Kenya (Amboseli, Ol pejeta, Naivasha, Mara) - Sept/11 to Sept/20, 2017

[Gilgamesh]

Duplicate post

Edited September 29, 2017 by Gilgamesh

[Pamshelton3932]

@Gilgamesh I am thouroughly enjoying your report and photos.  While I was at Porini Rhino Camp in Ol Pejeta in June, I had the pleasure of having Little John on one safari ride with me.  He was a delightful man with a sense of humor and he was leaving the next morning to take his silver test.  We certainly tested his knowledge with the numerous questions we asked.  You don't happen to know if he achieved his rating, do you?

[AmyT]

I can't believe that I've missed all the fun!  I'm with you at Mara Serena right now; the leopards are gorgeous!  I particularly loved the weaver's nest and macro shots that you take, they're stunning!  But who can resist a shot of a big cat?  Love love love! Can't wait to find out about the big surprise on day 9!

 

Edit:  Oh dang!  I hoped that page three was full and it's just beginning!  Guess I will have to be patient and wait until the morning for more safari reports. 

 

Edited September 29, 2017 by AmyT

[amybatt]

Thoroughly enjoying this TR so far, @Gilgamesh, it's making me want to go back to the Mara now!  Wonderful dual leopard sighting!!  Two at once is definitely a gift.

[Alexander33]

On 9/28/2017 at 6:47 AM, Gilgamesh said:

 I was telling myself not to be one of those that are only after the big cats. We enjoyed all of it, but on day 8 when 'Little John' of Porini asked me what we wanted to see, to my own surprise, these words came out of my mouth... "Lions, Leopards and Cheetahs", lol!

 

Ha! Who hasn't felt that way at one time or another, if they are being honest?  Very glad to see that you finally got your leopard, and not just one, but a pair. Excellent. 

 

Edited September 29, 2017 by Alexander33

[Gilgamesh]

12 hours ago, Pamshelton3932 said:

@Gilgamesh I am thouroughly enjoying your report and photos.  While I was at Porini Rhino Camp in Ol Pejeta in June, I had the pleasure of having Little John on one safari ride with me.  He was a delightful man with a sense of humor and he was leaving the next morning to take his silver test.  We certainly tested his knowledge with the numerous questions we asked.  You don't happen to know if he achieved his rating, do you?

 

Thank you very much. I am glad you are enjoying the report.

 

Little John met us midway between Mara Serena and Porini lion where we had a little game drive on our way into the camp and then we had him for that evening's drive. I didn't have much time to ask too much about him, especially because he said he will be with us for the whole trip. So, I don't know whether he passed the exam or not. I'm sure, Jake who is the owner of Porini who is also a member here will know.

Edited September 29, 2017 by Gilgamesh

[Gilgamesh]

6 hours ago, AmyT said:

I can't believe that I've missed all the fun!  I'm with you at Mara Serena right now; the leopards are gorgeous!  I particularly loved the weaver's nest and macro shots that you take, they're stunning!  But who can resist a shot of a big cat?  Love love love! Can't wait to find out about the big surprise on day 9!

 

Edit:  Oh dang!  I hoped that page three was full and it's just beginning!  Guess I will have to be patient and wait until the morning for more safari reports. 

 

Thank you!

 

I know you had your fill of Lions on your lovely trip, and my next part will be all Lions. But, it's true, there can never be too much of those...especially the little ones. Thanks to your report, I told my guide not to spend too much time looking for Lions in the previous parks as we are virtually guaranteed to see them in Porini Lion. You were absolutely right - it did seem like they were under every tree, lol!...Olare motorogi conservancy has the highest concentration of lions in Africa.

 

The shot on day9 is probably not the most interesting shot for relative newbies like us, but should be to the veteran safari goer. I think, for us, everything is fascinating. I definitely enjoyed many other encounters more than the surprise image. It's just that, most of what I am posting would have been seen multiple times by frequent safari goers. I don't think even most of them would have seen what I will post at the end of day 9.

 

For instance, the various instance where huge herds of elephants gently moved by our vehicles in Amboseli or the various herbivores and all the quirky animal behaviors were absolutely amazing...but, I didn't include them in the trip report. It's routine stuff for most, but took our breaths away.

 

I will be posting Day 8 today and should finish my report by the end of this weekend.

Edited September 29, 2017 by Gilgamesh

[Gilgamesh]

2 hours ago, amybatt said:

Thoroughly enjoying this TR so far, @Gilgamesh, it's making me want to go back to the Mara now!  Wonderful dual leopard sighting!!  Two at once is definitely a gift.

