So here we are one more year trying to pick the TOP 10 images captured while hosting photographic safaris and workshops. I always say that rounding up this selection is always influenced by the people you share these moments with or how the day built up until the photographic encounter which means sometimes they might not be the best technically speaking but they are special to me and this I think is what counts . . . Hope you enjoy the selection and hope our paths cross on the other side of 2019 . . . HAPPY 2020 !!

PIERCING EYES

A portrait of a Caracal also known in South Africa as a Rooikat ( red cat ). I have been shooting wildlife since the film days with this cat being high on my list ever since but never got an opportunity with one. Seen them several times but that is about it. Last November I finally “ticked” this amazing feline off my list and it had to be in Etosha National Park in Namibia. We bumped into two individuals and were fortunate to spend a few minutes with them as they curiously looked at as before they disappeared as the elusive cats they are known to be.

THE EAGLE & THE TWO CROWS

This was captured in February during a Wild Poland Photo Tour. We were here mainly for the White-Tailed Eagles in the snow but unfortunately the snow was missing so had to get creative with other opportunities like this one. As the sun rises to the right of the hides where over 10 hours were spent the whole forest turns into gold which made for a perfect silhouette of this eagle gliding.

LION IN A TREE

It is becoming more and more common to see lions up in trees. They do do it mainly to get away of the annoying flies in the grass below . . . In this image a Lioness looks at the camera from a sausage tree in the Seronera area of the famous Serengeti National Park.

RAINFOREST MEETS OCEAN

An image captured with a drone in the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica. You can clearly see how the rainforest creeps all the way to the Pacific Coast and seen from above is truly amazing.

LECHWES IN GOLD

Early morning as the sun came out with a herd of Red Lechwes in the right spot gave us this incredible opportunity in the Okavango Delta in Botswana.

THE YELLOW VIPER

This Eyelash Viper was the focus of a "macro" session with long lenses during this years Wild Colors of Costa Rica Photographic Expedition. A fantastic subject to photograph from a safe distance which is why we use telephoto lenses . . . This was captured in the Osa Peninsula ver close to Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica.

THE LAND OF THE EAGLE

The light was perfect, the perch was perfect, the eagle was ok with our presence and the company on the photographic boat was perfect which means we had all the ingredients for a perfect image . . . Captured in Chobe National Park in Botswana.

SERENGETI SUNSET

This was probably the best leopard sighting of the year. This female leopard had a cub and chose the perfect kopjies in the Seronera area in Serengeti National Park to keep the little one safe. We were able to enjoy them during three consecutive days and this image is just one of many.

THE HUMMINGBIRD

Trying to get a decent image of these incredible birds without staging in any way or form is extremely challenging. I spent over and hour focused on the same flower waiting for a bird to show up . . . they were all over the place but just took their time to come to the flower I had picked for my shot. Captured inn the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica.

GOLDEN HOUR IN THE DELTA

An Elephant in golden early morning light in a perfect setting in the Okavango Delta in Botswana.

THE FACTS

Participants : 2 ( Private Safari )

Duration : 7 Days

Areas Covered : Mara North Conservancy & Masai Mara National Reserve

Lions : 40+

Leopards : 0

Cheetahs : 12

Guide : Francis Koome

Mara North Conservancy is well known for Big Cats . . . Why ? you might ask. An important reason that helps is the fact that the Maasai cattle grazing is permitted. Cattle keep the grass short compared to the National Reserve which attracts herbivores that prefer this shorter grass. Needless to say that if herbivores move North to the conservancy all the predators are going to follow. In fact there is a large number of permanent plains game in Mara North including a considerable amount of wildebeest that do not follow the migration. As far as Big Cats goes we have been successful with Lions despite the fact that there has been a lot of chaos over the past year with the resident Cheli Pride splitting and males from the Angama Pride and Marsh Pride taking over the divided prides killing cubs and even previous dominant males. It has been hard but after the last week I can say that things have settled with plenty of newborn cubs around which is a good sign.

Elephant Pepper Camp was our base for this safari and in fact has been for the past 7 years. During this time I can say that Leopards have been spotted every single time . . . Unfortunately there is always a first and this was it . . . NO Leopards ! Francis, my usual guide, put in a huge effort to find one of these elusive cats but after day 3 it was made clear to us that this was not going to be an easy task. Not seeing the spotted cats was not going affect this safari at all. 12 different Cheetahs with repeated sightings definitely made up for the lack of Leopards. Maasai Mara once again has produced amazing photographic opportunities.

On Day 1 the highlights were without a doubt our first encounter with Amani and her 3 grown cubs. A huge Elephant bull was a great sighting too.

Day 1 - Two of Amani's cubs

Day 1 - An Elephant Bull walking straight us

Day 2 started off with a really nice sunrise. This was our first full day and did not disappoint . . . Amani and her 3 cubs again, a fantastic photo opportunity with a pair of Saddle-Billed Storks, a juvenile Short-Tailed Eagle with a warthog's leg stolen from a kill and to end the day members of the Off-Beat pride. I would say it was one GREAT day !

Day 2 - A magical sunrise on the plains of Mara North

Day 2 - Juvenile Short-Tailed Eagle feeding o a warthog leg

Day 2 - Two cubs from the Off-Beat Pride

Day 3 turned out to be the slowest day in terms of highly rated sightings. When this happens is when you start looking at opportunities in the common species like a troop of Baboons we bumped into in a nice setting and with excellent light. Plenty of general game like Buffalo, Giraffe, Thomson's Gazelles, Zebras, Topis and an impressive number of Hyenas for which Mara North is known for. The pace picked up during the afternoon drive when we encountered 4 siblings of the Cheli Pride. 2 males and 2 females. We stayed with them until sunset and as the sun disappeared behind the escarpment one of the not so experienced males attempted a hunt on passing zebras which got away easy thanks to poor strategy displayed by these cats.

Day 3 - A perfect pose of a Baboon

Day 3 - A Lioness yawns before starting her afternoon activity

Our 4th day was a full one at the Masai Mara National Reserve during which we got to see the famous 5 Musketeers as the coalition of 5 male Cheetahs are known in the area and capable of bringing down adult wildebeest which in normal circumstances is out of reach for an adult Cheetah. The downside to this sighting is that we found them in terrible harsh light so the resulting images are not that great. The day started off with a great landscape session in Leopard Gorge. Down at the Reserve we had a great photo opportunity with a mating couple from the Double Crossing pride. Also got to see the first thousands of Wildebeest that had already made it over into Masai Mara from Norther Serengeti . . . To finish the day yet another dramatic sunset.

