A great safari in the quiet season

If you are planning a safari to Tanzania-Kenya around April May, most people will advice against the idea. this is mainly because being a rain season, there may not be much to see, coupled with the challenges of getting stuck in the bush.

however, recently embarked on one such trip, and what could have been boring, turned out to be one great safari of the season. My guests, Kym Illman (owner of Perth-based audio production company Messages On Hold Australia: http://messagesonhold.com.au) and his family planned their trip for this period. Seeing how much rain we had, i reluctantly agreed to guide them. however, on the very first days of our trip things turned out great and warmed up our hearts. the trip took us to Ngorongoro crater, Ndutu area, Central Serengeti, Masai Mara and Naboisho conservancy. Kym who is a serious photographer, introduced me to new photography techniques. I am now a better photographer, and i promised to beat him in our photography competition on his return trip!

The highlights of our trip were Elephants at Ngorongoro crater (one really gave us a scare by charging from the back of our vehicle) the other highlight was a sighting of 11 lions on one tree near Seronera. the lions had been feeding on a buffalo then all went up the tree after feeding. we stayed here till they started coming down the tree one after the other. We left when the last lion came down. when we came back the next day, we were hoping to see them up the tree again, but we had only 2 go up and the rest came walking past the tree and all headed to lay on a big rock!

our other excitement was seeing this Cheetahs stalk and chases wildebeests on Ndutu plains. the dust and confusion in the herds made it difficult for us to take any decent pictures, except for a video camera we had left running on its own, capturing an amazing footage. Leopard sightings were great too. i must say, on this trip we saw lions almost every day. I was also amazed at the number of elephants we saw in Central Serengeti and the Mara. i will not forget the Giraffes we saw at Naboisho conservancy while staying at Naboisho camp. there was a herd of 35 giraffes walking across the plains. At first we were complaining of lack of light as it was approaching sunset and the sun was behind some clouds. However, our patience paid off when we finally had a streak of light coming through, illuminating our subjects in the most stunning evening light. From then on, we just clicked away!. The trip in the end turned out to be one of my best. Everywhere we went, we were almost the only guests in the camps/lodges and on game drive, leaving us to enjoy the sightings all on our own.

 This Elephant bull with largest tusks gave us a scare at the Crater

 The presence of  big herds of Elephants was quite a sighting

 A great cultural experience to top it up

 Zebras run through the woods at Ndutu area

 We often had stunning sunrises as seen here near L. Masek

 A Male Leopard we found feeding on an Impala up this tree in the Mara

 A sub-adult cheetah looks out from a vantage point

 Wildebeests running after a chase by cheetahs in Ndutu area

 A male lion on Naboisho conservancy

 Lions in tree in Serengeti- there were 11 of them!

 Giraffes on Naboisho conservancy

 More Giraffes

 Looking down the crater floor at Ngorongoro near Seneto decent

Great photographic opportunities through the trip

Trailing the migration South- With lemala camps

I recently embarked on a trip to trail the migration down south. Although the trip (organized by Vintage Africa) took me to L. Manyara, Ngorongoro, and Ewanjan in Serengeti, our highlight came when we stayed at Lemala Camp Ndutu. Vintage Africa’s Sister company, Grumeti Expeditions, runs  Lemala camps, a collection of luxurious camps in Tanzania close to finest game viewing locations, and are all about positioning you at the right location and time so that you can capture the best wildlife action in Tanzania.

Ndutu area was the location of the wildebeests at the time of my visit. Although i had missed the mass birth of the calves by a couple of weeks, it was amazing to see hundreds of calves accompanying their mothers on the plains, always on the move.

The area where most herds were was a place locally know as Makao (Swahili for residence). It is indeed a wildebeests residence. I must admit i have never seen so many wildebeests as i saw around this place. This became the highlight of my trip.although i took lots of pictures, I have now come to agree with a friend who came on safari with me, and in the end said “No picture can really tell what i have seen”, it is only in my mind!

The wildebeest however, are still in South Serengeti which is unusual. Normally they would be in Seronera area, central Serengeti by this time. I believe this is due to the amount of rain we have had since the beginning of the year. There is a lot of grass on the plains as well as fresh water that has collected in pools across the plains. This may make them stay a bit longer than usual. Their migration out of here every year is due to the hard water(soda), but now with more fresh water they may stay longer.

