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2020-09-27: Lions

I had several wonderful lion sightings during my time in Kenya, and decided that these big cats would be the focus of my images for today. While in Selenkay, the lion sightings were late in the day with fading late, so the images aren’t the greatest, but I have fantastic memories. Not long after the first few images were taken, the cubs were playing on a tree stump when the two males starting roaring; the sound was intense as they were very close to the vehicle, and the cubs stopped in their tracks, almost as if they were in awe of the sound they were hearing. For me, looking at these pictures takes me right back to the moment they were captured.

I hope you enjoy, and wishing you a wonderful week ahead.

A curious cub approached our vehicle to check us out. At about 15 feet out it thought better of getting any closer.
There were lots of sticks available, but these two insisted on playing with the same one.
The cubs with one of the male lions.
A different pair of cubs, much smaller than the others, but from the same pride. The mother had not yet brought these little ones tonkin the rest of the pride.
A group of three young males seen in the Maasai Mara. The guide told me they had fairly recently been evicted from their pride.
Enjoying the last remnants of a meal; there were jackals close by hoping to steal a morsel or two.
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2020-09-15: Moose – Back Again!

I looked out the window Sunday evening and spotted the male and female moose having a browse of some trees. They only stayed for a few minutes and then made their way off across the road. Unfortunately it’s getting dark fairly early here, and with the smoke blowing in from the fires, lighting conditions for taking photos was not optimal. But that doesn’t matter – I’m thrilled to see them and glad they look to be in such good condition.

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2020-09-14: Monochrome Monday

I didn’t find it easy to see Chimanzees in Kibale Forest, or to photograph them. The dark forest and bright skylight mid morning made for some challenging contrast to overcome, but it was absolutely worth it.

Most of the images that I took weren’t great, but I did find a few that I hadn’t previously edited, and a monochrome treatment seemed a perfect solution to highlight these amazing animals in the best way that I can.

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2020-09-13: Uganda Revisited

For the last few blog posts, I have been revisiting my journey through Uganda and editing some photos that I passed by the first go around. It’s been wonderful to review these images and relive the memories that I carry of that wonderful journey. Today and tomorrow will be the last of Uganda revisited, and after that, I am going to be moving on to revisiting my time in Kenya.

These images were taken at Queen Elizabeth National Park while staying at Ishasha Wilderness Lodge, along the Kazinga Channel while staying at Mweya Lodge, and in the Kibale Forest, where I stayed at Primate Lodge.

I hope you enjoy!

A yellow throated long claw seen in burnt vegetation along the side of the road, just after coming into Queen Elizabeth Park from Bwindi.
A beautiful sunset while on a game drive from Ishasha Lodge.
A leopard and a topi. This leopard has in fact taken the topi’s small fawn which was why she was standing and looking at the leopard so intensely.
A group of pied kingfisher seen while on a birding boat cruise. The number of pied kingfisher we saw was unbelievable, as they were nesting in the tall sand banks of the channel. They were there by the hundreds.
A woodland kingfisher see along the Kazinga Channel
Traditional boats along the Kazinga Channel.
A red-tailed monkey I spotted while walking around the grounds of Primate Lodge.
A malachite kingfisher seen while on a birding cruise along the Kazinga channel.
Toti the chimp telling our group what he really felt about us (assuming that means the same in chimp language!)
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2020-09-06: Bwindi Highlights

I had the chance to get out for a round of golf when I originally planned to be editing images for this post. Given our lack of summer, and how soon winter will be upon us, any chance to be outside seems to be an opportunity well taken. So these images have been shared before, but are all moments from Bwindi that made me smile.

I hope you enjoy them!

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2020-08-30: Gorillas in Bwindi

Tomorrow, I’ll have a little pop up on Facebook that says “On this day 4 years ago” with a photo of a KLM airplane sitting at the gate. That flight would be the third leg on a solo journey that saw me travel Prince George to Vancouver, Vancouver to Calgary, Calgary to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to Kigali, and Kigali to Entebbe, to begin my journey around Uganda, and then onto Kenya from there. Planning and booking a trip like that, on my own, was a bit scary, but it was also a yes with every fibre of my being. Along the journey I met lovely people, saw things I had dreamt about for years and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the adventure.

For the next few weeks I am going to explore images that I didn’t share at the time of the trip, and take the opportunity to relive some of that adventure. I do hope to have the opportunity to trek to see gorillas again in the future; it is an absolutely magical experience, and the tourism dollars from the treks are so vital to ensuring the survival of the mountain gorillas.

I hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane with me.

I’ve been using the face-palm emoji a lot lately, and when I scrolled by this image, I chuckled a bit.
Makara the silverback sitting with a couple of the juvenile gorillas.
Kids will be kids!

Have a great week everyone!