Trip report from Maasai Mara, Kenya 2014

I use to say «If you can visit foreign continents only one time in your whole life, go to Africa twice!» In February 2014 I was back again, and this was my 13th trip to Africa. As you can understand I am seriously infected by the African wild bush and savannah virus, and it seems to be no cure. But honestly that suits me just fine…

On this trip I was determined on having full focus on the big cats of the highlands; cheetahs, leopards and lions, and my experience is going back more than once to the same area gives me a big advantage when it comes to planning my photography with these magnificant creatures. And we were lucky with all the kitties, especially with the leopards who can be hard to get some times. And the bonus? This time it was stumbling upon a big group of hyaenas by their den – both adults and small ones – while they were playing around and doing their family business in the beautiful light just after sunset.

Thanks a lot to my photo companion and youngest daughter Marte (15) for yet another great Africa trip, and to my good friend Big John for helping us out in Maasai Mara.

Below you will find a selection of edited images. Please click on the images to enlarge and see them in 1400px quality.

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#1 Cheetah on fresh Thomson’s gazelle kill.
Nikon D4, Nikkor 600/4 VR, 1/500 sec at f/5.6. ISO 2000.

#2 Cheetah.
Nikon D4, Nikkor 600/4 VR, 1/400 sec at f/5. ISO 450.

#3 Cheetah in early morning light.
Nikon D4, Nikkor 600/4 VR, 1/1000 sec at f/4. ISO 720.

#4 Cheetah scouting for prey on the Maasai Mara plains.
Nikon D4, Nikkor 600/4 VR, 1/640 sec at f/5.6. ISO 2000.

#5 Mother’s Love.
Nikon D4, Nikkor 600/4 VR, 1/800 sec at f/7.1. ISO 1000.

#6 Cheetah portrait.
Nikon D4, Nikkor 60i0/4 VR, 1/500 sec at f/7.1. ISO 2500.

#7 Hunting cheetah.
Nikon D4, Nikkor 400/2.8 VR + 1.4 converter, 1/4000 sec at f/8. ISO 2000.

#8 Impala at sunrise.
Nikon D4, Nikkor 600/4 VR, 1/1600 sec at f/4.5. ISO 100.

#9 Leopard in evening light.
Nikon D4, Nikkor 600/4 VR, 1/500 sec at f/5. ISO 4500.

#10 Leopard in evening light.
Nikon D4, Nikkor 600/4 VR, 1/500 sec at f/5. ISO 4500.

#11 Leopard in evening light.
Nikon D4, Nikkor 600/4 VR, 1/200 sec at f/4. ISO 4500.

#12 Big male leopard.
Nikon D4, Nikkor 600/4 VR, 1/640 sec at f/5.6. ISO 1100.

#13 Leopard.
Nikon D4, Nikkor 600/4 VR, 1/640 sec at f/4. ISO 900.

#14 Leopard.
Nikon D800E, Nikkor 400/2.8 VR, 1/500 sec at f/5.6. ISO 900.

#15 Leopard.
Nikon D4, Nikkor 600/4 VR, 1/640 sec at f/5.6. ISO 1000.

#16 Leopard.
Nikon D4, Nikkor 600/4 VR, 1/640 sec at f/4. ISO 2200.

#17 Roaring lion at sunrise.
Nikon D4, Nikkor 600/4 VR, 1/400 sec at f/5.6. ISO 180.

#18 Lion cub.
Nikon D800E, Nikkor 600/4 VR, 1/1600 sec at f/6.3. ISO 900.

#19 Impalas.
Nikon D4, Nikkor 600/4 VR, 1/200 sec at f/4. ISO 500.

#20 Hyaena after sunset.
Nikon D4, Nikkor 600/4 VR, 1/250 sec at f/5.6. ISO 5600.

#20 Hyaena and cub after sunset.
Nikon D4, Nikkor 600/4 VR, 1/250 sec at f/5.6. ISO 2500.

#21 Hyaena with suckling cub after sunset.
Nikon D4, Nikkor 600/4 VR, 1/160 sec at f/5.6. ISO 1800.

#22 Topi at sunset.
Nikon D4, Nikkor 600/4 VR, 1/1600 sec at f/5.6. ISO 250.

#23 Topi after sunset.
Nikon D4, Nikkor 600/4 VR, 1/160 sec at f/4. ISO 2000.

#24 Nesting leopard…
Nikon D4, Nikkor 600/4 VR, 1/150 sec at f/5.6. ISO 2000.

#25 Lioness closeup.
Nikon D800E, Nikkor 600/4 VR, 1/320 sec at f/6.3. ISO 250.

#26 Cheetah.
Nikon D4, Nikkor 600/4 VR, 1/800 sec at f/7.1. ISO 1000.

#27 Resting cheetah in the rain.
Nikon D4, Nikkor 600/4 VR, 1/250 sec at f/5. ISO 1000.