HOME Blog This Week At Angama #174

This Week At Angama #174

Douggy captures another week at Angama with all the familiar favourites. What is most exciting is a highly anticipated update on the Sausage Tree Pride, with happy news from these much-loved lions who continue to thrive and reap the rewards of their ever-increasing numbers
Above: a mother giraffe double checks that she's got the right calf
Above: a mother giraffe double checks that she's got the right calf

Fresh out of the Mara nursery, this baby giraffe emerged alongside several others – even its own mother had to check whether this one belonged to her. It’s striking to think that the fully grown giraffe that you come across during your safari once started out this small, eventually growing into its elegant self. The generally accepted belief that giraffe don’t give the best care to their young is debatable, especially when looking at the wonderful parent in this image. From around Angama Mara and the drive down into the Reserve, giraffe are quite a regular sighting – but it’s always special to see interactions between mother and baby.

The Sausage Tree Pride sub-adults are well versed in taking down buffalo
The Sausage Tree Pride sub-adults are well versed in taking down buffalo f14 112mm 1/640s ISO 800

Six is a formidable number if they make it to prime age for taking over prides. The Sausage Tree Pride sub-adults have been busy. While the girls were bringing down a buffalo, the six boys, who have been separated from the pride, also got down to business. When most of the easier animals to prey on are gone, predators tend to go for the riskier meal of buffalo. Born into a big family with the tendency to go for bigger prey, the young male lions are well into the game and have embraced the challenge very well.

The secretary bird - an inverterbrate's worst nightmare
The secretary bird - an inverterbrate's worst nightmare f7.1 134mm 1/1250s ISO 400
Well adapted to the hunt with strong feet and a powerful beak
Well adapted to the hunt with strong feet and a powerful beak f6.3 400mm 1/2500s ISO 640

A hunter by nature, a warrior in action and a beauty to view. Certainly a favourite of mine, the secretary bird dominates the plains of the Mara with her majestic long legs as she traverses looking for prey. She’s an abrupt intruder into the lives of many invertebrates that meet their end underneath her strong feet, either trampled to death or taken whole by her very strong beak.

The youth of the Border Pride in all its sleepy glory
The youth of the Border Pride in all its sleepy glory f9 182mm 1/800s ISO 400

What better way could there be for a lion to start the day than just enjoying what comes naturally. The Border Pride, which has been spotted regularly in the past couple of weeks, are finally relaxing nearby. As if too overtaken by sleep to even try to open their eyes, I found them warmly cuddled together blanketed by the tall grass. The young cubs from a year and a half ago are growing into beautiful big lions. This is one of the Mara prides that is simply flourishing.

F 7.1, 1/1000, ISO 400
F 7.1, 1/1000, ISO 400

This week, I spent a lot of time in the company of buffalo. Sometimes they show interest in the vehicle and at other times they are completely dismissive. Here, I found two of three bulls in a playfight which, as I had anticipated, quickly turned into a serious encounter. The fight escalated to a nearby mud-hole where another bull lay enjoying his mud bath and chewing some grass. Being older and stronger, he chose to decisively put the squabble to an end. One of the young males was caught awkwardly and thrown into the air. The fight ended almost as soon as it began.

No need for pavements here, especially for this bull elephant
No need for pavements here, especially for this bull elephant f9 148mm 1/2000s ISO 640

Roads and tracks are often put to good use by the Mara’s many creatures, from as small as the jackal to as big and mighty as the hippo and elephant. Elephant are probably the most regular users of the roads and dung piles are a clear sign of their presence. Driving southwest in search of the Sausage Tree Pride, I found this prime-aged elephant down the road. 

The wildebeests, the trailblazers of the Migration
The wildebeests, the trailblazers of the Migration f 5.7 137.7mm 1/480 ISO 80

Guess who is trailblazing the Migration journey? Of course, it’s the wildebeests themselves! I know I have had more than my fair share of the Migration, but every journey brings excitement and prepares me for what the Mara is likely to look like in the next couple of week. True to word that they are great trekkers, I first saw them far away near the border, only to find them closer mid-range into the Reserve later in the day. Hopefully they are spared by the predators until the mega herds start to arrive. 

