Predator action - Images by Stephen Cheek

Below are some stunning predator images from regular C4 client, Stephen Cheek. Stephen, a good photographer dedicated to capturing action images, took these on last years Masai Mara exclusive tour and this years Serengeti tour in February. View our 2013 Masai Mara Exclusive tours here and 2014 Serengeti here.
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Mashatu Workshop Trip Report - Mike Dexter

The first post-flood Mashatu Workshop has come to an end. The 5 day period was a resounding success with excellent general game sightings, fantastic birding and some special moments shared with the predators that put this amazing place on the map.

 

From the outset we were all very keen to see and photograph the much spoken about female leopard and her 2 young cubs. We didn’t have long to wait as a few hours into our first evening game drive we came upon them in a narrow gully. One cub was suckling when we arrived, a tender moment that we were privileged to witness, while the other was concealed in a nearby bush feeding on a guinea fowl carcass.

  

The Tuli Block is known as ‘The Land of Giants’ and for good reason. Elephants were plentiful and we had many excellent photographic opportunities in perfect morning and afternoon light. The elephants of Mashatu are particularly relaxed, more so than any I’ve come across elsewhere in Africa. Their easy-going attitude is a photographers dream as we were able to manoeuvre around to get the best possible angles in relatively close proximity to the herds. 

 

The other stars of the show at the moment are 2 lionesses that are raising 9 cubs. Having so many cubs to look after makes hunting difficult as their self-discipline and patience are lacking so they often give away their position at key moments. We witnessed a female eland make a very narrow escape after a cub gave away its mother’s presence.

  

The reserve is still proudly baring the rich greens of the wet season and in certain areas there are reeds tall enough to hide an elephant. All in all this was a very different Mashatu to the one photographed in last year’s workshops and only time will tell what the environment will reveal in the seasons to come.

 

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