Ben’s Bulletin from Masai Mara: Here we are with one foot in Kenya and one in Tanzania - and we are half in Masai Mara and half in Serengeti! When we left the Lodge early this morning the skies were clear so we took a meandering drive to enjoy the early morning light, the sunrise and the magnificent scenery. The highlight of this early drive came when we spotted a White - headed Vulture. We were delighted and immediately stopped quite a distance away to get some record shots. Then we moved a little closer, slowly so as not to alarm the bird, and when still at a safe distance we stopped again to get some ‘safety’ shots. When done we approached even closer. Now we could get really good images and our memory cards filled rapidly. We approached twice more until we were close enough to get portrait...
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Blog posts tagged in Masai Mara
Ben’s Bulletin from Masai Mara: Here we are with one foot in Kenya and one in Tanzania - and we are half in Masai Mara and half in Serengeti! When we left the Lodge early this morning the skies were clear so we took a meandering drive to enjoy the early morning light, the sunrise and the magnificent scenery. The highlight of this early drive came when we spotted a White - headed Vulture. We were delighted and immediately stopped quite a distance away to get some record shots. Then we moved a little closer, slowly so as not to alarm the bird, and when still at a safe distance we stopped again to get some ‘safety’ shots. When done we approached even closer. Now we could get really good images and our memory cards filled rapidly. We approached twice more until we were close enough to get portrait...
(click on image to view bigger) The East African landscape is truly beautiful. Breath taking scenes of animals mixed with Sheppard trees and sunsets to die for greeted us almost daily. Not only did the Mara deliver the wildlife spectacle we all hoped for but it also dazzled us with its natural splendor and astounding natural beauty..! Our ODP 2012 safaris just cannot come soon enough..! ...
(click on image to view bigger) The wildebeest crossing the Mara river is a sight to behold. Although we have all seen the numerous documentaries on this subject, actually seeing it with your own eyes is a sight to behold. The unfolding drama is almost unbelievable as these animals are driven to cross this ferocious river. 40 000 Wildebeest die trying to cross each year....! ODP Safaris had a good year this year. We had a total 20 crossings in 2 weeks. Two of these were massive crossings of over an hour long. The big one was a total of an hour and 40 min with thousands of animals crossing the strong flowing Mara. Crocs as big as submarines were having a feast, as the panic stricken Wildebeest fought for their survival. The photography was off the scales and I personally flattened a 32GB CF in this big crossing...
Our Masai Mara safaris have now come and gone... It was with a very sad heart that we left this unbelievable natural spectacle on Saturday afternoon. Two weeks had come and gone in the blink of an eye. The sightings were off the scales and the memory cards all took a thorough beating. I cannot wait to get back...! I will be posting a trip report shortly, but in the interim here is a pic of the chaotic Mara migration. (click on image to view bigger) These Wildebeest were leaping off the vertical banks of the Mara river some 4-5meters up in the air. It was unbelievable to witness. It was as if these animals had lost all fear and were driven by some unnatural force. Our human logic cannot comprehend what we were witnessing. One cannot help becoming part of the chaos that is the Wildebeest Migration of East...
One of the high lights was the secretary bird that caught a puff adder and was busy eating on it.
Day 3 we were greeted by a glorious East African sunrise as we headed out onto the plains to see what the Mara could offer us. We first found some Jackal pups on the side of a termite mound frolicking in the sun, we then found the hyena pups and photographed some intimate behavior between mom and pup sharing a bone. Lions had made a kill and had moved off , we were presented with wonderful photographic opportunities to photograph vultures coming in to land at the carcass Later we found the famous arboreal lions of the Mara Photo: Liwi The day ended off with a series of 4 small crossings at the Mawi Mawi (rocky ) crossing point. Back at Kitchwa Tembo lodge we were entertained by the local Masai dancers before enjoying another awesome meal. Looks as if the big herds are about to arrive !!! Looking forward to the next few days...
Even though we haven’t been able to catch a river crossing yet, Day 2 of the ODP Masai Mara safari produced some fantastic photographic opportunities . We started out photographing some impala fighting in perfect morning light, then had 3 different lion and 3 different cheetah sightings. Due to some rain the previous night, a lot of the dams were overflowing and many cat fish were washed out, struggling in overflows to get back to the main bodies of water, attracted and produced some fantastic photographic opportunities of raptors taking advantage and preying on the struggling cat fish. We had a lovely break and and awesome lunch under a big fig tree and later on our way back we found 2 hippo fighting. Our day was perfectly ended off with a display of Masai dancing and scrumptious food prepared for us by the &Beyond staff. ...
After having a very successful 7 days photographic safari with the ODP clients our second group has arrived. we started off at 4pm on our game drive with rain coats on but in the end it was all worth it in the end. After the rain had subsided we found a lioness huntingand whatch the chace and kill from start to finish of a zebra greatings from Hilton ,Wim and Hedrus on safari for ODP...
Well folks I have to appologise for the belated updat on the Mara , but I was experiencing some comunication issues which have now been sorted out.The rest of the photographic safari has been an absolute success, we have seen amazing crossings and shared wonderful insights to photography and how the same end product can be achieved in so many different ways. One of the hight lights was definitely the balloon ride over the mara , what an amazing feeling I think it must be the closest you can get to soaring like an eagle. As we get ready for the next group of ODP guest ( they are propibely boarding the plane as I write) I am super excited as to what the Mara holds for us , lots of wildebeest build ups but no crossings for the past 3 days , its as if they are holding back for the next group. Hilton ,Wim and...
Photo: Hilton Kotze Day 2 and 3 of our ODP photographic safari at Kitchwa Tembo in the Masai Mara was absolutely mind blowing, one cant explain the magnitude of the migration. We had unbelivable crossings so far and each time we think it cant improve ,we are amazed at the next crossing. The general game viewing is amazing and around every corner you bump into something else , lions ,hyena pups and plenty plains game. The ODP clients are getting brilliant images, here is a typical Masai Image of Henry Kelbrick Photo : Henry Kelbrick Looking forward to the next few days. Greetings from Wim , Hedrus and Hilton in Masai Mara for ODP ...
