No CF card will ever be large enough for an African safari!

In the 13 days on safari in Kenya we sited and photographed over 100 species of animals: mammals, birds, reptiles. In just one day we sited over 40 lions. On another over 25 types of birds.

There were many times where, at one single location from the jeep, there were over 3 totally different images to be taken, all equally compelling.

Andy Williams and I lead a workshop through three wildlife preserves in Kenya with the guidance by veteran safari guide James Robertson of Ker & Downey. Ten guests accompanied us along with guides David, Sean, Tari and many Maasai guides from their local regions. I will be expounding on all their talents as this post continues in the hopes of sharing with you the quality of the people involved.

After flying from London together, we met with James and Abigail at their home and guest quarters called the "Hog House"






Throughout this structure, which James built himself, are tree trunks, branches and fanciful cut pieces of wood for all the built in furniture, stairs and decks. Just behind me is their private Giraffe preserve. ( Like I said most of the time there are multiple pictures to be taken from one vantage point )
Just before dinner one of the participants, Chris Roberts, all the way from Australia, met up with us to stay the Hog House. James and Abigail took the three of us on a walk through the preserve and between the many paths leading through the dense bush. As the light got dim on the way back for dinner the woods became a bit spooky especially for Andy. Just after asking James what lives in the holes in the ground....... a mad angry Wart Hog jumped out at him. I promise you the Wart Hog was just as scarred as Andy! The workshop was off to a great start!

The next morning we were off to the airport where we met up with all the others for our short flight to Lewa Downs.
James assisted others with failed attempts to describe the type of photographers on this trip.......



Fred, Jim, Jacques, Lars and Kathy all on their way to meet me on the tarmac in Nairobi.


Soon all were aboard Air Muench to Lewa Downs, flying right over Mt. Kenya.


The plane ride was spectacular and we all were given a brief glimpse at the hidden world of Mt. Kenya with its rain forest filled with endemic plants.


Soon we were back on the ground being greeted by the local Maasai.



More luggage issues!


Moments after being told to stay in the vehicles these girls forgot
I do think James was showing them a tortoise.



After a brief ride in the jeeps we checked into our digs at Lewa Downs.


A Maasai coming to save us from melting


After a brief rain during lunch we were off to see the lions play on the savannah!


I know you expect this to happen while on safari but when it finally does after many hours of travel something happened to my mind. I suddenly felt as though the rest of the entire world did not exist. All that is, is in front of me! Wild lions in their environment is one of the most memorable sites of the entire trip. To have the opportunity to view this on the very first afternoon of safari was surreal. My camera was working, thank God for the auto focus and zoom and and and, I got this picture. I dont even recall looking at the settings or thinking about composition or considering bracketing or pressing the shutter at all

Andy and I will be posting many more stories and pics in this thread so be sure to subscribe to it.

I'm awash in images, and with a family wedding tomorrow, haven't even started processing but I promise stories and pics to come!

Subscribed!

Is my EXIF lying to me or is that lion shot taken with the Powershot S90

Awesome! Look forward to more :)

Most cool! Thanks for sharing!

..have to subscribe to this one!

It was a phenomenal trip Marc & Andy. It was a joy to take part in and to meet and spend some time with you.

Again, WOW!

Super stuff. Field of dreams kind of stuff!

Originally Posted by Andy I'm awash in images, and with a family wedding tomorrow, haven't even started processing but I promise stories and pics to come!

Andy, Plz bring your pics to PDN next week!

African safari is on my short bucket list... Looking forward to the entire series.

Man wish I was in the Jeep as well but I'm in for the ride here and looking forward to it!

Looking forward to lots more from all of you!

It's really hard to put how wonderful this experience was into words... but I'll try! We started our Safari at Lewa, which is caretaken by the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and home to a smorgasbord of mammals, birds and reptiles. A great way to start, as we lived for three days in total luxury at Lewa Wilderness Trails and had twice daily game drives, early morning star and sunrise shoots, and wonderful hospitality.

Rhinos are of course endangered but still rather safe here at Lewa - and we found them aplenty. I love how many of the mammals have passengers!


Here too, we encountered our first cats (in fact, I think we saw and photographed The Big 5 on our first day!)


Lewa had giraffes, of course, and these are difficult animals to shoot! Here I opted for a closeup


I was able to shoot more birds in one day than I've done in my whole life I think!




Back in the vehicles again, and we found our first Cheetah:


Carefully, if you get out of the vehicle and don't show the animals your silhouette, you can get down on the ground and shoot the animals from their level, making for much more dramatic shots - this is a beautiful Water Buck:


After a hard morning of shooting, breakfast out in field






Here are Sarah, Chris and Vicki shooting from the vehicle at Lewa:


Mid-day, when the light is harshest, we have lunch and then we do critiques and instruction:



...more to come!

incredible! The experience must have been fantastic

awesome waiting for more and more!

Just Wow!
What a fantastic looking trip.

Amazing! And now the weekend is over. Next chapter please!

Sighhhhhhh!