On my mind these days is my next safari in March.  I’m leading a private safari focusing on Wild Dogs and Rhinos in Kenya.  Operating exclusively in private conversation areas, off-roading and foot tracking will be the order of the day as we strive for outstanding up close and personal photography of these wonderful subjects.  We will also be spending time with a local Samburu Village for some wonderful travel shots.  Below is a shot from my recent trip to the Mara Plains area.  Place this in Google Earth to see where the image was taken at:

1 24.12921S, 35 8.3947E , elev 5182ft.

Drinking in the Mara

Nikon D3s, 200-400 VR @ 200mm, ISO 320, f/8 at 1/320 sec

Cheers and happy photoing.

Outside of the Massai Mara Plains, two brothers on alert.

Nikon D3S, 200-400mm VRII, set at 310mm, 1/320 sec, f/5.0, matrix meeting, aperture priority

Cheers and happy photo’ ing.

That Safari Grin

The top fifteen tips or observations of what worked well on the last safari:

1. Ramadan did not pose a problem while in Dubai.  Before you go, spend time learning to work around cultural events in foreign countries.
2. While Fairview was nice and always my first choice for lodging in Kenya however, you need to stay in the main building (rooms 3 and 5).
3. Transfers with additional camera equipment between Kenya and Tanzania with Precision Air, was relatively painless.
4. All coordinated transfers were painless.
5. Packing and planning well in advance for differing conditions reduced shooting stress.
6. Mobile camp at Senera (unit) was really special – fast response by Thomson’s to alter location to better support photography clients (BIG PLUS – these guys are simply the best).
7. Mobile camp at Kekogona was perfect for northern work and river crossings.
8. Inverters in the trucks are great support.
9. Amod tracking device was flawless, and worked well on rechargeable batteries.
10. Hyperspace worked great, less the combat card issue and having one of the units dropped which fractured the hard drive connection point.
11. Jerimah Beach Hotel in Dubai is THE place to stay (not cheapest)
12. The maps that Thomson’s provided was used often buy all of the travelers – great resource.
13. Difficult but rewarding hike up the side of Mount Meru.  This was an optional trip for some of my travelers.  Great to do if you are in shape.
14. English-Swahili ‘Useful Phrases, TMP Book Department – TABORA’ – the best book I’ve seen thus far.
15. A visit to Shangaa, was rewarding as usual.

Cheers and happy photo’ing

Nikon D3S, 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm, ISO 6400, 1/25 sec at f/5.0 (hand held)

This image was taken here.  Yes, I shot this at ISO 6400 and hand held it at 1/25 sec and without any noise treatment or color correction – straight out of the box, as they say.  I have been shooting with the D3S as my primary body (D3 is my  backup) for more than two years now and I continue to be amazed at the low noise and its ability to capture fine details in low light.  This camera really causes me to push the limits when it comes to shooting in low light conditions.  Controlled breathing, strong abs, and solid camera holding positions are the keys to getting images like this.  Remember, I am shooting upward at a sign that is over my head and therefore you will see just a bit of angular distortion.  I love the colors of the warm light and the details in the post.  A slight angular tilt of the camera added some emphasis to the lines.

Cheers and happy photo’ing

Clear skies in the early am, with smog and heavy haze developing soon after 1100.

Today was another full day after our overnight at the Fairview Hotel.  The Fairview is my favorite hotel in Nairobi. Not easy to get to and located next to the Israeli Embassy, I think it is one of the most secure hotels in Nairobi – which is not a bad thing. The grounds are lush and the architecture is aged red brick with classic overtones from the days of the British.  Departing early, we were off to Giraffe Center to get a special kiss from a Rothschild Giraffe. The three most common species of giraffes in Kenya are Masai, Reticulated, and the rare Rothschild.  The Rothschild are best identified by their white ‘boots’ that they wear.  By this I mean they have white coloration (no markings) on their feet from the top of their hooves to just below the kneecap.

The Rothschild Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi)  is among the most endangered giraffe subspecies with only a few hundred members in the wild.[1] All of those that are living in the wild are in protected areas in Kenya and Uganda.[1]  Recently it has been proposed that the Rothschild Giraffe is actually a separate species from other giraffes and not a giraffe subspecies.[2]  While giraffes in general are classified as Least Concern, the Rothschild Giraffe is at particular risk of hybridisation, as the population is so limited in numbers.  There are very few locations where the Rothschild Giraffe can be seen in the wild, with notable spots being Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya and Murchison Falls National Park in northern Uganda.  From  Giraffe Center and at a given age, the Rothschild Giraffes are re-introduced into an area near Lake Naktau. While inter-breeding can occur, they are taking great care to insure the continued success of the Rothschild.

