This Week at Angama #187
By chance, we discovered the most wonderful of surprises this week. A sighting even more precious and memorable than a mighty river crossing
Above: With the days heating up, the watering holes have become increasingly busy
On a sunrise drive, we came across a spur-winged lapwing whose four eggs had just hatched. She cowered over them, protecting them from the vehicle; all we could see was four sets of toothpick legs. We stopped and sat quietly, giving her space and time to relax. She grew more comfortable and eventually opened her wings and sat upright. Underneath her were the most gorgeous balls of feathery fluff.
We watched for over half an hour as these chicks found their feet. Like wind-up toys, they would run around the sand, rocks and gravel, eventually scurrying back to their mother, completely exhausted and quickly falling asleep underneath the protection of her wing. I returned to the site almost every day. By the fourth day, I was amazed to see how they had grown in confidence and agility. They were now venturing as far as 10 metres from their devoted mother. Let’s hope that they continue to grow so we can document their development.
The Maji Ma Chafu female leopard has given birth to a beautiful pair of cubs
f. 4.0, 1/1250, ISO 800, -0.33
The cubs were located for the first time this week, stashed away in a secure den-site in the southern regions of the Triangle. We estimate the cubs to be between two or three months old. She is one of the most successful leopards in the Triangle with a strong lineage.
The early bird catches the worm, and the early photographer gets the light
f. 9.0, 1/250, ISO 160, -0.33
Millie, the matriarch of the Mara, with her gigantic tusks silhouetted against the sun
f. 4.5, 1/3200, ISO 320, -0.33
There are few ways as extraordinary to admire the Mara, as from up above in a hot-air balloon
f. 6.3, 1/200, ISO 250
The bright balloons have become somewhat of an institution in the Mara and can provide a flash of colour and romance to any photograph
f. 11.0, 1/125, ISO 250, -0.33
Never mention the size of a hippo’s waistline... This male must have spent the night feeding on far away grasses and was rather late in making his way back to the Mara River
f. 5.6, 1/800, ISO 500, -0.67
Much has already been written about the complexities of this year’s Migration
f. 10.0, 1/500, ISO 400, -0.67
It is near impossible to go a single day without hearing a different opinion on why things are the way they are. Regardless, there is still much action in the southern portions of the Mara River.
Most of the crossings so far have taken place at Lookout Crossings and The Peninsula
f. 8.0, 1/1600, ISO 400, -0.67
There is nothing better than a late afternoon crossing coming straight at you
f. 13.0, 1/1000, ISO 640, -1.0
The zebra seem to arrive with more energy and direction than the wildebeest, and it is not uncommon for them to dive straight in and for the wildebeest to follow suit
f. 9.0, 1/800, ISO 640, -1.0
We waited four hours for a crossing to happen at this site, but with close to 50 hungry crocodiles lurking in the depths, the wildebeest understandably decided against it
f. 9.0, 1/1600, ISO 640, -1.0
Away from the river, things are a little calmer
f. 4.0, 1/8000, ISO 320, -0.67
The days are heating up and all animals need to drink. The small watering holes, drainage lines and depressions become focal points for animal movement.
A zebra foal ventures deep into a watering hole to cool off from the scorching midday sun
f. 5.0, 1/5000, ISO 500, -0.67
Regardless of the subject matter, there is magic around e
