The Republic of Kenya
is a country in Eastern Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north,
Somalia to the northeast, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, and
Sudan to the northwest, with the Indian Ocean running along the southeast
border.
Kenya has considerable land
area of wildlife habitat, including maasai mara, where blue wildebeest
and other bovids participate in a large scale annual migration. Up to 250,000
blue wildebeest perish each year in the long and arduous movement to find
forage in the dry season. The "Big Five" animals of Africa can also be
found in Kenya: the lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant. A significant
population of other wild animals, reptiles and birds can be found in the
national parks and game reserves in the country. The environment of Kenya
is threatened by high population growth and its side-effects.
Preparing Yourself for
a Wildlife Photography in Kenya by Lucy Maruhi
When I first thought about
doing wildlife photography in Kenya I was a bit stuck for inspiration.
I was in the middle of the city with no wildlife in sight, unless you counted
the people milling all around me, and I wasn't due up for another long
vacation in Kenya for at least a few months yet. So obviously wildlife
photography in Kenya, in the wild was out, but someone very helpfully pointed
me in the direction that I'm about to point you in now. There is more or
less all the wildlife varieties that I could want in Kenya, you just need
to be where the action is.
Its
the thought of capturing on film the big cats like the lions, the cheatah
and the Leopards or maybe the elephants that brings me to Kenya. What about
hippos, or zebras or even rhinos? You could even go for the birds at the
Kakamega Game Reserve Deep in the indegenous rain forest with beautiful
bird species that you could only marvel at.
And if you don't like the
idea of going big, then do you like the idea of going small? Have you thought
about monkeys, squirrels, butterflies and insects? What about the much
maligned rodent varieties? As you can see there are many different types
of wildlife photography in Kenya options available to you and you just
have to reach out and take it.
In the wild, is where you
get all the action, all the heart pounding terror of being in the wild
along with the animals, knowing that you're in their home court and that
your advantage depends entirely on the guide who's leading you around.
This then is what many of the greatest photographers interested in wildlife
photography in Kenya yearn to do and where they end up anyway. Whether
the reality meets their expectation of the dream is another matter entirely.
They're there, in the wild,
with the ability to get up close and personal with their wildlife subjects.
Nothing at all like the zoo back home, but then again what did you expect
right? However, it's also true that wildlife photography in Kenya shots,
are natural, and don't have to be shots of the big game animals. wildlife
photography in Kenya shots can be of anything that is considered wild.
Take the wildebeest crossing the Mara river for instance. I consider the
shots that I took of this phenomenon to be God sent. The sight of the Lions
bouncing and bounding around like nobody's business and defending their
territory with deep menacing growls is a sight to capture when doing wildlife
photography in Kenya. The fact that they wouldn't hurt human beings is
another matter entirely.
So although in-the-wild wildlife
photography in Kenya is great and looks amazing, its not an easy job for
the amateur photographer, at least in the beginning. The Kenya wild is
preferably where you might like to take your wildlife photographs, but
sometimes you just don't have the choice or the ability to do that. In
that case I would recommend that you start your sojourn into wildlife photography
at your local zoo. I am not Kidding! Going to the Masai Mara, Samburu,
or the Tsavo National Parks will offer you the opportunity to catch some
of the fiercest wildlife, in their habitats, then at their best and their
worst. It's a bit like catching a movie star in their baggy sweat pants
with absolutely no makeup on them! It's fascinating and you will absolutely
get the chance for candid shots if you were in their natural habitat.
Lucy Maruhi is a Tour Operator
and has been researching and reporting on Travel, Tour and Vacation for
years. For more information on Wildlife Photography in Kenya, visit her
site at Wildlife
Photography in Kenya
Diamond
Beach Village, Manda Island, East Coast Diamond Beach Village offers
an alternative to the concrete hotel, more of a rustic Robinson Crusoe
experience. We work very closely with the local Swahili people taking into
account their culture and only using local methods and materials to create
a refreshing, eco-friendly, alternative style holiday. We have 6
locally built huts and a tree house for accommodation surrounded by gardens,
hammocks, rock and drift wood art and bird baths. We have a fantastic restaurant
serving traditional cuisine from 8am-9pm. Come and relax, swim, eat,
and be looked after by our friendly staff or go snorkelling, sailing, fishing,
walkng, windsurfing, and see the markets and museums of Lamu town. The
perfect place to chill out after a safari.
Elsa's
Kopje, Lodge, Meru National Park, Mount Kenya The site of George Adamson’s
first camp, Elsa’s Kopje is named after Elsa, the orphaned lioness reared
by George and Joy Adamson and returned to the wild here. Elsa’s Kopje is
a stylish wilderness retreat, offering breathtaking 360º views of
the surrounding plains and wetlands below. Safari Lodge, Day &
Night Drives, Guided Walks, Bird Watching, Guided Tours, Fishing, Bush
Breakfasts & Dinners, Swimming Pool. It consists of eight stone
cottages, each individually designed to incorporate the rocks into an open
plan architecture. Here guests enjoy the Italian influenced cuisine for
which Cheli & Peacock are famous. Our guests virtually have Meru
National Park to themselves....
