Masai Mara in the green season
They say the Masai Mara is over-traded. During the spectacle that is the annual wildebeest migration you might agree. I have just returned from an incredible stay in the ‘dreaded rainy season’. We got rain almost daily in fantastic thunderstorms (plus a little Rift Valley earth tremor one evening!). But as you will see below, we also got plenty of sunshine, saw loads of animals, very active displaying birds and very very few people…
These young lions will have a real appetite by the time the wildebeest migration returns to the Mara.
We had a special sighting of a female hippo bringing her young calf from out of the riverine forest back into the Mara River
Anyone that has been to the Mara Triangle will know the sound of the Little Swifts that nest at the Oloololo Gate. It seems they were gearing up for nesting.
This is such a classic Mara scene in the rain season.
Whilst this is not the most arresting photo of a lion, I enjoyed his focus and motion through the long grass.
The rains turn the landscape green, but this area has also been burnt so was a shocking green. We stopped for a picnic lunch and had 9 mammal species in view!
The voice of the Mara is not quite as drab as people say! The Rufous-naped Larks are all singing and nesting right now.
Watching weavers build nests is a great African safari treat. Quite how this male managed to keep avoiding the thorns whilst so busy I don’t know.
The first 5 of no less than 40 vultures that pressured and pushed this female cheetah off her gazelle kill right in front of us (we only saw one other vehicle this day!).
The ‘Out of Africa’ site where the superb new Angama Mara lodge will be opening soon.
Zakouma – a wild Safari south of Sahara
As promised, the first report back from Zakouma National Park in south-east Chad. It is tough to put into words just how what an incredible experience this has been. Spending 5 nights camped out in the moonlight on the edge of the Rigueik wetland with a great bunch of people, tasty bush food and great […]
Dawn & Dusk #Whyilovekenya
Recently I spent some time on safari in the Masai Mara and Laikipia. Days were warm and dry, especially in southern Laikipia, so I made the most of my favourite times of day…dawn and dusk. Although I never got the ‘Golden Hour’ everyday, I was treated to some classic safari moments. Couple this with some excellent walking at Ol Pejeta and the low numbers of tourists in Kenya at this time of year, I can safely say January is a great time to be in Kenya if you aren’t really looking for wildebeest! #Whyilovekenya
The excitement builds as we are nearly ready to board the Governor’s Balloon for our morning floating over the majestic Masai Mara.
What an incredible way to start my day – sunrise over the Mara.
One of the dreamy scenes that unfolded on the balloon ride, just after floating over a pride of lions!
The chance to photograph this iconic mountain in a different mood each day is my motivation for rising early.
The almost milky late afternoon light on Ol Pejeta provided a fun opportunity to capture the top f the Aberdares as backdrop to the zebras and elephants
Some patience before sunset was rewarded when a young male Grant’s Gazelle decided to put in a big effort to court a female.
This cute bushbaby can be tricky to photograph in the thorn trees with no natural light. I spotted this one in silhouette as it emerged just minutes after sunset.
Cederberg, South Africa – Bushmans Kloof
This award-winning reserve is home to over 130 San rock art sites set in the wilderness of the Cederberg Mountains north of Cape Town. Top-notch services, food, accommodation and guides make this the ultimate place to explore the world of some of the first humans to record their world for posterity. Although not technically a part of the rift valley, it is this record of early humans that ties in with our story of ancient Africa so well.
It is also botanically rich and home to an array of endemic birds and mammals. Hiking, biking, canoeing or game driving – guided or not is an absolute pleasure here.
