Big Birthday at Namiri (cheetah) Plains; Friends, fun, photography, laughs and giggles, toasts and celebrations - A truly memorable safari that was nothing but epic !!!!

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks a lot @Kitsafari@Atravelynnand @AKR1

 

Cheetah mum and cub ... we spent the best part of the morning with them.

 

She eventually whacked a wildebeest calf - I only got video of that (will find a way to post later) 

[madaboutcheetah]

Let's get back to the Great migration ....this time around barafu.  IMHO no part of the Mara/Serengeti eco-system comes close to Gol/Barafu and of course, it's very seasonal.   

[madaboutcheetah]

More Cheetah .....

 

We did not anticipate well enough the direction of the chase this time so no photos of the take down of the gazelle ..... However, drama ensued much to our dismay!!  Hard life this for these cats! 

[madaboutcheetah]

The migration truly is a time of plenty .... 

 

 

Edited June 25, 2023 by madaboutcheetah

[michael-ibk]

Really gorgeous photography Hari! 

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks a lot @michael-ibk

 

A few more cheetah (what else!!) 

 

[madaboutcheetah]

This segment is nothing much photographically - but, interesting sighting .....

 

A different mum with two cubs (1M and 1F) ........  We were following them for a while in the woodland near camp.  Mum seemed to be interested in a pocket of the wildebeest herd so we positioned accordingly .... Suddenly, the boy takes off in the opposite direction and by the time we could pull around we were stunned with these scenes ........  The female cub was lost in the pandemonium and re united much later! He is going to be a brute of a hunter and I can promise you he is the one who initiated the kill of a good sized young zebra.

 

[madaboutcheetah]

Rounding out the report with the last of the images .......

 

Note - Hyena with the baby gazelle unrelated to the hunting cheetah ...... 

 

To summarise - Many Thanks to each and everyone of you for your interest in this report that kept me motivated throughout  the editing.  Namiri Plains totally rocked it - I couldn't ask for anything more for my big birthday ...... Great company, Amazing hospitality in camp, Stellar guiding and no better place for cheetah in Africa.

 

The END 

 

(I know I've got videos to post - I hope to figure out a way to load them to Youtube and post at some point ) 

[mopsy]

Great report @madaboutcheetahand stunning photography too.

 

A wonderful way to celebrate your milestone. Congrats!

[madaboutcheetah]

Thank You @mopsy- It truly was memories of a lifetime and the staff went out of their way to make it all very special.

[pault]

Some (more) brilliant cheetah and lion shots. Nice wildebeest stuff too. Glad you had such a successful trip for your big birthday.

 

The change of system hasn't done any harm - even some birding now! 

[Galana]

Came in late to this and enjoyed every post. I was 'up there' only last month and it was totally different. Some great photos. Thanks.

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks @paultand @Galana

 

@Galana- How were your sightings???  Who was your guide in Namiri?  Was Dickson around camp?

[Galana]

16 hours ago, madaboutcheetah said:

@Galana- How were your sightings???

Ah. A slight misunderstanding of 'up there'!

I meant N. Serengeti, indeed from Naabi Hill to Ikoma. Sightings were sparce to say the least. Way too many vehicles doing their version of the Dakar Rally at high speed.. The dust was dreadful. We just transited and sincerely wished we had never bothered. Nearly US$200 pp to drive from Leodare Gate to Ikoma in great discomfort. The last time I try that in August. Even the Gazelles wore face masks.

[africawild]

Hello Hari, I am realizing while reading your report that we coincided for several days in Namiri.
I spent the last 5 days of April there and it was really amazing with the core of the migration right around the camp.
It's a shame not to meet each other so we can exchange impressions and have a drink together!!
I'm glad you spent such a happy birthday with your family, it sure was a dream come true to do it in such an incredible place.

Paco

 

Edited September 10, 2023 by africawild

[madaboutcheetah]

15 hours ago, africawild said:

Hello Hari, I am realizing while reading your report that we coincided for several days in Namiri.
I spent the last 5 days of April there and it was really amazing with the core of the migration right around the camp.
It's a shame not to meet each other so we can exchange impressions and have a drink together!!
I'm glad you spent such a happy birthday with your family, it sure was a dream come true to do it in such an incredible place.

Paco

 

Oh no ....what a shame ..... I wish I knew 

[SdW]

Hello Hari,

 

I love your trip report and hope to visit Namiri Pains in April next year. Is off road driving allowed around Namiri Plains?

Would you prefer ealy April above late April? 
Thanks in advance. 
Stephan

[Fredweinman]

We went to Namiri two years ago and no we could not go off road. With that said, it was a completely non event. No problems seeing everything and getting very close.  The unlimited cats were amazing and what a place to stay.

 

I asked Hari the same question as were were planning and he told me no worries and he was absolutely correct. 

[madaboutcheetah]

On 10/5/2023 at 8:54 PM, SdW said:

Hello Hari,

 

I love your trip report and hope to visit Namiri Pains in April next year. Is off road driving allowed around Namiri Plains?

Would you prefer ealy April above late April? 
Thanks in advance. 
Stephan

I have done both early and late April … both great sightings …. Early April you could potentially risk the bulk of the herds still in ndutu. I’d say shoot for mid to late April if possible 

[espn24]

How do you feel about Namiri a month later? Late May

[SdW]

On 10/6/2023 at 8:16 PM, madaboutcheetah said:

I have done both early and late April … both great sightings …. Early April you could potentially risk the bulk of the herds still in ndutu. I’d say shoot for mid to late April if possible 

Thank you Hari. I was thinking that the grasses would be lower earlier in April. Would you feel the same?

[madaboutcheetah]

@SdW- places like gol and barafu that I like most are the short grass plains ….. I don’t think there’s going to be a difference

 

@espn24- late May things dry up substantially- so the herds won’t be around most likely. Your chance of wildebeest kills reduce substantially 

[TravelMore]

On 6/17/2023 at 2:08 PM, AKR1 said:

Hari’s prime tele lens is a monster at over 10 lbs but as his pictures show primes, especially ultra- fast ones like his,  are almost always better than zooms. That said I typically carry three zoom lenses on safari. One with a max of 400mm ( 100-400), a 70-200 and a 24-105 ( Canon). This covers almost  all the bases and all three together weigh about the same as a 400mm 2.8. 

I have 2 bodies, a 200-600, 100-400, and will carry something wider like a 16-35, or last trip a 14mm.  But Hari's pictures make me ache for a 400 mm prime, haha!

Edited March 11 by TravelMore