Photographic Safari in Kenya – by Jae

Last weekend I saw Tanzania! I won’t set foot in the country until our 3GKiliClimb trip, but I had a good look across the Sand River at it last weekend. I was in the Maasai Mara in Kenya watching the wildebeest and zebras collecting on the Tanzanian side of the river in the Serengeti. A few hundred made the crossing but most of them turned around and headed back within a few minutes.

The migrating herd in the Serengeti, taken from Kenya
The migrating herd in the Serengeti, taken by Jae from Kenya

Believe it or not, this trip was work (how incredibly lucky am I to get to visit East Africa twice in a summer?!). I had taken four journalists out to experience an Exodus photographic safari in Kenya. We were being instructed in by Paul Goldstein – arguably the best wildlife photographer in the world – and staying at the incredibly well appointed Kicheche Camps. Not at all like the type of tents we’ll be sleeping in on the way up Kili!

Inside a tent at Kicheche Camp
Inside a tent at Kicheche Camp

I was surprised by how chilly it was during the day – I didn’t take my fleece off until almost noon most days. We were quite high and I think that makes more difference than I’d ever realised before. I think Ma was quite right in her “Cold, cold, cold” post – by the time we get near the top of Kili we will be wearing every item of clothing we have with us.

In many ways it was a very different experience of East Africa than I’ll be be having in August, but the generosity and sense of fun of the people, is likely to be very similar, and I can hardly wait to get back. Both Tanzania and Kenya have had their tourist trade negatively affected by Ebola (despite the fact that they are both slightly further from the outbreak than London is!), and by terrorism. It’s such a shame – many of the people in these countries depend on tourism for their livelihood, and the current downturn is making it very hard. Many of the locals I came across in the Maasai Mara told me to make sure I told people back in Britain that “Kenya is safe”. I must say, I felt nothing but safe the entire time I was away.

Ma has mentioned lots of animals in various blog posts – mainly pointing out how little she’d like to come across them on Kili, but obviously being on safari, we were very keen to come across wildlife – so I thought I’d share a little gallery of the beautiful animals I came across on my visit. All photos taken by me; the good ones are thanks to Paul’s expert tuition. Enjoy!

IMG_5821

Lioness licking cub Yawning lion Lion's face Running giraffe Vulture eating an impala Lilac breasted roller Leopard in a tree Cheetah brothers in a tree Cheetah having a look back Cheetah stalking through the grass Elephant has an early morning rub Zebra Running Zebra The herd The herd in the Serengeti from Kenya Climbing wildebeest Elephant Cheetah Cheetah stalking from the side

Cheetah cubs (13 months) and impala fawn

Cheetah cubs try to finish off their mum's quarry

IMG_5877Cheetah and impala Lion growling in a tree Beautiful tree in the Mara, Kenya Lion cub Lion cubs Lion cub IMG_6240 Hippo