Capturing our Safari of the Senses

Before our stay at Angama, my partner, Jake, and I had little idea what to expect from our trip to the Mara. We were safari first-timers and assumed we would likely see a few elephants, giraffes, and maybe a lion if we were lucky, making sure not to get our hopes up. 

Our first game drive was the afternoon we got in. We popped into the Photographic Studio to rent a camera and get a few pointers from the Photographic team. As we began our first drive, I couldn't help but notice how the light hit the hills and how the wind moved the grass. I could smell the sun baking the land, mixing with smoke from the controlled burns. It felt spiritual, and that sense of awe stayed with us for the entirety of our trip.

The next day, we went on a full-day drive down to the Mara River, where we witnessed a large herd of zebras attempt to cross. The anticipation and anxiety were high as we watched the zebras begin to cross the river, only to backtrack once they spotted the crocodiles. An hour into our wait, the leopard called Shujaa was spotted in the grasses. He was stealthy, but his impatience and frustration were visible as he stalked the zebras in the grass.

His first attempt was on a baby zebra, and there was excitement and dread from our car, but his movement was spotted, and the zebras quickly dispersed. An hour later we held our breath as he tried again, this time attacking an adult zebra. The moment was chaotic as I tried to get a shot of Shujaa making contact with the zebra. Sadly for him, he took a strong kick to the head instead of a meal and slunk off for good after that. 

As we drove between sightings, we loved scanning the trees for different birds. The variety was incredible, and we loved the different personalities each seemed to have. My favourite was the curious, observant lilac-breasted roller. Jake's favourite was the martial eagle after learning it can fly over 200km/hr. The juvenile eagle we spotted looked powerful and unbothered, creating a unique juxtaposition against the smaller birds flitting around nearby. 

Our time in the Mara was incredibly special and we were deeply moved by the land, the wildlife, and the people. Watching the drama of the Mara unfold each day had us on the edge of our seats. The moments in between animal sightings were just as moving as we drank in the incredible landscape that these animals call home.

Neither of us had any experience with wildlife photography before coming to Angama and were intimidated by the prospect of trying to document our trip. Looking back on these captured moments and the stories and emotions you can see play out in the images, we are so glad we got outside of our comfort zone. These images are like taking a (very) small part of the Mara and the friends we made there home with us.