Kenya Wildlife Selections

Kyle Jones

Kyle Jones

Moderator
I've been through most of my photos at this point, and figured I'd share a few all at once to see what resonates. Any thoughts are welcome.

1) Cheetah giving us the side-eye as it walks by

3994 Walking Cheetah_1200.jpg


2) I kept my camera low for this one and the elephant obliged by coming close and giving me some trunk action

7510 Approaching Elephant_1200.jpg


3) Another low-camera, close approach shot

6924 White Rhino_1200.jpg


4) Rothschild's giraffe (white legs and different coloring than the more common varieties)

0679 Rothschilds Giraffe_1200.jpg


5) Lions crossing the river in search of prey

2819 Lion Crossing_1200.jpg


6) Serval cat in the grass

1714 Serval Cat_1200.jpg


7) The only leopard we managed to find, relaxing under a tree

3650 Leopard Tongue_1200.jpg


8) Lioness on the hunt

2770 The Huntress_1200.jpg
 
JimFox

JimFox

Moderator
Staff member
Amazing Kyle! Simply amazing and first class. This is NatGeo stuff! I like how you went low for the elephant, and the leopard licking his lips is so awesome as well. You nailed each one.
 
Kyle Jones

Kyle Jones

Moderator
Comet Hunter said:
Excellent as always, my wide wants to go to Africa next year, recommendations on where and when to go?
Click to expand...
Some rambling thoughts...

A lot depends on what you want to see and what kind of environment you want to see them in. I have now been to Africa twice, once in Botswana and once in Kenya. I've included links to my galleries so you can see what to expect for each. Between the two, I'd say Botswana is more intimate with fewer crowds and more water and water-based activities. Botswana has a large, healthy elephant population, and plenty of lions. The Maasai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania are part of the same ecosystem with wide open plains, large herds of animals, and plenty of predators. If heading to that area, I'd go to where the migration will be at the time of my trip. Tthe great migration isn't a single event, but rather it is a continuous movement of over 1.2 million wildebeest along with hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles circling between Tanzania and Kenya in search of fresh grass. The animals move in a clockwise pattern moving north in April and May and then back south in November and December. Calving season takes place in the Serengeti from January to March and mating season takes place on the way north from May to June.

There are other parks in both Kenya and Tanzania with different environments as well as private conservancies. It seemed like the lodging in Kenya was more "established" and permanent providing options for any budget. The Mara can get crowded with safari vehicles, especially with cool sightings near where the camps are more dense. Some people aim for private conservancies instead to avoid some of the crowding and I'd have liked to spend time in one. Going in more of a shoulder season (we went during high-season around river crossings) would help also. If I was going to go back to Kenya, I'd be tempted to try October. My friend wants to try Tanzania during the calving season in February.

I haven't done it, but from what I've seen/read South Africa may be the "easiest" safari location with opportunities to see all of the main wildlife.
 
Comet Hunter

Comet Hunter

Supporting Member
Kyle Jones said:
Some rambling thoughts...

A lot depends on what you want to see and what kind of environment you want to see them in. I have now been to Africa twice, once in Botswana and once in Kenya. I've included links to my galleries so you can see what to expect for each. Between the two, I'd say Botswana is more intimate with fewer crowds and more water and water-based activities. Botswana has a large, healthy elephant population, and plenty of lions. The Maasai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania are part of the same ecosystem with wide open plains, large herds of animals, and plenty of predators. If heading to that area, I'd go to where the migration will be at the time of my trip. Tthe great migration isn't a single event, but rather it is a continuous movement of over 1.2 million wildebeest along with hundreds of thousands of zebras and gazelles circling between Tanzania and Kenya in search of fresh grass. The animals move in a clockwise pattern moving north in April and May and then back south in November and December. Calving season takes place in the Serengeti from January to March and mating season takes place on the way north from May to June.

There are other parks in both Kenya and Tanzania with different environments as well as private conservancies. It seemed like the lodging in Kenya was more "established" and permanent providing options for any budget. The Mara can get crowded with safari vehicles, especially with cool sightings near where the camps are more dense. Some people aim for private conservancies instead to avoid some of the crowding and I'd have liked to spend time in one. Going in more of a shoulder season (we went during high-season around river crossings) would help also. If I was going to go back to Kenya, I'd be tempted to try October. My friend wants to try Tanzania during the calving season in February.

I haven't done it, but from what I've seen/read South Africa may be the "easiest" safari location with opportunities to see all of the main wildlife.
Click to expand...
 
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