Photographic elephant safari - Day 4

I am writing this two days late as I could not fit it in earlier. This was my last day in Amboseli before heading to Nairobi to meet the group from Wild Nature Photo Adventures. From there the plan was to continue to Laikipia to search for 'Giza Mrembo', the black leopard.

Craig the super tusker

The morning felt like a typical one in the life of a wildlife photographer. I planned to leave the park around 11 so that I could reach my hotel in Nairobi by about 4. As on a few other mornings during this trip, Kilimanjaro was completely clear. I wanted that iconic shot of Craig with the mountain behind him. The difference today was that no clouds seemed to be building, so I gave it one last try, hopeful this might finally be the day.

The spotters found him in good time while the light was still soft. He was deep in the bush, so we pushed hard to reach him before the sun grew too strong or the mountain vanished. When we arrived he was in an open area, which was ideal, but he had settled in the only big bush in the middle and was happily chewing on acacia leaves. Typical.

There was nothing to do but wait. Clouds and haze began to build, though the view still looked promising. The light grew harsher and I started to feel frustrated. After about an hour Craig moved to another bush, but just minutes before the mountain disappeared behind a huge cloud. Again, typical.

Still, he stepped into the open and gave us some good opportunities. For about twenty minutes he moved around in clear view. It was amazing, but without the mountain. I captured a few strong shots, but nothing very different from what I already had. Eventually he walked straight into the thicket where he was hard to follow, and by then it was time to leave him in peace.

We stopped for breakfast in the shade of a tree nearby. The guide spread a Masai blanket across the hood of the Land Cruiser and, of course, that was the moment when the sky opened and Kilimanjaro came out in all its glory. Typical again. Frustrating, but part of a wildlife photographer’s life. You learn to accept it, smile, and try again another time.

Back at camp I freshened up, packed my bags, and started the drive to Nairobi. Now it is time to trade elephants for leopards, and hopefully black leopards.

Goodbye Amboseli, hello Laikipia.