From Ol Pejeta to Tsavo West (Kenya) (page 4 of 15)

Aren't there lions in the distance to the left of that acacia?

I don’t see it🙂! Probably a termite mound

I really love your travel journal, plus it’s not quite the same species as in Southern Africa 🙂

Thanks Jean François for the lovely compliment

wow, the Leopard! 🙂

Hi Anne-Marie,

Could you be a bit more specific? :)

In English, we say a "LIT" (Leopard in a Tree), left branch of the big tree, in the middle, above the green leaves of the other tree… I was just or am I way off? 😉

I agree with Anne Marie—a leopard stretched out on the acacia branch, looking away from the track. ....

Good evening Anne-Marie and Sylvie,

Wow, you two have a sharp eye! Indeed, there’s a leopard on the branch. Here it is:



The big cat decides to climb down from its perch;



positions itself;



hits the ground and the bushes:



And comes toward us very calmly:



I’m absolutely thrilled watching it grow bigger and bigger in my viewfinder. It’s now so close I have to zoom out as much as possible… the light is strong… damn, I’m gonna overexpose… Argh! It jumps into the car.

Just kidding 😎! But it *does* get really close… really, *really* close… the second album will be out tomorrow morning when the shop opens.

Amazing encounter with the leopard! You’ve got to be in the right place at the right time, but you also need eyes like a hawk 😄

Hi Isabelle,

Yes, it was a magical moment... like time stood still. The credit card helped, but John really knows how to position himself when it comes to big cats. Lions sometimes leave me indifferent, but a leopard rarely does. But let me get back to this little story:

So close



Really close... really *very* close😎:



The big cat crosses the track right in front of us:





And disappears into the bushes:



John decides to follow it, while his colleagues give up and head back to the lodge. Great call!

Happy Sunday! Oh, Buffalo is really a great place to meet leopards 🙂 So many memories...... Wow, your leo looks hungry.......maybe he’s a bit peckish?....... Gorgeous photos, in any case!

Just a few dozen meters farther, and there’s our feline:



This time, it disappears for good into the thorny bushes under the watchful eyes of the antelopes. Can you spot it?

Hi Sylvie,

Wow, your Leo sure has a hollow belly......isn’t he a bit hungry?...... Great photos, though!

Yeah, he does look pretty skinny, that leopard—I’m so grateful he showed up! 🙂 The sun was right overhead. With such harsh light, it wasn’t easy to get good shots, but the 200-500 did the job, even if it didn’t excel.

Just follow the antelopes' gaze 😎 Gorgeous images

In this case, your guide must’ve been happy! 😎 Muriel

Hi Anne Marie

Just follow the antelopes' gaze 😎 amazing photos

Actually, the eye isn't enough—you also need to be clever. Congrats Safrou, you're the lucky winner of a totally silly game😉! Your prize... a rabbit's foot... uh, I don’t have any left in stock, sorry—but here’s a nice picture to reward our winner:

Yes, the gaze of the Grant's gazelles, and then you see the white tip of its tail.

Hi Muriel,

Yes, our guide was over the moon. This moment really made up for his earlier slip-ups. And from that day on, we wiped the slate clean! :)!

Yes, the gaze of the Grant's gazelles and then we see the white tip of its tail.

That’s it, Sylvie, but Anne-Marie won the prize by being quicker on the draw. Too bad...

Samburu is a wildlife reserve with beautiful diversity. Not only do you see most of the animals found in Ol Pejeta, but also some new ones and more birds than in OP—but still not enough in the end. That’s because of John; he’s not interested. He doesn’t even notice them :(



So, what do you think?



And the portrait of...?

Aquila rapax, Tawny eagle, juvenile Aigle ravisseur



And its subadult portrait?



Since we’re talking about birds, it’s the perfect time to mention the stunning Vulturine guineafowl, Acryllium vulturinum.





This bird brightens up the savanna with its gorgeous blue colors. It’s also one of our new sightings, since you’ll only find this bird here and maybe in Meru.



Secretary bird, Sagittarius serpentarius