Safari Updates

Wim Reports:   Sometimes communication from the bush can be a bit haphazard so here is our news from our last two days at Kichwa Tembo.   On Friday morning we went straight to the main crossing points on Mara River where we could see huge buildups of animals on the far banks.   We positioned ourselves and waited for the inevitable crossings to take place. Unfortunately some vehicles arrived on the opposite bank and their sudden and indiscreet approach frightened the animals away.   We moved off and found a pride of lions hunting wildebeest. We watched them for a while, but they are so overfed at the moment that they gave up the hunt after a halfhearted attempt, and lay down for a siesta under nearby bushes.   After lunch overlooking the Mara River we returned to the crossing point.   As there were no other vehicles in sight...

Ben's Update:We started again this morning with an incredibly beautiful sunrise. Beautiful flat topped trees with the golden rays of the sun creating shards through them proved to be a lovely backdrop for a pride of lions resting peacefully in the foreground.Many of the Topis have given birth in the past few days and when we stopped to photograph some of the little ones, their curiosity brought them right up to our vehicles. A little further on a herd of wildebeest next to the road again provided foreground a stark contrast to the dramatic, fluffy white clouds billowing above, while a herd of waterbuck also posed regally with that beautiful sky above.After coffee we checked the river for any sign of a crossing buildup but although we could certainly see thousands of wildebeest on the opposite side of the  river, they were roaming around aimlessly and there were no signs that...

Ben's Bulletin:As I look out this evening I can see three beautiful Heugelin's Robins on the grassy area outside my tent.Today has been quite chilly and overcast because of a cold front that moved in over night.The first animals we saw were two Spotted Hyena lying next to the road. As we photographed them the remainder of the clan arrived giving us the opportunity to get images of the greeting ceremony.We took a slow drive seeing a wide variety of Plains animals and always on the lookout for a predator, maybe a leopard that resides in the area, or lions? Zebra seemed to be squabbling here and there, but no serious fights broke out - just some cantankerous bickering.After lunch up on the escarpment - - we descended again down to the Mara River, thinking that we would check an area named Fig Tree.As we approached the crossing area we could...

Wim describes another full day at Masai Mara:The is a special area at Masai Mara named Out Of Africa, because scenes from the movie were shot there.  The area is up on the escarpment with lovely views and plentiful wildlife.We headed there this morning hearing that lion were in that area. As we arrived  a large male lion walked directly past us, toward a lioness we had only sent now. As he approached, she moved cautiously to the side and we realised that she was hunting. As we tried to manoeuvre our vehicles for a good view she disappeared behind a bush. Because of the terrain we were unable to get closer than about 50 meters, but within moments a wildebeest ran out from behind the bush with the lioness in hot pursuit behind it.The wildebeest hightailed it down the outta inside with the lioness hot on its heels. Seconds later...

Ben’s Bulletin:   This morning we drove straight down to the area where we had seen the huge crossing yesterday, and sure enough as we arrived we could see the buildup of wildebeest on the opposite bank.   We scarcely had time to position ourselves really well for the action when the front animals leaped into the water – the crossing had started. Within moments the others followed, and although the crossing was not a huge as yesterday it is still amazing to see approximately 3000 wildebeest accompanied by their ever present zebra companions jump into the river and make the crossing with such determination. About half the animals from the far bank made the crossing at that time. For some reason the other 3000 remained behind to consider a later crossing.   But on our side of the bank consternation arose as a group of young calves returned to the...

Wim’s news   Today is surely one of the most amazing days of my photographic career – nonstop action, from the first to the last. We spent almost the entire day with our cameras glued to our eyes …   So where do I begin?   Late yesterday we had seen a buildup of wildebeest on the far bank of the Mara River and we knew that the animals would not risk a crossing in the dark so we headed straight there this morning.   We reached the spot at around 0700 and placed our vehicles in the best spots to capture the action, keeping an eye on the wildebeest all the while.   We had just settled into our chosen spot when lions ran right past us, running between our vehicles and straight toward the wildebeest.   The flattened themselves and started to stalk the oncoming wildebeest, and grabbed one...

Ben's Update: We left extra early again this morning so that everyone could make the most of the day before they had to depart at mid morning.   Last night was a Blue Moon, and the full moon was still visible this morning, creating lovely, mysterious landscape shots for us.   There were thousands of animals on the Plains as dawn started to break, and the sight with the lovely skyline in the background together with the beautiful sky was quite breathtaking again!   We meandered along to try and locate a leopard that is resident in the area we were driving through, but while searching we were diverted by the sight of some active hippo in the Mara River. When we approached we saw that they had a tiny baby hippo with them, not more than a week old at most. We were ooohing and aaahing and taking photographs when...

Mara news from Wim:   Last night as we were relaxing we were told that a cheetah with four very small cubs had just started to hunt when a thunderstorm interrupted her, leaving her hungry overnight and likely to hunt gain this morning. It was also unlikely that she would move four cubs during the night – especially in the rain.   With this in mind we made an extra effort to leave early and drove straight to where she had been sighted. We could have had blinkers on, hardly looking to the left or right in our excitement at being able to catch up with her.   When we found her she had caught a Thomson’s Gazelle and was preparing to disembowel her kill and to enjoy her meal.   We spent most of the morning with her as she ate, then suckled her cubs, then rested and then ate...

Ben's Bulletin: We were up extra early this morning for our extra spectacular early morning Balloon Safari.   We arrived at the airfield while it was still quite dark and excitedly took photos of each other and of the balloon as it inflated. Finally it was filled and we leapt into the basket … and lift off. We spent the next hour and a quarter experiencing what it must be like to be an eagle. The views of the Mara were breathtaking and the early light, with the sun peeping over the horizon, creating long shadows and shapes kept us enthralled. The moving animals made the shadow shapes even more interesting and grotesque.   Our pilot flew the balloon at times extremely high, and we could see the wildebeest and zebra packed onto the plains, with some herds consisting of 10 000 or more animals creating dark blotches and stains on...

News from Wim:   Another phenomenal day! Whew! So much happened that I am really going to have to try and remember it all ..   We started this morning with one of the clearest skies that you can imagine. There was not a cloud in sight and the air was so still that not a leaf rustled.   Scarcely 2 km into our journey we found a pride of lions with small cubs. We stopped long enough to get some awesome shots of the family interactions and when they moved into a thicket we moved toward the river.   Trying to describe the Masai Mara as it appears at the moment is difficult because many would think I may be exaggerating. I am not! There are wildebeest as far as the eye can see. The Plains are covered with what appear to be acres of wildebeest and their zebra companions....