As soon as local travel opened up, a team of four accomplished Kenyan photographers and filmmakers flew to Angama Mara to capture the drama of the Great Migration in near total solitude. This is their account of how they spent their days from sun up to sun down.
As photographers and filmmakers, it’s our dream to be immersed in the ideal conditions to tell our stories. Reflecting on our Africa trip, it seems like everything just came together, from the incredible flight to the warm welcome at Kenya’s Angama Mara, the friendly staff that supported us every day to the wonderful guides who made sure we always seemed to be at just the right place at the exactly right time. For artists, this is what makes the difference between a good image and a great one.
With the ambience set to perfection, each day in paradise began with excitement, full of hope of what the new day may offer. Every morning at 6am we made our descent down the Oloololo Escarpment to make the most of the golden first light of the day in the heart of the action. The Mara Triangle offers a great canvas for artists like us.
In the mornings, the amazing landscapes transform into a dreamy scene when the sun rises and the rays pierce through the mist and trees. We have independently been to the Maasai Mara many times, but this visit was special. As it was the middle of a pandemic there were very few tourists in the Mara. Of course this was a difficult time for many hotels and people working in the tourism industry, but it favored us as photographers who wanted to document uninterrupted nature.
During the full days out on safari – picnics in tow – we were able to witness one of the best migrations any of us has ever experienced without the usual vehicle congestion at the river crossings. Each of us has witnessed how unpleasant our fellow man can be in interrupting animal behavior for their own entertainment and photography, so it was great to experience this change. It was also amazing to be with responsible guides who are completely in love with what they do, and have the utmost respect for wildlife.
As anyone who has been on safari knows, as the sun goes down on the African horizon, you have to have a sundowner or bush dinner. We looked forward to this each evening. It was that time of the day when you could take it all in at the bonfire, exchange stories of the day with other guides and travelers as you sip on a cocktail and watch the sun fade away. It’s the perfect ending to a day.
Now, imagine having that perfect day for a two whole weeks. We would like to thank the Angama management, the staff and the photography studio team for the invaluable support that made our job a dream trip. Keep up the exceptional work of providing an excellent safari destination and most importantly supporting the local community through your various projects. We can’t wait to come back!