Day 4 - Landscape session in Leopard Gorge

Day 4 - Silhouette of a Baboon in Leopard Gorge

Day 4 - A male Lion from the Double Crossing pride in the National Reserve

Day 4 - Unforgettable sunset moment in Mara North

Day 5 was definitely Big Cat day with a wonderful sighting of the Off-Beat pride that had killed a buffalo. We spent the better part of our morning drive with this pride since they were giving us numerous opportunities to capture real keepers . . . Also had nice moment with 2 male Cheetahs and later in the day we found 2 lionesses with cubs. It was nice to see the the Mara North prides are doing good. The day ended with one more epic sunset using one of the man made shelters that the rangers use during the day. Hopefully it will be taken down soon . . .

Day 5 - A male Lion at a kill

Day 5 - A Lion on the lookout

Day 5 - One of 2 brothers found in Mara North

Day 5 - The Ranger's Shelter . . . Sunset landscape session

Day 6 was our last full day in Mara North and another great day with Lions and Cheetahs. Lenkumbe, a male lion from the Agama Pride has taken over part of the Cheli Pride. Also had a great sighting in good light of Kisaru, a female Cheetah that is visibly pregnant . . . These cats are doing great at the moment in Mara North.

Day 6 - Banded Mongoose on a dead tree

Day 6 - A male Lion named Lenkumbe

Day 6 - Kisaru

On our final game drive on Day 7 we could not be treated to a better wildlife moment . . . Gorgeous Lion cubs posing for the cameras. The morning however started with an unusual sunrise opportunity shooting with a telephoto lens over the Pui Pui woodlands.

Day 7 - Pui Pui Sunrise

Day 7 - A pair of cute Lion cubs

Day 7 - The mother of the 2 cubs

It has been a great 7 days in what I consider one of the most productive areas photographically speaking in the Mara region.

All Images by Mario Moreno

I have decided to pay tribute to those persons I consider to be the most important on a photographic safari . . . I'm referring to the guides I work with in each African destination. Without them we would be lost in the bush and most of all we would most likely miss out on the best opportunities, photographic ones that is. When you have a limited amount of time and a vehicle full of excited photographers optimising our time when searching for the perfect moment is key.

This first post will be about Godwin, known among locals as Ngushway but in reality he is the Eagle of The Serengeti disguised as a human. I am NOT joking, his eyes can see far far and beyond and can easily spot a Lilac Breasted Roller perched on tree stump 2 miles away . . . remarkable is the word that comes to mind.

The man that is easy to get a smile from . . .

So lets get a little more intimate with this human being. I wanted to know more about the man so I asked him about his favourite things, his goals, his dreams and more. Here is what came out of our talks when there was nothing our guests could shoot at.

Date of Birth - 30th of August 1977

Place of Birth - Arusha

Marital Status - Happily married

Children - Just 4 . . . 2 boys and 2 girls

Years Guiding - 13 years at Maasai wanderings makes him the most experienced

Current Job - Passionate guide at Maasai Wanderings

Previous Jobs - 9 Treks to Mount Kilimanjaro between 2002 and 2003

Godwin with his Toyota feeling at home on the open plains of The Serengeti

Allow me to say one thing about Godwin . . . maybe two. He is truly and I mean truly passionate about what he does and this passion results in the most amazing experience when in the bush with him for the first time. Finding a guide in Africa that knows most if not all the latin names of the species we encounter is difficult to say the least. His knowledge of the Serengeti is astounding and safari after safari he never fails to impress me with something he says, knows or talks about.

Lets continue with some facts that will help us discover more about Godwin. His initial training took place in Mount Meru. After starting his career as a guide he continued to attend training courses in Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara National Park. I asked him about his favourite location . . . I knew that Ndutu was the answer. Ndutu is located in southern section of the Serengeti ecosystem. Despite appearing to be part of the Serengeti it is in fact part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Godwin knows this place like the back of his hand. The open plains that head to Southern Serengeti are endless and it gets to a point where you see nothing around you for miles. I have seen many guides get lost here . . . Not Godwin.

Never gets lost but does get stuck occasionally

Which are his favourite species and why ? He did not hesitate to say Elephants are his favourite mammal because of their incredible intelligence. They never cease to teach you Godwin says. I then asked about his favourite bird and the Southern Ground Hornbill came out on top. Why ? A fascinating way of building nests, caring for their chicks and behaviour in general. So after clarifying favourite species I had to know what his best ever sighting had been so far . . . 3 Cheetah siblings killed a fully grown Wildebeest in Ndutu after 9 long hours following the cats. Next up was a leopard that had killed a baby wildebeest, carried it up a tree and started feeding from the nozzle which is extremely rare as they usually start from behind. I am happy to say that I was with Godwin on this sighting.

The Leopard sighting That Godwin's has pointed out as one of his favourites

Godwin will always find time to help my guests with sightings

Godwin will always find time to share the enthusiasm of my guests

So, after knowing about his favourite African creatures and favourite sightings I had to know about the most intense moment ever experienced in the bush. It was at night after work when he decided to call his wife. Since the network coverage is not great he went to a spot he knew he could call from . . . To his surprise he found himself talking to his wife in the exact spot where a Lioness decided to spend the night with her cubs. Fortunately Godwin was able to hang up and leave unharmed.

Group shot before saying goodbye

Very special connection between these two . . .

Making sure the Perfect Moments are captured.

Where would Godwin like to guide if it wasn't in the Serengeti ? Kituvo National Park is his choice. It's an island in the Western side of Tanzania and in his opinion the best for birds and flora. Two things by the way he knows plenty of.

And what would be a country he would like to visit and has not yet ? South Africa was his choice because he would like to compare it with Tanzania after all the amazing things he has heard about the southernmost country of the African continent.

