Andrew 's News:Our first stop in the predawn darkness was for four lions - two lionesses from the Talana pride and two large males from a different pride. We used spotlights and some flash to capture images as they interacted with each other. One of the males was very interested in one of the females but she consistently rebuffed his flirtations. This confused him somewhat but he persisted - and again and again she made her lack of interest very clear! We remained with them until the sun was well above the horizon, enjoying the amazing, almost gentle interactions between the four. And the beautiful light made photography a cinch. We left the lions eventually to enjoy our morning coffee break - and to watch the glorious sunrise, with an ethereal mist over a small dam - and lazy hippos popping up to show their heads in the mist...
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Blog posts tagged in cheetah kill
Andrew 's News:Our first stop in the predawn darkness was for four lions - two lionesses from the Talana pride and two large males from a different pride. We used spotlights and some flash to capture images as they interacted with each other. One of the males was very interested in one of the females but she consistently rebuffed his flirtations. This confused him somewhat but he persisted - and again and again she made her lack of interest very clear! We remained with them until the sun was well above the horizon, enjoying the amazing, almost gentle interactions between the four. And the beautiful light made photography a cinch. We left the lions eventually to enjoy our morning coffee break - and to watch the glorious sunrise, with an ethereal mist over a small dam - and lazy hippos popping up to show their heads in the mist...
Ndutu: Home of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the WorldFrom Hilton:A visit to Ndutu has to be a major highlight for any wildlife photographer, and it features on many bucket lists. Our ODP Safari to the area again this year reminded us again why this is so. It is a special place with fantastic photographic opportunities.March in the South-Eastern plains of the Serengeti is the site of one of the most spectacular events in the wildlife calendar. The activity is concentrated in the Ndutu area where about one and a half million wildebeest gather annually for calving. During this time many hundred thousand calves are born. The open grasslands create an ideal place for...
Brendon Reports:We flew into the Chitabe airfield yesterday at around 1430 after a short but stunning flight over this beautiful area.The forty minute drive to the Lodge gave us a taste of what lies ahead ... and raised our excitement levels to fever pitch. Plentiful game teemed at every turn with various buck species, Elephant, Giraffe, and a breathtaking variety of birds.We were met at the Lodge by smiling faces and a welcome song. Then, after checking in and a light meal we were ready for our first adventure.We were struck by the lush beauty of the area and oohed and aahed at the numbers of Impala and Lechwe. Then we stopped for a herd of Elephants joyfully splashing around in some shallow water. The soft late afternoon light meant that the images we captured are quite dazzling.Nearby a Black-backed Jackal was foraging in the shallows, trying to catch fish in...
Hilton reports: If it is at all possible each day on this safari has been getting better and better - and better again. Today was touching on the unbelievable. Let me start with the morning. After yesterday's thunderstorm the morning was clear but still a little overcast. We wanted to return to the cheetah family who had made the two kills that were stolen from them by hyenas to see if they had managed to get any of their spoils back. We found the cheetahs walking together as a family on the wide open plains and had a magnificent sighting and photographic opportunities. Then an unexpected sight occurred - a lone lioness appeared and started marching along straight towards the cheetahs. A confrontation! As she drew closer the cheetahs warily hung back, keeping a respectful distance from the big cat. She strode on and as she passed the cheetahs we saw...
Hilton reports: Today was yet another one of those days that one dreams about experiencing ... the kind that you think back on - and look forward to when planning a safari. In between everything I am relating here there is game everywhere, and photographic opportunities at every bend, but I am mentioning the highlights only for now. So shortly after we left camp we again came across the mother cheetah with the three cubs. They were very interested and keeping close to a large adult wildebeest lying still on the ground. The wildebeest was either injured or not well, and created a huge amount of interest for the cheetahs. Because if its adult size, it was too large for the cheetahs to attack, but because of its vulnerable position they were very interested. We remained to watch the outcome of the situation for about two hours. Repeatedly the cheetahs would...
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...
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...
Leaving the camp this morning, the ODP Safari group headed straight for the southern areas of the Reserve where the cheetah family with tiny cubs was sighted yesterday. On the way, they shared some of their images from yesterday: The first exciting encounter upon reaching the south was with a different cheetah family, a mother and her two eighteen month old cubs. The family was very active and it soon became clear that they were hunting. The ODP Safari group followed the family, capturing wonderful images. The family soon spotted and caught up with a herd of impala, the ODP group close behind ... Action! The mother approached closer and closer to the impala, followed by her cubs. The photographers held their breath, cameras trained on the action. Through the long grass she walked, quietly, intense, ever closer, concentrating, focussed ... And suddenly, she leapt and the chase began....
With memories of yesterday's sightings still fresh in their minds, - - the ODP Safari at Phinda was also up and out of the camp by 05.30 this morning. Knowing that two cheetahs were spotted yesterday in the Marsh area in Northern Phinda, they headed straight there. Sure enough!there they were, and moving around.Two and a half hours were spent following the beautiful cats. Wonderful shots were captured as the animals walked ahead of, then behind the safari vehicles. Silhouettes against the dramatic morning sky, photographs of the two climbing and looking around the area, some of them walking, sitting, interacting. On and on they walked - Until they encountered a herd of wildebeest.Definite interest here! The two cheetah began to stalk the wildebeest, and after one or two feeble attempts, the chase was on!They caught a young wildebeest!They were still busy with the calf when the mother returned...
Talk about the day of the cheetah! Shortly after leaving the lodge this morning the ODP Safari group caught up with the three cheetahs they had seen yesterday. The cheetahs were hunting and the ODP group followed them, managing to get some superb shots of the busy cats. In the bush, the one certainty is the unexpected, and today was no different. The three cheetahs suddenly looked up, caught sight of another cheetah about 200 meters away, and made a beeline for that one. Uh oh, what now? Approaching closer, it was clear that the fourth cheetah had a fresh kill, not more than a few moments old. What would happen? The three cheetahs sauntered up, and joined the fourth, who readily shared the meal with them. Having watched the cheetahs complete their meal, the ODP group moved on ... and encountered the other cheetah family they had seen yesterday. The...
