Maasai Mara - September 2011

Second attempt at this - the system crashed and everything vanished ...

After Sarara we moved to Rekero Camp in the Mara. A short flight and on to camp, via a short game drive with my camera still in my bag, bad move, always be prepared!

Within a few minutes we came across this serval


On the move




View from our tent on the river bank - wildies


Secretary Bird - just the strangest looking bird ever!


Chilling


A little grooming


Not sure who these are - not the Marsh Pride we were around the Rekero area.


Relaxing with the flies ....... which must drive them mad


A few more to follow but posting in case it crashes again ........

Lai Pai

Towards the end of our first afternoons game drive we came across a caracal - wow, what a stunning cat and I've never been able to get photos before so was very excited ...... hence a few on this thread! They have the most beautiful ears with long wispy bits.

He/she was very relaxed with us being around and we just sat and watched for a while.











The end of day one at Rekero ............

Lai Pai

Thanks Doogs, we were so chuffed to find the caracal and be able to watch it, we were slightly upset about the serval, our driver was trying to cut in front of it, presumably so I could get some photos, but we told him to stop, the poor serval was on the move and obviously trying to find a bite to eat .......... sometimes you just have to accept you see the animals and don't always get the photos you would like

Lai Pai

Brilliant Photos of the Caracal, and Serval. I think the last one of the Caracal is an absolute stunner, the face, and eyes are just perfect. Good for you stopping the driver with the Serval looking for food. True animal lover, and the picture is still in your mind if not on Camera. I've met a lot of Secretary's that are odd Birds
WS

Thanks WS - it was a plus that we saw the serval anyway and totally unexpected so as you say one to remember.

I've got to admit I was particularly pleased with the carcal photos - such a stunning cat.

WS - you're somehow we should have expected that one

Lai Pai

Thanks Doogs

Be WS be very

Lai Pai

Gorgeous pictures Lai Pai, i'm loving the Serval and the caracal too, the serval is really rangy isn't she. They are stunning little cats. Glad you got to see both of them Lai Pai.

littlewid-x-

Some more from our time in the Mara at Rekero, first thing in the morning.

The jackals, hyena and vultures were all there together. Fascinating to watch them all interacting and trying to get a bit of the kill. I am not showing photos of the kill!

Behind the jackal an African white backed vulture and to the right a Hooded vulture




Ruppell's Griffon vulture


Hyena on a kill - the jackals are so cheeky and daring, always running in and snatching what they can.


Once our driver had backed away after Clawed had given a small but very much a warning growl, and we had suggested Clawed on my knee was not the way to 'get the shot' he was very chilled, this was before the take-over.


No way was he going to raise his head again for a photo - he was


More to follow - doing this a few at a time so I don't lose them again.

Lai Pai

We headed to the Musiara Marsh to find the Marsh Pride.

These are members of the Marsh Pride but I can't say who sadly








Pregnant or just well fed ???






We had breakfast out on the riverbank (just turn right out of Governors Camp and drive along a little) with a lot of hippos - they look like they are smiling




They are very appealing somehow I think


Lai Pai

After breakfast we went to find Honey's boys. This is before one of them was killed, does anyone know if this has been confirmed?

All 3 were there, lying under a bush, and not for moving, I was only able to photograph two very badly, but I am happy that we saw them when they were all together and looking well.









Unknown leopard - our driver didn't know who this was, any ideas? She/he was not for moving!


More later ...................

Lai Pai

Good call Doogs. I have a few more of him below, one from the side, which may help?







I think you're right Doogs

This may be a long thread now, I have a few of Notch and his boys .......

Lai Pai

No visit to the Mara would be complete without seeing Notch. We found him in the afternoon, after he had had a very busy morning mating with this lioness. By all accounts he is still a very fit lion, those who saw him in the morning came back to Rekero at lunchtime with tales of his morning activity.

Completely flaked out ...........




We came across the jackal pups at their den - adorable and very mischevious






On the way home we found 3 of Notch's boys - sleeping!


I am not sure they ever do anything but sleep - they certainly weren't bothered by us and didn't even look up!


That's all from Rekero on to Naboisho tomorrow ..........

Lai Pai

Thanks Doogs, and thanks for checking out Pacha, I think you are definitely right.

We were quite pleased to see Notch just chilling, somehow we felt watching him and the lioness would have been a bit personal

Lai Pai

Having seen it before Doogs, it's blink and you miss it

Lai Pai

Lai Pai so many wonderful Photos to look at, havent had time to take them all in yet so I will post again when I've time to look at them all properly, but I do think your both right, and thats Pacha
WS

Gosh how did I miss the rest of these pictures Lai Pai. Loving the Hyenas and the Jackals and the vultures, stunning pictures plus the Hippos too

So lovely you got to see Clawed before all the trouble, I bet you will treasure those pictures forever, just like the ones of Honeys boys, so very sad if one has definiately been killed, just like Clawed and Romeo you thought they would go on forever.
Dear old Notch, just love him and i'm so pleased you got to see him and his sons too. You really were so very lucky to have seen them all but good for us to as we have your glorious pictures to keep looking at.

Thanks Lai Pai

littlewid-x-

Thanks Littlewid and WS. Yes, I was just saying to Pete yesterday how lucky we were to have seen all 3 of Honey's boys looking fit and well and of course Clawed. I will definitely remember them with happy memories and think just how lucky we were.

Lai Pai

Bless them all Lai Pai, they are thousands of miles away and yet never far from our thoughts and hearts.

littlewid-x-

Such fantastic pictures! Thanks all of you. Must have been a great trip!