This Week at Angama #217

This week we welcomed two new faces to the Angama Photographic Studio. As Angama continues to grow, our storytelling also evolves. What started off as a little ‘box in the bush’ continues to dream up and create exceptional content, both down in the Mara and up at the lodge.

The arrival of Sammy Njoroge and Andrew Andrawes coincided with Angama’s marketing contingent coming to the Mara for a week, allowing us to sit around the table together and brainstorm how we can continue to push the envelope. It was a wonderful opportunity to bond as a team while sharing ideas to take our storytelling to the next level. Fair to say we are all very excited about what the future holds.

We were also fortunate to spend a night at Angama Safari Camp together. The solar-powered, light-footprint mobile camp offers one of the most exclusive and intimate bush experiences in the Mara. And the perfect location for us to sit around a campfire and share stories. 

Whilst we were all together, we made sure to do a few drives out in the Mara. It is always special to share a sighting with like-minded people, passionate about the same things.

The happy news is that the solitary female, affectionately known as the Swamp Lioness, was seen a few times this week with her three cubs. She is incredible, having spent the majority of her years solo, hunting along the marshy areas of the Mara River. On occasion she ‘disappears’ for months, so you can imagine our delight at the opportunity to spend some precious time with her just outside of the Angama Safari Camp site.

Of late, the mornings have been misty, creating the most enchanting atmosphere. A thin layer of fog blankets the landscape, elevating even the smallest subject. 

Andrew was incredibly lucky to bump into two cheetahs right on the main road as he travelled to the Mara from Nairobi. He reported to work with a gorgeous photograph already in the bag. Long may his cheetah luck last. 

We had fortune on our side as well when we found a young female leopard up a tree with a fresh male gazelle hoisted securely in its branches. After lengthy identification work, we managed to ID her as the Salt Lick Female’s recently independent female cub. This youngster, born mid-2020 is in great condition and appears to have found her groove as a solitary leopard. 

The Bila Shaka Males continue to cause havoc wherever they go. This week we had at least two members of the coalition kill a zebra at the lodge. They proceeded to spend the next 48 hours sleeping under the guest tents and even lounging about outside the Boma — completely unfazed as guests enjoyed their G&Ts just 15 metres away (but totally safe, I must add).

The Nyati Males are quickly coming of age. They are mating with various members of the Owino Pride and look to be in very good shape. We hope they can continue to hold onto this prime piece of real estate in the Triangle and that they provide some much-needed stability to this pride. 

This time of the year is always a little difficult for the Egyptian Pride. The grass in the heart of their territory along the Tanzanian border is getting long and forces all the prey animals to move out. It is not surprising to see members of the pride looking thin and far from prime condition. However, come mid-June, when we anticipate the first of the migratory herds to start arriving, this pride’s fortunes will change, and life for them will be significantly easier. 

The butterflies appeared to return this week — who doesn’t love seeing these little white jewels dancing across the landscape?

The Studio has also just replaced much of its camera and lens inventory for the upcoming season. We now have Canon, Nikon, Sony and Fuji gear available for rent. From beginners kits to high-end wide-angles and telephoto. I couldn’t resist taking the new Canon R6 and the 100 – 500 mm lens out for a test. I was delighted with the results and I'm sure our guests will be, too.

Incredibly, exactly this week a year ago, we were in the midst of filming a video for the Angama Safari Camp at the same site. For three days, we got to experience the magic of this mobile camp, tucked in the forest line, on the banks of the Mara River. One of the real joys of the experience was tasting the delicious food prepared on the campfire with the sounds of the night's life enveloping us and a cathedral of stars overhead.