Kenya ... Predators ... Cheetahs .. (Page 2): One of my brothers already volunteered to cut the grass, in return for a first class seat there and back. I gave him your phone number.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

fbeaston wrote:

J-SPEIGHT ... thanks Jack ... appreciate the visit.

angler ... thank you for the comment.

Retired CPO ... thanks Keith ... I hear you on the Eagle ... I split my attention a bit also ... but you covered the Eagle pretty well with your posts. Next time, you'll have to do something about mowing the grass & maybe bringing in some clouds to soften the light.

One of my brothers already volunteered to cut the grass, in return for a first class seat there and back. I gave him your phone number. Hope you don't mind. I've got the clouds, Hakuna Matta.

toxdoc42

fbeaston wrote:

Thanks for sharing your poster. We weren't lucky enough to see leopards ... but we saw Black, Southern & the only 2 remaining Northern White rhinos in the world, along with lions, hippos, cape buffalo by the hundreds, elephants & a host of other critters. Maybe leopards next time.

were you able to see any of the migration? that was the most amazing sight of my life. Did you get to explore Nairobi at all? What a busy city. The travel section of today's NY Times has a page about Nairobi. They were preparing for some big event there. I wonder if they had it considering the covid19. Also, their "favela" was very disturbing to see.

The pair of black rhinos we saw were in a game preserve in Livingstone, they say there are abut 18 there. Our guide said that our leopard sighting was very unusual, seeing a pair together is apparently very rare. Our cheetah sightings were interesting. On one occasion a male cheetah explored a safari vehicle near us, actually climbed onto the vehicle and sat looking at the people in it. They were terrified. Our guide said that he would never have allowed that to happen, that the guide should be reprimanded. But, for us to watch them was exciting.

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

Retired CPO wrote:

One of my brothers already volunteered to cut the grass, in return for a first class seat there and back. I gave him your phone number. Hope you don't mind. I've got the clouds, Hakuna Matta.

Sounds to me like the apple didn't fall far from the tree ... however, I'd mow the grass for a 1st class ticket!!!! I remember vividly what they charged for a business class upgrade ... figured it was better to buy a new camera body than spend that money!!!!! But thank your brother for me ... & tell your brother to watch Hakuna Matta ... we'll go look at lions ourselves!!!!! ;)

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

fbeaston wrote:

Sounds to me like the apple didn't fall far from the tree ... however, I'd mow the grass for a 1st class ticket!!!! I remember vividly what they charged for a business class upgrade ... figured it was better to buy a new camera body than spend that money!!!!! But thank your brother for me ... & tell your brother to watch Hakuna Matta ... we'll go look at lions ourselves!!!!! ;)

Be careful what you say! Nobody said anything about an armed guard for the grass mower. I'm thinking a better way would be to lasso a couple rhinos and drag them over there behind the landcruiser.
ps no animals were hurt or annoyed in the process of writing this clever repart'e.

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

toxdoc42 wrote:

were you able to see any of the migration? that w... (show quote)

We were quite lucky in terms of Rhinos ... we had several sightings of Black Rhinos ... Southern White Rhinos ... & of course, Ol Pejeta was where they have the 2 remaining Northern White Rhinos in the world. So Rhinos were a plenty. In fact, we actually got to touch a blind Black Rhino. We saw loads of elephants ... giraffes ... we even sat in the middle of a herd of Cape Buffalo that stretched to our right as far as the eye could see ... they were walking near both sides & in front of the Landcruiser & the herd stretched out as far as the eye could see to our left. I don't know how many there were, but hundreds for sure. We also had several occasions to shoot lions (see Keith's posts) & my last 2 posts are going to focus on lions. But sadly, we did not get to see a Leopard & the Cheetahs were quite a distance away. So yes, you were lucky to get close up shots of the Cheetahs & Leopards. But I have no complaints. I loved that trip & I think both Keith & I would like to go back. As for the guide who stayed while a Cheetah climbed up on a safari vehicle ... I would not have been pleased with that behavior. And I suspect the park wardens would take umbrage to it. As for Kenya ... someone told me they've closed the scheduled safaris & I suspect they're taking the same precautions that every nation now seems to be taking with the COVID 19 pandemic.

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

Retired CPO wrote:

Be careful what you say! Nobody said anything about an armed guard for the grass mower. I'm thinking a better way would be to lasso a couple rhinos and drag them over there behind the landcruiser.
ps no animals were hurt or annoyed in the process of writing this clever repart'e.

You crack me up Keith ... I'll hire a separate Landcruiser (& I get Gilbert) ... to shoot you lassoing rhinos ... I've seen videos of what they can do to a vehicle that annoys them. And while no wildlife would be injured, I'm not so sure we could guarantee that some crazy retired CPO would come out unscathed. ;)

Boomer Jim Loc: Newcastle Okla

Mow the grass on a nature preserve so you can get a better shot? You have got to be kidding.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Boomer Jim wrote:

Mow the grass on a nature preserve so you can get a better shot? You have got to be kidding.

Yes...kidding. And kidding about lassoing rhinos too...good grief.

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

Boomer Jim wrote:

Mow the grass on a nature preserve so you can get a better shot? You have got to be kidding.

Yes ... of course we were kidding ... it was great seeing how well they blended into their surroundings. In fact, while being so far away made shooting them a bit of a challenge, I liked the idea that they paid little heed to us so we were seeing them undisturbed in the wild.

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Excellent series, Frank. I never tire of watching big cats and fortunately I've been able to do that with your photos...greatly appreciate this opportunity!!

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

jederick wrote:

Excellent series, Frank. I never tire of watching big cats and fortunately I've been able to do that with your photos...greatly appreciate this opportunity!!

And I for one, appreciate your comments Jim ... thank you for taking the time.

Boomer Jim Loc: Newcastle Okla

fbeaston wrote:

Yes ... of course we were kidding ... it was great seeing how well they blended into their surroundings. In fact, while being so far away made shooting them a bit of a challenge, I liked the idea that they paid little heed to us so we were seeing them undisturbed in the wild.

I thought so at first. However, some of those posts seemed to be serious.

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

Boomer Jim wrote:

I thought so at first. However, some of those posts seemed to be serious.

Nope ... if the posts came across as serious, then apologies. I think I speak for Keith as well ... we enjoyed this tour because we were seeing these critters as they live every day. Keith is a real naturalist as I also try to be. So no trick shots ... no disturbing the animals. However ... when it comes to teasing one another?!?!?!?! That's a whole different matter. Keith & I are different on a whole bunch of levels ... he was a sailor ... I was a Marine ... he shoots Nikon ... I shoot Canon ... we differ on many levels ... but we both enjoy teasing one another & I thoroughly enjoyed traveling with him. Besides, if you knew his wife ... you'd realize a person would have to be plumb crazy to encourage Keith to get out of the Landcruiser to mow the grass or lasso rhinos ... she'd make me pay a terrible price. No thanks. I like living. ;)

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

These are neat shots. And what an experience.

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

AzPicLady wrote:

These are neat shots. And what an experience.

Thank you ... appreciate the positive feedback as always ... & yes, it was a fantastic trip. Can't wait to go back again & stay longer.