Masai Mara Gallery

The storied Masai Mara in Kenya

Tsessebe and Calf
Tsessebe and Calf
Africa Damaliscus Lunatus Kenya Tsebe Topi calf horned mammal mother mother and child nursing Kenya Masai Mara wild animal animal in the wild travel wildlife nature animals
Lilac Breasted Roller
The Lilac Breasted Roller is almost as common in Kenya as the English Sparrow is in New York. They catch insects on the wind. This little guy just had a dust bath.
Africa Lilac Breasted Roller bird colorful dust bath passerine Masai Mara Kenya bird s in the wild travel wildlife nature animals
Lilac Breasted Roller
Africa Lilac Breasted Roller bird colorful dust bath passerine Masai Mara Kenya bird s in the wild travel wildlife nature animals
Giraffes at Sunrise
Masai Giraffes at Sunrise
Africa Kenya giraffe herd Masai Mara Africa Kenya wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals
Running Giraffe
Looking at all this space it is hard to believe that the animals of the Mara are under pressure. But they are due to human development around the edges of the park, where they used to roam free.
Africa Kenya giraffe herd Masai Mara Africa Kenya wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals
Three Wet Lion Cubs
Soon there were two more wet Cubs, but they proved shy and did not venture far from their hiding place.
Africa Kenya big cats cub lion Masai Mara lion cub wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals big cat feline
Notch Reads the Rules to a Curious Cub
Notch Communicates to his Cub. Notch is a very successful male lion, he was about 18 years old in this picture. The black in his mane suggests his prowess. He was with a large pride of females lead by "Ugly Betty" presumably named that because she had been facially maimed, but she was a very successful mother lioness.
Africa Kenya Masai Mara adult male lion Notch snarl rain wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals big cat feline
Notch in the Rain 2
Notch is a very successful male lion, he is about 18 years old in this picture. At the time I was in the Mara Notch's sons were a "nomad coalition" and were raising cane on the Savannah. Males will kill off cubs to bring females into oestrus so that they can mate and pass on their own genes.
Africa Kenya Masai Mara adult male lion Notch snarl rain wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals big cat feline
Notch in the Rain 3
Notch Yawning. Notch is a very successful male lion, he was about 18 years old in this picture. The black in his mane suggests his prowess. He was with a large pride of females lead by "Ugly Betty" presumably named that because she had been facially maimed, but she was a successful mother lioness.
Africa Kenya Masai Mara adult male lion Notch rain yawn wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals big cat feline
Notch in the Rain 4
Notch in the Rain 4. Notch is a very successful male lion, he was about 18 years old in this picture. The black in his mane suggests his prowess. He was with a large pride of females lead by "Ugly Betty" presumably named that because she had been facially maimed, but she was a successful mother lioness.
Africa Kenya Masai Mara adult male lion Notch rain wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals big cat feline
Notch in the Rain 5
Notch Nose Rub. Notch is a very successful male lion, he was about 18 years old in this picture. The black in his mane suggests his prowess. He was with a large pride of females lead by "Ugly Betty" presumably named that because she had been facially maimed, but she was a successful mother lioness.
Africa Kenya Masai Mara adult male lion Notch rain wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals big cat feline
Notch in the Rain 6
Notch Profile. Notch is a very successful male lion, he was about 18 years old in this picture. The black in his mane suggests his prowess. He was with a large pride of females lead by "Ugly Betty" presumably named that because she had been facially maimed, but she was a successful mother lioness.
Africa Kenya Masai Mara adult male lion Notch rain wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals big cat feline
Cumulus Clouds at Sunset
Africa Kenya Masai Mara clouds cumulus pink sunset travel wildlife nature landscape
Lion Camouflage
Lions blend perfectly with their surroundings, they are the color of the tall grasses and can crouch and become invisible to prey.
Africa Kenya Masai Mara adult male lion Notch rain wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals big cat feline
Lioness and Cub
It is always a thrilling sight to see a wild animal care for and communicate with their young. Animals express feeling and emotion and are sentient. Science is beginning to catch up with what observers have long known.