 A wildebeest crosses a small stream in Ndutu area

 Wildebeests with calves in Ndutu area

 Elephants at Ngorongoro Crater. we saw these while staying at Lemala Ngorongoro

 Wildebeests on the plains in Makao

 A lioness in tree in Serengeti

 A subadult lion emulates mum and goes up a tree too

 Lepoard cubs on tree at Lugga ya 16: Seronera valley

Big Cat Week in the Mara

I have just ended a safari in Masai Mara, that was specifically for the big cats. With my guest who is a professional photographer, we have spent the past 8 days looking for our favourite lions, leopards and cheetahs. From our base camps, Mara Explorer and Rekero, we had access to all the prime big cats locations. We were able to follow up on the Ridge, Olkiombo, Paradise, Olkeju-Rongai and the Marsh prides. When it comes to the big cats sightings, i cannot think of any better location in the Mara.

With the wildebeests gone, the lions and other big cats in the Mara, are actively hunting any available game. We were able to see during our stay a few lion hunting warthogs. The Ridge pride with the help of Notch and his gang, brought down two hippos on different dates. Most of the prides too have very small cubs, which are still very playful and photogenic! We could spent hours or even a whole day watching them.

Cheetah sightings were also great. We saw 7 one day!, and all within one hour of our afternoon game drive. This is a recent records considering how rare they have been lately. Malaika and her son(whom we have named Lucky Boy) has been south of the Talek on the lower Burrungat plains, but have now crossed the river north to Rhino ridge. She is now even more than ever, jumping on the roofs of vehicles since the grass is now very tall. The mother of 3, who has for a long time been down at Lookout hill, has also moved into the same area as Malaika. We did see her hunt, though unsuccessfully a couple of times. There is also one female whom we thought is lactating. We saw her between Rekero camp and Rhino ridge. We hope if she has cubs that she will be able to bring them up successfully.

Our leopard sightings was great too. We saw only 3 different leopards on this trip. These were Olive, her daughter Saba and a young male at the pump house. Who gave us the most beautiful poses. We followed Olive yesterday into the bushes near Mara Explorer where i believe she is hiding her cubs.

Despite the tall grass, we were also able to see a few Serval cats, hunting in the grass, where we got great leaping shots. A couple of them were not shy of vehicles at all. 

 CHEETAHS

LIONS

LEOPARDS

2012 flash back

As the year comes to the end, i would like to share with you the highlights of my experience in the field. the year has been full of activities and great experience. Below are some of these in pictures

"PLANET EARTH LIVE"

Dave Breed, drives through flooded tracks. It was quite a challenge for all of us

Richard Hammond and Jack Looseiya being interviewed in field

'Tash' and Sophie, ploughs through a flooded Musiara marsh

Inside the transmission tent at our base at Governors camp during "Planet Earth Live"

I spent a night here when i got stuck. It was quite an experience! i must say, never before has my driving skills been tested as it happened that season. with heavy rains, flooded rivers, tracks etc, it required better than normal skills.

While i was looking for the Ridge pride for the filming crew during the "Planet earth live" program, i stumbled two male Impala fighting, and while i marveled at the intensive fight, out of no where, Olive sprung out of the bushes and grabbed one of them, right in front of my vehicle.

Our Leopard queen, Olive entertained us one afternoon when she hunting right int eh open and proved us wrong when she got an Impala

I spent an emotional morning one time with some of my guests, when we found a dead elephant near Musiara marsh. Hyaena had started feeding on it and later lions joined them. engaging the elephants in a long drawn drama. the Elephants here in particular one sub-adult, kept coming, smelling and touching the dead elephant, whom we though could have been a close relative.

Rhino Ridge male and Olive courting

This was my favourite lion this year. i found him with his brother near lookout hill in the Mara

 I had great  unusual sightings like that of this Caracal

Malaika on top of my vehicle

It was great looking for and finding this leopard near our camp site at Digby's in Lewa down

I was fascinated by Malaika's sub-adult cub as he tries to climb onto vehicle like mum

I and my guests had some hunting scenarios like this. Not for faint hearted though!

A great migration season experience

Flamingoes at Lake Bogoria

Hyaena fights of vultures at a kill

"Walking wild" on Lewa. I had 4 great walking days with Tim Trench safaris guests

Great Big Cats sighting

 These Buffaloes chased away Notch and his sons from a hippo kill they had one morning near Rekero

 It was great spending time with Zawadi and her cub at the leopard gorge

 At Mapamba swamps near Entebe in Uganda looking for a Shoe Bill and other birds

 Witnessing the full take-over of the marsh pride by the muskeeters was one great observation throughout the year

 Watching Notch's boys bring down a Buffalo is an experience hard to forget

 A leopard with kill up a tree in North Serengeti.

Had treat from lions at Ngorongoro crater

"I WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR''