Greetings! Well I can now continue the blog after the non existent internet and return to the UK. Check back daily from now to catch up on the latest..
Sightings have been fantastic over the last two of days so far, a great start and we continue to hit the ground running on the drives. The Elephants are amazingly plentiful around the Mara conservancies this year, the highest I have seen thanks to the delayed rains of December and January making the grass is lush and tasty. Our techniques in the cars are working as they are very relaxed and are approaching the vehicles in a comfortable head space. Important when dealing with 5 tonnes of bone and muscle!
The cloud cover continues to provide some very challenging photographic situations and we are having to deviate away from the Sunrise/Set light methods I am known for and work even harder on strong composition and form. It is always a challenge to work away your favourite conditions but the ability to adapt quickly is the mark of a good photographer and it’s something I always try and relish in rather than sulk because light wasn’t perfect. Some amazing pictures are taken in flat conditions, you simply have to look for the shot and the weather is one thing out of my control.
We then left the Elephants and made our way to the river for breakfast and a little more photography out of the vehicles.
The gang at breakfast with David calibrating his camera via the Colour Passport tools.
After food, we set back out to see what we could find as the local Acacia pride were eluding us this morning. As well as plentiful Elephants this year, the Baboons Troops are in full force. Very much a Marmite species, some love them and some hate them due to their bullish group mentality. They are a huge threat to Leopards with their cubs being especially vulnerable and many of the guides and locals are not, shall we say, fans for this reason. They are however fascinating to watch and like many species I have worked with, can turn from docile and calm to something else entirely at a moment’s notice.
The Troop we came across here were pretty relaxed, except the one large male who was keen to show the ladies just how brave he was and he stood his ground very well I must say.
It wasn’t long before our Eagle eyed guides Benja and George spotted the pride. This later morning air was much cooler then I usually experience due to the cloud cover, so they hadn’t moved off into deep shade yet. With one up the tree and the rest heading off as we arrived, we waited for the moment she would come down.
Less of a jump and more of a hop out of the tree to follow the rest of the pride.
A short walk later and they were down till the evening so we moved on.
A not so great shot of a stunning bird. Trying to get close to these Rollers in the cars is notoriously difficult and this wasn’t the last time we would try on this trip.
After the pride settled down for the afternoon, we headed on to the Elephant herd seen off in the distance. As luck would have it, the ever adorable young guys were in tow and being as cute as ever..
Helen, Brett, Jen & Benja waiting for an elusive Caracal to emerge.
As lunch time drew near, we made our way back to camp. Knowing that Sawadi’s daughter had her cubs near the camp (actually in the cam’s grounds!) we swung by to check on how they were doing. Our luck was in as mother was there and the cubs put in a brief and rare appearance.
So cute it makes you sick doesn’t it….
Well that’s it for this entry. Check back in tomorrow for more pictures from the trip.
On a technical note, the AF0S 80-400 continues to surprise and I am loving the flexibility and ability to adapt instantly that it provides. Most of the above images were taken with it and I will start writing the full review up for you all next week.
Thanks! Richard.
If you have been enjoying these posts please drop me a line on Facebook or twitter as I love getting your messages and it spurs me on to do more. Questions on any aspect of the trip welcome too! We also have ONE LAST tent on our September 2014 Safari if you fancy seeing it all for yourself and improving your own photography.