Niyam's African Adventure (August 2013)

[TonyQ]

@@africapurohit

I hadn't realised the current was so strong until I saw the video

It is a real battle for them!

[AKR1]

Fabulous videos! AP, as I said before, the single finest crossing photographs I have ever had the pleasure to see. Have you thought of making an ebook with one of the photo book companies such as Blurb. At Blurb these sell for a few dollars and I think many folks here would buy it. (The actual photo books are very expensive).

 

By the way, the highest resolution I get available on the videos is 720p not 1080p, although they look great at 720p.

 

Again, thanks for posting this. I know it takes a lot of effort and may even inspire one of your readers to continue with her Trip Report

[ZaminOz]

@@africapurohit

Can you please advise when you plan to finish this wonderful trip report. My wife tells me that I apparently have a life to get back to.

 

... Or was that "a wife to get back to"

Edited January 6, 2014 by ZaminOz

[africapurohit]

Thanks @@Super LEEDS, @@TonyQ, @@AKR1 and @@ZaminOz

 

I plan to finish this report during January, so not too long to go. My next project is a photobook for Niyam to take to school and present to his class but I haven't given thought to an ebook - could work out cheaper for family . ARK1 who is your hint aimed at? TonyQ the current was strong but the wildebeest seemed to cut through the river with ease.

 

I'm so far behind reading all the other trip reports, so lots of catching up to do.

[madaboutcheetah]

Phew!!! Speechless........

[Kitsafari]

wow and wow again. awesome pictures. i just dont understand why the wildebeests would choose the hardest route to cross. those river banks look like vertical suicides but amazingly so few deaths resulted.

 

your pictures clearly show why the serengeti migration at the Mara river is so epic.

[africapurohit]

Right! Let me finish this trip report and then I can spend the next few weeks catching up on all the trip reports posted during the last 6 months!

 

Before I continue with Day 7 in the Serengeti, here's a photo I took whilst experimenting with shutter speeds. The splashes of water were captured with a spark-like effect, completely by accident.

 

 

We must have spent more than two hours watching this continuous crossing action - the sensory overload was exhausting! We decided to find a quiet spot along the river to have breakfast and ended up at crossing point 3. Despite being free of wildebeests and humans, the continuing action at crossing point 4 was still very audible! After breakfast we continued in an opposite direction to all the vehicles heading towards the crossing points, with the highlight being a mother cheetah with two sub-adult cubs.

 

Long-crested Eagle

Three-banded Plover

Another rare Grant's gazelle sighting

 

 

 

[africapurohit]

After lunch I decided to head back into the Lamai Wedge which had become my location for tranquility - and this was where all of those wildebeests at crossing point 4 were heading. We did not see another vehicle once we crossed the river.

 

Eland in the Lamai Wedge

This lioness was not pleased to see us so we did not stay long with her. This was a common theme with the lionesses in the Lamai Wedge, whereas those south of the river seemed far more relaxed.

This Yellow-throated Longclaw was very relaxed

This was a first for me - seeing three adult Bateleurs perched together on the same branch!

A lone Grant's gazelle in the Lamai Wedge

A prancing topi

We ended the afternoon in the company of this old boy

[twaffle]

Perfect timing to continue this now that I'm only a few weeks away from heading to Serian North Serengeti. Those Bateleurs are great, I'd love to get something like that. Beautiful photos continue.

[africapurohit]

Twaffle I do remember you mentioning July 2014. I will finish it before you leave and then you can tell Alex that it's finally finished!

[twaffle]

I'll do that. I saw on FB that they're trialling some new menus with some brilliant looking salads, can't wait.

[michael-ibk]

Great to have you back, @@africapurohit . Even greater to see you continue your report.

[ZaminOz]

Wonderful photos @@africapurohit ... But then you already knew that

[Atravelynn]

You just keep rolling with the spectacular sightings. Those wide angle shots of ALL the wildes bring to mind swarming insects.

 

Those bateleurs are a most special find. Getting a photo of them is even more special.

[Kitsafari]

@@africapurohit i thought your trip report was over a while back... but glad you found time to wrap it up. the bateleurs look splendid as is the lion basking in the golden light....

[africapurohit]

Thanks @@Kitsafari - I still have 3 more days to cover before it's finished. Almost finished processing the photos for Day 8 in the Serengeti which includes some more migration crossing action (but I will keep it short!)

[africapurohit]

We set off early in the morning of Day 8 and were heading back towards crossing point 4 of the Mara River. There were so many animals that many didn't make it across the previous day, despite crossings continuing until sun-set. As well as the overnight campers, many more wildebeests were still making their way to crossing point 4!