After spending time at Giraffe Center, it was time for lunch at Utdamani, opened by Dr. Leakey in 1960. Utdamani is a wonderful place for lunch and previewing the native products from across Kenya, not to mention a great place for some last minute quality shopping.

Steve captured a couple of fun snaps from the day. Enjoy and when your travels take you to or through Nairobi, please take time to visit this wonderful conservation facility.

Randy Getting a Special Giraffe Kiss

I Love her Facial Expressions

References: [1] Not one but ‘six giraffe species’”. BBC News Online. 2007-12-21. Retrieved 2007-12-27, Wikipedia; [2] Wilson, Don E.; Reeder, DeeAnn M., eds (2005). Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols. (2142 pp.). ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0

Cheers and happy photo’ing

Clear skies in the early am, with smog and heavy haze developing soon after 1100.

Departing early, we went to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, where rescued baby elephants are cared for until they are released back into the wild. Everyone became foster parents of an elephant (or two), or renewed their foster status for another two years. While at the Trust, we made an appointment for a special event, just for foster parents later in the day; the running of the elephants.

Back for Sheldrick to participate in the elephants running to their pens for feeding.  Funny thing at the Trust, things just seem to happen very quickly and without warning.  Before we knew it, the baby elephants were running right at us, and I was NOT camera ready.  Talk about acting just like kids, shortly after being fed their special milk formula (made of vegetable material and imported from England), they instantly fell asleep.  They will wake again in three to four hours for another feeding.  While in the Trust, they are under constant 24×7 care, to the point that a handler sleeps with them, as to comfort them like a mother would.  Each handler commits to a two year program at the trust in which he seldom gets to see is ‘human’ family and are rotated among the elephants.  This rotation avoids the development of any dependency issues that the elephants might develop.

This trip included the adoption of NAIPOKI. The opening paragraph of the Naipoki’s Orphan Profile starts out: We received an early morning call from Jane Craig at 7.00 am reporting news of a tiny baby elephant that had been rescued from a well in the Namunyak Conservation Area, that was in the safe custody of Hilary and Piers of Sarara Camp. The Kenyan Wildlife Service then called having been alerted about the calf with the same news and we immediately scrambled a team of Keepers and they were at Namunyak in Northern Kenya by 10.30 am. For additional details about Naipoki check out this document which contains the  story of Naipoki.

After a full day, we started heading back to the Fairview for rest and a nice meal.  Along the way we drove by Kibera, the 2nd largest slum in Africa, with the a population estimate for this area well above 1.8 million. Although this estimate (from our guide) is several years old, the area has most certainly grown by now You can find a wide range of population estimates across the web for this area, and it you are interested, a simple Google search (images) will return a number of heart breaking images.  It was another moving sight for me, one that I am still trying to process in my mind (I remain undecided whether or not to show some of the images).

Below are some fun images from the day.  Enjoy and if you are ever in Nairobi, please take time to visit the wonderful conservation facilities of Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.  While you are there, adopt a baby elephant.

Home Sweet Home

Naipoki at feeding time

Nikon D3s, 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm, ISO 800, f/8.0 at 1/50 sec

Naipoki's handler

Nikon D3s, 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 62mm, ISO 800, f/4.5 at 1/60 sec

These images were taken here

Weather: Clear skies with a slight cool breeze from the west.

Today was all about travel. We said our good byes to the wonderful camp staff and broke camp at 0800 for the Kogatende Air Strip to meet our aircarft for our trip to Arusha Municipal Airport.  With mostly clear skies below us, it was a wonderful flight allowing us to see from above, where we had been over the past safari days.  After landing in Arusha, we proceeded to Shanga River House for a killer departure lunch.   Shanga as become a very special place to me, one where my face is very well known.  It is such a warm feeling to recognized by the crafts people of Shanga, words can’t describe it.  The mission of the Shanga River House is to teach deaf and mute native Tanzanian people a skill that will allow them to be productive members of their family.  From the Shanga Web site:   Shanga Shangaa was founded as a for-profit company to create a community that would support and empower those Tanzanians who have been marginalized by their disabilities.  By providing an open and safe environment, disabled Tanzanians are able to realize their potential, develop new skills, build relationships based on respect and improve their own lives.  Using recycled materials and producing at a sustainable level allows Shanga Shangaa to continue to expand and offer these opportunities far into the future.

