Kicheche - Day 2 PM

A delicious lunch again on the lawn, being watched by a small family of Bush Babies from the tree above.

I was sitting next to the Manager who happened to mention he might need to leave the table early to welcome some new guests, Americans.  So I asked if it was Kemp and Esther (we'd met them at Lewa House and knew they were due to arrive), and yes it was them, although he had Richard as the name (Kemp introduced himself as Kemp so that's what we called him).  Apparently it's his birthday today and a small celebratory Masai dance has been arranged - although I totally put my foot in it by recounting the tale of cringe-worthy local dances we've endured worldwide, especially Laos!

Back out this afternoon and the scenery really is quite beautiful.

I am totally fascinated by Secretary Birds as they do not stop still for one minute - they stomp around looking for small mammals to eat and move at a rapid pace.  Charles says this is because they need to eat a lot (can't help feeling if they slowed down a bit they wouldn't need so much).

A superb Waterbuck m.

Some starlings were making a racket and Charles said it was because there was a puff adder in the bush.  We couldn't see it, so he bravely got out and poked around with a stick.

Puff Adder

A hyena's view

Eland, the largest antelope.

 

But still very skittish.

This is the beautiful Leopard Fig.  I'd read about her before we came to the Mara and hoped we might see her.  I know the quality of this photo is atrocious but it's the only one I have of her.

Unfortunately it was quite late in the afternoon and although she made all the right precursors to moving (yawning, stretching, cleaning) she didn't move from her safe spot up the tree (in the distance she could see some lions hunting and Charles said that would have put her off coming down; being a loner she's no match for a pride of lions).

So we left her to it and found the cheetahs again, not much going on so I played around with some ICM to try something a bit different (Intentional Camera Movement) - not sure it does much for me.

Or if accidentally overexposed - never mind, turn it B&W and call it Fine Art!

We went back to Fig for our sundowner and although she hadn't moved at all, Ian still wasn't allowed to get out and check the tyres (have a wee)!

Back at camp we were walking along to dinner with our Askari and we asked him what time the moon would be up (Red-Blue Moon tonight) five minutes he said and he was right.

Kemp's birthday dance wasn't too bad, at least it was consenting adults dancing and not poor press-ganged children.

Kicheche - Day 2 AM

We were out very early once again and I'm so glad as the sunrise was beautiful.

Warthogs are very funny creatures, when you stop the truck they just stand and stare defiantly.

But as soon as the engine is turned off, they turn tails and run as fast as their little legs will take them, tails held high in the air.

Charles took us to a spot near a stream where 2 x two week old lion cubs are hidden in the bushes on the opposite bank.  At this young age they are prey for just about anything so the mother must find a safe place for them whilst she is out hunting for food.

After a while she went walking off and Charles was convinced she was looking for a new hiding place as being so close to the stream they were in great danger of drowning.  Despite following her for a while in the end she just went back to the cubs.

Whilst the sunrise had been promising, I'm finding the lighting a little flat here, compared with Lewa and it's not doing my photos any favours.

It was also quite cold as you can probably gather from our breakfast stop.

We then found the cheetahs (the unrelated male seems to have disappeared) and once again they seemed quite lazy.  

This made me laugh (I have a whole series of stretches) 

The female is the most interested in hunting and Charles says that's because she doesn't get her fair share of their joint kills and before long she started to track something but we were unable to follow and by the time we got around the thicket they were all merrily tucking in.  

It turned out to be just a small snack - baby Impala - once again she walked away and left her brothers to finish the meal.

I don't know which two this is but they did a mutual grooming session.

Then they all went to cross the small stream, despite Charles priming me for the jumps, I still managed to mess up my shots - either too early or too late :(

Or no space to jump into.

Moving on, we were very lucky to see this pair of D'Arnaud's Barbets.

Hippos, although if I'm honest having been in the Hippo Hide at Kaingo Zambia it would take an awful lot to impress me now, hippo wise!

Next up a beautifully colourful Rock Agama.

Dik-dik

Nubian Woodpecker

Giraffe sitting down - I don't know why I should find this so unusual but I do - I have never seen it before and they're still bl**dy tall"

Do you think this Zebra believes he's found the perfect hiding place?

Heading back to camp now for lunch.

Kicheche - Day 1 PM

We set off with Charles just after 16:00 again just us in the truck, although Darren has said we will probably be sharing tomorrow (I don't mind we've been so lucky).

The whole area is so unexpectedly green; it's been raining heavily these last couple of weeks and the camp has been nearly flooded.  I know I wanted a hint of green but this is crazy - looks like a golf course half the time!

We hadn't seen Topi before and what handsome creatures they are - known locally as Blue Jeans, I personally would call them Yellow Legs.  

The males love standing on anthills, particularly as it gives them a good view all around and also to show off their great physiques.

Secretary Birds are here too.

And hyena

Little Bee Eater

Lappet-Faced Vulture

And then great views of cheetah, we sat watching this lovely female.  

Her tail is so long sometimes it seems unconnected and a being in its own right!

Suddenly she was off and went to meet up with three males, two of which were her brothers.

They really are magnificent creatures, so long and thin.  We stayed with them for a while, hoping they'd go off hunting but they just lounged around, far too many photos.

We moved on as there were a couple of lions on the hunt, they'd managed to get either side of a zebra but somehow failed to catch it - apparently they were fairly young and inexperienced and just gave up.

"Behind you" - straight photo, no Photoshop!

A very handsome pair but they need to sharpen their skills or they'll be very hungry.

There was another, slightly older male nearby although half hidden behind a bush and we watched while he snapped around at the annoying flies (know how he feels, the Tsetse Flies here are awful, they bite through clothing).

 

A great place for a sundowner and a great first afternoon in the Mara.