Safari Updates

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...

From Andrew:We really wanted to get some images of black rhino and maybe cheetah as well, so we headed north again, hoping to see them in the Marsh area of the reserve.But just as we left the camp we encountered the Mountain Pride of lions. The two lionesses and four subadults were very alert and on the move. A hunt, we wondered? We followed the pride in the early semi darkness and suddenly saw them stop, stiffen and concentrate on a herd of wildebeest. A female started to stalk the momentarily oblivious prey. Creeping as close as possible before giving chase resulted in a wild scattering of animals  - both lions and wildebeest - in all directions, but no success in the hunt.After the failed chase the lioness called and called to gather her pride again and we followed the family to a nearby waterhole where they enjoyed a long drink...

Andrew's News:We knew that the Marsh lions had not eaten for a few days so that was where we headed first this morning, hoping for some hunting action. When we arrived we saw that they were busy with a zebra kill, and as there was not much left of their meal we realised that the kill must have taken place last night.The sun was rising as we arrived at the kill and the beautiful lighting conditions gave us excellent photographic opportunities.Suddenly, while we were photographing the lions, quite a serious altercation broke out between and adult male and one if the subadult males.   The viciousness appeared quite alarming but ended quickly when one of the adult lionesses became involved.The noise of this altercation attracted the attention of a herd of about thirty buffalo. They arrived on the scene and appeared to disapprove of what they could see.     Together...

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...

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...

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...

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....

From Wim:   What a fantastic, beautiful, amazing day!   We rushed out of camp early to be there for any action.   As the sun rose, sending shards of unbelievably beautiful iridescent light through the heavy clouds and across the sky we found a herd of elephant right up on the escarpment. We were within meters of the animals and the light behind them gave us the chance to fill memory cards with the most exquisite images.   Just 3 km further on a pride of lions feasting on a kill was followed almost immediately by two male cheetah walking down the road, we followed them for some time until they came across a huge boulder, about 4 to 5 meters tall which they proceeded to climb. They looked breathtakingly magnificent peering over the rim of the boulder out onto the Mara Plains below. Having checked out the entire area...

From Andrew:We decided to head North again this morning, this time hoping to sight a black rhino. We searched for some time and although we saw black rhino tracks we could not find the animals. But we were not disappointed as instead of black rhinos we found white rhinos.       We spent quite a bit of time with the rhinos as they were close by and in a great position for photographs.   We moved off and found a large bull elephant at a water hole. He entertained us with his splashing around and drinking.   After a brief visit to the North Pride of lions who were resting in the warmth of the sun, we headed back to the camp for breakfast. We took a packed lunch with us as we left quite early to visit the southern areas of this diverse park.To our absolute delight we found...

  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....