The lone buffalo requires no pack mentality.
Safety in numbers is not necessary.
Instead, he lies in wait.
Alone.
Lurking.
He is the most feared animal in the Mara. With haunted memories of how his species was hunted by humans, this lone male awaits silently. He keeps an ever watchful eye on the plains. His anger is no match for any man nor beast. Folklore tells of the lone buffalo, shot in the heart at close range. He registered only a blink of his eye and the face of his assassin… returning days later to complete his revenge. Approach with caution.
This post is the 16th in the series “Memories of the Maasai Mara” and is an extract from the Taraji Blue book “Memories of the Maasai Mara” …
Ever since our first visit to Kenya in 2005 we’d fallen in love with the continent and had longed to return. For four years we’d played our Africa CDs daily and viewed our photos longingly, anticipating the day we would return. Back in 2009 we had our chance…
Each morning we bounded out of our beds and into the wilderness, eager and hopeful of what the day would bring. We owe much of our success to the fantastic guides and staff of the Kicheche Bush Camp, Mara Safari Club and David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, who we cannot praise enough and to whom we long to return.
It is through our experiences and time in Kenya that we tell, and re-live, our memories of this amazing continent, and above all, of the Maasai Mara.
Travelling Alone (Memories of the Maasai Mara Series)
Several trips to Africa previously had not rewarded us with any true sightings of the beautiful leopard. This trip I was determined would be different. A vigil each dusk often returned no results. Determined that my patience would be rewarded, I joined a group on a four hour ‘stakeout’ to capture a glimpse of this most elusive creature. Scanning undergrowth and craning necks towards the branches of leopard friendly trees, we saw nothing.
Nothing!
Then we turned a corner on our route homeward and there she was, seemingly waiting for us. Watching. Motionless. I stole this opportunity to make a lifelong dream come true and capture the moment I had always dreamed of – me..eye to eye with a leopard.
Imagining that only the briefest of sightings was possible, you can only imagine our excitement as our eyes struggled to adjust to the cat brazenly sat right in front our vehicle. After dropping both the camera and camcorder in surprise, our patience was rewarded with an opportunity to spend almost two hours tracking this most beautiful and elegant cat.
This post is the 15th in the series “Memories of the Maasai Mara” and is an extract from the Taraji Blue book “Memories of the Maasai Mara” …Ever since our first visit to Kenya in 2005 we’d fallen in love with the continent and had longed to return. For four years we’d played our Africa CDs daily and viewed our photos longingly, anticipating the day we would return. Back in 2009 we had our chance…
Each morning we bounded out of our beds and into the wilderness, eager and hopeful of what the day would bring. We owe much of our success to the fantastic guides and staff of the Kicheche Bush Camp, Mara Safari Club and David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, who we cannot praise enough and to whom we long to return.
It is through our experiences and time in Kenya that we tell, and re-live, our memories of this amazing continent, and above all, of the Maasai Mara.
The Aftermath of The Great Migration (Memories of the Maasai Mara Series)
Following the gluttony of the Great Migration river crossings it is usual practice for the crocodiles to store their prey under the water.Secured by rocks and crevasses in the river bank, the underwater caverns act as refrigerators.
Contrary to this practice one must wonder if, on this particular day, the crocodiles had a particular appetite, for the kills were left floating in river. Carcasses bounced from jutting rock to rock, occasionally coming to rest on a lazy hippo’s back. Wildebeest horns would jut from the water, legs floating independent of bodies as the crocodiles tore into the flesh.
However, it’s a more sedate affair than one might imagine. Despite the reputation of the crocodiles, they work together as a team.
Their little arms are useless limbs left flailing, so the crocodiles use their teeth to grab opposite sides of the carcass. Twisting in the water they rely on a masochistic synchronised swimming exercise to tear flesh from bone. There’s no infighting or struggle – there was simply too much meat to go around.
Privileged to spend eight nights in the Maasai Mara in October 2009, we relished the opportunity to revisit our land of dreams.
Ever since our first visit to Kenya in 2005 we’d fallen in love with the continent and had longed to return. For four years we’d played our Africa CDs daily and viewed our photos longingly, anticipating the day we would return. Back in 2009 we had our chance…
Each morning we bounded out of our beds and into the wilderness, eager and hopeful of what the day would bring. We owe much of our success to the fantastic guides and staff of the Kicheche Bush Camp, Mara Safari Club and David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, who we cannot praise enough and to whom we long to return.
