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This Week At Angama #141

This week, we’re getting a guide's eye-view of the Mara as Douglas shares his experience of a land he is intimately familiar with
A male lion feasts on a zebra in the Mara Triangle
A male lion feasts on a zebra in the Mara Triangle

As always, every morning starts with a sunrise so orange that you could never doubt that this is nature's display of fine art.

Another stunning start to the day in the Mara…
Another stunning start to the day in the Mara… f 11.0, 1/50, ISO 100, 0.0
A giraffe’s lithe form emerges through the morning light
A giraffe’s lithe form emerges through the morning light f 9.0, 1/125, ISO 800, -1

A giraffe caught on such a morning, glows in the elegant light against the wall of the great escarpment.

The drama above the Mara is just as gripping as the action on the ground
The drama above the Mara is just as gripping as the action on the ground f 16, 1/20, ISO 400, 0.0

The glory of mornings in the Mara is occasionally overtaken by dramatic afternoons. The sky truly has a different mood each day and if you’re fortunate enough it will be underscored with a rainbow or two.

A cheetah scans the horizon
A cheetah scans the horizon f 6.3, 1/2500, ISO 400, -1
A cheetah cubs peeks out from under his mother
A cheetah cubs peeks out from under his mother f 16, 1/800, ISO 400, -1


Under these vivid skies, a rise overlooking the vast plains offers a vantage point for a mother cheetah who is cautiously introducing her cubs to their home.

Another day, another meal in the Mara…
Another day, another meal in the Mara… f 6.3, 1/1600, ISO 400, -0.67
While waiting for her turn to eat, a lioness opts to relax in the grass
While waiting for her turn to eat, a lioness opts to relax in the grass f 5.6, 1/1000, ISO 400, 0.0

Meanwhile across the savannah, The king “brings home the bacon” as his subjects relax in the heat of the day.

Though a welcome chill to the day, the rain makes for a heavy mane
Though a welcome chill to the day, the rain makes for a heavy mane f 4.5, 1/400, ISO 800, 0.0
A male lion beholds his kingdom
A male lion beholds his kingdom f 16, 1/500, ISO 400, -1.33

As the Migration lingers around a bit longer, the abundance of food leaves the prides stronger. The big boys are out and about more often on their patrolling missions – rain or shine.

The lion may be the king of the jungle but in the Mara, the elephant is king of whatever he wants…
The lion may be the king of the jungle but in the Mara, the elephant is king of whatever he wants… f 14, 1/250, ISO 800, -1

But not all territory belongs to the mighty lion. Who owns the Mara roads? This depends on who is on it at any specific time. In this case, when it's an elephant, and a mammoth one at that, he has right of way.

A serval that isn’t in a hurry to disappear into the grass is a very unusual sight indeed
A serval that isn’t in a hurry to disappear into the grass is a very unusual sight indeed f 5.6, 1/500, ISO 200, -1

Not everyone is interested in power and control. Seeing a serval is one thing but seeing a relaxed serval in an area where apex predators like lions and hyenas dominate is another. The sheer numbers of nature’s “lawnmowers”, the wildebeest and zebras, has made it easier to spot lesser seen gems like this.

Wildebeest continue to blanket the savannah
Wildebeest continue to blanket the savannah f 8.0, 1/1250, ISO 400, 0.0

Speaking of wildebeest, this Migration the herds have left us guessing with their completely unpredictable movements. It’s a welcome surprise whenever we descend into the Triangle from Angama Mara and come face to face with the herds in their mega numbers.

Everyone likes a splash in the pool and elephants are no different
Everyone likes a splash in the pool and elephants are no different f 9.0, 1/1600, ISO 400, 0.0

As the day progresses, some members of our Mara family, like the gentle giants, seek comfort in the soothing waters and mud at the ponds. This young elephant chose to make a hippo-inhabited pond his own splash pool.

A topi does what it does best – watch out for signs of danger
A topi does what it does best – watch out for signs of danger f 5.0, 1/500, ISO 400, -1
Young topi learn about safety from an experienced adult
Young topi learn about safety from an experienced adult f 14, 1/1250, ISO 400, -1

With the onset of the short rains, topis and warthogs are among the animals of the plains that choose to bring forth their new generations. The already hyper-vigilant topi become even more so to ensure the safety of their young.

A buffalo remains unbothered by all the activity in the Mara
A buffalo remains unbothered by all the activity in the Mara f 9.0, 1/320, ISO 400, 0.0
But will occasionally strike a pose
But will occasionally strike a pose f 9.0, 1/1600, ISO 400, -1

Although often relegated to the background, the ubiquitous buffalo still claim their space across the Mara. And just like that, another day and another week in Mara has gone by, leaving me both sated and hungry for more.

This Week A Year Ago

A python and leopard fight to the end in an incredible sighting in 2019