Tag: Wildlife

Friday August 27, 2010

Post author By Woody
Post date Friday August 27, 2010

NAIROBI, KENYA – Sadly, here we are loading our bush plane to return to Nairobi where we have planned a busy day

In Nairobi we visited the David Sheldrick Animal Orphanage, one of the two remarkable charities on our itinerary. Founded by Dame Daphnne Sheldrick the orphanage rescues orphan elephants (the most come cause of the mothers’ death is ivory poachers). The animals are cared for intensively for five years, and then reintroduced into the wild. You can walk among them at their feeding time.

Our constant companion on the trip, Patrick, playing soccer with an elephant.

Tags Kenya, Nairobi, Wildlife

Animals Landscape Travel

Thursday August 26, 2010

Post author By Woody
Post date Thursday August 26, 2010

SINGITA GRUMETI RESERVES, TANZANIA – We made a short trip by air to another spot on the Mara River (in Tanzania) known for its crossings. The wildebeest didn’t cooperate so there was little drama in the excursion. We did see a lot of hippos – managed to capture some of my best hippo images.

We visited Singita Sasakwa Lodge for lunch and a ride on trail bikes. Singiti Sasakwa is the lodge built by Paul Tudor Jones that I mentioned in an earlier post. Here’s a link: Sasakwa Lodge.

Here’s an image of a burned out area from our bicycle ride:

Finally, a sunset back at our tented camp – our last in the bush as we return to Nairobi tomorrow.

Tags Africa, Tanzania, Wildlife

Animals Landscape Travel

Monday August 23, 2010 Part III

Post author By Woody
Post date Monday August 23, 2010

MAASAI MARA, KENYA – Ride back from the crossing and late afternoon bush walk. Here’s a heard of Maasai cattle. As noted in an earlier post the Maasai are semi-nomadic cattle herders. They prefer large horn cattle in white with small black markings. The Maasai believe that all the cattle in the world belong to Maasai, leading to behavior that is considered cattle theft by others. Historically their diet consisted primarily of milk mixed with cow’s blood drawn from an artery – they patch up the wound after drawing the blood. They supplement it with sheep and goats. Cows are to valuable as a measure of wealth to slaughter for food.

This gives some idea of just how ugly the spotted hyena is:

We took a late afternoon bush walk. This is Maria with our Maasai guide, Ping, inspecting a termite hill. Ping is an amazing story teller; he’s the fellow who spent six month’s in Orlando advising on the safari ride.

Tags Africa, Kenya, Maasai, Wildlife

Animals Landscape

Monday August 23, 2010 Part II

Post author By Woody
Post date Monday August 23, 2010

MAASAI MARA, KENYA – We have been extraordinarily lucky to witness a major crossing of the Mara River by the wildebeest migration. The crossing is popular with both animals and photographers. The guides refer to it at the “BBC crossing” – its where BBC send a camera crew if they need shots of wildlife crossing a river.

Crossing the Mara River — Crossing Mara River

A four shot sequence of a croc killing a zebra:

Wildebeest and Zebras massed at the crossing.

Wildebeest diving competition:

Tags Africa, Kenya, Wildlife

Animals Landscape Travel

Monday August 23, 2010 Part I

Post author By Woody
Post date Monday August 23, 2010
1 Comment on Monday August 23, 2010 Part I

MAASAI MARA, KENYA – Part I is our morning game drive.

The Maasai who guard our camp at night (from from animals) walking 12 miles back to their village.

Wildebeest:

Setting up for breakfast in the bush:

Lion up close:

Cape buffalo. These large, tough animals are considered dangerous if you’re on foot.

Here’s a Thomson gazelle with a group of impala. The guides refer to Thompson gazelles as “cheetah snacks”.

Tags Africa, Kenya, Wildlife

Landscape Travel

Sunday August 22, 2010 Part II

Post author By Woody
Post date Sunday August 22, 2010

MAASAI MARA, KENYA – On our two-hour drive back from our balloon landing site we again encountered plentiful game. Here’s a cheetah, the worlds fasted land animal. This specimen in injured – see the red spot on its thigh – probably a spotted hyena bite. Here’s info on the cheetah: Cheetah.

Here’s a giraffe confronting a spotted hyena. The hyena is the nastiest predator in the bush. It jumps on its prey, clings to it with it claws and simply starts eating it, crunching flesh and bone with its powerful jaws. It’s no match for a healthy adult giraffe though, so the hyena in this picture is making a respectful circle around the giraffe. Here’s a link to the Wikipedia entry on hyenas: Hyenas.

Crocodile. Rivers and streams are infested with them. Some look like they are about the size of nuclear submarines.

Vultures on a termite mound:

Male ostrich looking for a date. The males have black bodies; the females are gray. The red neck and legs are a courtship display.

Tags Africa, Kenya, Wildlife

Animals Landscape Transportation Travel

Sunday August 22, 2010 Part I

Post author By Woody
Post date Sunday August 22, 2010

MAASAI MARA, KENYA – Another huge game day, so I’m dividing the day into multiple parts. We started at 4:00 am, driving to a hot air balloon launch site and making an hour-long balloon trip across the bush. Zebras from on high.

Ditto impalas:

Here we are, eye-to-eye with the giraffes:

Bush:

Dry watering hole:

Hot air balloon landing:

Tags Africa, Kenya, Wildlife