Kaye's photos - MalaMala - 15.6.08 to 13.7.08
Jul 20th, 2008, 02:37 AM
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Kaye's photos - MalaMala - 15.6.08 to 13.7.08
Hi
These are some of the photos from my recent trip to MalaMala during June/July 2008.
I would like to say hello to Isabel25 - it was lovely to meet you and your family. Hope you enjoyed Botswana as much as MalaMala.
Would also like to say hello to my vehicle companions for the last 4 nights - Carla and Cindy and her family. Hope I didn't miss too much on the day I left and you all had good trips home. It was a pleasure to share the vehicle with you - you were all wonderful, so thank-you. I really enjoyed my gameviewing with you all.
Now for the photos and I hope it works.
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...localeid=en_US
Kind regards
Kaye
These are some of the photos from my recent trip to MalaMala during June/July 2008.
I would like to say hello to Isabel25 - it was lovely to meet you and your family. Hope you enjoyed Botswana as much as MalaMala.
Would also like to say hello to my vehicle companions for the last 4 nights - Carla and Cindy and her family. Hope I didn't miss too much on the day I left and you all had good trips home. It was a pleasure to share the vehicle with you - you were all wonderful, so thank-you. I really enjoyed my gameviewing with you all.
Now for the photos and I hope it works.
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...localeid=en_US
Kind regards
Kaye
Jul 20th, 2008, 03:11 AM
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Hello Kaye,
Sounds like you saw all the animals you were hoping to see - From your photos, the Rollercoaster male certainly looks in much much better condition than he did during our safari in January. Also, these styx cubs are from other members of the pride? The cubs we saw didn't survive? Some familiar faces from your pics - Ngboswan female etc etc.,
You see Gordon? Hope he is well.
Regards
Hari
Sounds like you saw all the animals you were hoping to see - From your photos, the Rollercoaster male certainly looks in much much better condition than he did during our safari in January. Also, these styx cubs are from other members of the pride? The cubs we saw didn't survive? Some familiar faces from your pics - Ngboswan female etc etc.,
You see Gordon? Hope he is well.
Regards
Hari
Jul 20th, 2008, 04:47 AM
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Hi Hari
I never see everything I want to see, Hari - that is why I need to go back. The Rollercoaster Male looked so much better this time - he really looked very round and healthy anytime I saw him. The old lioness that had the cubs in January I think does have cubs again and yes, she did lose all those cubs sometime soon after we were there. Yes, I did see Gordon and he looked fine - was still down at Rattray's I think.
Kind regards
Kaye
I never see everything I want to see, Hari - that is why I need to go back. The Rollercoaster Male looked so much better this time - he really looked very round and healthy anytime I saw him. The old lioness that had the cubs in January I think does have cubs again and yes, she did lose all those cubs sometime soon after we were there. Yes, I did see Gordon and he looked fine - was still down at Rattray's I think.
Kind regards
Kaye
Jul 20th, 2008, 05:05 AM
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Kaye, great set of photos, my favorites are some of the less common animals, like the honey badger and the civet (I've seen both, but photographed neither). And, I've only seen bushbabies at the small zoo at Mount Kenya Safari Club, never on safari.
Michael
Michael
Jul 20th, 2008, 05:46 AM
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Nice photos Kaye, thanks. The 6 Styx pride cubs, great, didn't know there are 6 !!!! I remember hearing about 2. Those 2 were "lost"? (I confess, I don't keep up with the MM game diary. Just makes me want to go 
). Carla must have been in heaven seeing those tiny cubs!!! She's such a sucker for lion cubs - well, aren't we all 
Thanks again.
regards - tom
). Carla must have been in heaven seeing those tiny cubs!!! She's such a sucker for lion cubs - well, aren't we all Thanks again.regards - tom
Jul 20th, 2008, 06:26 PM
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Hello back to you, Kaye. We so much enjoyed meeting you and sharing game drives. A real treat to have the lion/leopard specialist sitting right beside us! We won't even discuss what you might have missed the day you left. Because we missed it too. We were the 4th vehicle and by the time we could get in the action was over and our time was up since we were leaving that day also. (9 lionesses on a cape buffalo. But we won't discuss it.)
You have some great photos! I know you were there a long time but I'm still amazed at all that you got to see. Great catch of the young leopard jumping in the tree. And all of the cubs. And cheetahs. And all the kills. So many good ones.
You have some great photos! I know you were there a long time but I'm still amazed at all that you got to see. Great catch of the young leopard jumping in the tree. And all of the cubs. And cheetahs. And all the kills. So many good ones.