Africa Kenya Masai Mara lioness lion cub lion cub wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals big cat feline
Notch and Lioness
A little head rubbing and cuddling going on here between Notch, the pride's male and one of the females.
Africa Kenya Notch affection big cats courting lion lioness Masai Mara Africa Kenya wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals big cat feline
Three Lionesses
Everything on the lioness is the same tawny gold as the grass. The late afternoon sun illuminates her eyes.
Masai Mara. Kenya cub grassland lion pride lioness pride Kenya Africa wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals big cat lion feline
Close-up of Lioness
These great cats came right towards us and past us as if we were not there.
Masai Mara.Kenya lioness Africa wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals big cat lion feline
Lioness Close-up 2
Lioness
Masai Mara.Kenya lioness Africa wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals big cat lion feline
Lioness in the Grass
Lioness in the Grass
Masai Mara.Kenya lioness Africa wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals big cat lion feline
Nursing Lion Cubs 2
Nursing Lion Cubs
Africa Masai Mara cub feline lioness mammal mother and child nursing pride Kenya wild animal animal in the wild travel wildlife nature animals big cat lion
Giraffe 7
Giraffe
Africa Kenya Masai Mara Masai giraffe camelopardalis giraffe mammal wild animal animal in the wild travel wildlife nature animals
Masai Giraffe
The Masai Giraffe is the tallest giraffe.
Africa Kenya Masai Mara Masai giraffe camelopardalis giraffe mammal wild animal animal in the wild travel wildlife nature animals
Defassa Waterbuck
This is a large, strong antelope that needs to live near water.
As its name indicates, "the waterbuck inhabits areas that are close to water in savanna grasslands, gallery forests, and riverine woodlands south of the Sahara. Such habitats not only provide sustenance, but long grasses and watery places in which to hide from predators."
Defassa Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus Masai Mara. Kenya antelope mammal Africa Kenya wild animal animal in the wild travel wildlife nature animals
Waterbuck
Only the males have these long, graceful ringed horns that can grow to 40 inches. The waterbuck is not a very social animal. After the nursing period is over calves wander off, or if female stay with a female group, while males may form an all male group.
Defassa Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus Masai Mara. Kenya antelope mammal Africa Kenya wild animal animal in the wild travel wildlife nature animals
Warthog Eating
Although not the most aesthetically pleasing mammal, warthogs have a an attraction of their own and I find them quite lovable. Here a warthog is eating, he has to get down his "wrists" to reach the ground.
Africa Masai Mara Kenya Warthog eating mammal wild animal animal in the wild travel wildlife nature animals
Thomson's Gazelle
The little "Tommie". Usually they move so fast it is hard to capture a picture of them. He has such beautiful ears, like leaves.
Masai Mara. Kenya Thomson's gazelle antelope mammal Africa Kenya wild animal animal in the wild travel wildlife nature animals
Olive, the Leopard
In the part of the Mara I was visiting this leopard is well known and affectionately called "Olive". She is a mother of young kittens. We witnessed Olive leap into a swollen, rushing stream against the current to reach her brood.
Cat Masai Mara. Kenya Olive feline leopard mammal spotted Africa Kenya wild animal animal in the wild travel wildlife nature animals big cat lion
Leopard 5
This leopard was scanning for movement, she was partially concealed in the foliage.
Cat Masai Mara. Kenya Olive feline leopard mammal spotted Africa Kenya wild animal animal in the wild travel wildlife nature animals big cat lion
Leopard 6
This leopard was scanning for movement, she was partially concealed in the foliage.
Cat Masai Mara. Kenya Olive feline leopard mammal spotted Africa Kenya wild animal animal in the wild travel wildlife nature animals big cat lion
Yawning Leopard
All t he big cats have very impressive dentures!