 

Thank you so much. Comments like this makes me want to keep posting as soon as I can. Yeah! it was a huge treat to see the mother, son pair. We also saw a different mother/son pair in Porini Lion, but not together (I don't think). We briefly drove to see the famous Fig, but she was sleeping with a full belly. We had so much to do, so don't have much of her. But, we were thoroughly satisfied with the first sighting though.

 

On day9 I will also post a series of images depicting an event. I have to say, that will be a series of impressive images. I'm sure, anyone who heads out to Mara conservancy and take a trip to the Reserve on that side will be able to see a similar encounter if they stay there 3-4 nights. I'm sure that will tempt more to head out there right now. Heck! I feel like I already want to be back to see it again and again, by just thinking about it now...as amazing as it may be, it has almost become a daily event.

 

P.S: Looking at the Leopards now, I am not happy with the color errors at iso3200. I had an hour last night to quickly process and post. I shot them in Jpeg and the in-camera noise reduction had sapped the color out. I am intending to spend more time with the remaining images as I have the whole weekend.

 

 

Edited September 29, 2017 by Gilgamesh

[CDL111]

 

Your post 23, white billed go-away-bird is a white-bellied go-away-bird. @offshorebirder recommended a book to me in his 2016 report , A Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa, you could also use the internet, List of birds of Kenya, Wikipedia which I have found helpful. It is a very good report to date and as we fly out on Monday for our ST in Kenya, will be checking to see if you have added to your report before we go.

[Gilgamesh]

21 minutes ago, CDL111 said:

 

Your post 23, white billed go-away-bird is a white-bellied go-away-bird. @offshorebirder recommended a book to me in his 2016 report , A Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa, you could also use the internet, List of birds of Kenya, Wikipedia which I have found helpful. It is a very good report to date and as we fly out on Monday for our ST in Kenya, will be checking to see if you have added to your report before we go.

Thank you!...I do have a book called 'The wildlife of east Africa', I must have read the name wrong - I guess the jetlag. I should have finished by Trip report prior to you leaving. Have fun!...you will.

 

Which parks are you visiting? how many days?

[Gilgamesh]

 Day8 (Mara Reserve) - The morning game drive.

 

We were surrounded by Lions...first time that had happened, and it was awesome. A few photographs.

 

A Pair

 

Gorgeous Lioness

 

Young ones

 

My favorite...so lucky they all decided to look towards us

 

Then we saw this interesting scene unfolding at a great distance....nothing happened though

 

We went back to the spot where we saw the Leopard yesterday, just when we thought they were gone and about to leave I spotted one of the two again.

 

We left for Porini Lion...on the way we saw some Mongoose

 

Buffalo

 

 

Landscapes

 

Edited September 29, 2017 by Gilgamesh

[Gilgamesh]

Day8 (Porini Lion camp) - Drive into the camp

 

 

Little John wanted to show something special even before we reached the camp...what a treat!

 

In was almost midday, and all of them were resting under the bushes for shade

 

One playful one

 

It's so nice to be able to get close to them

 

Now, for the surprise image I've been telling about that's rarely posted here...scroll down to see it..."Ta-dah"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everybody calm down....just joking....next, the evening Game drive at Porini Lion camp.

Edited September 30, 2017 by Gilgamesh

[Gilgamesh]

Day 8 (Porini Lion Camp) - Evening Game drive, part I

 

Everything is a bit more special in the conservancies. Even the Giraffe gave me the rare sitting pose 

 

 

Finally saw the secretary bird close enough to snap a quick shot

 

Family of Lions

 

Then we went looking for a Leopard

 

She was hiding

 

A better view

 

 

We ended the evening with the family of Lions....those pictures next.

 

 

Edited September 30, 2017 by Gilgamesh

[Gilgamesh]

Day 8 - (Porini Lion Camp) Part II

 

After seeing the Leopard we headed back to the family of Lions to finish our day amongst them. On the way we saw this little one...

 

 

Along with it's sibling, they decided to hunt a Warthog...it happened at a distance...

 

The two returning after their failed but valiant effort

 

Mother watching them in amusement

 

Then we headed to the pride of Lions with all those young ones and one tiny baby

 

This fellow was curious

 

Even as he was going away, he had to turn back and give us a glance

 

Then we saw two brothers togther

 

 As Lion cubs do, to our pleasure, they soon started to play

 First the instigator bit his brother

 

Swift retaliation

 

Paw defense, in anticipation the other ones eyes are closed

 

Bam!! ...the other one tries to defend with his paws

 

Tight squeeze

 

To the ground

 

A third joins in

 

His turn to squeeze the other

 

 

It was absolutely amazing to watch them go back and forth...

