unusual to meet up with celebrities on Safari. More impressive is the fact that it’s not just one but the whole ensemble. In this case the cast of the BBC’s Big Cat Diaries. And unlike others in the same business they were equally impressive even when the cameras were not rolling. Just after sundown we caught up with the marsh pride hunting warthogs, which after only one unsuccessful attempt managed to secure the first meal of the evening.

Big Sky Country.
Herds thousands strong, fantastic diversity of wildlife and some of Africa’s largest and most charismatic animals are all a dayly feature of this evocative place. Personally however, to me even more impressive is the fact that all of this is dwarfed by the vast ancient landscape. Clichéd it may be, but this is undeniably Big Sky Country.

Grassland Jewel.
A much unexpected jewel in the grassland on an early morning drive was this Malachite Kingfisher uncommonly perched on level ground adjacent to a muddy pool in the grassland. Again, on my belly I slowly inched towards the perfect photographic position only to see the bird fly off. Short-lived was my disappointment (and very unusual in photography) when he returned to the exact same spot where my camera was aimed with a tadpole in its bill. From here it proceeded to give it a proper bashing, positioned it head first in its bill and consumed it.

Cloak of concealment.
With its fantastic light, uncluttered backgrounds, and subjects of every conceivable shape and size the Mara must rate as one of the best wildlife photographic destinations on earth. Add the perpetual dust kicked up by millions of hooves you have a natural photo filter more often imitated these days in photoshop. A lone Thompson’s gazelle salutes the breaking day as darkness retreats, dragging her cloak of concealment away from the numerous predators.

Kruger Campsite Birding

I recently spent two days in Satara Camp in the Kruger National Park. For a change there was no work involved so I decided to take it easy and just enjoy the park with a friend. Probably a good bet as the park received unusually high rainfall over the past few weeks and as a result the bush was incredibly dense and subsequently yielded very few photographable subjects.

Natal Francolin pair approaching the lens.

Just for the fun we whipped out the cameras one afternoon before the actual game drive and played around with the birds in camp. The fact that they are so habituated made it possible to shoot them at point blank range with wide angles. At times the birds were literally only centimetres away from the lens.

Birding in camp is very productive and in addition to Gabar Goshawk, little Sparrowhawk and Verraux’s eagle owl, surprizingly this Bennet’s Woodpecker also joined the crowds.

A Greater Blue Eared Starling Scans for scraps.

Some actions as two Burchell's starlings quarrel over something unknown to us.