Cat Masai Mara. Kenya Olive feline leopard mammal spotted Africa Kenya wild animal animal in the wild travel wildlife nature animals big cat lion
Leopard 10
This leopard was scanning for movement, she was partially concealed in the foliage.
Cat Masai Mara. Kenya Olive feline leopard mammal spotted Africa Kenya wild animal animal in the wild travel wildlife nature animals big cat lion
Blonde Nomad Lion
A "blonde" Nomad male in landscape. He is half of a pair of brothers, patrolling the Masai for females. Male lions without a pride are called, nomads and in a pair they are a coalition.
Africa Kenya Masai Mara lion male young nomad wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals big cat feline
Nomad Brother Lions
Nomad male lions, probably brothers. They are looking for a female and a pride. Notch had four sons at this time and they were creating havoc with the prides in their efforts to become the progenitors.
Africa Kenya Masai Mara lion male young nomad wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals big cat feline
Young Nomad Lion
Young, blonde, nomad male. His Mane is not as full as it will be some day, but he is very impressive all the same.
Africa Kenya Masai Mara lion male young nomad wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals big cat feline
Olive Baboon
This Olive baboon sitting at the end of a tree snag looks so much like he is taking a time out for a moment of solitude and meditation.
primate Africa Kenya Masai Mara baboon olive wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals
Cape Buffalo 1
This male Cape Buffalo has caught sight of our lenses. He could charge at the lens or away from it. He is accompanied by the oxpecker bird.
Africa Cape Masai Mara. Kenya African Buffalo Cape Buffalo Kenya wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals
Thomson's Gazelle in Landscape
Thomson's Gazelle in landscape of the Masai Mara.
Thomson's Gazelle gazelle antelope mammal Kenya Masai Mara Africa landscape wild animal animal in the wild travel wildlife nature animals
Black Crowned Heron
Black Crowned NIght Heron surrounded by weaver bird nests.
Africa Black Crowned Night Heron Heron Masai Mara. Kenya bird nests weaver bird nests Kenya animal in the wild travel wildlife nature animals
Savannah Grassland & Sky
Savannah grassland & sky in the Masai Mara.
Africa Kenya. Masai Mara landscape blue clouds grassland sky vista yellow Kenya travel wildlife nature animals
Little Bee-Eater 4
This is a quiet, small and tame little bird, about 6 inches at the top end. Happily there are 60 to 80 million of them in Sub-Saharan Africa. They do eat bees, removing the stinger by hitting them on a rock before ingesting.
Africa Little Bee Eater Masai Mara. Kenya bird colorful Kenya travel wildlife nature animals
Zebra 2
Zebra 2
Africa Equus quagga Kenya Masai Mara zebra wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals
Hippopotamus Pod
Hippos look so sweet and docile, but they are not. They are very dangerous because they have quick tempers. Here they are wallowing in a swollen stream to keep cool and be protected from the hot African sun.
Africa Masai Mara. Kenya hippopotamus pod river wallow Kenya wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals
Thomson's Gazelle 3
Thomson's Gazelle
Africa Masai Mara. Kenya Thomson's gazelle antelope Kenya wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals
Thomson's Gazelle 4
Thomson's Gazelle
Africa Masai Mara. Kenya Thomson's gazelle antelope Kenya wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals
Elephant and Tiny Baby 2
Mother Elephant and Tiny Baby
Africa Kenya Masai Mara calf elephant herd mother wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals
Common Eland Herd and Savannah
The eland is a large spiral horned antelope. They can form herds of up to 500 individuals. When they move as a herd they are accompanied by a clicking sound which some believe is the sound of the two halves of their hooves coming together when raised.
Africa Masai Mara Taurotragus oryx bovine eland grassland herd horn spiral horned Kenya wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals
Young Male Lion 4
Young Male Lion. You can just see the new mane growing on this young lion. He is still part of the pride because he is not fully mature yet.
Africa Kenya. Masai Mara resting feline immature lion male pride young Kenya wild animal animal in the wild mammal travel wildlife nature animals big cat

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Masai Mara Gallery