Now, moving into more casual things like food, hobbies, music and movies . . . Well, farming is his hobby when he is back home between safaris. He likes to grow corn, beans and sunflowers. Godwin's preferred food is Nyama Choma ( of course ) and Ndizi. Ndizi is the Swahili word for plantains and Nyama Choma are the Swahili words for roasted meat. When it comes to music R&B is what rocks his world with R. Kelly being his favourite. His movie is Rambo. I hope he is referring to the first one because the sequels . . .

So this is the man I have as my trustworthy guide and friend when in Tanzania. I hope you all have the opportunity to meet him one day. It will be unforgettable.

Godwin posing nicely next to the guy that just wrote this post.

We have come to that time of the year when you look back at the previous 12 months of capturing moments to decide which ones are worthy of making the cut. What makes these 10 moments special ? Is it the technical quality or is it about the moment and who was there with you to be a part of it ? . . . I like to say that it is a mix of both. Yes, getting the perfect shot is great but the moment you experience with likeminded humans is just as special if not more.

All the images included in this post were all captured while hosting a photographic safari and having done 8 tours this year means there is a lot of RAW imagery to go through making it so much harder to pick.

Enjoy . . .

#10 - Spotted Symmetry Ndutu, Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Two Cheetah cubs engage in playtime under light rain while their mother watches from a close distance. Due to the weather conditions and low light the ISO was pushed in order to achieve the correct shutter speed that would freeze the moment. What I really like about this image is the symmetrical position of the two cats while playing .

#9 - Crossing The Mara Northern Serengeti, Serengeti National Park

This is one of those images that has more of an emotional connection than a technical achievement. This was part of a 2 hour crossing that seemed endless from where we were standing. These amazing animals just kept pouring into the river with my group and myself in total AWE. The 3 hour wait until they crossed was well worth the wait.

#8 - Klipspringers on a Kopje Northern Serengeti, Serengeti National Park

Sometimes the "less" important species make for the best photo opportunities. Two Klipspringers keep an eye on the vehicles that were trying to get a good angle on the Leopard and 2 cubs nearby.

#7 - Leopard on A Rock Northern Serengeti, Serengeti National Park

A female Leopard posing beautifully for us in nice light. This image is composed of 5 exposures to achieve the dynamic range that otherwise would have been impossible. The challenge was to get the 5 frames while the cat was motionless.

#6 - Sunset Drama in The Mara Mara North Conservancy, Kenya

Probably the most dramatic sunset I have ever witnessed in Africa. It was a 360 degrees sunset that changed colour every few seconds going from orange to red to blue to pink to . . . you name it ! Truly epic but for me the cherry on top are the 2 ostriches on the left in the far distance. At this size it is hard to see but in full size image it gives you true sense of space.

#5 - Okavango Lions Okavango Delta, Botswana

As these lions came out onto the airstrip the last rays bathed them in golden light that just made for a great moment. We had spent all afternoon with them without getting anything interesting . . . 3 minutes of magic light changed everything. Those that were with me that evening know exactly what I'm talking about.

#4 - Blue Hour Crossing Ndutu, Ngorongoro Conservation Area

This image was captured in February in Ndutu. It was the end of the day and we were on our way back to camp when we bumped into the 2 dominant males of the Ndutu Pride crossing a flooded area after heavy rains. This is pure Blue Hour Magic !

#3 - Art of a leopard Okavango Delta, Botswana

This very relaxed Leopard cub climbed up a dead tree and gave us this pose. In my eyes it had to be a High Key monochrome image that would result in this timeless "Fine Art" composition

#2 - Amboseli Sunset Amboseli National Park, Kenya

October in Amboseli can be very dry which is why I chose this time of year . . . I wanted golden sunsets and dust. I got lucky with this one. The herd was walking south and all of a sudden they turned West and walked into the sun . . . I was loving it !

#1 - Kopje Lookout Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

This is the image that makes it to the top . . . a 5 exposure composition of a Cheetah looking out from a kopje in Serengeti National Park. The monochrome processing adds drama and gives it a timeless feel.

THE FACTS

Participants : 4

Duration : 9 Days

Areas Covered : Gomoti Plains and the Khwai Concession

Lions : 20

Leopards : 5

Wild Dogs : 38

Guides : Elliot in Gomoti and Shaun in Machaba

Exploring the Okavango Delta in August usually means high levels of water. During our stay the levels were good but perhaps a little lower due to a mild earthquake that hit the area a couple of months ago and most likely caused the tectonic plates to move which has resulted in the waters beginning to recede earlier than usual. In any case the Delta has experienced some really heavy rains earlier in the year which has helped maintain a good amount of water so water photographic sessions and over the bonnet water crossings were part of our daily routine . . . A true OKAVANGO experience.

This safari started at Gomoti Plains, a wonderful area dotted with palm trees, criss crossed by water channels and teeming with wildlife. I have never seen such a large concentration of giraffes. As we got off the plane and started our drive to camp we were greeted by a pride of lions that had took down a fully grown giraffe . . . the airstrip was still in sight. And once again expectations were set very high which meant that Elliot our guide and I were going to have to work hard to keep the momentum. Some of the highlights were the Wild Cat, Wild Dogs, Leopards, low level photography from a motorized boat on the channels around camp and specially seeing elephants shake down palm trees to get all the nuts.

On Day 1 the highlights were the lion kill by the airstrip and plenty of giraffe everywhere topped of by a perfect sunset just before calling it a day.

Day 1 - A colorful sunset in Gomoti Plains

Day 2 started of really good with a fantastic sighting of a female Leopard and her two 7 months old cubs. The cubs were really relaxed around us which indicates that we will be seeing a lot more of these two spotted beauties. We also had a great photo opportunity with a hyena drinking on one of the pans before returning to camp for lunch. The real highlight of the day for me was a sighting of a Wild Cat in golden evening light that allowed us to capture some great shots. These cats are very elusive and hard to spot. Elephants, Baboons, Kudu and a variety of birds were also spotted and photographed today . . . . An AMAZING first full day !!

Day 2 - Leopard Cub in a tree looking into the camera

Day 2 - Hyena drinking at a pan

Day 2 - A Wild Cat posing in fabulous golden light

On Day 3 I decided to break the day into two different photographic activities. In the morning we went on game cruise to explore the water channels for low angle opportunities with birds, hippos, crocodiles and elephants. The evening would be a normal game drive. On our way to the channel we came across 3 Lionesses that we followed for a while until they settled and allowed for some camera action. Once on the channels we encountered Elephants, Red Lechwe and a very cooperative Pied Kingfisher. The highlight of the evening session was definitely a photographic sundowner by a lagoon filled with hippos, water birds and amazing golden light. After a day like this we were ready for gourmet dinner at Gomoti Plains Camp.