Topi have attracted the attention of more than just this Angama Pride female
Topi have attracted the attention of more than just this Angama Pride female f4.5 100mm 1/2000 ISO 400

The ladies of the Angama Pride have been busy, led by the dominant female, Mama Kali. One morning just outside of the lodge down by the hill, I caught up with them on a hunt. This lioness seemed to be listening in on the people chatting in the car; both were attracted to topi walking nearby. People and lioness in one frame, totally unaware of each other’s actions.

A topi in full flight, but will it be enough to keep the other males at bay?
A topi in full flight, but will it be enough to keep the other males at bay? f5.6 120mm 1/1000s ISO 400

I came across this topi in full flight. This is one of the ways they show their strength to competitive males to keep them off their territory. Often, you will come across a topi on top of a termite mound, seeking that extra height as if to exhibit himself but also to attract females.

The cubs of the Sausage Tree Pride try to sink their teeth into solid food
The cubs of the Sausage Tree Pride try to sink their teeth into solid food f5.6 227mm 1/2000s ISO 800
The pride is growing quickly, especially with six new adorable additions
The pride is growing quickly, especially with six new adorable additions f5.6 200mm 1/640s ISO1250

When I last saw the Sausage Tree Pride females, they were heavily pregnant. It's been well over six months since I last saw them, so I was excited to go and find this massive pride. Little did I know that I had a double dose of excitement waiting for me. Firstly, they had brought down a buffalo and secondly, there were more than six cubs between the age of two and three months. Not much feeding had been done on the buffalo, so I waited to see if the cubs would come out to play or eat. My patience paid off as the cubs, though cautious, came out to try and bite into the tough skin of the carcass.

Two curious buffalo are always fun to photograph
Two curious buffalo are always fun to photograph f6.4 183mm 1/1250s ISO400

Buffalo are relatively easy to find and one of the animals that we love photographing most. My colleague Robert caught these two boys overly interested in the car just before bolting away.

The guinea fowl leave their roosting tree and are ready for a busy day of foraging
The guinea fowl leave their roosting tree and are ready for a busy day of foraging f8 135mm 1/320s ISO400
The ostriches dash off across the plains to find some peace and quiet
The ostriches dash off across the plains to find some peace and quiet f10 200mm 1/2500 ISO400

Guinea fowl spend most of their time foraging for grass seeds while ostriches spend most of their time in the plains grazing. I found these guinea fowls who trooped down the road from their roosting tree, ready for the day. When I found the ostriches grazing, they seemed to ignore me until they got spooked and took off running. 

An impala simply glowing in the sun's early rays
An impala simply glowing in the sun's early rays f5.6 135mm 1/640 IDI 100

The sublime light in the early hours this past week has kicked my photography into another gear. Mornings have had the most amazing golden hours, even this impala couldn't avoid glowing in it.

With full bellies, the giraffes have some extra energy to burn off
With full bellies, the giraffes have some extra energy to burn off f11 35mm 1/800 ISO 200

It looks like the giraffes can’t stop looking for trouble. The favourable weather conditions have ensured that the young giraffes are well fed and able to stay fit to challenge any incoming offense. This giraffe fight club has continued for the whole week.

A pair of grey crowned cranes take to the wing
A pair of grey crowned cranes take to the wing f14 241mm 1/1000 ISO 400

A grey crowned crane is arguably one of the most interesting birds to watch, whether they are feeding on the seeds they harvest or in flight like this pair I caught up with.

This Week Two Years Ago

The start of the 2019 migration
The start of the 2019 migration f 32.0, 1/15, ISO 250

While Douggy has seen the trailblazers of the Migration this week, this time two years ago Tyler gets excited as the first wildebeest of the 2019 Migration Season crossed into Kenya. And so the everlasting cycle continues almost like clockwork.

Filed under: This Week at Angama

Tagged with:

Bird Photography , Giraffe , Lions of the Mara , This Week At Angama

About: Douggy Onsongo

As a former Angama guide, Douggy knew all the best spots for a picnic and his skills behind a camera were only second to those in front of one. He, and his golden boot, will be sorely missed by the Angama Football Club.

Browse all articles by Douggy Onsongo Meet the angama team

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