HOME Blog This Week At Angama #112

This Week At Angama #112

From the mighty to the minute and from calm to chaotic, my first few weeks at Angama Mara have been nothing short of spectacular
Patience is rewarded with a wonderful siting of a serval
Patience is rewarded with a wonderful siting of a serval

I’ve had the mixed fortune of being in the Mara at a time when almost everything is shutting down. It has meant daily game drives and far less studio time, save for photo and video editing. It has also meant a great deal of waiting – waiting on news from around the world; waiting to be rescued when we got stuck in a muddy hole; waiting for some exciting predator action around a hippo carcass. But the Mara has a way of rewarding one’s patience.

A hippo carcass
A hippo carcass f 7.1, 1/80, ISO 250, -0.33

When we first caught sight of this hippo we weren’t sure what had caused him to collapse - it's been incredible to witness how his misfortune has been a boon for hungry predators in the area.

A fortunate lioness feasting on the hippo carcass all alone
A fortunate lioness feasting on the hippo carcass all alone f 7.1, 1/500, ISO 250, 0.0
The greedy lioness satisfied after gorging herself
The greedy lioness satisfied after gorging herself f 7.1, 1/640, ISO 250, 0.0

This fortunate - and perhaps slightly greedy - lioness had the hippo carcass to herself after chasing away the first hyena that spotted it. We expected that she would call her pride to join her but she appeared to have no such intention as she happily gorged herself.

A lioness is chased up a tree by a herd of buffalo
A lioness is chased up a tree by a herd of buffalo f 5.6, 1/1600, ISO 250, 0.0

But not every lion was having the same kind of luck, as a herd of irate buffalo chased one lioness up a tree with her male companion bolting into the distance as quickly as his legs could carry him.

The male lion arrives to chase off the buffalo
The male lion arrives to chase off the buffalo f 7.1, 1/800, ISO 250, 0.0
The lioness waits until she's safe before climbing down
The lioness waits until she's safe before climbing down f 5.6, 1/1250, ISO 250, 0.0

Once the buffalo felt satisfied that they had made their point, they moved off and the male returned, trying his best to look unperturbed.

The lioness was unsure as to whether it was safe to climb down but she eventually did, ending one of the most exciting experiences of my short time here at Angama Mara.

Hyena in full ballet pose
Hyena in full ballet pose f 6.3, 1/1000, ISO 640, +0.33

This hyena went in a different direction, instead offering up an uncharacteristically poised stance before returning to its trademark shamble.

Silhouette of Black-Chested Snake Eagle
Silhouette of Black-Chested Snake Eagle f 6.3, 1/1250, ISO 320, -0.33

The Mara has no shortage of birds, such as this black-chested snake eagle surveying the land at sunrise. 

A lilac breasted roller
A lilac breasted roller f 8.0, 1/500, ISO 200, 0.0

Each safari is an opportunity to become familiar with their myriad calls, colours and characteristics. The eye-catching lilac breasted roller is unofficially considered to be the national bird of Kenya.

A jackal in the grass
A jackal in the grass f 6.3, 1/800, ISO 1600, +0.33
The delightful facial expressions of a jackal with an itch
The delightful facial expressions of a jackal with an itch f 6.3, 1/1000, ISO 250, 0.0

Jackals are fast becoming one of my favourite animals to see and I’m constantly on the lookout for them as they dart furtively through the long grass. They have also been a source of some unexpectedly amusing facial expressions.

Pale Chanting Goshawk
Pale Chanting Goshawk f 7.1, 1/1000, ISO 250, 0.0

A pale chanting goshawk is striking against the clear blue Mara sky.

Ruppell’s Starling With Frog
Ruppell’s Starling With Frog f 6.3, 1/250, ISO 320, -0.33
Egyptian Geese Drinking
Egyptian Geese Drinking f 5.6, 1/1250, ISO 320, 0.0

A Ruppell’s starling enjoys a froggy breakfast while these Egyptian geese take a drink after cleaning their feathers and soaking up the sun.

Barn Swallows flying around a tree
Barn Swallows flying around a tree f 7.1, 1/1600, ISO 250, 0.0

The Mar