Leopards rain in the Mara

8th March 2010

A spectacular photographic safari in the Mara brought huge dividends to those prepared to travel there during what is 'supposedly' off season. The abundant rains have replenished the grasslands, the birds have returned in huge numbers and the wildlife, especially leopards were astonishing. It would be impossible to point a finger or highlight the best moment, indeed the views from the group members were almost all different, but, to quote Daniel, Kicheche head guide 'you have used all the year's luck on leopards this week.' The best photographs of the week were definitely taken by the group.

On a cold March morning these images may make you choke as leopards raise the pulse like no other animal. Whether it was a female making mincemeat of a young dik-dik or the fabled Zawadi descending a fig tree, they will hopefully make people think twice about only travelling during the drier months of the year and during migration. Leopards were the major players but everything from eland to impala and elephants to monkeys were in abundance as well as rain, dazzling light, a giraffe birth and oh yes a twister. I might also add that this was a superb group, revelling in the early starts. Enjoy two dozen from the trip.

Paul Goldstein


Sunrise - rain means spectacular skies early and late.	Early AM day two - backlit female, four year old we worked out, daughter of Zawadi born 2006	Be very afraid, three Marsh Pride cubs keep a low profile


Zawadi, meaning 'the Gift' - for she truly is. This is her Maasai name not a ridiculous dumbed down BBC one (Shadow ..... as if). I have followed her since 1999 - she is now 14, old for a wild leopard but she has a young cub, which we did not see (you can't have everything) and she put on two marvellous matinees for us.	Astonishing - giraffe birth. This calf was only fifteen minutes old, an incredible hour was spent with the two.	Rain means long grass and weavers nesting, taken during a lavish bush breakfast.


Prequel to hunting	The white storks have transformed the oat grass plains into a Hitchcockesque scene	See number 1 - end of an incredible day - wish you were there, thought so.


Big weather, big game, big skies.	Birds and the bees and the butterflies. Rain and sun, strong seductresses for all of Noah's Mara lot.	Two of the big three brothers against an inky impending storm - we really got drilled that afternoon


See what I mean	It also brings out the frogs, much to this Malachite's delight	Here Zawadi scent marks, obligingly backlit.


A creature I had not seen before!	Perfect leopard, perfect light, perfect tree - Zawadi gives us an arboreal orgy.	A pregnant cheetah in the reserve (promising for next season), behaving like a leopard after being harassed by a hyena.


Fully alert now	Nice Mohican, the young Marsh pride males brave the downpour.	Last morning - the Mara ALWAYS delivers.


So beautiful, I had to take it twice	A leopard, Zawadi again, behaving like a leopard.	Many gigabytes later

Just a week, outside of migration. Seven leopard sightings, fifteen delirious photographers, incredible skies, sumptuous views, four of the best guides in Africa and no other vehicles. this one may be hard to top, but we'll keep trying.