Jul 20th, 2008, 07:03 PM
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Hi Kaye -- It was so great to meet you at the spectacular, fantastic MalaMala. You are now a legend in our family; my daughter wants me to let you know that if you are ever in need of additional nieces, she's available for the job!
Your photos are spectacular!!!! It's amazing to see the animals and scenes that we experienced in person rendered in your beautiful photographs.
Carla and Cindy -- Sorry we missed you. I think we left MalaMala the day you arrived, but maybe we'll cross paths on a future trip.
I'm still recovering from the flight back, but I'm hoping to put together a trip report shortly. We enjoyed Botswana and Phinda, but by far the highlight of our three weeks in Africa were the five nights we spent at MalaMala. It truly exceeded our expectations in every way.
Your photos are spectacular!!!! It's amazing to see the animals and scenes that we experienced in person rendered in your beautiful photographs.
Carla and Cindy -- Sorry we missed you. I think we left MalaMala the day you arrived, but maybe we'll cross paths on a future trip.
I'm still recovering from the flight back, but I'm hoping to put together a trip report shortly. We enjoyed Botswana and Phinda, but by far the highlight of our three weeks in Africa were the five nights we spent at MalaMala. It truly exceeded our expectations in every way.
Jul 21st, 2008, 03:06 AM
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Hi Michael
I also love getting photos of animals I don't usually see - though those animals are usually seen at night and fleeing away from the vehicle!
Tom - I am not really sure how many Styx Pride cubs there are. I saw 6 cubs with 2 lionesses and 2 slightly older cubs with 1 lioness. One ranger told me he saw 11 cubs at one sighting. I never saw the 7 lionesses together, so I could see how many were lactating. Certainly another lioness is heavily pregnant. I really hope that they have success this time around. The older Styx Pride lioness had 4 tiny cubs that I saw Dec/Jan 2008 but I know one was trampled to death and the other 3 just disappeared. I'm the opposite, I read the MM diary to keep me going inbetween visits. We were all in heaven seeing those sweet little cubs, not just Carla.
Andy - I did have a feast of gameviewing, so thanks for your comments.
rickmck - thank-you and I did have a fantastic stay, but I always do. I was very lucky and it does help to stay so long.
scootr29 - I did see a lot of feeding and yes, the giraffes were hunted. I would say that 3 lionesses did not bring the giraffe bull down, but made it run and in its mad panic, it fell and then the 3 lionesses pounce. The Eyrefield Pride lionesses seem to do it very well and with 9 big cubs to feed, they really need to kill larger animals. Regarding your lack of seeing feeding - I was there a long time so that helps. When I have two really good days together, I think that the other guests do not realise how lucky they were and that gameviewing is not like that for every guest. I know how lucky I am and I have many photos to remind me if I ever forget!
Robb - Thank-you. I also like to see some info regarding different animals - cats in particular. Looking at a leopard photo is not as good as looking at a photo and knowing some background info - for me, it makes it a lot more interesting. I have only just come home and have nearly 5 months to wait to return to MM, and the wait is long but it is always worth it!
Dear Sundowner - You are very kind in your comments, so thank-you. I now think I don't want to discuss what happened on the day I left, though my curiousity would kill me so I'll look it up on the cyberdiary - hope Rob makes it sound a bit dull and not a really great sighting. I am wondering which pride it was - maybe the Selati Pride? But, we are not discussing it! I am also amazed at what I have seen and I always need to see the photos to remind myself how lucky I am and that the slow gamedrives are bringing me one gamedrive closer to a really fantastic gamedrive! And thanks for your kind comments on my photos. Although you must know I feel as if I have a disposable camera in comparison to your photo gear. I still do not know how you hold that huge lense!
Isabel25 - You are also too kind. Tell your daughter that the waiting list to be my niece is quite long, and I don't think any of them wish to be replaced at the moment, but I shall keep her in mind - she certainly has the gameviewing spirit required to be my niece! Thanks for your comments on my photos. It is a lot of work but I do love doing it. I was very pleased to see that your husband finally saw the hyena. I really like them, but most guests to not agree with me. MM is my favourite destination, but I guess you already know that!
Kind regards
Kaye
I also love getting photos of animals I don't usually see - though those animals are usually seen at night and fleeing away from the vehicle!
Tom - I am not really sure how many Styx Pride cubs there are. I saw 6 cubs with 2 lionesses and 2 slightly older cubs with 1 lioness. One ranger told me he saw 11 cubs at one sighting. I never saw the 7 lionesses together, so I could see how many were lactating. Certainly another lioness is heavily pregnant. I really hope that they have success this time around. The older Styx Pride lioness had 4 tiny cubs that I saw Dec/Jan 2008 but I know one was trampled to death and the other 3 just disappeared. I'm the opposite, I read the MM diary to keep me going inbetween visits. We were all in heaven seeing those sweet little cubs, not just Carla.
