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African Safari NewsletterApril 2007 February's safari to Tanzania was another great one!!! It differed from our previous trips because Tanzania was drying out from heavy rains that were the result of el nino weather patterns. In many areas the grass had grown tall, making it difficult to spot the wildlife. With amazing work from our incredible guides we were still able to see thousands of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle in their annual migration. They also found many lions, elephants, cape buffalo, giraffe, cheetah, and even three leopards and rhinos. The bird life on this trip was spectacular and we spotted several species we had not seen previously on safaris.
Upon surviving another night in the Serengeti, this impala must have felt exhilarated. It was in a herd that together ran and jumped, looking happy and just thrilled to be alive! It is a picture I have always wanted to capture so I too, am happy!
Canon 20D, Lens- 100 - 400ISCopyright: Paul Renner 2007This safari and the September 6-24 trip are already sold out! These safaris are incredible!!! Book early!
Photo Safari to Tanzania and Kenya, July 12 - 28,
2007. It is a fabulous time of year as the weather is beautiful and wildlife is abundant. We will visit Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara National Parks in Tanzania. Then we will head up into Kenya to Amboseli at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Lake Nakuru, with the remainder of the trip in the Masai Mara with the migration. There are still spaces available, but get your reservations in soon. Click here for Upcoming Safari Schedule. We found this magnificent lion our first afternoon in Ngorongoro crater. He was with a pride of lions that included two other males and a group of females. One of the females was in heat, but he appeared more interested in getting his beauty sleep.
I am sure you have heard the old adage "If you snooze you lose". Here is proof!!! She went off and found one of the other males and began their mating rituals. They went to a hilltop where they could be alone and started mating. Here, they would stay away from the pride and continue to mate every 15 or 20 minutes for the next three days without even stopping to eat. WOW!!!
Canon 20D, Lens- 100 - 400ISCopyright: Paul Renner 2007Each time they finish copulating, he will bite her on the back of the neck (love bite, I'm sure)and then she will turn around, snarls, and strikes at him with her claws to let him know she is finished. I have seen several male lions with large chunks of flesh missing from their faces because they didn't move away quickly enough. Even though I don't smoke, I think a cigarette afterwards would be much more socially acceptable. Leave it to Mother Nature to keep things exciting!
Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania Canon 20D, Lens- 100 - 400ISCopyright: Paul Renner 2007Announcing New Tanzania Photographic Safari February 15-29, 2008
There are now only eight spaces left. Book Now! I am aware that many of you have been waiting patiently for me to post the prices for the 2008 Tanzania safari. Good news is, we finally have the price. The bad news is the price went up, but more good news, I feel it is still the best Safari in Tanzania and is still less expensive when compared to other reliable safari companies. For pricing and safari details click here. As I mentioned earlier, Tanzania was still drying out from el nino rains. In the crater, we were driving through what appeard to be an innocently looking puddle when the right rear wheel suddenly fell into a deep hole, causing the vehicle frame to rest on edge of the hole. After getting out and looking at the situation our driver, whose real name was "Good Luck", said to me in swahili, "There is no magic this time". I loved his sense of humor.
Land Rover Stuck in a Mud Hole Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania Canon 20D, Lens- 100 - 400ISCopyright: Paul Renner 2007Good Luck asked if we wouldn't mind gathering rocks to fill the hole after he jacked up the vehicle. Rocks were few and far between, but we found some good ones and brought them back to the car. It was at this point we noticed fresh tracks in the road next to the puddle. Yep! You guessed it! Lion tracks. They got our attention! Fortunately, they were just tracks and no lions to be seen in the immediate area. It only took about fifteen minutes for Good Luck to jack up the car and put the rocks under the wheel and we were off in search of more photography subjects. Another exciting day on safari!
Lion Tracks Ngorongoro Crater Canon 20D, Lens- Canon 28-105Copyright: Paul Renner 2006Art Show season is jumping into full swing! For a list of
shows and locations at which I will be showing my photography
click
here. There is nothing better than a great mud bath at the spa!
Cape Buffalo Ngorongoro Crater Canon 20D, Lens- 100 - 400IS Copyright: Paul Renner 2006Announcing New Kenya Photographic Safari ! Kenya Photographic Safari SEPTEMBER 4 - 20, 2008 Details and Prices Coming Soon Important Safari Information:
I will be there to photograph with you and available to answer your
questions.
The western corridor of Serengeti National Park extends west to Lake Victoria. Our guides asked us if we would enjoy a brief excursion to a small fishing village on the edge of the lake. Always being one to glean what I can from new experiences I said, "Sure!". So we were off . It was an hour drive from Kirawira, on a bumpy dirt road. We were getting used to those by now. What we found were friendly natives, beautiful old boats, lots of birds and a quaint little fishing village unspoiled by droves of tourists. It was wonderful!!! It was midday and the light was harsh, so our timing for photography was bad, but it was good to learn about a wonderful picturesque place we will be going back to in February 2008 at the right time of day.
Lake Victoria, Tanzania Canon 20D, Lens- 100 - 400IS Copyright: Paul Renner 2007 Lodges and camps we use on our Safaris
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