Day 3 - A lioness in warm morning light on a mound

Day 3 - A Red Lechwe on the flooded plains

Day 3 - A pied kingfisher taking off

Day 3 - Hippo sunset in a lagoon close to Gomoti Camp

Our fourth and final full day at Gomoti Plains turned out to be a fantastic photographic day even though the morning was a quite one. Photographing a large Elephant Bull on foot was an unforgettable moment for one of my guests and seeing another bull interact with a group of tourists was quite something. The evening was spent cruising up and down the Okavango channels allowing for some great opportunities with Elephants and Red Lechwe. However, the highlight was the night photography session capturing some amazing nightscapes in this amazing environment.

Day 4 - One of our guests in action capturing images on foot

Day 4 - An Elephant But crossing the channel at sunset

Day 4 - A Red Lechwe running over the flooded plains

Day 4 - Night photography in the Okavango Delta

Day 5 was the end of our stay in Gomoti and the start of a new leg of this safari in the Khwai Concession known to be excellent with the Big Cats. But before the next stage Gomoti still had a surprise for us . . . WILD DOGS made their appearance to finish off an amazing 4 nights in Gomoti. A short 25 minute flight took us to the much awaited Khwai Concession, the Big Cats and Shaun Malan who happens to be the best guide we could hope for on a photographic safari. Things were looking good for our 4 guests . . . After landing in Khwai, collecting our bags and meeting Shaun we head to camp before going out for our first photo session in this area. 10 minutes into our drive and there is Matsebe, a female leopard clearly stalking a herd of impalas. Could we have wished for a better start ? No way . . .

Day 5 - A Wild Dog in Gomoti Plains

Day 5 - A Lioness on the lookout

Day 5 - A mating couple at night

Today was Day 6 and our first full day in this part of the delta. Some amazing morning light in a flooded forest with Red Lechwe as the main subject presented my group of photographers with the first real opportunity to capture a special moment. As the morning progressed we bumped into a Kudu flying over one of the many channels and an impressive Elephant sighting . . . We calculated that there were over 200 giants by the Khwai River. They came and went and it went on for over an hour. Today's highlight was without any doubt finding Matsebe up in a tree at sunset. The challenge for Shaun and I was to decide where to position the vehicle in anticipation of what this old lady would do. The call was made and images were captured. What a fabulous ending to our sixth day in the Okavango Delta. Things were really happening . . .

Day 6 - Red Lechwe at sunrise

Day 6 - A male Kudu jumps over a small channel

Day 6 - Elephants on the move

Day 6 - Matsebe at sunset

Day 7 turned out to be Wild Dog and lion day. Wild Dogs were found at their den returning from a hunt. 12 members plus 12 pups all excited about the return of the pack was amazing to see but extremely difficult to photograph as their was so much going on and the light at this point was too harsh. Imagine black pups running around in the worst light possible . . . Very Challenging ! But we still managed to get a few keepers. With Lions we had all sorts of possibilities, in wonderful evening light and at night using a spotlight. It was a great day once again and must point out how hard Shaun works to get us to the sightings and position the vehicle in the best spot for the best shots.

Day 7 - A very cute Wild Dog

Day 7 - A pair of Lions at sunset

Day 7 - Lions at night

We are on our 8th and final full day and turns out it's going to be another day with Lions and Wild Dogs. We spent all morning looking for leopard tracks but ended up following 3 Lionesses for a good 2.5 hours. They stalked, they crossed the river and posed nicely for us so cameras were capturing images all morning. The evening on the other hand went slow until just before sunset we found the the pack of Wild Dogs on the move with 6 of the pups. Half the pack went on to take the pups back to the den while the other half stayed behind. Little did we know that out of the blue a steenbok would unfortunately cloth paths with the pack. I was total mayhem for a couple of minutes which is as long as it took this pack of 6 dogs to make the antelope disappear. It was raw and brutal but incredible to witness.

Day 8 - A Lioness crossing a channel

Day 8 - Two Lionesses on the lookout

Day 8 - Two Wild Dogs discussing ownership

Day 9 would be our last opportunity to find the elusive Leopard one more time before ending this photographic expedition. We went out with one goal . . . to pick up leopard tracks around camp where we are sure one of the leopards had spent the night. For over an hour we drove all the possible tracks without success. While doing so we came across a very relaxed Bateleur Eagle and as we were capturing images of this raptor from all possible angles the radio went off alerting us of a Leopard sighting close by. The eagle was immediately forgotten and rushed to the location where the cat had been spotted. To our surprise it was Matsebe's 2 year old son that had just killed a fully grown Kudu . . . Impressive to say the least. What a way to end this 9 day safari.

Day 9 - Portrait of a Bateleur Eagle

Day 9 - At a Leopard kill

All Images by Mario Moreno

THE FACTS

Participants : 6

Duration : 8 Days

Areas Covered : Serengeti National Park - Northern Section

Lions : 46

Cheetahs : 3

Leopards : 3

Mara River Crossings : 6

One of the main goals of the Serengeti Photographic Safari is to witness and capture the Mara River crossings and this we did . . . After landing in Kogatende airstrip located in the most northern part of the Serengeti National Park, right by the famous Mara River, we headed straight to one of the main crossing areas hoping for some river action. As we got to Crossing Point nr. 4 a huge herd of wildebeest jumped into the crocodile infested waters of the Mara. The biggest spectacle that nature has to offer was on . . . Godwin ( my reliable guide ) placed our 2 vehicles in the middle of the action so our photographic opportunities were really really good. Believe it or not , 1 hour and 30 minutes later we were still looking in awe at this amazing natural event. Once again, having a first game drive of this magnitude sets everyone's expectations really high for the rest of the trip. Would Godwin and I be able to deliver the goods ?? Continue reading to see what the mythical Serengeti had prepared for us . . .

