This Week At Angama #99

This week’s biggest highlight was definitely this tug-of-war between a lioness and a crocodile. The lioness ambushed this zebra after it had successfully crossed the Mara river and escaped the crocs. The crocodiles then tried to take the zebra back but the lion stood her ground and defended the kill. This went on for hours but eventually, the crocs managed to steal the kill. [f 6,.3 1/400, ISO 400 -0.67 ]

Jumping Waterbuck. Naturally quite skittish, this group of waterbucks got spooked when a cars ignition suddenly sounded. They all ran in different directions and I was quite lucky to be focusing on this one. A great shot! [f 6.3, 1/400, ISO 200 -0.67]  

When they are not running away from you, however, they do make incredible portrait models. [f 6.3, 1/640, ISO 320]  

This is unquestionably the most chilled jackal I’ve come across in the Mara. He walked towards me and I was about a meter away from him taking this picture. Such a cutie! [f 6.3, 800, ISO 400]

Just lion around, (pun intended). One late evening, this lazy young lion slept undisturbed even though there were zebras walking close behind him. They had not yet spotted him. [f 6.3, 1/60, ISO 320  -1]

I caught up with this same lion the next morning, still sleeping. It had moved across the road and taken a nap there. Four hyenas came sniffing around and I was certain they would attack him, or he would wake up and chase them off. Seems our lion friend had sleep as his first and only priority. [f 6.3, 1/125, ISO 400  -1]

A leopard had killed and hoisted a Thomson’s gazelle up this tree. I waited for the leopard to return to its kill but it seemed to have abandoned it completely. [f 5.6, 1/1000, ISO 400  -0.67]

Love is in the air in the Mara Triangle. This giraffe couple was mating in the acacia bushes, making it impossible to photograph them hidden. [f 5.0, 1/500, ISO 400  -0.67]

While the giraffes were creating new life, this buffalos life hangs in the balance. Old and alone, it is clear that he will not be around for too long, susceptible to lions and disease. [f 6.3  1/400, ISO 400 -0.67]

Looks like this impala was having a good time getting rid of an itch. [f 6.3  1/640, ISO 320 -0.67]

Impala showing off it’s jumping skills across a little pool of water. [f 6.3  1/640, ISO 320 -0.67]

Three Grant’s gazelles on high alert in the mara plains. [f 6.3, 1/1000, ISO 400  -0.67]

Very few things in the world are as charming as the African sunset. [f 6.3, 1/400, ISO 320  -1]

We had a lot of beautiful birds this week. Top of the list was this lilac breasted roller. Here are a few more on the long list. [f 6.3, 1/800, ISO 200  -1]

The dancing cattle egret. [f 6.3, 1/2000, ISO 200 -0.67]

The Wattled plover [f 6.3, 1/1000, ISO 400 -0.67] 

[f 6.3, 1/320, ISO 200 -0.67]

Peekaboo! Yellow-billed ox-peckers perched on top of this buffalo. [f 5.6, 1/1000, ISO 250 -0.67]

Portrait of a red throated francolin [f 6.3, 1/1000, ISO 200  -1]

An artistic slow shutter shot of a flying cattle egret. [f 29.0, 1/25, ISO 320  -1]

This Week a Year Ago

It is scenes like this, and being able to photograph them, which makes me excited to wake up each day. I can assure you I never take this for granted and I invite you all to come and join me at Angama and come in search of the mighty lion. It will change your life. [f 4.0, 1/800, ISO 500, +0.33]

Photograph by Adam Bannister