A short visit the Mara

One of C4's clients, Arno Ellmer, recently had a short visit to the Masai Mara. It was just amazing to see what he experienced in just 4 days. Below is is a short description of a few encounters and images.

"On the way to Entim we encountered the female leopard that has the cub(s) at the den. The next morning we came across 3 young male lions on a massive Eland kill. They had already eaten a lot and were quite exhausted and hot , but they would not leave the carcass since 10 hyenas were circling and waiting. It was fascinating to observe the interaction between the two groups for control of the carcass. We left after a while and returned the next morning (the kill was far from Entim). When we arrived, a single hyena was leaving and several Hooded and White-backed vultures were present. However only the head remained!! That night probably 40 or so hyenas would have dispatched the 900kg carcass. Incredible! On my last morning we witnessed a beautiful successful cheetah chase, the victim was a Thompson’s lamb. Then lastly we encountered a beautiful pair of Grey Crowned Cranes."

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Serengeti Trip report - By Albie Venter

After our very eventful predator Safari in the Mara we hopped across the border into Tanzania to go and catch up with the Migration which we met in the Seronera region. It really doesn’t matter how many times one has seen this spectacle it still remains an incredible sight.

After the migration it was across to the shortgrass plains and woodlands of Ndutu where the predators put up a spectacular show for us. From the first evening being kept awake by lions roaring though camp to the last morning following four playfull cheetah cubs the action never stopped. Highlights included a female Cheetah killing a Thompson’s gazelle in full view of everyone with four cubs in tow while for me sighting such as Golden Jackal (regular in the Serengeti) and a remarkably relaxed Striped Hyena mom and cub at a den was real treats.

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Art Wolfe in South Africa

"Art Wolfe’s photographs are a superb evocation of some of the most breathtaking spectacles in the world.” — Sir David Attenborough

For over 30 years, Art Wolfe has photographed on every continent. He has authored over 65 books, each full of outstanding images. He is one of the world's greatest pictorial story tellers, Intermingling artistic and journalistic styles to create his signature images, his photography captivates the viewer. He has transformed his photography into an art form.

Magazines all over the world publish his images and pictorial stories. He is at ease in the world of television production and his acclaimed 13-episode Travels to the Edge is a stunning production. It will remain a significant part of his remarkable legacy of work.

Everyone one viewing Wolfe's evocative images has their mind captured. He stands alone in terms of sustained brilliance in photography. His passion generates its own energy. His teaching is infectious.
People are eager to learn from him and come away absolutely inspired, eager to try his unique approaches and compositional styles in their own photography.

He is a master teacher, an artist and one of the finest photographers alive today. He is coming to speak in South Africa, for the first time. This legendary photographer will be presenting seminars and photo workshops in Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa. It is the first time Art Wolfe will present his work in South Africa.

4 April - Johannesburg Gallagher Estate, 09h00 – 16h00. R1300 per person
6 April – Cape Town, Mutual Park 09h00 – 16h00. R1300 per person
8 – 11 April 2012. Arniston Bay Hotel. R13500pp sharing. All inclusive photo workshop.
11-14 April 2012. Arniston Bay Hotel. R13500pp sharing. All inclusive photo workshop.

Details of the content and the one day seminars and 4 day photo workshops can be seen via these links.

"Art has the broadest range of excellence of any nature photographer I know.” -- Galen Rowell

Join C4 Images and Safaris with Art Wolfe in South Africa for this once in a lifetime opportunity to learn from one of the great masters of photography.

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Serengeti - by C4 client Christine Chong

"Just wanted to says thanks again for a fantastic trip – everything I wanted in a photographic safari, complete with brilliant sightings! The locations were spectacular and the photographers on the trip not only knew how to assist the clients to increase the level of their photography within a very short space of time, they also had vast knowledge of the wildlife and their behaviour which enhanced the photographic opportunities. Many thanks to Albie and Greg! And thanks to Shem and C4 for amazing organisation and a great trip, would highly recommend C4 to anyone wanting to improve their photography!" 

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Masai Mara and Serengeti Client Images

A few images from clients Michael Parker and Andrew Louw from our recent Masai Mara Predators and Serengeti Photo tours.

Andre Louw, Masai Mara

Andrew Louw, Masai Mara

Michael Parker, Masai Mara

Michael Parker, Masai Mara

Michael Parker, Masai Mara

Michael Parker, Masai Mara

Michael Parker, Serengeti

Michael Parker, Serengeti

Michael Parker, Serengeti

Michael Parker, Serengeti

Michael Parker, Serengeti


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Masai Mara Predator Experinece

On our recent Masai Mara predator safari our group was lucky enough to experience a once in a lifetime occurrence. A cheetah jumped onto their vehicle to scan the area for prey while the photographer were inside! 5 Years ago there was a cheetah in the Mara that use to to this regularly, she unfortunately died and occurrences like this have become very rare. It happened very close to the camp we use in the Mara, Entim. This is definitely something everyone will remember for many years to come.

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Masai Mara Predators - By Albie Venter

The nice thing about hosting Photographic safaris is that one gets to experience various regions during different times of the year. Most people flock to the Mara for the dramatic and action packed Migration. This year C4 hosted it predator safaris during February when the Mara put on a totally different face to the more familiar migration season. The first noticeable difference was the sea of tall grass waving from horizon to horizon. What at first seemed to be a photographic challenge turned out to be real blessing as the grass seeds provided superb mood to photograph the predators in.

In short we saw all three big cats as well as Spotted Hyena within the first 24 hours. Other highlights included a reliable leopard den where we managed to photograph the female every morning in superb light. Spotted Hyenas feasting on a hippo carcass which was later taken over by a pride of lions. The latter then provided more excitement as the young lions chased off the decending vultures.

But the highlight of our trip came when a female cheetah decided to use our game drive vehicle as a perch to scan for prey turning every guy in the car into a 16 year old. What an experience having one of Africa’s most charismatic predators sitting a mere arms length (literally) away from us oblivious to the excitement inside. A truly fitting apex to our predator safari. Join C4 in 2013 on our Masai Mara predator Tour.

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Lake Nakuru - By ALbie Venter

Before starting the Mara Predator Safari I met up with an old friend and regular C4 guest Jean Manson for a four day private safari to Lake Nakuru. Seeing we were headed to the predator rich Masai Mara we were more focussed on the birds of Lake Nakuru. Although focussed on the birds we did manage to catch up with three black rhinos, a couple of Lions and a Leopard during our time there. The dry, dusty conditions this time of year created stunningly dramatic moods and the sheer abundance of birds kept the shutters clicking.

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