 

We had almost reached the area when I had one of those light-bulb moments - I asked Mdebe whether it was possible to see the crossing from the other side of the river, in the Lamai Wedge? Despite the unusual request, he thought it was a good idea and he knew how to get there. He did warn that we would have to drive through some tsetse fly-infested woodland but I didn't mind. The tsetse flies are not usually very active during early mornings, so we set off at speed to get to other other side. When we reached our destination (after about 30 minutes), crossings were already underway so we positioned our vehicle covertly to avoid being in the line of sight of the crossing animals. We had noticed poor vehicle positioning as the cause for halting a number of crossings and we didn't want to spoil it the other Serian Camp guests on the other side of the river. Although it wasn't on the scale of the previous day, it was still very impressive and it was nice to have light on the animals jumping into the river.

 

Waiting in the queue

Safely across the river to the other side....

...but these guys were also out in force on the other side, waiting for the injured and weak to fall

[africapurohit]

 I'm very much focussed (no pun intended) on still photography now, with lots of reading and practising - but still a long way to go. To be honest, I never really appreciated the birds when filming but now I'm a certified twitcher following my conversion to stills. I've recently invested in the 300mm f2.8 II lens (with the mark III teleconverters), so I'm taking it seriously.

 

The next safari will be a family safari - I've now been banned from taking any of the boys away from their mother . When the second guy turns 6, the little one will only be 3 (probably a bit too young to do a lengthy safari) - so we may wait an extra year so they are aged 7 and 4 years (and Niyam will be 9). I still haven't decided on a destination but will probably visit South Africa or Namibia, taking into consideration the age of the youngest. At the moment a combination of Kruger and Kgalagadi is the frontrunner, using local guides with open vehicles (rather than self-drive).

[africapurohit]

We spent the rest of the morning in the Lamai Wedge and we didn't see another vehicle...................

 

Thomson's Gazelle

It's always nice to see giraffe walking amongst the wildebeest herds - I found this quite uncommon

Part of another large (and skittish) eland herd

In the Lamai Wedge, we only saw lone buffalo bulls - not even a pair

Giraffe carcass near a small waterhole. Further investigation of the scene suggested it was taken down by lions whilst having a drink - always a risk

I identified these birds as Ruppell's Long-tailed Starlings but I could be wrong. This was my only sighting of these birds throughout the whole safari so I was happy they let me get close - wonderful colours!

After the fish eagle feast in Katavi this was my only real photographic opportunity during my ten days in Northern Serengeti

[TonyQ]

@@africapurohit

I am glad this is continuing - lots more beautiful photos

The cheetah, the batleurs, and the overall feeling of the place

[africapurohit]

The highlight of my morning (and one of my highlights of the whole safari) was enjoying the company of a relaxed breeding herd of elephants on the open plains of the Lamai Wedge - just our vehicle and the elephants! There was potential for similar experiences around the Katisunga Plains in Katavi but the elephants always moved away from the vehicle, usually with an increased pace. In this instance, we stopped quite a distance away and the matriarch led the herd to us . Despite being accompanied by a young calf, the matriarch was very curious and approached within a few metres of the vehicle. The penultimate photo shows the herd moving past the vehicle and you can see quite a few youngsters - it was a wonderful sighting in a perfect setting.

 

Edited June 22, 2014 by africapurohit

[africapurohit]

After lunch we spent most of the afternoon in the Wogakuria Kopjes, with almost 2 hours dedicated to a large comatose male leopard. Although he did lift his head few times, to find a more comfortable sleeping position, he didn't do much else. We came across the small herd of Coke's Hartebeests again but this time they were far more relaxed and let us get quite close.

 

A perfect spot - on top of a large kopje, shaded by trees

This Grey-backed Fiscal was quizzically looking at my camera lens from above, through our roof hatch. Despite being only 2 metres away, it was very relaxed.

A relaxed herd of Coke's Hartebeests during the golden hour

​Another privileged moment

A final departing glance

I loved the colours produced by the light

[graceland]

Oh my, I missed you...so glad I found the remaining days. The elie photos are so beautiful and remind one of how open and glorious Africa can be. Leopard not too shabby either.

 

All your photos are grand to see. My DH has become more of a twitcher. My poor vision is such it hurts to keep looking. But he did get me an excellent new pair of binos. Now if I only learn how to do that iPhone-bino combo.

 

I don't carry big lens' around. But happy everyone else does

[africapurohit]

Thank you @@graceland

 

I'm almost there - 2 more days to cover!

[africapurohit]

It was our ninth and final day in Northern Serengeti. The plan for the morning was to head to the Bologonja area, close to the border with Masai Mara. Many parts of this area are not flat and the rolling hills and termite mounds have a charm.

 

Wildebeests were gathering in large numbers close to crossing point 6, but we decided to drive on.

Dancing Grey-backed Fiscals

It is always very challenging to photograph Helmeted Guineafowls, so any opportunity should not be passed up

This guy had some impressive tusks - set in a typical Bologonja backdrop

I found warthog photography very difficult in Northern Serengeti. It was quite rare to get close to them.

Thomson's Gazelles in the Bologonja landscape

Black-backed Jackal