Kenya Wildlife Selections

[Kyle Jones]

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

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

3) Another low-camera, close approach shot

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

5) Lions crossing the river in search of prey

6) Serval cat in the grass

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

8) Lioness on the hunt

 

[AlanLichty]

Gorgeous creature feature. I love your low camera stance shots but all of these are outstanding portraits of these magnificent animals.

 

[Jameel Hyder]

All of them are well composed and the soft lighting bring out the details nicely.

 

[Michael13]

I like #s 6 and 8 best - I love the grass camouflage!

 

[JimFox]

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.

 

[Jeffrey]

Nice wildlife portraits Kyle. Good for you to find a Cerval Cat.

 

[Comet Hunter]

Excellent as always, my wide wants to go to Africa next year, recommendations on where and when to go?

 

[Kyle Jones]

Excellent as always, my wide wants to go to Africa next year, recommendations on where and when to go?

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]

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]

Excellent. Thanks for sharing your thoughts