African Safari Newsletter

April 2008

Tanzania was Amazing!
 

How do I describe a safari where 17 people from England, Hawaii, Montana, and Northern and Southern California joined me in Tanzania for their trip of a lifetime? Seven of them have already said they want to return with me in 2010? It was an incredible trip! Those words just don't capture it all.

We see and experience so much on these trips, that it takes quite some time for me to work through my own emotions and come to grip with being so deeply immersed in all that mother nature spreads out before us. The cycle of life is sometimes sad and often thrilling. Our senses are overwhelmed on a daily basis!

As we flew past the top of Mount Kilimanjaro it was quite evident that glaciers that once covered the top are almost gone. For thousands of years wildlife and people have relied on water from the glaciers and melting snow. In the not so distant future, the loss of snow and ice will result in a serious water shortage impacting the survival of wildlife and people living near the mountain.

Yes, the propeller was turning. I shot this at 1/4000 of a second to try and maintain sharpness of the mountain. When I took the picture, the prop was turning so fast I couldn't see it and forgot it would show up in the photo.

Mount Kilimanjaro
Canon 1D-Mark lll: Canon 17-40mm
Copyright 2008, Paul Renner
 

February and March are great months to experience the migration of thousands of wildebeest and zebra in the southern end of the Serengeti. As we drove through the huge herds of animals we were in awe of their sheer numbers and size of the herds. It is an exciting time of year because tens of thousands of baby wildebeest are born during a three to four week period. So many are born during this time, that even though the predators eat quite a few, most of the babies survive.



Zebra and Wildebeest
Canon 1D-Mark lll: Canon 100-400 IS
Copyright 2008, Paul Renner
 

In the year 2003 I enjoyed watching as three female wildebeest in a herd of about 20, all gave birth at the same time. Within minutes, the babies were standing and in 20 minutes they were each running in circles around their mothers. The calves need to be able to run quickly to avoid being caught by predators.



Mother and Baby Wildebeest
Canon 1D-Mark lll: Canon 100-400 IS
Copyright 2008, Paul Renner
 

One week old wildebeest calf leaping over a ditch



Look Mom! No Feet !!!
Canon 1D-Mark lll: Canon 100-400 IS
Copyright 2008, Paul Renner
 

Kenya 2008

This year parts of Kenya have had their share of problems resulting from the presidential elections. Even during the worst of it there were no reports of violence in any of the parks or with any tourists. Kisumu and Eldoret, in western Kenya, and the slums in Nairobi is where the problems were concentrated. We don't go near those areas on our trips. Travel has been safe in the areas that we visit on our safaris. I liken it to the Los Angeles riots here in California. Was it safe to be in California at that time? Sure it was, you just avoided the problem areas.

Kenya, in September, is the ultimate destination for viewing the migration as it crosses the Mara River. There are spaces still available on both of my upcoming safaris to Kenya this September. The parks will not be crowded because the number of tourists is considerably lower than normal so I am looking forward to even better photographic opportunities. Don't forget that world famous photographer Jim Zuckerman will be my co-leader on the trip starting September 21, 2008. It is a fantastic opportunity because both Jim and I will be photographing along side of you and are happy to share what we know about photography. We had such a great photo safari last year that we are excited about returning together again! Consider joining us.

The lodges and airlines will be giving us their 2009 prices later in May. Rather than estimating our prices high for our trips, we are waiting to give you accurate prices for the safaris as soon as we receive them. Thank you for your patience.

Important Safari Information:


• Prices for our safaris include airfare from LAX -most other companies do not include airfare.
• We have only three passengers per nine passenger safari vehicle. You will enjoy plenty of space for you and your equipment!
• We stay in luxury safari lodges. View lodges
• You do not have to be a photographer but you must enjoy watching the wildlife because that is what we do!
• I will be there to photograph with you and available to answer your questions.
• Parks we visit on our safaris. View parks

I hope you will join me for an African Safari; your adventure of a lifetime!!! For more information, prices and itineraries click here.
 

For information regarding safaris and reservations call
Paul Renner at 949-235-3136
or e-mail at PaulRenner3@cox.net

You may also contact Somak Safaris at 800-757-6625
2700 E Imperial Hwy., Suite N
Brea, CA 92821
Phone: 714-985-3456 - Fax: 714-985-3464
e-mail: info@SomakSafaris.com
www.SomakSafaris.com

CST # 2073854-40

On safari I am happy to share my photographic knowledge with my clients. You do not have to be a photographer to go on the trips, however you should enjoy watching wildlife because that is our main focus.

