Last week I shared some images from my time in Ishasha, and this week, a mixed bag of images from my time in the Masai Mara region of Kenya.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead!
A zebra giving me a quick stare down. I find it is not too often that I get the opportunity to photograph a zebra straight on, as usually they turn away from the camera.A lion cub giving us the once over, before moving off to play with its sibling and a stick!A good 50% of the elephants that passed by our vehicle stopped and used this tree as a scratching post.Mama topi with a very small baby.A cheetah on a wildebeest kill. The weather was just calming after a torrential downpour, which might account for the miserable look on this cheetah’s face. That, or the vultures hanging around nearby.
It seems a bit strange to pre-schedule posts so far in advance. As I type this, it is still April, and when this gets uploaded, I’ll be on my last week of holidays in Africa. I know I will be coming home with lots of images and stories to share.
This week’s selection is another mixed bag from my time in Kenya.
I hope you enjoy, and have a wonderful week.
One of the zebra herd briefly checked out our vehicle before returning to grazing.An egret gets a free ride on the back of an elephant in Amboseli.A wildebeest appears to be on high alert (but honestly, with wildebeest, you never quite know).
The wildlife in the Masai Mara was just as amazing as it looks in all the nature programs that I watch. Here is a selection of images from my time there.
The chaos of a river crossing.Waiting somewhat patiently for the chance to move up the steep slope.As more an more animals moved up the banks, the ones that had slipped and fallen were stepped on.A sad group of wildebeest too weak or injured to get up the banks. We left shortly after this, so I don;t know if any of them found the strength to continue, or if they ended up as food for the crocs.A gazelle attempts the crossing.These are what were waiting for the gazelle…Thankfully this one made it back out alive. Of the five I saw try, only two made it out.Clean up crew on the plains.A topi with two little ones. They are a very stately looking antelope.A cheetah on the prowl.A lone wildebeest grazing.A group of mongoose that took over a termite mound.A rare photo (for me) of a wildebeest where you can actually see it’s eyes.A lone set of stripes amongst the wildebeest.Animals as far as the eye (and camera) could see.A kori bustard looking for breakfast.A pair of elephants checking out the vehicle.A beautiful Mara sunrise.
There is just something about the Amboseli landscape that really appeals to me for monochrome images. The starkness of many of the areas, the elephants towering over the flat, seemingly endless plains.
Here is a selection of images from this beautiful place.
I hope you enjoy, and have a lovely day.
As dusk approached, this lioness rounded up her cubs and was on the move.Tender greetings.Egrets alongside an elephant, waiting for any insects the elephant stirs up.Elephants crossing the marsh, with the hills in the background.A zebra in the marsh along with herons, egrets and ibis.Wildebeest marching onwards.A lone wildebeest rests on the Amboseli plains.
I’ve shared some photos and stories before from my time at a Mara river crossing, and thought I would share a few more images for my monochrome Monday post. I hope you enjoy, and wishing everyone a great week.
A lone gazelle tries his luck crossing the river. My guide explained that the gazelle typically cross in small groups or alone, as there is a huge risk of them being crushed by the larger wildebeest and zebra. Unfortunately, crossing alone makes them prime targets for the crocodiles.Part of the first wave surging up the bank.There were only a handful of zebra amongst the herd.The crossing came in waves; a group surged across, struggled to get up the banks, and just as the last few wildebeest worked up the bank, the next wave would surge forward to cross.Chaos and the herd mentality.
I’ve had an amazing week of wildlife viewing so far, and I am really looking forward to sharing that on my What I’ve seen this week post on Sunday. But for today, I thought I would share one of my artistic impressions with you, since it has been a while since I’ve done so.
This was created using the Topaz Simplify plug in for Photoshop.
The countdown continues… coming in at #2 was my response to the WordPress photo challenge prompt of Pure. A gorgeous, tiny zebra foal and its mother were featured in that post.
Here is another photo of the two of them; I hope you enjoy.