This Week At Angama #113

We are heading into the green season and to help preserve the roads in the Mara (and to not push our luck with getting stuck) we spent more time in camp than out in the park this week. But it certainly didn’t diminish the opportunity for fun and adventure. [f 5.0, 1/60, ISO 320, 0.0]

We explored our camp surroundings and spent some time with our resident hippo at the Angama wetlands. [f 7.1, 1/400, ISO 160, +0.33]

And what a brilliant stroke of luck when we spotted this crowned eagle sitting atop a tree. It clutched firmly to its bounty of what the Mara Raptor Project believed to be the leg of a fully-grown impala. [f 6.3, 1/500, ISO 320, 0.0]

The sun may have struggled to shine through, but the Angama Family’s energy and enthusiasm surely didn’t – as was evident when we held a hotly contested volleyball tournament one evening. The courtside banter was just as heated. [f 5.6, 1/640, ISO 200, +0.33]

The Mara’s wildlife wasted no time adjusting to our absence. On our first day back in the reserve, our path was blocked several times – first by a behemoth elephant who could not be roused, then by several curious giraffe and finally by this dosing lion who had claimed the road as his kingdom. [f 7.1, 1/320, ISO 640, +0.33]

But it wasn’t just animal roadblocks that we had to contend with – the still-flooded roads often meant we had to turn back. [f 7.1, 1/400, ISO 200, +0.33]

We weren’t the only ones struggling with the wet conditions. [f 7.1, 1/400, ISO 250, +0.33]

These Thomson’s gazelle eventually chose to take the watery risk rather than face a pack of approaching hyena. [f 7.1, 1/400, ISO 400, +0.33]

For others, like this herd of elephant, the water-logged land didn’t slow their stride. [f 6.3, 1/320, ISO 100, 0.0]

Photograph by Tyler Davis

While most animals would have preferred to stay dry, others, like the pied kingfisher dived straight into the water. [f 5.6, 1/4000, ISO 200, -1]

I’m sure this great egret hopes the rain never stops. [f 6.3, 1/1000, ISO 200, +0.33]

But by the looks of this ostrich, he would rather it did. [f 8.0, 1/250, ISO 320, +0.33]

This yellow billed oxpecker stayed nice and dry, far above it all. [f 6.3, 1/800, ISO 320, -0.33]

We remained determined to carry on in search of dry roads much to the surprise of these waterbuck. [f 8.0, 1/250, ISO 100, -0.33]

We had the opportunity to go birdwatching with Tyler and I was able to add more to my ever-growing life list – including this sooty chat. [f 6.3, 1/125, ISO 100, 0.0]

Two juvenile wire-tailed swallows shared a branch. [f 7.1, 1/100, ISO 250, -0.33]

While this adult preferred to respect social distancing protocols. [f 5.6, 1/640, ISO 400, -1]

What better way to end the week than by bumping into our friendly neighbourhood serval again? [f 7.1, 1/125, ISO 160, -0.33]

THIS WEEK TWO YEARS AGO

Photograph by Adam Bannister

Two years ago, the Mara triangle was teeming with elephant enjoying the weather during the green season. We’ve seen lots of herds these past few days as the temperatures cool and the Mara turns into a lush green carpet of delicious grass. [f 8.0, 1/250, ISO 320]