This Week At Angama #38

26 October 2018 | This Week at Angama |

Reading Time: 5 MINUTES

As the Great Migration slowly heads back to the Serengeti peace returns once again to the Mara Triangle. If you listen closely enough you can hear the abundant resident game breathe a gentle collective sigh of relief

It has been an action-packed couple of months but happily the photographic focus now returns to the Triangle’s wonderful daily sightings and ongoing predator action. The banks of the Mara River are covered in well-fed crocodiles – they will need a few months to digest the gargantuan meals they have been enjoying daily.

Once again I am delighted to share my images with you as Adam takes a well-earned break after our crazy season. Please enjoy This Week at Angama.

MARA SUNRISE
One of the not so secret tips of capturing beautiful wildlife images is being ready behind the lens at first light. [f 4.0, 1/4000, ISO 160]

Rim Lit birds
Rim light photography is all about the light, or lack of it, to create the drama in an image. Rim lighting, as the term suggests, is also called edge or back lighting. This shows its outlines rather than the whole subject. A challenging effect to achieve in the wild as you have to use natural light and the subjects aren’t always cooperative. [f 5.6, 1/3200, ISO 160 -1.67]

Rim Light Lioness
When you get it right, the effect can be breathtaking. [f 9.0, 1/500, ISO 250]

Young male Angama pride
This week the Angama Pride lionesses have been training their older cubs how to hunt. They have had many failed attempts but it seems they will improve on their hunting skills sooner than we all expected. [f 5.6, 1/250, ISO 250]

Angama pride male
This is because their fathers have started to slowly chase them out of the pride. They are at the age when males leave to become nomads as they strive to survive and later establish their own prides. [f 5.6, 1/640, ISO 250]

Angama pride males feeding
For now they feed with the pride, but not for much longer. We will keep you posted on the journey that lies ahead for them. [f 5.6, 1/250, ISO 250]

lioness vs warthog
Warthogs, known to have poor eyesight, often wander directly towards a predator patiently waiting to ambush them. [f 5.6, 1/320, ISO 2500 -0.33]

Lioness pounce
They were close enough for the lion to stalk and pounce undetected, but when the piglets scattered, she was undecisive as to which one to chase and ended up losing them all. Warthog family 1: Lioness 0. [f 5.6, 1/2500, ISO 320 -0.33]

Young male pride
This group of young males, recently rejected from their pride, are now nomads. Judging from their bellies, they are doing well. Here they consider buffalo as their next meal. [f 5.6, 1/1000, ISO 320]

Young male pride VS buffalos
As they try and corner the buffalo they are in for a nasty surprise as the prey becomes predator. They escape without injury and learn a valuable lesson. [f 5.6, 1/1600, ISO 320]

Zebra and calf
It is so heartwarming to capture a tiny zebra, barely a day old, never wandering far from its mum in order to stay safe. [f 5.6, 1/1000, ISO 160]

Jackal Pups
My top sighting this week has to be these jackal pups. They were so playful and lively and did not mind my presence at all. At 6.30am the morning light was just perfect. [f 5.6, 1/80, ISO 160]

Silver back jackal
Their mother, however, kept a keen watchful eye on me the entire time just in case I tried to get too close. [f 5.6, 1/60, ISO 160]

Hippos
To think that this tiny, delicate calf will one day grow to be a giant of the river. For now, it is completely dependent on its mother’s care. [f 5.6, 1/320, ISO 160]

Drongo vs Martial eagle

Drongo vs Martial eagle 2
A fork-tailed drongo is not happy with this juvenile martial eagle. Following in the footsteps of David, the drongo kept on mobbing, finally chased Goliath away. [f 5.6, 1/1600, ISO 160]

Black necked spitting cobra
A very special sighting to see a black-necked spitting cobra. Unfortunately it slithered off before I could position myself to get a good shot. [f 5.6, 1/640, ISO 160]

Giraffe
A giraffe rests comfortably in the midday sun. Even whilst sitting she remains the tallest creature in her surroundings. [f 5.6, 1/1250, ISO 200]

Hyena
A hyena cools off during a sunny afternoon. [f 5.6, 1/640, ISO 125]

Ruppels long tail starling
With its beautiful blue plumage this Ruppel’s long-tail starling poses for a shot. [f 5.6, 1/1250, ISO 160]

AUTHOR: Jeffrey Thige

Hailing from Nairobi, Jeff’s younger years were spent watching Big Cat Diaries with his mother. Images of wild animals roaming across the savanna inspired Jeff to travel the country, study wildlife management and move into photography. Jeff aims to use his camera to become an ambassador for conservation. He joined Angama Mara as an intern in 2018 and is now employed full time as assistant photographer at the lodge’s Photographic Studio.

COMMENTS (8)
James Fitzgerald
October 26, 2018

Great rim lit images Jeffrey
Well done!

REPLY
    Nicky Fitzgerald
    October 27, 2018

    Isn’t that rim lit image of the lioness just beautiful? She looks like she is on fire.
    Thanks so much Jimmy
    Nicky

    REPLY
Ali Thorburn
October 26, 2018

Fabulous photos Jeff!

REPLY
Jeremy Macharia
October 26, 2018

You are doing an amazing job Mufasa. keep em coming and everything is just breathe taking?

REPLY
Christine Goerner
October 27, 2018

Thanks Jeffrey – enjoyed your images in this post and they have inspired me to keep editing through mine from our recent visit to Angama. Cheers.

REPLY
Maxim
October 29, 2018

Hi Full disclosure – I am the owner and CEO of Angama Mara 🙂 You are asking a very valid question – thanks so much for getting in touch. September is not nearly as busy as July or August and there is an excellent chance that the Migration will still be in the Mara (but those pesky millions of wildebeest can evaporate overnight – and then come back). So you should see some crossings and those will be busy but the rest of the Mara Triangle – especially in the lovely southern part towards Tanzania – is relatively quiet. I have done a drive in August and by avoiding the river altogether we only saw 4 other safari vehicles the whole day. The animals are not concerned by the vehicles at all – obviously, we prefer to view them at a respectful distance which is helped by the lovely short grass plains that offer great viewing. One thing I can guarantee in the Mara Triangle any month of the year is fantastic lion viewing – eventually, you may even choose to drive straight on by. The Angama Pride which has its territory just below the lodge numbers more than 20 and they call all night long. With regard to evening drives – guests need to be out of the Reserve by 6.30 so you certainly can enjoy late afternoon early evening drives but not night drives. I hope this answers your questions. We would be delighted to welcome you on your honeymoon next September – we have many romantic surprises up our sleeves! Good luck with the wedding Warm regards Nicky

REPLY
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