Day 1 - The Great Migration is on

Day 1 - Large herd of White Bearded Wildebeest crossing the Mara River

The usual 05:30 wake up call was the sign for the start of Day 2. After a quick coffee we were off and since the sunrise seemed like it could present a good opportunity we headed to an area close to camp dotted with iconic acacia trees. The highlights of the day were going to be a pride of Lions in good morning light and a Leopard with 2 young cubs. Today we did not pursue any river crossing and preferred to stay on the open plains near our camp. Other general game encountered were Topis, Gazelles, giraffes and and interesting variety of birds.

Day 2 - An iconic Serengeti sunrise

Day 2 - A Lioness in fantastic early morning light

Day 2 - The " Catch of The Day " Two gorgeous Leopard cubs posing beautifully for the cameras

Day 3 was another full day for our group. The goal was to get some more river crossings in the bag. As we drove towards the Mara River , still in early morning light, a good looking Serval Cat was spotted which allowed for some good photography even though it was constantly on the move. This would be one of the highlights of the day. As far as crossings go we decided to try our luck on the opposite side of the river to try and get a crossing coming at us as this would definitely help capture better images. Said and done . . . we heard on the radio that a big herd was moving close to the river banks at crossing point nr. 3 so we raced as if there was no tomorrow to try and get there on time. Luck was on our side so we did not have to wait too long for the action to begin. It was unbelievable to see these animals pouring down into the river. On our way back to camp we ran into a breeding herd of Elephants. They were in great light so some really nice images were captured.

Day 3 - A Serval Cat in hunting mode

Day 3 - A huge herd of Wildebeest crossing the Mara River

Day 3 - An Elephant and it's calf in fabulous evening light

On our 4th Day we again decided to stay on the plains and explore the kopjes hoping to see some cats on them. Early in the morning just after sunrise we had a fantastic moment with one of the dominant male Lions of the resident pride. The day was going slow and besides the lion sighting and some opportunities with birds nothing was happening . . . UNTIL . . . we got to the kopjes and found the Leopard again. The cubs were nowhere to be seen but she put on a real show for our group while moving from one rock to another. Stayed until late and got a breathtaking sunset opportunity with her. After this we were ready for drinks by the fire at the camp. It's never over until the fat lady sings they say . . .

Day 4 - A great looking male Lion looks at the camera

Day 4 - A Hammerkop takes off as we get close

Day 4 - An epic moment with a Leopard on the Kopjes at sunset

We are on our 5th Day and most of the animals on my guests wishlist have been concurred. Lions, Leopards, Crossings, Elephants, Rosie Longclaw, Painted Snipe and Black Rhino among others have been spotted and photographed. Cheetahs however have not made an appearance yet so today we will be looking for them. One was spotted a mile away which does not really count so we keep searching. In the process we find a pride of lions on a mound and our good old Leopardess up in a tree which we have been able to find almost every day which is quite special. Today would not be the day for the sought after Cheetah.

Day 5 - A pride of Lions on a Mound

Day 5 - A Leopard resting on a tree

Day 5 - An Agama Lizard basking on a rock

Day 6 would be C Day. After a nice sighting of lions in early morning light we finally spotted 2 cheetahs near the kopjes. They seemed really nervous in the presence of our vehicle so they took off immediately. This was going to be the start of a treacherous pursuit through very rough terrain trying to keep up with these two spotted cats. Finally . . . they climbed on a large rock to scan the area. This would be one of the few opportunities we got with them as they were moving constantly trying to get away from us. The day ended with an amazing sunset session before heading back to camp for a well deserved gourmet dinner.

Day 6 - A Lioness in early morning light

Day 6 - A Cheetah scans the plains from atop a large boulder

Day 6 - Sunset on the Serengeti plains

Today is Day nr. 7. Today would be another full day and our target were the river crossings which unfortunately did not happen for us even though we waited at 2 of the main crossing pints for over 4 hours. The resident Lion pride on the other hand was always around in the early hours which gave us endless opportunities. This time we got some nice headshots of one of the males. The highlight was definitely our extremely cooperative Leopard posing beautifully on a rock. What did help to spot her almost every day was the fact that she had 2 young cubs and that she would not move too far from where we first found her. Still . . . we must consider ourselves very lucky to have seen her and photographed her so many times.

Day 7 - A portrait of a male Lion

Day 7 - Great Leopard pose on the Serengeti kopjes

Day 7 - Elephant and her calf close to the Mara River.

Our final day was a short one as we only had time for a morning session. We had been trying to get a glimpse of two 2 week old Lion cubs that were near our camp and finally today, as if they had to say goodbye, they showed themselves. Nothing beats seeing these tiny felines.

Day 8 - Two lion cubs posing for the cameras

Day 8 - A Lion cub looking at his mother.

All Images by Mario Moreno

THE FACTS

Participants : 3

Duration : 7 days

Areas covered : Mara North Conservancy and Masai Mara National Reserve

Lions : 39

Cheetahs : 8

Wild Dogs : 2

Leopards : 1

Mara River Crossings : 5

Really Epic Sunset : 1

The Maasai Mara Photographic Safari is known for great cat sightings but when your airstrip transfer that is supposed to take 25 minutes goes on for over 2 hours you are either stuck, suffered a breakdown or . . . bumped into two male lions with the airplane still in sight and 10 minutes later you are pointing your camera to a good looking male leopard relaxing up in a tree. Should I say more ? The bar was set extremely high for the remaining 12 game drives and the pressure was on Francis our guide and me. Little did we know what was in store for my extremely lucky guests.

Day 1 - The iconic pose in a tree in Maasai Mara of a male Leopard spotted on the airstrip transfer

Day 1 - A baby Elephant giving my guests moments of real ellie cuteness.

On Day 2 we are off to an early start . . . Wake up call at 05:30, a quick coffee at around 06:00 and off we go in search of a subject to place in front of what is promising to be a fantastic sunrise. After some early morning landscape photography we head down to the Njiamingi area to look for the Cheli lion pride that apparently has a mating couple among them. We did find them but not before running into the same male Leopard again. It seems we might beat day 1. Other Mara creatures we spotted and photographed were Hyenas, Buffalos, Topis and to end the day another session with the Cheli pride in great evening light. What a day !