The animals have become accustomed to seeing tour vehicles. On our safaris we are often able to get quite close to the wildlife without being in danger or endangering them. Notice our Land Rover reflected in the eyes of the lion. This big male was lying at the edge of the road about 5 or 6 feet from the vehicle. He seemed not to mind us at all!



Male African Lion
Canon 1D-Mark lll: Canon 100-400 IS
Copyright 2008, Paul Renner
 

Zebras are very common. I enjoy photographing their patterns, shapes and behavior.

Check out those eyelashes!

Zebra
Canon 1D-Mark lll: Canon 100-400 IS
Copyright 2008, Paul Renner

On our way back from a quaint little fishing village on the shores of Lake Victoria, we spotted this leopard eating a warthog. He had carried the carcass up into a tree next to the road. It was thrilling to experience a leopard at such close range. He was a large, old male and looked as though he had survived some fierce battles.

Leopard and Kill
Canon 1D-Mark lll: Canon 100-400 IS
Copyright 2008, Paul Renner

Lodges and Camps we use on our Safaris

We stay in first class luxury lodges and camps.

For information and photos of the lodges and accommodations click here.

Important Tour Information

Our tours are limited to 18 people, including the leaders. We have only 3 passengers per 9 passenger vehicle giving us plenty of space for our photo equipment. We can photograph through windows on BOTH sides of the vehicle and also from the top, which pops up to create shade so you are protected from the hot, equatorial sun. Compared to other tours, that pack the vans with up to eight people, this is a huge deal!

As we leave the lodges, the vehicles separate and spread out, so we have six guides out looking for wildlife. They each have radios to let each other know what they find. This way no one misses out on seeing the wildlife and with six great guides, you can hardly believe all of the wildlife they find. Our guides are amazing!

What is this Trunk Thing?
Canon 1D-Mark lll: Canon 100-400 IS
Copyright 2008, Paul Renner

In the Serengeti a herd of zebras was drinking water in an almost dry river bed. Every so often the herd would get spooked and come running out of the river. These two were the first out. Eventually, we saw that it was a crocodile scaring them. Fortunately, all of the zebras escaped unharmed.
 

Zebras
Canon 1D-Mark lll: Canon 100-400 IS
Copyright 2008, Paul Renner

As we were returning to the lodge for a late breakfast we happened upon this serval cat out for a morning hunt. Suddenly it spotted it's prey, stopped in it's tracks and focused on something in the grass.
 

Serval Cat Spots It's Prey
Canon 1D-Mark lll: Canon 100-400 IS
Copyright 2008, Paul Renner

The Attack
Canon 1D-Mark lll: Canon 100-400 IS
Copyright 2008, Paul Renner

The Catch
Canon 1D-Mark lll: Canon 100-400 IS
Copyright 2008, Paul Renner

The serval cat caught what it was after, but kept it hidden in the grass while it ate, so we were unable to see what had been caught. Regardless, we were all thrilled to see the hunt! It is quite rare to see serval cats so we considered ourselves extremely lucky.

This old bull didn't seem to mind us watching him. He was eating shrubs and bushes just a few feet from our vehicle. It is amazing how such large animals can be so quiet . All we heard was the sound of plants being pulled out of the ground and eaten.

Wrinkles and Mud
Canon 1D-Mark lll: Canon 100-400 IS
Copyright 2008, Paul Renner

One morning, during our game drive, a mother cheetah and her six cubs found the shade created by one of our vehicles to be quite comfortable. It was a nice break for them from the warm sun on the Serengeti Plains.

Cheetah family resting under one of our vehicles.
Canon 1D-Mark lll: Canon 100-400 IS
Copyright 2008, Paul Renner

Our safaris really are the trip of a lifetime! I can hardly believe how fortunate I was to have been born and grown up in East Africa. Now that I am able to take people with me and share what I know about photography along with my personal experiences of Africa, I am thrilled to have so many clients return and say to me "that was the best trip I have ever been on" or "thank you for the vacation of a lifetime! I want to go again in a year or two!"

Africa is famous for spectacular sunrises and sunsets. Each day our morning game drive begins before sunrise. On our afternoon game drives, we return to the lodge just after sunset. This gives us the best opportunities to photograph this incredible beauty.

Acacia Tree and Vultures
Canon 1D-Mark lll: Canon 100-400 IS
Copyright 2008, Paul Renner

For more information, prices and itineraries click here.

Enjoy each day,

Paul