A kick and a miss. Stay away from me and my baby!

New born wildebeest, just minutes old, searching for a drink from its mother. 

During our safari, we also visited Ngorongoro Crater, created two to three million years ago, when a large volcano exploded and collapsed on itself. It is the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. Ngorongoro is home to a large assortment of animals including zebra, buffalo, warthog, wildebeest, hippo, and elephants. It also has an amazing population of predators including lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs and the elusive leopard.

The safari ended in the world famous Masai Mara National Reserve, jewel of Kenya’s wildlife safari experience. Nowhere in Africa is wildlife more abundant. 

Walking proud with Mama.  

An elegant couple enjoying the warmth of early morning sun on a cool, brisk morning. 

One very pregnant zebra

What are you looking at?

Herds on the move in the great migration.

Another newborn wildebeest.

A peaceful scene of zebras drinking in the Masai Mara.

Suddenly it erupted into pandemonium and chaos! The zebras bolted from the water but for one, was it too late?

In an instant the crocodile pulled the zebra under the water where it apparently had to readjust its bite. The zebra took that opportunity to free itself from the powerful jaws of the crocodile and escaped safely up the riverbank! Aside from a little blood on his nose, the zebra appeared to be unharmed. WOW! What we had just witnessed got my adrenaline pumping to a level of excitement that I rarely feel! For me it was one of nature’s more thrilling moments! The best part was that through all of the excitement, neither animal was seriously hurt.  

Ngorongoro Crater is an intact caldera measuring 12 miles x 10 miles for a total of 120 square miles on the crater floor. Over 30,000 larger animals live in the crater year round. They are sustained by the five different ecosystems inside the crater. There is the lake, river, forest, open savannah and rain forest on the steep mountain hillsides. 

Back-lit lion

Approaching bull elephant.

“He is right here. Everyone quiet please and don’t move! Just enjoy the encounter.” 

 Kori Bustard strutting his stuff to impress his girlfriend. 

Wooley-necked stork.

A giraffe profile.

Cape buffalo bull resting in shade.

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Two black rhinos and a cattle egret.

Bateleur

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Augur buzzard is an African bird of prey. It feeds on small rodents, snakes, lizards and small ground birds. The young don’t attain adult coloration until their third year.

Zebra stallions fighting. When fighting, they often bite at each other’s legs and ankles. They sit down to protect these vulnerable areas.

We saw so many lions one could say that this was a safari for lions and their cubs.  

Patient mother.

Turnabout is fair play, right?

 Mom is running a little short on patience and the cubs are paying attention!  

Watching birds fly by.

 Mom and one cub at the creek’s edge.

Curiosity and the spirit of adventure overcame the cubs and they crossed the stream and played together. 

In the afternoon it was mom’s turn for a well earned break from her cubs. A branch in a nearby acacia tree was the perfect resting spot.

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A beautiful leopard in the Masai Mara.

A red-collared widow bird. The males grow a long tail and keep it for about three weeks during breeding season.  

Sacred Ibis

Serval cat on the hunt in the Mara.

Pygmy Falcon landing on a bush.

A falcon sitting on a mound of dirt on the open plains.

Lilac-breasted roller taking flight.

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A topi on a termite mound.

Male giraffes sparring under Acacia trees.

In Ngorongoro there is room for everyone! Here we have an elephant, lions, wildebeest, zebras and gazelle. 

A Marabou found a terrapin (turtle) on the bottom of the pond but could’t figure out how to crack it open so let it go on the edge of the pond. The turtle simply climbed back into the pond to freedom. 

A large single tusked elephant. The other tusk was probably broken off when digging or possibly during a fight with another bull. 

A lioness escorts her cubs across the plains in the Masai Mara

If your ear itches, scratch it.

Handsome couple. 

 Nap time for the warthog.

While on our safaris we stay in luxury accommodations that are also in the best locations for wildlife.   Deck off of dining room at Lake Macek. 

 Swimming pool at Lake Macek Camp.

We use luxury lodges in the best locations for wildlife! Elephant near tent at Elephant Bedroom camp. 

Queen Bed at Mara Bush Camp 

Patio deck on tent at Mara Bush Camp 

Bathroom at the Elephant Bedroom Camp

Giraffes at sunrise in the Masai Mara. 

I hope you will join me on safari in the future for your African safari adventure of a lifetime!   May your days be filled with fantastic photo adventures and as always, remember to enjoy each day. 

~Paul Renner 

Our 2019 safaris were all sold out however we have had a room open up for a couple or two people sharing the room on our safari to Botswana and Zambia May 10 – 27, 2019. Please contact us immediately if you are interested.  I will post the 2020 safari details and pricing after we receive them in the next few months. I like to wait to receive the actual pricing from Africa so that we can keep or prices more competitive. I would rather not guess high just to get our prices out earlier. These safaris are definitely worth waiting for!   

We are excited to announce that for the very first time we will be running a photo expedition to the Pantanal in Brazil, South America. This coming August we will be on a quest to photograph jaguars, caiman, ocelots, capybara, anteaters, armadillos, monkeys, and a vast array of spectacular birdlife including toucans, parrots, macaws, caracara and many more. We will also be visiting Iguazu Falls, the most spectacular waterfalls in the world! The Pantanal offers the finest wildlife viewing in the Americas. Overlooked by history, the savannas and forests of the largest freshwater wetland in the world protect countless mammals, reptiles and birds. But above all, it is the refuge for the mesmerizing Pantanal Jaguars. Let us show them to you. The Pantanal is a seasonally-flooded wonderland in the upper part of the Paraguay River watershed.

This is going to be a small group of six travelers. Five spots have already been filled. One (1) spot is available for a single man willing to share the room with another gentleman to avoid the cost of the single supplement. This is going to be an exciting adventure. Please call me at (949) 295-3136 should you be interested in joining us on this amazing trip.