It is through our experiences and time in Kenya that we tell, and re-live, our memories of this amazing continent, and above all, of the Maasai Mara.
The Great Migration (Memories of the Maasai Mara Series)
Safety in numbers is not a mentality which is restricted to the same species or family group.
The Great Migration is an example of how a number of species including wildebeest, gazelle and zebra can travel in unity, seeking protection and grazing opportunities. Following them are other species who can benefit.
We watched for hours as the numerous herds traversed the plains and the eagles scavenged on the carcasses of the young and vulnerable left behind.
Following the meandering lines of the Great Migration, we stumbled upon a river crossing. Here, hundreds of Wildebeest gathered at the riverside, hooves dug firmly into the dirt, resisting the ever increasing pressure from the driving animals at the rear of the line. As the pressure built, one brave wildebeest took tentative steps down the riverbank…I’d watch, heart in my mouth, expecting to hear the splash of water. Time after time the panicked wildebeest would instead retreat up the banks and flee into the encroaching masses, causing mass hysteria and confusion. The mass of wildebeest would turn and retreat en mass. It was a dignified panic, characterised by no noise other than the thudding of hooves on the soft ground, as dust was thrown into the air. This is when I took the opportunity to take this shot.
Lying in wait in the river below are a dozen crocodiles, skulking against the river’s current. Their tails occasionally move to the left…to the right…as they glide almost seamlessly.
As the pressure builds from the back of the herd they are eventually pressurised into the crossing the river by the zebras shepherding them across the water. 10% of the animals that cross the Mara River will be sacrificed. The cautious and brave few who are mobilised to commence the crossing survive . We watched as the crocodiles stalked the crossing, seemingly avoiding the ‘obvious’ choices and being very deliberate in their decision as to which wildebeest or zebra to attack and when. Lone wildebeest, solitary zebras – obvious targets – passed unscathed. There is no benefit to the crocodiles in causing premature bedlam. 10, 20, 50 may cross before the crocodiles make their claim.
The eventual attack would lead to a frenzy of splashes, kicks, but it’s last barely 30 seconds before the body was drowned and stored in underwater ‘chambers’ in the riverbed. The it’d start all over again…
Watching from the riverbank we found ourselves distanced from the pain. There are no screams. The kills are silent, bar the water splashing. No wildebeest or zebra mourns the passing of another – none look back. The scamper for the opposite river bank brings only relief and the respect that Africa’s Mother Nature is firm – tough, even – but not unnecessary. This is the circle of life.
Ever since our first visit to Kenya in 2005 we’d fallen in love with the continent and had longed to return. For four years we’d played our Africa CDs daily and viewed our photos longingly, anticipating the day we would return. Back in 2009 we had our chance…
Each morning we bounded out of our beds and into the wilderness, eager and hopeful of what the day would bring. We owe much of our success to the fantastic guides and staff of the Kicheche Bush Camp, Mara Safari Club and David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, who we cannot praise enough and to whom we long to return.
It is through our experiences and time in Kenya that we tell, and re-live, our memories of this amazing continent, and above all, of the Maasai Mara.
The View From The Sky (Memories of the Maasai Mara series)
Whilst in the Maasai Mara we were lucky enough to take a hot air balloon ride over the plains at dawn to witness the wildlife awakening and experience the blissfull silence.
We witnessed the rolling, vast landscape, following meandering rivers and waving at locals in the villages beneath us.
Wildlife was surprisingly camouflaged, take this hyena for example. Somewhat panicked by the presence of the balloon he ran and ran, trying to out run us, occasionally stopping to glance skywards.
The bleakness of the landscape was very apparent, but hauntingly beautiful.
This post is the 13th in the series “Memories of the Maasai Mara” and is an extract from the Taraji Blue book “Memories of the Maasai Mara” …
Ever since our first visit to Kenya in 2005 we’d fallen in love with the continent and had longed to return. For four years we’d played our Africa CDs daily and viewed our photos longingly, anticipating the day we would return. Back in 2009 we had our chance…
Each morning we bounded out of our beds and into the wilderness, eager and hopeful of what the day would bring. We owe much of our success to the fantastic guides and staff of the Kicheche Bush Camp, Mara Safari Club and David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, who we cannot praise enough and to whom we long to return.
It is through our experiences and time in Kenya that we tell, and re-live, our memories of this amazing continent, and above all, of the Maasai Mara.