Andy - I did have a feast of gameviewing, so thanks for your comments.
rickmck - thank-you and I did have a fantastic stay, but I always do. I was very lucky and it does help to stay so long.
scootr29 - I did see a lot of feeding and yes, the giraffes were hunted. I would say that 3 lionesses did not bring the giraffe bull down, but made it run and in its mad panic, it fell and then the 3 lionesses pounce. The Eyrefield Pride lionesses seem to do it very well and with 9 big cubs to feed, they really need to kill larger animals. Regarding your lack of seeing feeding - I was there a long time so that helps. When I have two really good days together, I think that the other guests do not realise how lucky they were and that gameviewing is not like that for every guest. I know how lucky I am and I have many photos to remind me if I ever forget!
Robb - Thank-you. I also like to see some info regarding different animals - cats in particular. Looking at a leopard photo is not as good as looking at a photo and knowing some background info - for me, it makes it a lot more interesting. I have only just come home and have nearly 5 months to wait to return to MM, and the wait is long but it is always worth it!
Dear Sundowner - You are very kind in your comments, so thank-you. I now think I don't want to discuss what happened on the day I left, though my curiousity would kill me so I'll look it up on the cyberdiary - hope Rob makes it sound a bit dull and not a really great sighting. I am wondering which pride it was - maybe the Selati Pride? But, we are not discussing it! I am also amazed at what I have seen and I always need to see the photos to remind myself how lucky I am and that the slow gamedrives are bringing me one gamedrive closer to a really fantastic gamedrive! And thanks for your kind comments on my photos. Although you must know I feel as if I have a disposable camera in comparison to your photo gear. I still do not know how you hold that huge lense!
Isabel25 - You are also too kind. Tell your daughter that the waiting list to be my niece is quite long, and I don't think any of them wish to be replaced at the moment, but I shall keep her in mind - she certainly has the gameviewing spirit required to be my niece! Thanks for your comments on my photos. It is a lot of work but I do love doing it. I was very pleased to see that your husband finally saw the hyena. I really like them, but most guests to not agree with me. MM is my favourite destination, but I guess you already know that!
Kind regards
Kaye
Jul 21st, 2008, 04:16 AM
#14
Kaye, could it have been the Windmill Pride? That's the name I remember. I was so sad to have missed it but hopefully another day I'll see something just as exciting. Rob drove like a bat out of hell to get there (we were far away) and K & A were all but bouncing out of the vehicle. Then it was like the wind went out of his sails and he slowed down considerably. That's when he told us what we were missing and told us we would have to wait for someone to come out. boohoo. But we won't discuss it.
No disposable camera will get the great photos you have and I'm sure you are very happy with your camera! Isn't it so much easier to see what's in the viewfinder now? I feel like I'm taking pictures blind when I look through the little S2IS compared to my other cameras.
Isabel25, we were sad to hear we missed you. I don't know why I didn't realize we were arriving the day you left. Maybe we'll meet on another trip to MalaMala.
No disposable camera will get the great photos you have and I'm sure you are very happy with your camera! Isn't it so much easier to see what's in the viewfinder now? I feel like I'm taking pictures blind when I look through the little S2IS compared to my other cameras.
Isabel25, we were sad to hear we missed you. I don't know why I didn't realize we were arriving the day you left. Maybe we'll meet on another trip to MalaMala.
Jul 21st, 2008, 09:16 AM
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Kaye,
Wonderful photos as always! Thanks so much for posting them and giving me a Mala Mala "fix".
I've so got to talk the wife into a return trip soon, I'll have to make sure to show her you latest results. While I always love the big cats, I really enjoyed the hard to find animals. The civit, wild cat, honey badger and bush baby were all great to see!
Bob
Wonderful photos as always! Thanks so much for posting them and giving me a Mala Mala "fix".
I've so got to talk the wife into a return trip soon, I'll have to make sure to show her you latest results. While I always love the big cats, I really enjoyed the hard to find animals. The civit, wild cat, honey badger and bush baby were all great to see!
Bob
Jul 23rd, 2008, 04:18 AM
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Hi sundowner
I am not sure which pride - have to wait for the cyberdiary. To be so close and not be able to view the sighting - Rob describing it and you seeing it is not the same - but we will not be discussing it!
