The Circle of Life – Stories and Images from our Kenya Wildlife Photography Tour 2018
I’ve been running photography tours since 2014 and I have to say that this recent wildlife photography tour in Kenya has to rank up there as one of the best photographic experiences my guests and I have had. Ever.
From the moment we took our first game drive in Samburu National Reserve, we were utterly bombarded by the sights, sounds and sensations of the African wilderness. We were surrounded by giraffe herds and elephant families up close before we got the call of a cheetah sighting. Off we went, wondering what we would see. And what we saw and experienced exceeded all our expectations.
A family of five cheetahs — a mother and five cubs, doing what they do best, and in fantastic late afternoon light. We were completely enthralled and addicted!
Over the next couple of days in Samburu, we would see this cheetah family again and again, as they stalked, hunted and gambolled in the long grass of the dry acacia forests. It’s a remarkable feeling when you set eyes on these big cats in their wilderness environment; it’s a privilege and an experience that settles deep in your heart and in your memories. Words like “awe” and “breathtaking” cannot describe the depth of emotional wonder that’s experienced.
Our trip to Kenya covered a number of national reserves, including Lake Nakuru (famous for its flocks of brightly plumed flamingoes), Lake Naivasha and the iconic Maasai Mara, endless grasslands stretching as far as the eye can see. We photographed all the big five (lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants and rhinoceri) and even came across the famous tree-climbing lions of Nakuru!
Our guests delighted in their photography, especially of the baby animals! Watching the protective gestures of a family of elephants around their newborn was especially touching, or the amazing way in which a lioness nurtures her playful and mischievous cubs who pulled fierce faces as they followed their mother through the grassland. One of the greatest joys of having front seat to all of this is being able to observe the animals interacting with one another.
There is something very special about experiencing a wildlife photographic safari. Beyond just the amazing photo opps, the very experience touches the soul as we come to understand this circle of life from which we have become, in our own clinically constructed societies, so far removed. We came across lions feasting on their recent kill, and stayed on to watch the scavenging vultures circle in to eat after the pride had finished. It’s mind-blowing stuff and to see if unfold in real life is a goosebump moment!
We’re running a Kenya wildlife photography safari again in September 2019, and have two seats still available. If you’re keen to join me for what is truly an experience of a lifetime (a bucket list experience), you can find out more about the tour here.
In the meantime, enjoy these photos from this year’s tour!
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