When I first thought about doing wildlife photography in Kenya I was a bit stuck for inspiration. I was in the middle of the city with no wildlife in sight, unless you counted the people milling all around me, and I wasn’t due up for another long vacation in Kenya for at least a few months yet. So obviously wildlife photography in Kenya, in the wild was out, but someone very helpfully pointed me in the direction that I’m about to point you in now. There is more or less all the wildlife varieties that I could want in Kenya, you just need to be where the action is.
Its the thought of capturing on film the big cats like the lions, the cheatah and the Leopards or maybe the elephants that brings me to Kenya. What about hippos, or zebras or even rhinos? You could even go for the birds at the Kakamega Game Reserve Deep in the indegenous rain forest with beautiful bird species that you could only marvel at.
And if you don’t like the idea of going big, then do you like the idea of going small? Have you thought about monkeys, squirrels, butterflies and insects? What about the much maligned rodent varieties? As you can see there are many different types of wildlife photography in Kenya options available to you and you just have to reach out and take it.
In the wild, is where you get all the action, all the heart pounding terror of being in the wild along with the animals, knowing that you’re in their home court and that your advantage depends entirely on the guide who’s leading you around. This then is what many of the greatest photographers interested in wildlife photography in Kenya yearn to do and where they end up anyway. Whether the reality meets their expectation of the dream is another matter entirely.
They’re there, in the wild, with the ability to get up close and personal with their wildlife subjects. Nothing at all like the zoo back home, but then again what did you expect right? However, it’s also true that wildlife photography in Kenya shots, are natural, and don’t have to be shots of the big game animals. wildlife photography in Kenya shots can be of anything that is considered wild. Take the wildebeest crossing the Mara river for instance. I consider the shots that I took of this phenomenon to be God sent. The sight of the Lions bouncing and bounding around like nobody’s business and defending their territory with deep menacing growls is a sight to capture when doing wildlife photography in Kenya. The fact that they wouldn’t hurt human beings is another matter entirely.
So although in-the-wild wildlife photography in Kenya is great and looks amazing, its not an easy job for the amateur photographer, at least in the beginning. The Kenya wild is preferably where you might like to take your wildlife photographs, but sometimes you just don’t have the choice or the ability to do that. In that case I would recommend that you start your sojourn into wildlife photography at your local zoo. I am not Kidding! Going to the Masai Mara, Samburu, or the Tsavo National Parks will offer you the opportunity to catch some of the fiercest wildlife, in their habitats, then at their best and their worst. It’s a bit like catching a movie star in their baggy sweat pants with absolutely no makeup on them! It’s fascinating and you will absolutely get the chance for candid shots if you were in their natural habitat.
Josephine Muchiri is a Tour Operator and has been researching and reporting on Travel, Tour and Vacation for years. For more information on Wildlife Photography in Kenya, visit her site at Wildlife Photography in Kenya
Tropical Rain Forest in Kenya
Tropical Rain Forest in Kenya
Bird Watching in Kenya takes place in the Kakamega Forest Reserve; a beautiful rain forest with myriad varieties of birds, animals and butterflies, Virtually all of the Rift Valley Lakes, Mount Kenya and its sorrounding, the Lake Victoria Region and the Masai Mara National Reserve to mention but the least.
Kakamega Forest Reserve is home to the almost extinct De Brazza's monkey, the red tailed monkey, black colobus monkey, white colobus monkey, fruit bats and flying squirrels. However the mother of all attractions is the bird watching excursions in the Kakamega Forest Reserve. This reserve boasts to over 330 of bird species and over 400 species of butterflies. A visit to this reserve will sure treat you to a vatriety of plant life, unique due to the fact that Kakamega Forest Reserve is a virgin tropical forest especially in the northern side.
The best times to visit the Kakamega Forest Reserve is in June, July, August through to october. During these times thousands of Migratory birds arrive. The Kakamega Forest Reserve is usually in full bloom at this time and is a magnificiet site to behold. Its during these times also that circumcision, a practice very important to the local community is performed. On sundays you will sure be treated to bull fights and cock fights organised by the local communities of Khaemba and Shinyalu within the Kakamega Forest Reserve.
Walking through the Kakamega Forest Reserve is the best way to appreciate its bio-diversity. I would not encourage you to make four wheel drive travel through the forest since the trails and the paths are not meant for vehicles and you could easily scare away the birds and animals that you intended to see. Its advisable to take a trained guide with you at a small fee. This guides have a lot of invaluable information and details that you could make do with, apart from guiding you through the trails.
Although bird watching is the reason visitors come to Kakamega Forest Reserve, one will well be treated to fantastic nature walks along the Yara river, Lugusida river, Isiukhu river and the Ikuywa river. Its interesting to watch the isukhu falls on the Isiukhu River, to climb to the Buyanga Hill lookout in the Northern side of the forest to watch the sunrise and Lirhanda Hill lookout in the south to watch the sunset. You could also see the Crying Stone situated to the south of Kakamega town, half way on your way to shinyalu.
The Kakamega Forest Reserve is not short of places to eat, sleep and while away your evenings. You could stay at the Udo's Bandas and campsite near the Kenya Wildlife offices overlooking the Isiukhu Falls in Buyangu area, The Forest Rest House and Keep Center at Isicheno and The Sarova isle Resort. Be sure also to check out the Rivendell Gardens and the Rondo Retreat.
Josephine Muchiri is a Tour Operator and has been researching and reporting on Travel, Tour and Vacation for years. For more information on Kakamega Forest Reserve, visit her site at Kakamega Forest Reserve
Honeymooner's Paradise Tented Camp
The Sweetwaters Game Reserve is a one of a kind privately owned 22,000 acre of expansive plains, magnificient views and a wide variety of game. Particularly famous for the chimpanzee sanctuary and is also a breeding area for the black rhino .
From strategic vantage points, one is treated to the serene views of the snow capped peaks of mount Kenya. There are two state of the art lodges in the Sweetwaters Game Reserve; the Sweetwaters Tented Camp and the Ol Pejeta Homestead, both of which treats visitors to the opportunity to watch wildlife through floodlit watering holes and salt licks as they take photographs of the animals in their natural habitat.
Visitors to the Sweetwaters Game Reserve are treated to day and night wildlife drives by customised Toyoya Landcruiser four wheel drive vehicles, bird walks, and camel safaris. If you wish to take a nature walk, an experienced ranger is always available to escort you through the game studded plains. You could also consider enjoying the unique phenomena of orphaned chimpanzees exploring their habitat, climbing trees and interacting with each other along the Ewaso Nyiro River, deep in the forest and savanna grasslands.
The Sweetwaters Game Reserve is sorrounded by other wildlife ranches and parks that are home to elephants, bongo antelopes, fishing pods where you have to pay for the fish you catch in the nearby streams and manmade dams, trekking, horse and camel rides. Most of this ranches are open to the public but the Sweetwaters Game Reserve has a costlier admission tag to it.
Josephine Muchiri is a Tour Operator and has been researching and reporting on Travel, Tour and Vacation for years. For more information on Sweetwaters Game Reserve, visit her site at Sweetwaters Game Reserve