Day 2 - A memorable sunrise with an unmistakable acacia tree as the main subject on the plains of the Mara North Conservancy

Day 2 - A great pose by a very cooperative Leopard

Day 2 - Mating Lions from the resident Cheli pride

Today we decided to explore the famous Leopard Gorge before heading on to the Masai Mara National Reserve for a full day . . . As we get there we spot a Lioness stalking a small herd of wildebeest. She was on the opposite of the gorge in perfect light and in a perfect pose. This lioness was from the Marsh Pride and was accompanied by three other females and cubs. We are into Day 3 and Mara North is producing amazing opportunities. Later this morning we found a Cheetah and her 2 subadult cubs. It was nice to see that they are still hanging in this area. One amazing sighting was thanks to a Lilac Breasted Roller swallowing a whole snake. Really impressive to see . . . On our way to the Mara River we heard that the Wildebeest are making their way across to the Mara from the Serengeti. It’s early June and this should not be happening. As we get to the Lookout Point a reasonable size herd of wildebeest start crossing. We thought the bar had been set high but with the “5 Crossings” we witnessed it had been raised to a complete new height. On our way back we were lucky to get some great moments with the recently formed coalition of 5 Cheetahs right after killing a fully grown wildebeest.

Day 3 - Lioness in perfect light stalking wildebeest on the other side of Leopard Gorge

Day 3 - A Lilac Breasted Roller swallowing a whole snake

Day 3 - Wildebeest Mara Crossing in early June !

Day 3 - Cheetahs of Mara

Day 4 was a bit slower than the previous three days but nevertheless we had a good Cheetah encounter under the rain, Elephants and an epic sunset after the showers ceased. These are the kind of weather conditions we usually have in June . . . dramatic skies making perfect backdrops.

Day 4 - Elephant silhouetted against a dramatic sky

Day 4 - Epic sunset on the Mara North plains

We are on our fifth day and so far we have had opportunities with almost every possible East African creature. We decided to go for the Marsh Pride with the cubs in Leopard Gorge again but they had moved and it took us quite a while to find them again. Francis, as usual, spotted them 200 miles away . . . How on earth does he do it ? We had our chances with the cubs and even got one of the females drinking which was really nice. As we were finishing breakfast we heard extremely exciting rumours . . . WILD DOGS !! the rumours turned out to be true and our very reliable Francis found them. This was the icing on the cake. I have been hosting photographic safaris in Mara North since 2011 and have never ever seen them so this was very special.

Day 5 - A Lioness drinking in a stream near Leopard Gorge

Day 5 - Wild Dogs in Mara North

Today was our last full day in the Mara North Conservancy. The sunrise was beautiful and was captured on camera. We had a good sighting of the Cheli Pride, an amazing bush breakfast on the banks of the Nara River, some good opportunities with giraffes and THE MOST SPECTACULAR sunset I have seen in years . . . As good as the image below may seem it does not make justice to what we witnessed. Sometimes the camera just can’t capture it all.

Day 6 - Giraffes on the plains

Day 6 - THE SUNSET

This Maasai Mara photographic safari is sadly coming to an end. Today we found another lioness with 2 cubs and followed the 3 Cheetahs in full on hunting mode before returning to camp for our last breakfast on this photo adventure.

Day 7 - Cheetah and 2 cubs in the background planning an approach to a nearby herd of Impala

The Camp used on the Maasai Mara Photographic Safari is Elephant Pepper Camp. It is strategically situated in the center of the Mara North Conservancy making it the best for quick access to the main areas of this conservancy

All images by Mario Moreno Photography

We have just ended the first of two Botswana Explorer photographic safaris that are taking place this year. This photo tour is a 10 day trip that takes you to the very best that Botswana has to offer from a wildlife photography point of view and this adventure has been filled with opportunities that our guests have enjoyed and captured with heir cameras.

To be more specific . . . we have covered the best sections of the Khwai Private Concession, Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe National Park. Our base in the delta was Sable Alley Camp and in Chobe we chose the Chobe Princess.

As far as photography goes we had amazing opportunities with Wild Dogs, Lions, Red Lechwe, Elephants and Fish Eagles to point out a few and all this despite the fact that the recent unusual rains have filled up waterholes causing game to be slightly disperse which always complicates finding animals as water was available and did not force them to the usual water sources used during this time of the year in the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park. I will be featuring the photographic highlights of each day which does not been mean it was all we saw . . .

All images by Mario Moreno Photography

Day 1 - To spend some time with these amazing creatures is truly humbling. It would not be the only time we bumped into them.

Day 2 - The afternoon session presented some fantastic low level photography from a boat. The resident hippos were quite cooperative.

Day 3 - Three Dagga Boys in the morning drive. They were curious to see what we were about. The mopani trees in this area gave us a nice colorful background.

Day 3 - A pack of 14 dogs returning home after a successful afternoon hunt. This was special to witness . . .

Day 4 - On our photographic safaris we pay a lot of attention to the smaller and more common species. In this case a Lilac Breasted Roller catching a frog. Today was a full day out to explore the Moremi Game Reserve.

Day 4 - The Red Lechwe is a semi aquatic antelope only found in this African region. It was great to see them relaxed and in their natural habitat.

Day 4 - You cannot let an opportunity like this pass. A Baboon in fabulous light really "relaxed" and posing for the camera.

Day 5 - The icing on the cake was to find the 3 resident male lions on the last game drive in Khwai. We had seem them the previous day at a dead elephant carcass but the photo opportunities did not present themselves as well as they did this morning.

Day 5 - Our afternoon game cruise on the specialized photographic boat was off to a good start . . . lots of elephants and birds but this full frame shot of a Pied Kingfisher with a 300mm focal length tells how close you can get tp these feathered creatures.

Day 6 - Today was definitely "Elephant Day" as you would expect in Chobe. This guy was having the time of his life while enjoying his mud bath.

Day 6 - Chobe in the golden hour is unique and in this frame I captured amazing silhouettes as we positioned the boat to shoot into the light.

Day 7 - This is the one sighting you would not expect when on the boat in Chobe National Park as they do not often come down to the river. This was A M A Z I N G . . . Three male Lions patrolling the river and roaring as loud as they possibly could. what a moment !

Day 8 - This image was captured standing up on the front of the boat using a 16-35mm f2.8L . . . Do we get close to elephants or what ?? Chobe always produces stunning hard to beat elephant photography.