 

Mmm! juicy

 

Crunch!!

 

Ouch! that made the "victim" spring up in an instance

 

 

Then one leaves

 

Then the baby joined in briefly

 

Too much for him

 

The other two continued on

 

This kept on going and we were having a blast watching it all from just a few feet away, with no other vehicles - Only possible in a Conservancy like this... Priceless!!

 

The mom went to console the baby and this happened....what a sight!

 

Then it looked like some of them wanted the mother to nurse them. I don't think mom was happy...the light by now is ridiculously low.

 

These types of interactions kept on going and we had our sundowner watching all of this in peace...what a day!

 

Next is day 9....Little John and Leshawn were great, tomorrow Meshack will be with us. Wow! what a wild ride it's going to be...

 

 

 

Edited September 30, 2017 by Gilgamesh

[Gilgamesh]

If I got any information wrong, please feel free to correct me. In identification of animals or the sexes of the animals or for that matter anything else at all...thank you!

Edited September 30, 2017 by Gilgamesh

[amybatt]

Lovely time spent with those cubs.  You pull on my heart strings with them, nothing better on safari (IMO!)  And the leopard was wonderful.  But that sunset...I really feel like African sunsets are special.  You're doing well.  And FINALLY we're coming up on Day 9!!!

[Gilgamesh]

2 hours ago, amybatt said:

Lovely time spent with those cubs.  You pull on my heart strings with them, nothing better on safari (IMO!)  And the leopard was wonderful.  But that sunset...I really feel like African sunsets are special.  You're doing well.  And FINALLY we're coming up on Day 9!!!

 

Thank you for taking the time to comment.

 

I can't believe, a week ago we were sitting by ourselves with a couple of guides and enjoying G&T and just feets away from us were wild lion cubs playing among themselves, with mom looking on....am I dreaming all of this? It cannot possibly be real. There is indeed nothing better!

 

Every game drive gave us something new...it kept building on and on and on...it was unreal. Even prior to the conservancy we had already seen the big five, Cheetah, giraffes etc. We had seen lions, cheetah, hyena, Jackals all on a carcass. The ugly five even prior to Mara. I didn't know what more I wanted. Jokingly I told my wife a few unrealistic things...to my surprise all of them came true in the conservancy on day 9 and day 10. 

 

Day 9 and 10 are currently loading into Lighthouse, I should be able to sort most of it this weekend. I can't wait to get to day 9 either.

 

Yeah! I've never captured the sun like I did in Kenya...it's impossible here. I think, it probably has something to do with being close to the equator. Also, another amazing feature is the 360 degree view of the sky. In most areas you can look around and see the sky in the horizon all around...the vast expanse was unreal. I can look up and with the naked eye see the Milky Way - that band of high density of stars of the Milky Way, which can only be seen by long exposure on a camera sensor here. I will take my tripod for some Astro photography there next time....Africa is unreal!...it defies any metrics we've accustomed to.

 

 

Edited September 30, 2017 by Gilgamesh

[amybatt]

@Gilgameshthe one thing that struck me on my first safari is the vastness and open-ness of the land.  There's just nothing as far as the eye can see.  I remember feeling so small in the universe when I saw nothing but open air and nature in front of me and in evey direction around me.  I'm sure that's part of why the sunrises and sunsets are so exceptional, but I also like to think everything in Africa is just better anyway!

[Gilgamesh]

Day 9 (Porini Lion)

 

Started with this lovely sunrise. Meshack parked the vehicle for the perfect composition. @amybatt I think you will enjoy these sunrise images too.

 

What a start eh!

 

Balloons

 

Cape Bull Grazing under the rising sun

 

As you may have noticed, the male lion was missing the previous night...I think this is the one...That mane! Whew!!

 

We did some amazing off-roading too

 

When you see the vehicle behind doing the same thing as one of our crossings, you'll see it better...those snorkels are not for show

 

Then we got a call...after a short mad dash this is what we saw

 

Crossing? you ask...yes! indeed...I only said we did not see the Mara river crossing, This is Talek river

Notice, there's no other vehicles.

 

It started out with just the Cape Bulls

 

Then the wildebeest joined

 

 

This was not the only crossing we will see today. There is a much bigger, proper Sand River crossing and a huge crossing through a dry valley with wildebeest in the thousands streaming pass on both sides of our vehicles with not that many other vehicles in any of the three crossings. We will also see a live hunt captured frame by frame and before the night is over we will see a Mara Lioness climb a tree - why she climbed will make for the surprise image.

