BIG CATS of the Maasai Mara Kenya photo safari TRIP REPORT Sept / Oct 2018
Posted by Wild4 Photo Safaris on 18th Oct 2018
The September "Big Cats of the Maasai Mara" photo safari was a great success with lovely clear weather and many great photo opportunities with the Big Cats.
We split our 10 nights in the Mara into two different locations to make the most of different areas. Lions proved again to be the most regularly seen of the big cats and we saw a number of different prides, a group of sub adult males, males fighting with females, cubs, hunts, feeding and a young lioness killing a baboon.
We had a great sighting of the 5 male Cheetahs taking down a young wildebeest, these five are such a dominant force at the moment within the Mara and it is always a treat to see and photograph them. We also spent time with a female and her three small cubs.
We saw three different Leopards and spent some good time photographing all of them.
Of course the Mara in Kenya is known for its big cats, but there are so many other animals there too. We also managed to photograph a number of Spotted Hyaena, Hippos, Crocodiles, Giraffe, Zebra, Impala, Buffalo, Elephant and a beautiful Black Rhino. Birds too were good as usual, there were a lot of Vultures and Marabou Storks, Little Bee Eaters, and a great opportunity with a Yellow Throated Longclaw !!
The migration herds were still around and it is always great to see the mass of animals out on the open grasslands.
A big thanks goes to the staff at Mara Entim Camp and Mara Serena for looking after us so well and a very special thanks goes to our amazing guides, Mamai and Tim, always patient, courteous, helpful and incredibly hard working, it is a great pleasure to work with you both as always !
Thanks so much to Rita, Linda, Raj, Michael, Toni and Mischa for joining us again on a WILD4 Photo Safari in Kenya's Maasai Mara !!
Please enjoy a selection of images from this photo safari.
Best wishes
Stu
1 Comment
Leave a Comment
Many thanks for a fantastically organised photo safari. The attention to detail, not to mention your patience & enthusiasm (and humour) has made the trip superb. We're delighted we chose Wild4.
Kind regards.
Dom & Jules, UK
On arrival we were treated as part of the family by Stu Porter, his wife Justyna, and parents John and Ann. The conditions for finding and photographing everything from small birds to large game was perfect – a 500mm lens on hire from Stu, a specially equipped vehicle, which was referred to as a hide on wheels ( with only 3 photographers) , a dedicated and professional approach to photography and plenty of time.
We would set off at sunrise, find a group of lions as they were beginning to yawn and stir from sleep, or a pair of saddle-billed storks building a nest, and quietly move our cameras into position. The initial sighting was accompanied by the rapid firing of shutters, but then we would wait as long as necessary in the hope of getting further shots. Stu was very sensitive to our needs and would only make suggestions about the best camera settings if he thought we needed his advice. His awareness of how animals behave was very useful in planning our shots.
Stu’s knowledge of African Wildlife and skill as a wildlife photographer is second to none, and I have learned a lot from his expertise. I am delighted with my photos !!
This was the trip of a lifetime, good accommodation, delicious food and great company. It was altogether a wonderful, challenging and thrilling experience and, if you are looking for a photo safari in Africa, I too recommend you contact Stu Porter at Wild4.
David Austwick, UK
The three in our truck (Mischa, Toni, Micheal) had a blast. We have wonderful photo opportunities. The leopard in the fig tree and the cheetah coalition taking down the wildebeest was fantastic! Can’t want for our 5th safari with the Wild 4 Team!
Michael Anderson - January 29th, 2019 at 7:41pm