Day 8 - Seeing an African Fish Eagle in action blows your mind. Captured from the specialized photographic boat.

Day 9 - Capturing birds in flight is easy in Chobe as there are hundreds of opportunities

The luxury tent we used during our time in the Okavango Delta.

Our recent February 2017 Great Migration photographic safari has been fantastic in terms of photo opportunities but after the excitement of the amazing trip settled and began to review the 1000's of images captured I realised that we did not go one single day without spending some time with a Cheetah and her two cubs. We did come across others but these in particular were very special.

We saw them playing, stalking, resting, hunting, in good light, under the rain and in bad light so the overwhelming number of photographs captured truly deserves a small tribute to this family of spotted felines.

DAY 1 - Although these cubs are close to being adults they still had a lot of play in them. Here is the mother observing the two young ones having fun. This was our very first sighting that could not get much better. Well it did . . .

DAY 1 - I love shooting in the rain and I always encourage my guests to do so because some very interesting results can be achieved.

DAY 2 - Cheetahs are excellent hunters with incredible eyesight and they are the only cats that only hunt during the day. This was a lucky sighting as it often happens with wildlife. They were lying down very relaxed when suddenly the mother spotted potential prey and went for it right away and it all happened a few meters from our vehicle.

As the fastest land animal in the world, the cheetah is a marvel of evolution. Their slender, long-legged body is built for speed. They are tan in color with black spots all over their bodies and can easily be distinguished from other big cats by their smaller size, spotted coats, small heads, ears and distinctive "tear stripes" that stretch from the corner of the eye to the side of the nose.

The two cubs fight for what is left . . .

DAY 3 - The adult Cheetah climbs on a dead tree and poses beautifully in wonderful morning light.

Historically cheetahs were found throughout Africa and Asia. All the way from South Africa to India. Now, they are sadly confined to parts of eastern, central and southwestern Africa and a small portion of Iran with numbers having decreased dramatically. In 1900, there were over 100,000 cheetahs across their historic range. Today, an estimated 9,000 to 12,000 cheetahs remain in the wild in Africa. In Iran, there are around 200 cheetahs living in small isolated populations.

DAY 4 - Scanning the open plains in Ndutu for a possible opportunity. Here one of the cubs looks back to check that the others are following.

DAY 5 - A Thompson's Gazelle has been spotted by the cheetahs. Unfortunately for the cats, the gazelle has also spotted the threat.

Found mostly in open to partially open savannah, cheetahs rely on tall grasses for camouflage when hunting. They are diurnal and active in the day. Cheetahs hunt mostly during the late morning or early evening and only 50% of the chases, which last from 20 - 60 seconds, are successful.

DAY 5 - And the chase is on !! This is an incredible experience to witness and if you manage to capture the action . . . well . . . even better.

Cheetahs knock their prey to the ground and kill with a suffocating bite to the neck. They must eat very quickly before they lose the kills to other bigger or more aggressive carnivores like hyenas or lions.

DAY 6 - Seeing a Cheetah at full speed is just mind blowing. Their top speed is around 113 km/h or 70 mph

The February Great Migration Photographic Safari has sadly come to an end but not without those treasured images in the bag. The opportunities have been endless with plenty of predator action that my guests and I have tried to capture.

For the last leg of this photographic journey we based our mobile tented camp in the famous area of Ndutu which is in fact inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. To those less familiar with this area it is located in the southern section of the Serengeti ecosystem. Between January and March the Great Wildebeest Migration takes over the area for the calving season when thousands of wildebeest are born so needless to say that all predators take serious advantage of this event.

Due to the rains being late in the Ndutu area the herds were broken into several groups. We found herds about 40 km south of Ndutu and 30 km north of Ndutu in the Gol Kopjes area of the Serengeti National Park where I took this image . . . A newly born following her mother with it's umbilical cord clearly visible in this frame.

The day before ending this safari we found some herds moving towards the Ndutu area following the rains that turned everything green in just a matter of 48 hours.

A dramatic sky at sunset in the Big Marsh area in Ndutu. The sun managed to peak through the stormy sky and gave us this incredible scene. Not far from here were the two dominant male Lions of the Ndutu Pride . . .

Incredible moment when we bumped into this good looking male lion during the blue hour on our way back to camp. Light conditions were low so ISO had to be pushed to get the shot.

We have been extremely fortunate with cheetah sightings on this trip. This female and her two cubs were seen and photographed every day. In this image she is posing beautifully atop a dead tree in early morning light. Later during the day we were lucky enough to see her in action . . .

To witness a Cheetah stalking and chasing a Thompson's Gazelle has to be among the most exciting sightings ever. We have all seen this kind of action on documentaries before but seeing it live is simply mind-blowing. Godwin, our guide positioned our vehicle in the right spot so we were able to see and capture all the action.

During one of our full day sessions we set off in search of the Wildebeest herds that were south of Ndutu. On our way there a pack of Wild Dogs was spotted by my very reliable guide. Seeing these endangered creatures in Ndutu is a real privilege so it was definitely one of the highlights of this safari.

Amazing scenery in the Gol Kopjes area and definitely one of my favorite locations in the Serengeti National Park.

A great opportunity at sunrise with a pride of lions. Shooting into the light will often result in very pleasing images.

An amazing sighting of a Serval Cat in a fantastic setting in the Big Marsh area of Ndutu.

When ever there is an opportunity I will go for silhouette images. In this case I cooled down the temperature of my white balance and under exposed to achieve this result. By doing so I turned what otherwise would have been a flat image in a completely overcast day into something a bit more interesting.

Sightings of Lions occurred ever single day.

My guests in action. We did have a few overcast days which in my opinion are perfect for all day shooting as the clouds diffuse the harsh light and eliminate those unwanted shadows.

We did not get many sunrise or sunset opportunities except for this one that turned out to be great.

As usual Ndutu has not disappointed once again. In fact it has been incredible . . . Six days packed with action and countless photo opportunities that have produced some fine images for my very happy guests.

We will be back in February 2018

As our third day of this Photographic Safari has come to a close after 2 incredible photo sessions in Ngorongoro Crater. Despite the tourist crowds at some sightings and the fact that you must leave the crater floor by 06:00pm, I still believe that this natural wonder is an obligated stop on any Northern Tanzania photographic safari . . . The scenery is breathtaking, the wildlife is plentiful and the photo opportunities are endless.

