A few from Africa

80weeks · August 27, 2010

We've just returned from a few weeks in Rwanda and Tanzania.

I spent today looking at the photos and thought I would share a few of my favourites so far. C and C is always welcome.

1) Gorilla posing in the jungle.

2) Zebra having a dust bath. They stood in a line and one by one rolled around in this particular patch of ground, which was obviously the best place for a back scratch.

3) Lion portrait

4) The great migration, crossing the Mara river

5) Leopard

6) We were lucky enough to see a lion hunting. The fawn in this photo got away, but an adult gazelle was not so lucky a few minutes later.

Stash · August 27, 2010

Some excellent captures! I especially like the leopard in #5.

Gotta love Africa!

Ric Grupe · August 27, 2010

Excellent set!

That Gorilla was a real hambone.

Very enjoyable.

Mark Edell · August 27, 2010

Sweet set, I'm jealous! #5

Lindiwe · August 27, 2010

Beautiful set of pictures. I'm just jealous of the whole lot!

While the leopard is superb, my favourite is the crossing of the Mara. What an amazing sight to have witnessed!

NatureMaven · August 27, 2010

Wow

clap

clap love the gorilla

kgarrett11 · August 27, 2010

Great pics. I was in Kenya and Tanzania 3 years ago and I was the greatest trip that I have ever taken. I like the shot of the leopard. They are really hard to get. I wish that I could have gotten a shot like yours of a lion hunting. All we saw was the results of the hunt. Again NICE shots.

80weeks · August 27, 2010

Thanks for all the comments.

This was our second trip to Africa, and I'm sure it won't be our last. We got incredibly lucky on this trip seeing 6 different leopards (on a week long trip). The lion hunting was definitely the highlight though. We arrived at a huge pride of lions (14) who had just killed a gazelle. After watching them for about 20 minutes we noticed one of the lions sniffing the air and start to separate from the group, so we decided to follow. Her first attempt was only a few meters from the car when she went for the small fawn. After this attempt a couple of the other lions noticed what she was doing and started heading our way. The first lion using our car as a shield from the gazelles went for attempt number 2, she scared the gazelles towards where the other two lions were waiting and one was caught. The lion that caught the gazelle was not in a mood to share so the lion that started the hunt didn't end up with anything at the end of it.

CookieS · August 27, 2010

What kind of trip was this .Private or was in a tour bus type packed with people. ? Id love to go in my dreams. but bumpy roads and mass of people isnt my thing. ;( Beautiful Photos.

kgarrett11 · August 27, 2010

CookieS wrote: »

What kind of trip was this .Private or was in a tour bus type packed with people. ? Id love to go in my dreams. but bumpy roads and mass of people isnt my thing. ;( Beautiful Photos.

There are a lot of tours just like you describe but if you check around there are also a lot that only put 3 people per vehicle. Each person has their own bench seat to handle all of their equipment and have a full 360 degree vision. That's what I was on and it was great. Oh and no matter where you go the roads aren't like they are here. They are all bumpy. We were on one road that we just had to take the guides word for it that it was a road.

80weeks · August 27, 2010

CookieS wrote: »

What kind of trip was this .Private or was in a tour bus type packed with people. ? Id love to go in my dreams. but bumpy roads and mass of people isnt my thing. ;( Beautiful Photos.

It was private. Last time we were in Africa we were backpackers, taking local buses, carrying our tent we were camping in on our back and when on safari we joined a budget trip which meant there were 5 people in the jeep (no spare seats and differing ideas about how long to spend with the animals). This time we hired the car and driver just for us which was perfect and what most people do in this part of Africa (the northern circuit of Tanzania). As for the bumpy roads.... well, you aren't going to avoid that in Africa!

The big tour type buses in Africa tend to be used by people on longer trips through Africa who don't like the idea of travelling on local transport.

NatureMaven · August 30, 2010

80weeks wrote: »

Thanks for all the comments. This was our second trip to Africa, and I'm sure it won't be our last. We got incredibly lucky on this trip seeing 6 different leopards (on a week long trip). The lion hunting was definitely the highlight though. We arrived at a huge pride of lions (14) who had just killed a gazelle. After watching them for about 20 minutes we noticed one of the lions sniffing the air and start to separate from the group, so we decided to follow. Her first attempt was only a few meters from the car when she went for the small fawn. After this attempt a couple of the other lions noticed what she was doing and started heading our way. The first lion using our car as a shield from the gazelles went for attempt number 2, she scared the gazelles towards where the other two lions were waiting and one was caught. The lion that caught the gazelle was not in a mood to share so the lion that started the hunt didn't end up with anything at the end of it.

Wow, 6 leopards? Clearly you have good cat karma