Kicheche
Mara Camp, 5 hours from Nairobi Kicheche Mara camp is a
classic luxury bush camp. It is hidden in a grove of wild olive trees in
a prolific wildlife area. Kicheche Mara Camp is about five hours drive
from Nairobi (or 1hr flight). Unlimited Game Drives, Guided Walks,
Bird Watching. 11 spacious, fully insect-proof tents. Your ensuite
private bathrooms have a central dressing area and separate compartments
for the shower and toilet. Hot water for showers or washing is available
at any time. There are canvas director's chairs on the veranda and hammocks
slung between nearby trees to relax in. Our Nyati tent with its comfortable
local furnishings and informative collection of reference books is a delightful
place to relax between game drives or other activities.
Mara
Explorer, Tented Camp, Masai Mara National Reserve Mara Explorer is situated
on a broad, thickly forested bend of the Talek River in the middle of the
Masai Mara National Reserve. Mara Explorer is situated on a broad,
thickly forested bend of the Talek River in the middle of the Maasai Mara
National Reserve. Mara Explorer’s own all-weather airstrip means you can
be in the camp less than an hour after leaving the bustle of Nairobi. The
well- maintained road from the capital provides a scenic ride of just under
five hours. Private game drives with experienced personal guides,
Walking safaris in the Mara Conservation Area, Bush Breakfasts and dinners
under the stars, Romantic sundowners in spectacular selected areas, Visits
to Maasai communities supported by the camp, Transfers for early-morning
hot air balloon rides...
Diamond
Beach Village, Manda Island, East Coast Diamond Beach Village offers
an alternative to the concrete hotel, more of a rustic Robinson Crusoe
experience. We work very closely with the local Swahili people taking into
account their culture and only using local methods and materials to create
a refreshing, eco-friendly, alternative style holiday. We have 6
locally built huts and a tree house for accommodation surrounded by gardens,
hammocks, rock and drift wood art and bird baths. We have a fantastic restaurant
serving traditional cuisine from 8am-9pm. Come and relax, swim, eat,
and be looked after by our friendly staff or go snorkelling, sailing, fishing,
walkng, windsurfing, and see the markets and museums of Lamu town. The
perfect place to chill out after a safari.
Kipungani
Explorer, Lodge, Lamu Island, East Coast Perched on the edge of its
own beach, Kipungani Explorer is one of East Africa's most simple but sophisticated
coastal hideaways. Overlooking a deserted 14-kilometre beach on the
southwestern tip of Lamu Island, Kipungani Explorer is a dream destination
for those seeking a true desert island holiday. After a 90-minute flight
from Nairobi, you will be met at Manda Island and transported by boat to
the lodge, which is located two degrees south of the Equator. Snorkelling
and diving on the reefs off Kinyika Rock and Manda Toto (November to March),
Windsurfing in the sheltered Lamu channel, Creek or deep sea game fishing,
Sailing aboard our own Arab dhow, Bird walks in and around the property,
Visits to Lamu's historic mosques, markets and museum, Day trips to the
ancient ruined forts of Manda Island, and Visits to our neighbours in Kipungani
Village.
Lamu-Island
Villa, Self-Catering, Lamu Island, East Coast Located on the shores of
East Africa, in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Kenya, Lamu is a town,
an island, and an archipelago. There, time seems to have stopped somewhere
in the XVIII or XIX century, and life is still much what it used to be
at the time of the Sultanates of Pate and Zanzibar. Alternating enless
beaches and mysterious mangroves, old historical buildings and untouched
nature, fishing trips and BBQ, Lamu can fulfil all holidays dreams. The
house is located between Lamu Town and Shela village, in a 1/4 acre secluded
garden, remote and peaceful, 200 m from the sea. With 200 sq. m., three
bedrooms, two terraces, living room, equipped kitchen and toilet/bathroom,
the house can comfortably sleep six people.
Safari
Beach D.C., Holiday Home, Mombasa The Presidential Style Villa
is located within the Alliance Safari Beach Hotel, situated 45km from the
Moi International Airport, and 5km from Ukunda Airstrip. Alliance Safari
has the understated elegance and ambience of an exotic African Village
and is truly the romantic get away. It is graciously tucked into Diani’s
secluded natural habitat. Here, the crystal Indian Ocean kisses the broad
white sands of the famous 17km Diani Beach – one of the world’s finest.
Double storey Villa, rondavel style with makuti thatching. It comprises
two floor units with identical facilities. Each can accommodate up to 16
people.
Voyager
Beach Resort, Nyali Beach, Mombasa Kenya's most popular and
dynamic beach resort overlooks the sparkling white sands of Nyali Beach.
One of Kenya’s leading destinations, Voyager Beach Resort overlooks the
white sands of Nyali Beach, just 7km north of Mombasa. The resort’s
convenient location gives Voyager guests easy access to a huge variety
of historical, sporting and cultural attractions, including Africa’s largest
crocodile farm and the world-famous Bamburi Nature Trail. Daily entertainment
programme and family shows, Volleyball, pool games and tug-of-war competitions,
Scuba diving with the renowned Buccaneer Diving School, Big game fishing
on our state-of-the-art fishing boat, Windsurfing, sailing and snorkelling
at our large watersports centre...
Its
the thought of capturing on film the big cats like the lions, the cheatah
and the Leopards or maybe the elephants that brings me to Kenya. What about
hippos, or zebras or even rhinos? You could even go for the birds at the
Kakamega Game Reserve Deep in the indegenous rain forest with beautiful
bird species that you could only marvel at.
