Life of Predators
“Africa is mystic; it is wild; it is a sweltering inferno; it is a photographer’s paradise… an escapist’s Utopia.”
~ Beryl Markham
Many first-time travellers to the African continent visit the famed Masai Mara National Reserve, targeting the months of July to November. During these months, Africa’s greatest natural spectacle occurs and it is a sight that truly needs to be seen, and even then, it is hard to believe.
What many travel agents and Kenya tour operators may not tell you is that the Masai Mara is not seasonal, and that it has so much more to offer you experientially and photographically, all without the great vehicle and tourist density that you will experience during the Great Migration season!
Welcome to February in the Masai Mara; the season of predators.
A true photographer’s haven, you will wish to spend weeks here instead of a couple of days! Teaming with some of Africa’s most sought-after and quintessential wildlife and landscapes, the Masai Mara has an exceptional population of lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyena’s and other powerful and stealthy predators.
Not only are the populations of these powerful beasts exceptional, the sightings that this magical place produces are inspiring. One of the last few remaining true wildlife destinations – think free-roaming wildlife and no fence lines around the Reserve’s “border” – being on the Mara’s plains or traversing through its winding forests transports you to a different world where raw and wild beauty is still able to be experienced.
It is a true African photo safari experience if there ever was.
The scenery is just spectacular as it bursts bright with the lush colour green. This bountiful nutrition heralds the Masai Mara calving season where antelope, wildebeest and zebra give birth. With so much young and easy prey around, it is a perfect time for predators to give birth and raise their own cubs and pups.
This season has also been dubbed Big Cat season due to the many predator and prey interactions. All this combined makes for fantastic photographic opportunities and why ORYX has crafted its newest Kenya photo safari dedicated to these magnificent creatures!
Life of Predators takes you to the Masai Mara for 6-days of photographic and experiential bliss where we turn our camera lenses to the big players of the Mara and their day-to-day lives.
“Dedicated to You” is ORYX’s ethos and one we take very seriously. Our photo safari knocks the ball out of the park with its incredible price with the single supplement fee eliminated! If you are a solo traveller, or even participating with a group but would prefer to have your own accommodation, you are able without having to pay an additional fee!
“Photographing wildlife is exhilarating, to say the least. To be able to encourage people to feel the emotions you do for the subject in your frame, just by looking at your image, is a testament to the power of a photograph and the ability of the photographer to build that connection with the viewer to the subject.”
– Penny Robartes
Penny Robartes is a Photo Tour Leader and professional wildlife photographer leading scheduled and private photo safaris exclusively for ORYX. If you would like to join Penny Robartes on safari, send us an email to [email protected]
For more information on our Life of Predators Photo Safari’s in 2019, please click on the links below:
Life of Predators
Guest feedback on Penny
“Penny did everything possible to make this trip the absolute best it could be. She was so attentive – to both shooting and post-production, that I know my photography skills took a big jump forward. I have been on many photo expeditions over the last 6 or 7 years and Penny’s instruction and attention were well beyond what I have experienced previously.” – Lorne Martin, Canada
“Penny was an absolute super star. [She] was patient, really easy to get along with supportive and taught us so much. Having Penny with us the whole time opened my eyes to a different way of seeing things. She has an incredible creative eye, and the way we looked at animal behaviour, and thought about the context that surrounded [the destination], moved my photography beyond basic documentary to something that had more purpose. Instead of solely trying to capture beautiful images we were trying to tell stories in a place where there are so many important stories to tell. This has not only made my photography better and more interesting (I hope!) but it also given it more meaning. And having more meaning for me has given me a whole new excitement and sense of purpose for my photography in general.” – Simon Belsham, United Kingdom
More guest feedback on Penny Robartes.