I am fairly happy with the camera, even though I find it quite heavy, just takes a lot of practice. I don't really see the photo that clearly even with glasses. I still do not know how you handle that large lense, clearly I need to do more arm weight exercises!
kak113 - thank-you. You will have a fantastic time at MM and congratulations, a great way to start married life.
Bob -thank-you and good luck on planning the next trip. I understand the need for a MM fix, I get that a little from the cyberdiary, though nothing beats being there. I also love seeing the more unusual animals that you normally will not see, it makes it more thrilling when you can see them and get a couple of reasonable photos.
Kind regards
Kaye
I am not sure which pride - have to wait for the cyberdiary. To be so close and not be able to view the sighting - Rob describing it and you seeing it is not the same - but we will not be discussing it!
I am fairly happy with the camera, even though I find it quite heavy, just takes a lot of practice. I don't really see the photo that clearly even with glasses. I still do not know how you handle that large lense, clearly I need to do more arm weight exercises!
kak113 - thank-you. You will have a fantastic time at MM and congratulations, a great way to start married life.
Bob -thank-you and good luck on planning the next trip. I understand the need for a MM fix, I get that a little from the cyberdiary, though nothing beats being there. I also love seeing the more unusual animals that you normally will not see, it makes it more thrilling when you can see them and get a couple of reasonable photos.
Kind regards
Kaye
Jul 23rd, 2008, 04:26 AM
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Hi Sundowner
Just looked up the cyberdiary, and I know we are not discussing it, but it was the Windmill Pride of 8 Lionesses, the buffalo got away, and the single Styx Pride lioness (with 2 older cubs) was in that same area frantically calling the cubs to her. That is the 9 lionesses that you mentioned. The cubs did not turn up but they are mentioned in a later sighting. So that is good news. Now we can really not discuss it!
Kind regards
Kaye
Just looked up the cyberdiary, and I know we are not discussing it, but it was the Windmill Pride of 8 Lionesses, the buffalo got away, and the single Styx Pride lioness (with 2 older cubs) was in that same area frantically calling the cubs to her. That is the 9 lionesses that you mentioned. The cubs did not turn up but they are mentioned in a later sighting. So that is good news. Now we can really not discuss it!
Kind regards
Kaye
Jul 23rd, 2008, 07:12 AM
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Kaye-
Thanks for posting so many terrific photos, I am really glad all the Eyrefield cubs made it so far. I have a photo here at my desk of one of the cubs at only two months old. Hard to believe how big they are now!
Way to go with all the Styx cubs-I believe you are right to stay for such an extended time to really get to know the cats you are looking at.
I think I will pull up airline schedules, thanks for the motivation.
Cheers from Bend, Oregon
Shellcat
Thanks for posting so many terrific photos, I am really glad all the Eyrefield cubs made it so far. I have a photo here at my desk of one of the cubs at only two months old. Hard to believe how big they are now!
Way to go with all the Styx cubs-I believe you are right to stay for such an extended time to really get to know the cats you are looking at.
I think I will pull up airline schedules, thanks for the motivation.
Cheers from Bend, Oregon
Shellcat
Jul 24th, 2008, 06:14 AM
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Hi Shellcat
The Eyrefield Pride cubs do look a lot bigger now, really no longer the babies I saw at the beginning of the year. Though when you see them against the lionesses, you really do see that they have a long way to go. The lionesses have done really well for all 9 to still be alive. It will really help if the Eyrefield Males stay out of MalaMala.
The Styx Pride also has a lot of cubs at the moment and while the cubs are very young, I really hope that most do really well. Both prides have had little success with raising cubs to adulthood for quite a few years, though the southern prides have done well during that time.
So a really good time to revisit as you mention. I am already wondering who I shall be seeing when I visit at the end of the year. Hoped to see wild dog denning, which I didn't even though they must have been just inside Kruger - but I was extremely fortunate with my cat sightings and it definitely helps staying at one place for a longer time.
Kind regards
Kaye
The Eyrefield Pride cubs do look a lot bigger now, really no longer the babies I saw at the beginning of the year. Though when you see them against the lionesses, you really do see that they have a long way to go. The lionesses have done really well for all 9 to still be alive. It will really help if the Eyrefield Males stay out of MalaMala.
The Styx Pride also has a lot of cubs at the moment and while the cubs are very young, I really hope that most do really well. Both prides have had little success with raising cubs to adulthood for quite a few years, though the southern prides have done well during that time.
So a really good time to revisit as you mention. I am already wondering who I shall be seeing when I visit at the end of the year. Hoped to see wild dog denning, which I didn't even though they must have been just inside Kruger - but I was extremely fortunate with my cat sightings and it definitely helps staying at one place for a longer time.
Kind regards
Kaye
