Part 2 of this blog finds me still in the Masai Mara, staying at the Mara Olapa Tented Camp. The opportunities for photographing wildlife are outstanding. On one day alone, we saw Leopard, Hippopotamus, Jackle, Topi, Zebra, Gazelle, Hyena, Impala, Elephants and more. That does not even include the Birds that I photographed, which will be highlighted in another Blog post. The following photo shows the 12 of us, plus Pereet and the four guides/drivers on the Great Kenya Adventure.

Every morning we set out before the sun came up and ate breakfast somewhere on the Savannah. The Chef, Joseph, prepared quite a meal for us every morning. We returned to camp around noon for another great meal, and a little siesta time. We left camp about 1600 every afternoon and spent several hours scouting for great Photo opportunities, returning to camp just after dark, about 1900. Another great meal, some drinks and lots of stories to be told, then off to shower and a good nights sleep. The sounds of the animals at night lull you to sleep as well as the rain on the tent we had for a couple of nights. This pattern repeated itself for about four days. The photo ops were outstanding. This photo shows us just after breakfast on the Savannah.

Not all animals are beautiful, but they all serve their purpose!

The big Cats are high on the food chain, but even they have to be ever watchful for predators. Hyena's, and other cats, prey on each others young. It is tough, surviving in the wild. Fortunately, Kenya is trying to eliminate the human predator.

I will never forget the beautiful sunsets in Kenya. Even when a storm was brewing, the sky would light up with orange, pink, red and yellow. What a sight to see every evening.

One afternoon we saw Hyena's attempting to steal an African Buffalo that the Lions had killed. These Hyena's gave up when it was obvious they did not have the numbers to go against the 6 male Lions eating on the Buffalo.  It was  reported by a couple of the guides in Kenya that a Cheetah had lost one of her cubs. Many are mourning that loss, but we all know that nature can be cruel, but it has always been survival of the fittest.

On the fifth day of my adventure in Kenya we headed out to look specifically for a Leopard, and find one we did. He was hunting small game and we followed him for quite a ways up a stream bed. This Leopard afforded us many fantastic photos. The morning progressed with many sightings of Hyena, Topi, Thomson's Gazelle and several nice birds. We had breakfast under an Acacia Tree on the Savanna. More scouting for game, then back to Camp for lunch. Topi Pride

The 1600 game drive began in earnest as we were searching for a large pride of lions, the Topi Pride. The pride consists of 5 adults and 17 cubs. They apparently have not eaten in over a week and we were hoping to see them bring down some game. As soon as we found the pride, and the vehicles pulled to a stop, the cubs quickly gathered in the shade of one of the Safari Land Cruisers. One cub climbed under the wheel well to amuse itself on the tire. Lion Cub
Female lions were not successful, 
and after watching them for quite awhile, we went looking for Giraffes to photograph against the evening sunset.  It was another great day in Kenya and we get to sleep in an extra 15 minutes tomorrow as the game drive will not begin until 0530...  The next Blog entry will continue with our time on the Masai Mara and our trek to the Amboseli National Park. Thank you for reading this and if you want to view all my photos of the Great Kenya Adventure click here... 

Jim Walker Photography