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Keltech · Jul 15, 2012, 10:29 AM

On the afternoon game drive on day two we were told we would have a special treat.

On our way across the Maasai Mara we encountered a male Cheetah that had the wounds of a hunt gone badly. The animal seemed to be well on the mend but showed what a hard existence the Cheetah has. Cheetahs are the fastest land animals and can reach a top speed of 70-75MPH. They can’t sustain this speed for a long time as they quickly overheat. They can accelerate from 0 to 64MPH in 3 seconds. Cheetahs have no claws and consequently cannot climb trees. When they kill they must eat quickly as they are not large enough to protect their kill from other predators. Hyenas can smell a kill from a distance of 5 miles.

Cheetah marking his territory.

After a long and bumpy ride across the Mara we came to an escarpment on the Mara’s edge. Our 4X4 vehicles climbed up for some time and then stopped. We all disembarked and hiked a short distance into a field that contained two White Rhinocerous. There were two guards watching over them with rifles drawn. We were allowed to approach on foot (the only time on the whole safari that we were allowed out of the vehicle in the presence of wildlife). I would estimate we were no more than 25’ from the animals. It was an awesome experience. Most of the pictures were with the Tamron 18-250.

Gunthers Dik-Diks are graceful dwarf antelopes about the size of a fox terrier. At maturity they weigh up to 12 pounds and are 14 inches tall at the shoulder.

Cape Buffalo & Oxpecker

5 Minute old Wildebeest - Mother still has afterbirth attached

Keltech · Jul 15, 2012, 10:34 AM

Returning to our hotel a couple short stops to photograph the sunset.

Lou

MadMikeSS · Jul 15, 2012, 10:38 AM

Great series Lou. Don't know if I'll ever brave a trip to Africa, but it would be cool to see the wildlife in their natural habitat instead of in zoos.

hnikesch · Jul 16, 2012, 9:16 AM

Wow what a series Lou and a great sunset to boot, nice job

Hans

Frogfish · Jul 16, 2012, 1:08 PM

$*&^$* 4 times I wrote a couple of long paragraphs and 4 times I got the 'refresh the page your token timed out' Aaaagh !

Love the Cheetahs and Cape Buffalo !

*storms off in a huff*

nhmom · Jul 16, 2012, 6:30 PM

Beautiful, Lou. I'll bet you are so glad you made that trip.

Patty

Trojansoc · Jul 16, 2012, 10:07 PM

Great series and the first sunset is breathtaking.

Paul

Eetu · Jul 17, 2012, 3:14 PM

Just absolutely amazing!!!! really enjoyed these. Thanks for sharing them.

simowills · Jul 18, 2012, 4:36 AM

Another fantastic series Lou.

Simon

ramcewan · Jul 18, 2012, 11:42 AM

wow - I gotta go on Safari one of these days

Jul 15, 2012, 10:29 AM	#1
Keltech Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Andover, Massachusetts Posts: 2,177	Maasai Mara Day 2 PM Game Drive On the afternoon game drive on day two we were told we would have a special treat. On our way across the Maasai Mara we encountered a male Cheetah that had the wounds of a hunt gone badly. The animal seemed to be well on the mend but showed what a hard existence the Cheetah has. Cheetahs are the fastest land animals and can reach a top speed of 70-75MPH. They can’t sustain this speed for a long time as they quickly overheat. They can accelerate from 0 to 64MPH in 3 seconds. Cheetahs have no claws and consequently cannot climb trees. When they kill they must eat quickly as they are not large enough to protect their kill from other predators. Hyenas can smell a kill from a distance of 5 miles. Cheetah marking his territory. After a long and bumpy ride across the Mara we came to an escarpment on the Mara’s edge. Our 4X4 vehicles climbed up for some time and then stopped. We all disembarked and hiked a short distance into a field that contained two White Rhinocerous. There were two guards watching over them with rifles drawn. We were allowed to approach on foot (the only time on the whole safari that we were allowed out of the vehicle in the presence of wildlife). I would estimate we were no more than 25’ from the animals. It was an awesome experience. Most of the pictures were with the Tamron 18-250. Gunthers Dik-Diks are graceful dwarf antelopes about the size of a fox terrier. At maturity they weigh up to 12 pounds and are 14 inches tall at the shoulder. Cape Buffalo & Oxpecker 5 Minute old Wildebeest - Mother still has afterbirth attached

Jul 15, 2012, 10:38 AM	#3
MadMikeSS Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Kenmore, NY Posts: 735	Great series Lou. Don't know if I'll ever brave a trip to Africa, but it would be cool to see the wildlife in their natural habitat instead of in zoos. __________________ ~MadMikeSS~ PPG Page

Jul 16, 2012, 9:16 AM	#4
hnikesch Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,166	Wow what a series Lou and a great sunset to boot, nice job Hans __________________ It is better to burn a roll of film than curse the darkness. Equip. K2000, Kr,Q, DAL 55-300, Tamron 70-300, DA 35 2.4, DA 18-135, SMC A 50 f1.7, SMC-A 28 f2.8, SMC M 135 f3.5, Canon P&S S100 w/CHDK Beta, Flickr:

Jul 16, 2012, 1:08 PM	#5
Frogfish Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Shanghai, China Posts: 2,774	$&^$ 4 times I wrote a couple of long paragraphs and 4 times I got the 'refresh the page your token timed out' Aaaagh ! Love the Cheetahs and Cape Buffalo ! storms off in a huff __________________ http://frogfish.smugmug.com Pentax : 15 Ltd, 77 Ltd, 43/1.9 Ltd, Cosina 55/1.2, DA300/4, Contax Zeiss Distagon 28/2.8, Raynox 150/250, AFA x1.7, Metz 50 af1. Nikon* : D800, D600, Sigma 500/4.5, Sigma 120-300/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 - 21/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 - 35/2.0, Nikkor 85/1.8G, Sigma 50/1.4. Nikon x1.4 TC, Sigma x2.0 TC

Jul 18, 2012, 11:42 AM	#10
ramcewan Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: New England, USA Posts: 1,207	wow - I gotta go on Safari one of these days __________________ e-pl2

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Jul 15, 2012, 10:34 AM	#2
Keltech Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Andover, Massachusetts Posts: 2,177	Returning to our hotel a couple short stops to photograph the sunset. Lou

Jul 16, 2012, 6:30 PM	#6
nhmom Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Southern New Hampshire Posts: 5,054	Beautiful, Lou. I'll bet you are so glad you made that trip. Patty

Jul 16, 2012, 10:07 PM	#7
Trojansoc Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hot Springs, AR Posts: 3,650	Great series and the first sunset is breathtaking. Paul

Jul 17, 2012, 3:14 PM	#8
Eetu Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Jyväskylä, Finland Posts: 2,134	Just absolutely amazing!!!! really enjoyed these. Thanks for sharing them.

Jul 18, 2012, 4:36 AM	#9
simowills Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mornington, Australia Posts: 638	Another fantastic series Lou. Simon

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