Two years ago, I spent a full day at the River House doing some volunteer photography for some of their promotional materials.  I will never forget how the people of Shanga helped me construct a huge sun shade for the photo shoot.  It was comical to them to watch this photo guy battle the bright African sun,  and we still talk about it when I visit Shanga.  Today, Shanga has grown in production size, both in their bead work and in the fabric work.  During my visit they the manager announced that they would soon be opening a furniture store in downtown Arusha.  Please take time to visit the Shanga web site for additional information.

As we started loading up the trucks, I always remember the smile that comes across my face when I look over my shoulder and see the greeting wall, as seen below.

From Shanga it is off to our day rooms and then to the airport where the safari group splits into two groups, one heading directly home and the others heading into Kenya for two more full days of adventures.

Cheers and ulala salama

24 Aug 2011

Weather: Clear skies, cool with a light breeze.

Today was about wonderful landscapes and a drive deep into the plains of the northern Serengeti in search of cheetah and rhino. Crossing the Bolognja River, it was classic cheetah country. Green rolling hillsides dotted with trees and rock outcroppings. As we paralleled the Bolognja River, we were treated to a 5 meter long Black Momba on the top of an ant mount.  This makes two mombas that we have seen on this trip (green and black).   With the speed that this snake went into the deserted ant mound,  it is very clear to me why ant mounts should be avoided at all costs.  With the Nyamalumbwa Hills on the left and Barakupes Hills to the right, we continued our drive toward the turn-off to Klein’s Camp Gate for lunch.  In the distance, Kick Rock Lodge (Kenya) to the left and the rolling Barakupes Hills to rear, we could see for miles and miles.   In the the morning, wildebeests were everywhere dotting the hillsides.  By our return, they had moved south to a point that there numbers were very few.  Returning to camp about 4pm, it was time to repack and ready ourselves for our charter flight tomorrow from the northern Serengeti to Arusha and later on-ward to Kenya. What a great day for viewing this wonderful countryside. I hope to return to do some serious landscape work around these rolling hills and kopjes.

Until the next posting, enjoy another photo from our Maasai visit yesterday, a Maasai Blacksmith hard at work.

Nikon D3s, 70-200mm f2.8 at 70, ISO 200 f/5.6 at 1/60 sec, SB900 controlled by SU800 with diffuser shooting thru lastolight trigrip, camera right.

Cheers and happy photo’ing

Our visit to this community of 21,000 people was hosted by Eliakimu Ole Njeche, the cultural coordinator for the village. He explained that this Maasai community was sub-divided into 6 differently-sized villages, which were further subdivided into 23 smaller villages, each with a democratically elected chairperson. Although leadership within the villages is elected, there are still four major Masaai clans that have significant influence over village life: the Laizer, Mollell, Lukumai, and Kivuyo clans, and all are present within the Ilkiding’a community. The clans provide the cultural or religious leadership while the village leaders provide the governmental or social organizational structure. The leader of each clan is appointed for life and is the only person allowed to carry a special ebony stick to demonstrate that he is the leader.

With 40 million people living in Tanzania, many of whom are members of 120 ethnic groups or tribes, maintaining this cultural identity is extremely important for the tribes. As the young men and women become exposed to education, a conflict of sorts sets in.  This conflict is between the old ways of the Maasai and what the new world expects of them. For example, it is a Maasai tradition that a man may take more than one wife.  This tradition comes in conflict when young men and women return to the village with a greater education and exposure to more western ways of a man only taking one wife; somehow a balance must be found.

Upon our arrival, I noticed a child, around the age of 2 with a disfigured face. Near the end of the our visit, I abandoned my political correctness and made somewhat of a wide question concerning the young child. Eliakimu proceeded to share with us that his disfigurement and missing hand was the result of a fire inside his house. This fire resulted in severe burns to the face and arm of his young daughter, 7 months old at the time. The house was a total loss, taking with it all of his family records, photographs, and his computer. He continued a very somber story sharing with us how we was rebuilding his life,  the life of his family and at the same time trying to expand the income streams for the community.   No doubt about it, Eliakimu was carrying a very heavy burden on his shoulders.  Eliakimu was a good educator on this trip and the stories are many so I will save some for another time.

If you have Google Earth, you can see our our track for the day via this link.

Making Salad

Nikon D3s, 24-70 f2.8 at 70mm, ISO 200, f5.6 @ 1/60 sec; SB900 with diffuser contolled by SU800, shot thru lastolight trigrip, camera left.

Cheers and happy photo’ing