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Stunning Ikuka Safari Camp in the beautiful Ruaha NP - a photographic report.


madaboutcheetah

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madaboutcheetah

More from the stunning Ruaha NP ........

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madaboutcheetah

Even more from the beautiful Ruaha NP .... (Including my first ever Lesser Kudu sighting)

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madaboutcheetah

Final batch of images from Ikuka ...... Give me a shout if you have any questions. Will post iPhone pictures later this weekend - mostly camp stuff and landscapes/ baobabs.

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@@madaboutcheetah

 

Love the leopard photo with the jackals in the background. You were very lucky with your leopard sightings in Ruaha.

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madaboutcheetah

@@Zim Girl - Thanks. The jackals were actually so persistent that they were able to chase the Leopard off her kill! I'm told that Ruaha is actually one of the better parks for Leopard - though I agree with you any Leopard sighting is to be considered lucky!

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I don't think that Ruaha is one of the best parks for leopard sightings,although they can be quite good. When I was at Kwihala for 5 days i got to see no less than 3 leopards. As I remember you may have indeed have 5 vehicles at a sighting,but it's not like the Serengeti or the Masai Mara where you'd have perhaps as many of 30.

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madaboutcheetah

3 in 5 days, is exceptional Leopard viewing @@optig? ;)

 

The Leopard vs Jackal - we had the sighting to ourselves......

 

The female on the tree in one of the earlier posts - we could not avoid traffic as she was there for several hours and cars came and went (none stayed longer than 20 minutes) - which brings about my next question? How do you leave a Leopard on a tree and head away???? a head scratcher!

 

I'm told the Northern Serengeti is super busy now - I had family members visit in September. Doubt I'd have any interest.

Edited by madaboutcheetah
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@madabouitcheetah There's another leopard down the road? Haha Who knows? In our case couple of years ago it would be because our vehicle-mates weren't really interested in leoopards.since they don;t have wings.

 

Glad you saw so much and got the Ruaha bug now. You photos really show the attraction of the place - lots of variety in both landcape and fauna and always something different around every bend. Never predicatable - and wow, a first Lesser Kudu... after so many years? That's unusual, but then we all have the animal we inexplicably never see I guess?

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madaboutcheetah

@@pault - Indeed - loved Ruaha, esp with the expertise of a guide like Mark made it a lovely experience ......... Lesser Kudu - I suppose I've never been to any of the parks where they are present like Meru or thereabouts. If they are in Laikipia, I didn't see any or perhaps we were chasing the dogs who were denning that year at LWC.

Edited by madaboutcheetah
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@@madaboutcheetah i missed this when you started - such stunning pictures as usual from you.

 

i love that pose the baboon had sitting at the log with its hands crossed, and wondering what you are and contemplating if he should run away or not though he looked thoroughly relaxed. also the pix of the baboons crossing the stream - funny.

 

what a great interaction to watch between the ele and the lions - the young ele looked mightily pleased with himself when the lion got up and ran.

 

what was the lioness doing with her head in that hole - perhaps a hole of water dug by an ele?

 

your pictures once again show how beautiful ruaha is, and it is still on my list.... it keeps growing as are other lists. will it never end? :blink:

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There were some iconic sightinghs that you have had, @@madaboutcheetah ! I specially like all the new angles and different approaches to wildlife shots, something we have still need to implement.

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madaboutcheetah

Thanks for all the kind comments @@Kitsafari and @@xelas

 

The Lion in the pic is digging for water in the Mwagusi River -

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Hari

Great capture of the "river crossing". Babbons in Water are quite a sight.

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madaboutcheetah

Thanks @@mvecht - Michael, how you been? - Yes, Ruaha has several large troops all over the place and they are seldom boring like sleeping Lions!

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@@madaboutcheetah super photos, Hari, thanks for sharing! Love the jumping monkeys. You really saw a lot in the time you were there!

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@@madaboutcheetah

 

Wow Hari... a new (non cheetah) destination... You'll be heading to Luangwa next!

 

Great photos (as usual)!

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@@madaboutcheetah, beautiful images, again. Took me a second to even spot the Leopard feeding in the first photo, trick of the eye.

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@ZaminOz Actually Ruaha is okay for cheetahs. I'm sure you've got at least a 50-50 chance of seeing one - better if you really go all out. So yes, I reckon he's seriously mellowing.

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madaboutcheetah

Thanks @@elefromoz

 

@@pault - I'm told the cheetah viewing at the moment is very dodgy in Ruaha - the relaxed ones from before are either no more or moved away or something along those lines ............... So, it's all the ebb and flow of the predator dynamics I suppose - only a matter of time though!!! I blame those pesky Lions ...........

 

FYI - the other thing high on my list is the Chimp treks in Mahale - I'm told it's one amazing experience.

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Shame it's a low time for the cheetahs but yes it's a big park - plenty of room for them to move on if annoyed by the lions I guess.

 

Okay definitely no cheetahs in Mahale!. You can even take your swimming costume @@madaboutcheetah

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Wonderful photos @@madaboutcheetah of a special park - love the jackal pups, that lovely group of lesser kudu, the landscapes, those palm trees ..........................

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Great photo's thanks @hari - post #17 zebra photo's I really like.

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The lion and jackal youngsters are truly adorable. The lion-ele excitement didn't seem to upset the pair of lions too much. Great job on the baboons over water antics and congrats on your lesser kudu. They came out in numbers for you. I love the jackal in the background peeking at the leopard and its kill. What a gorgeous spot to take a break from your beloved cheetah. Beautiful indeed! Thanks for letting us know about this new camp.

Edited by Atravelynn
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