The Mara is a relatively small park (1,510 sq. km) when compared to Kruger (19,455 sq km) or the Serengeti (14,763 sq km). For me this is a huge advantage, after numerous visits over the the last 30 years I’ve grown accustomed to seeing the ‘Big Five’ after only one or two days. Many visitors will go on safari to places like South Africa and never see a leopard or a cheetah. On many trips with me aspiring photographers have been also treated to an unusually late and extremely breathtaking migration crossing. The scene often lasts just a few minutes but provides a wonderful experience without the mass of vans lined up 3 deep as is the usual case when travelling in the busy summer months.
Notable Sightings:
A cheetah with 6 cubs
Several prides with their kills.
Wildebeest river crossing
Several leopards
It was a truly memorable first 24hrs. Here are some of my favorite images.
Most of these are shot in the 300-400mm range, a couple with a 80-200
I often get asked about safaris in South Africa. Although the country has some wonderful landscapes It is also cheaper then east africa, and this is part of the problem. Instead of getting one or two vans by a roadside animal its not uncommon to have dozens in Kruger. This is the reason why South Africa leads the way when it come to dangerous animal encounters, primarily due to the large visitor numbers and lack of animal welfare.
Another reason I prefer Kenya is also that it banned paid hunting in the 70’s. When you travel for a holiday in countries like Botswana and South Africa your payments go to a government that actively supports and encourage killing wildlife for sport,
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