Fabulous Namiri Plains; Miraculously pulled off an already postponed Safari ; Cheetah literally everywhere; the great Migration in full force; Chalo Tanzania and lots lots more (April 2021)

[Atdahl]

Wow!  Fantastic pictures Hari.  Serval, daytime Aardwolf, Cheetahs galore...that would be a dream trip for us.

 

Alan

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks @Atdahl

 

Next set of images......

[madaboutcheetah]

More images....... Give me a shout if you have any questions??

[marg]

@madaboutcheetahHari your photos are fabulous!  I am very happy that you were able to make the trip!  So many of us are still just dreaming.

[michael-ibk]

Hi Hari, I´m really happy for you that you were able to get out of India and have such a super safari! Beautiful photos of course - like always! Love the Black Serval, and oh wow, so many awesome Cheetah shots. Fantastic! 

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks a lot @margand @michael-ibk

 

In this segment, more of Grace and her brood ...... 

[madaboutcheetah]

Next set of images....

[madaboutcheetah]

Cats on Kopjes a speciality here ....... Usually Lion, but, Cheetah always welcome.....

[madaboutcheetah]

More Serengeti magic....

[Kitsafari]

as expected, brilliant shots! that shot of the two male lions walking side by side on the road look like mirror images of each other. And i agree that shot of the single lion on the kopje is tremendous. 

 

and black serval!! and serval kitten. how darn lucky you are!

[Zubbie15]

Great shots Hari, as expected.  I’m curious, some of your photos are from pretty low position (the first few shots in post 27 for example). How are you achieving that in the safari vehicle? I’ve been debating for our next safaris asking to sit beside the driver sometimes to get that lower perspective but I’m wondering if you have other tricks.  

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks a lot @Kitsafariand @Zubbie15

 

I do like the front seat next to driver a lot ........  

 

These particular photos are from the Asilia photographic vehicle with the open sides - flat on the floor........ 

[ElenaH]

absolutely brillant photos, Hari @madaboutcheetah!!

Each time I see update in this thread - I watch from the beginning to scroll all the photographs again. I also like wildebeast and flamingos. ;-) All pictures of an outstanding quolity! It looks like when you take a gear into your hands it turns to an excellent picture independently on a subject. However, the subjects are amazing! Those two lions, a lion on the hill, cheetah...

This Grace is a good mother! She rises four cubs, teaches them to hunt... Remarkable cat. 

I've never been to Serengeti but your sightings made me curious... Asilia looks very luxury, offers some discounts but I cannot find any rates. Interestingly the other camps/lodges are about 15km away. If they also have such good sightings?

What is YF Certification?

[madaboutcheetah]

@ElenaH- YF - yellow fever certificate 

 

thanks a lot for your kind words.... yes, closest will possibly be Lemala Nanyukie (I have not been).  They have some very good game drive area also in their vicinity .... 

[Zubbie15]

17 hours ago, madaboutcheetah said:

Thanks a lot @Kitsafariand @Zubbie15

 

I do like the front seat next to driver a lot ........  

 

These particular photos are from the Asilia photographic vehicle with the open sides - flat on the floor........ 

Thanks Hari, I didn't realize Asilia had those types of vehicles. They don't seem to be cheap, but they definitely offer a different view from what most people get. Something to think about for the future... 

[madaboutcheetah]

@Zubbie15- I'm told they have very limited number of those Photographic vehicles.  I'm not sure exactly how many - you need to get your agent to verify with Asilia.  FYI - I think in the Mara they had  only 1 of those available when we were there last (again I'm not 100 percent sure) .... Point being, book it in advance.   One thing to consider - the bucket seats inside wobble a lot and very uncomfortable for lengthy periods sitting and not at all recommended for anyone with back problems ....... I would recommend it for a couple of days only !!! 

[Zubbie15]

Thanks @madaboutcheetahfor the info. It’s good in particular to know about the lack of comfort.  What I found online, which seemed to date from 2019, was that they had individual vehicles in the Mara, northern Serengeti, central Serengeti, and Ruaha.  It’s probably a moot point for us in any case,I expect the next time we’re in Tanzania will be with our kids and then I don’t think it would make sense to book a specialist vehicle…

[offshorebirder]

Really superb action shots and behavior shots @madaboutcheetah!

 

Thanks for sharing your adventure with us and also giving us some great eye candy.

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks @offshorebirder.... - will have to get back to the photo editing........ back in the office now that the second wave is dying out .... Yay!!! 

[Sangeeta]

@madaboutcheetahyou've really done a (wonderful) number this time! Too many lovely shots to call out individually, but I'd be interested in seeing more B&Ws from you now - love the ones you have added here. The rogue males are striking and as @Kitsafarisays, they look like mirror images of one another. Beautiful Manja pics too, and all the cheetah action shots this time are brilliant.

[Towlersonsafari]

whqat a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon, looking at those wonderful photo's @madaboutcheetah

[gatoratlarge]

Thanks for sharing---the lion atop the kopje is such a fantastic specimen with that mane!  @madaboutcheetahat the risk of appearing bloodthirsty I'm curious if you have a strategy or suggestions for observing hunting Big Cats...I've been on a number of safaris, watched a couple of fumbled, unsuccessful attempts and then of course watched as lions, cheetahs and leopards fed on their kill but never have witnessed a successful hunt.  The cheetah in full stride---that would be so fantastic to see!  What is your advice or strategy as it appears you saw this on multiple occasions...is there a time of day?  Watching for particular behavior?  I'll be near that area in November and would set aside some time to try to witness this....

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks a lot @Towlersonsafari- you are much too kind!

 

@Sangeeta- Thanks ..... Good point! I've got to work on those B&W s......

 

@gatoratlarge- Thanks.  So Cheetah - easy answer Patience, patience, Patience ....... When you find the cheetah in November stay with them!!! Do not leave the sighting.  Except of course, if they are with a full stomach already (then keep track and follow up so that they will hunt again in a couple of days).... I've seen hunts at all times of the day - early morning, right through the heat of the day (in 2010, we had 3 male cheetah sleeping under a bush and we plated our lunch - had to toss it out when they went after a full grown Tsesebe in botswana) ....... So, strategy is simple stay with them even if they seem lazy and under a bush.  They can go Zero to a 100 in a matter of a few minutes.  Even if there doesn't appear to be any plains game around - you'd be surprised how suddenly they pop up and the cheetah gets active!!! Good luck and I'd love to hear more of your November trip!!!! Hope you find Grace and her brood......

[gatoratlarge]

Awesome advice @madaboutcheetahwe are staying at Nanyukie which is reasonably close to Namiri but I don't know if there are restrictions on where we are able to drive ---but that's good advice for Big Cats anywhere in the Mara and Serengeti and I imagine most anywhere they are found.  We should be able to ask the guide to stay out all day and pack lunches.  I assume y'all stayed out all day most days?

[madaboutcheetah]

@gatoratlarge..... most days we stayed out for lunch.  Namiri actually sent lunch out for us when we radioed the location.

 

Nanyukie is sort of in the neighbourhood and I’d imagine they have their own cheetah in their neck of the woods.  You still need to get back for evening park closure time so I’d imagine is still a trek from the immediate namiri areas....