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.
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!
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!
Great photos, Jae, and what a fantastic job you’ve landed!
You say you felt safe but that lion doesn’t seem too pleased to have his rest disturbed….
Funnily enough Pat the big cats didn’t seem to be at all perturbed by the vehicles – I was quite surprised. It never really felt like they were a threat to us and I don’t think they thought we were a threat to them either.
I am very lucky aren’t I? Jx
Great photos Jae! Not long now until the big trek, think you’ll all be fine!
Wow! Gosh Jae these are incredible photos! What an opportunity!!!
(Opportunity to buy a new lens, I mean).
ANYTHING is an opportunity to buy a new lense around here…
I’m glad you like them Ste! I borrowed the lovely Elise’s (of marathon v mountain fame) camera, and Paul G lent me a 100-400 lens for it. I’ve never used anything like it before but it meant for once I felt like I could take photos that showed how close I was actually getting!
Thanks for the encouragement Paul M – you’re just about the only person Ma and I have ever really walked with together so I know we’ll be remembering you and the Amalfi Coast gang on our Kili climb. Jx
Wow! So wow! The photos are stunning. You’ve just sent that kind of trip way up the list of things I must do in my life!
I’m glad you like them Katie. I think you’d have loved it – I thought of you while I was there – it’d be very much your cup of tea. Great to have such expert instruction telling me what to point at and checking I wasn’t doing idiotic things with my settings! Jx
Stunning pictures, must have been such a wonderful experience. Have you got the photography bug now? xCx
Thanks Chlo! I really enjoyed using the camera once I worked it out a bit. Need to concentrate on keeping up the skills or I suspect they’ll disappear! Jx