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After 6 years I went back for 3 weeks
After 6 years (previous visit March 2017) of work and COVID I went back to the Maasai Mara for a 3 week trip this time with the very latest Nikon gear - a pair of Z9, Z 600/4.0TC, Z400/2.8TC, Z100-400 and Z24--120/4. Plus 2 ZTCs. AND lots of storage.
I left Kenya 3 weeks later very tired with about 20,500 images and almost 8TB of 8.3k 60p HQ N-RW N-LOG footage. AND we had big rain as well.
I have produced over 3,600 images and assembled multiple video sequences from 20fps bursts of interesting events. AND generate and posted some of the vids -- but much more to do.
Species and Events
TOP SHOTS
It is all about the LIONS
It is all about the LIONS
6 Leopards - very long time with Lorogogol (shown), 5 large prides and huge male lions, lionesses and cubs, quite a few cheetah and many of the other regulars.
It is all about the LIONS
It is all about the LIONS
It is all about the LIONS
4 large prides and the huge males were key to this trip. After 6 years finding Loki (who I named) again was very powerful - albeit now called LorkuLup, who had been through the wars. As is typical lots of mating too prior to the rains.
6 incredible Leopards
It is all about the LIONS
The Cheetah were frustrated
6 leopards - Lorogogol claimibing his tree, eating and then crossing his territory, Bahati, Athena, Luluka, Jilime, and others at a distance.
The Cheetah were frustrated
Lots of Elephants & Two Black Rhinos
The Cheetah were frustrated
The Cheetah were constantly harried by Hyena this trip -- so much so that they simply did not hunt while we were tracking and stalking them. But often we came across them eating so they had been able to slip away. Over 3 weeks I saw ONE failed start at a chase - they young female cheetah was just too impatient and far away to have any chance.
Lots of Elephants & Two Black Rhinos
Lots of Elephants & Two Black Rhinos
Lots of Elephants & Two Black Rhinos
This young male Black Rhino, his mother and the father who was always in hiding provided great opportunities at the end of the day
HIPPOs ........
Lots of Elephants & Two Black Rhinos
Lots of Elephants & Two Black Rhinos
At then end of the dry season hippos tend to be very concentrated in key pools - The Talek Pool is a favourite at sunrise and sunset, and there are many others "most" showing the accumulation of so many in a small pool (yes that means droppings) and on land too.
Birds a plenty ........
Birds a plenty ........
Birds a plenty ........
Plenty -- well not all -- lots of small birds, eagles and ostriches - but only few vultures this year. Whether they stay or migrate with the great herds is unclear to me.
Much much more........
Birds a plenty ........
Birds a plenty ........
Well mating season was clearly upon us - as were the initial scirmishes with the rainy season