This second leg of the trip began in Arusha. After a hearty breakfast at the Rivertrees Country Inn we made our way towards Ngorongoro Crater. The route took us to Mtowambo, passed Lake Manyara, up the Rift Valley Escarpment, through Karatu and straight to Lodware Gate. Our base for our 2 days here would be Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge.

On our way to the crater we made a cultural stop at one of the traditional Masai Bomas. My guests learnt about the ways of life of the Maasai people and captured some interesting images.

One of the Natural Wonders of our planet that truly deserves the title. This is the breathtaking view from the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge.

The Elephants in Ngorongoro always present fantastic opportunities with the crater walls as a perfect backdrop.

17 different Lions have been spotted . These two males were encountered under the rain near the Munge River.

Nice sighting of a huge Buffalo herd on the open plains in the Crater.

This Black Rhino has to be the highlight. Being this close to one of the most critically endangered species is truly special. We spent over an hour with this boy and captured hundreds of images.

After a fantastic day of wildlife photography coming to this incredible view from the comfort of your room at the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge is an unforgettable moment.

Tomorrow we head to Ndutu where we will spend the next 6 nights. The Wildebeest Calving season should be in full swing and predator action will be phenomenal so hoping to capture some amazing imagery.

The February 2017 "Great Migration Safari" has just begun. After a smooth arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport our guide transferred our group to the Rivertrees Country Inn Lodge in Arusha for our overnight stay after a very long trip for all our guests.

Check-in was swift and efficient as usual and we were all accompanied to our rooms to freshen up and rest before lunch. On this occasion and since we have a full day in Arusha before heading out to Ngorongoro Crater and Ndutu I decided to try our luck with the often overlooked but stunning Arusha National Park that happens to be just a short 10 minute drive from our lodge. I thought it would be a great idea to do a warm up photo session and attempt to capture a few images of the beautiful Colobus Monkeys and all the general game that inhabits this park.

Short after entering the park we encountered a group of Colobus Monkeys. They were jumping from tree to tree and presented some fantastic opportunities despite the rainy weather we had today.

Even the elusive Serval cat was spotted on the open areas near the lakes. Always great to see one of these amazing spotted creatures.

A female Waterbuck and her calf posed nicely for us.

An interesting moment with a group of young male giraffes interacting and putting on a show.

At around 06:00pm we started making our way back to the lodge for a well deserved shower followed by dinner al-fresco. All in all this short visit to Arusha National Park was a success and I surely will be proposing this day trip to future guests.

Stay tuned for upcoming reports . . .

A photographic safari for many of our guests is a trip of a lifetime that could have been on their bucket list for a very long time. Embarking on photographically guided safari is not only about taking you to the right place at the right time . . . It is also supposed to help you improve your wildlife photography skills in the field and your processing technique to take back a selection of fantastic images.

At South Cape Images we love to maximize our time out in the bush chasing photo opportunities but always keeping in mind that and the end of the day it is also about improving our clients technique in terms of managing their workflow and processing. This is why I always suggest using the relaxed hours of the day to review a selection of images from the best moments of the day to discuss them and work on them thoroughly to add that special touch that will turn them into visual treasures.

See below a perfect example of a random image captured on safari before and after it has been worked on in the digital darkroom.

Image Techs : 300mm - 1/800sec @ f4.0 - ISO 800

RAW file : No Processing

JPEG file : Processed using a combination of Lightroom and Photoshop

A huge improvement was achieved in just a few basic and simple steps that only required 15 minutes. White balance was adjusted to add overall warmth and selective tonal and exposure adjustments applied to the main subject that unfortunately was in the shaded area and was not getting direct sunlight.

During the photo sessions in the field we offer guidance by pointing out opportunities, assisting with the best composition and suggesting camera settings ( aperture, shutter speed, focus point and ISO ). It is very important to get these concepts right in order to have a good RAW file to work on later in process.

At the start of every year I always look back at the previous one and try to pick my Top 10 . . . sightings, memories, images . . . or a mix of all three because that is what it really is. It's not just about how good the image is but m ore about the excitement of the moment, the guests I shared it with and the sighting itself. This selection is about that and in no particular order. Hope you like them

THE PERFECT STORM - Everything came together in this very dramatic sunset in Mara North. The sun battled to get through a heavy rain storm on the plains and gave us this amazing opportunity.

MUSIARA ELEPHANTS - A breeding herd of Elephants grazing in the Musiara Marsh in the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya in fabulous golden light. I really liked the composition available here with the 2 elephants in the distance giving depth of field and helping to tell the story.

MASEK BROTHERS - Five Lion cubs gather on a tree for a family portrait. These cubs are part of the Masek Pride that controls the Masek Lake area in Ndutu. This was one of those unforgettable moments . . . We spent over 3 hours with this pride and captured hundreds of images. This is the one that made it for me as all five cubs made eye contact making this a special portrait.

EYES OF A KING - Nothing beats the intense look of a male lion with his eyes focused on your camera at close range. This is a full frame image captured with a 300mm lens. It was taken in Kruger National Park.

GIANT SERENITY - A female Elephant approaches a stream in the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Several images were taken and blended in photoshop to get the dynamic range visible in this frame. This is definitely one of those "Perfect Moments"

AFRICAN DREAM - Does it get more iconic than this ? I don't think so . . . This is what happens when you set up for the perfect silhouette of an iconic acacia tree and a giraffe photo bombs the moment.

MAIN CROSSING POINT - This is the main crossing point in Maasai Mara. To witness this natural spectacle is always on the top of anyones list.

LAND OF THE LARK - These are the images you get when paying attention to the smaller things on the plains of the Mara North Conservancy. This was captured on a morning session that was entirely dedicated to birds in the great company of an authentic bird lover.

SPOTS IN A TREE - It might seem like "just a leopard up in a tree" but when this is spotted within the first 30 minutes of the first game drive of a 7 day safari it becomes something very special.

SPOTTED CUTENESS - This has to be included for cuteness overload and because we saw them almost every day, drove with them, watched them feed and even saw her mother kill a gazelle . . . Memorable !