 

 

Edited October 1, 2017 by Gilgamesh

[CDL111]

What photographs! It must be very pleasing to see a river crossing with no other vehicles in site, and the quantity of cats is one to envious of. Hopefully we will see your other river crossings before we go tomorrow morning. I could guess why the lioness climbed the tree, but prefer to wait and see as I am good at getting it wrong.

With regards to our trip, all of our ST is at  Porini lodges.

Nairobi 2 nights.

Amboseli 3 nights.

Rhino 3 nights.

Cheetah 3 nights.

Lion 3 nights.

[Gilgamesh]

41 minutes ago, CDL111 said:

What photographs! It must be very pleasing to see a river crossing with no other vehicles in site, and the quantity of cats is one to envious of. Hopefully we will see your other river crossings before we go tomorrow morning. I could guess why the lioness climbed the tree, but prefer to wait and see as I am good at getting it wrong.

With regards to our trip, all of our ST is at  Porini lodges.

Nairobi 2 nights.

Amboseli 3 nights.

Rhino 3 nights.

Cheetah 3 nights.

Lion 3 nights.

 

Thank you so much. Wow! You've picked the best lodges...you are going to love it. My wife was leery of going to Kenya at all and particularly tents. So, I only reserved the last 2 nights in Porini of the 11 nights. She doesn't even like rustic cottages at home. On the first day she wasn't thrilled with the bathroom and shower - mind you, it is fully plumbed with porcelain sinks and toilet. But, I can understand where she's coming from though. She was so enamored by the animal viewing, now she will only go to tents. She even got used to the wooden shower floor and the short 10L shower by the second day. If we are planning today, I will pick the camps you have picked. We would have even had a better time....but, can't complain about the absolutely fantastic time we had.

 

I still think lodges are more luxurious with food choices unnecessarily vast. We did not even feel the crowds. It is also nice to view the herbivores right from the lodge, at times even from your room as you relax on a lounge chair with beer in hand. It's nice!!!...however the animal viewing and the expertise of the guides in porini camp is out of this world and the lodges/reserve just cannot compare.

 

Enjoy!!...Oh! I just saw you are a regular visitor....never mind, you probably already know all this.

 

P.S: I think I have given enough clues to narrow down the image/activity, which I've been told is relatively rare...there's only a couple of possibilities now. For us, every sighting was fabulous, nothing special about the last one. However, for the regulars, seeing something new captured in a photograph may be exciting.

Edited October 1, 2017 by Gilgamesh

[Gilgamesh]

Day 9 (Porini Lion)....Morning drive cont'd

 

Then, we saw these three male Lions sleeping...the light was still the nice golden light. I think these were the only times I was able to use my lowest iso 80 for wildlife in the entire trip

 

These two together

 

This one on its own....posting all 3 on a small size wouldn't work, so I am skipping that.

 

After a while one of them woke up and gave us a better pose...a much better looking Male Lion

 

I haven't posted an Eland yet...this one had a nice background.

 

 

Then, we went looking for the five Cheetah brothers...those photographs coming up next...

Edited October 1, 2017 by Gilgamesh

[CDL111]

More of cats, the quantity of wildlife never ceases to amaze me, never just a few eland, zebra or wildebeest.

[Gilgamesh]

Day 9 (Porini Lion Camp)

 

The five cheetah brothers (We went to the reserve to see them)

 

All five

 

You can count five on this too

 

 

Before the fifth joined, these four were together

 

On the prowl

All five

 

Close ups

 

This collared one was sitting on his own

 

Another one joins in

 

Both looking stunning

 

Some grooming

 

and then...

 

Now some close up of cheetah gorgeousness

 

There wasn't a whole lot of action, but they will more than make it up for it when we revisit them during our evening drive ..... which will be my best sighting of the whole trip. But, before that, there's more from the morning.

Edited October 1, 2017 by Gilgamesh

[amybatt]

Ok, that balloon sunrise shot is just exquisite.  The colors knock me out.  But all of them are excellent.  You figured out how to shoot sunrise for sure!

 

The male lion in #69, is there something wrong between his lip and nose?  Looks like a blister or a boil or maybe his nose is split with a cut or something, poor guy.

 

I'm hugely jealous that you saw the five cheetahs.  I'm ready to pack up and go now and see them before they eventually disperse!  Is one of them collared or was that a different cheetah collared?

 

I could try to guess what's coming up, but I'd rather be surprised.  The Mara has already delivered for you, I can't imagine that it'll get much better!