Abuttolph wrote:
Received a couple of nice emails from David yesterday. He will send more details of the second week (I don't yet know if we will be in Entim or another camp) soon. Everything is a "go" so its looking good.
My guess is that if its not in Entim, it will be in Lerai Camp or Ilkeliani Camp. All 3 are owned and operated by the same group.
On a related note, I currently regret not making plans to go to Kenya this year.
berimbolo wrote:
My guess is that if its not in Entim, it will be in Lerai Camp or Ilkeliani Camp. All 3 are owned and operated by the same group.
On a related note, I currently regret not making plans to go to Kenya this year.
It may well be and hopefully I will know soon. Both Lerai Camp and IIkeliani Camp look really nice. It would make sense as well since, from what I understand, the lodge double booked for my second week. So, it they have availability at one of these other two, the reservations could simply be transferred.
I understand your regret about not going there this year. It always feels like one is missing out when you love to travel and don't or can't for some reason.
Abuttolph wrote:
It may well be and hopefully I will know soon. Both Lerai Camp and IIkeliani Camp look really nice. It would make sense as well since, from what I understand, the lodge double booked for my second week. So, it they have availability at one of these other two, the reservations could simply be transferred.
I understand your regret about not going there this year. It always feels like one is missing out when you love to travel and don't or can't for some reason.
I still have some time off remaining this year, so I could try to make it happen. I don't even have a good reason for not booking something earlier. Only thing that stopped me was my ongoing existential crisis (started at 17, still raging on at 34).
berimbolo wrote:
I still have some time off remaining this year, so I could try to make it happen. I don't even have a good reason for not booking something earlier. Only thing that stopped me was my ongoing existential crisis (started at 17, still raging on at 34).
Hopefully you can go ahead and get a trip planned. Might be just the thing for the existential crisis.
Turns out that Entim Camp cancelled all of David's reservations and he had to scramble to find new lodges for all five weeks of photo safaris. He is not happy and I don't blame him. He thinks the issue is mostly related to them building another camp but it is not ready yet. My time with him will be divided into two different camps in different areas. After the previous discussions above in the thread about not staying in one place, I am actually pretty happy about this. The camps won't be as posh, but that is fine - I am more interested in the wildlife and photo opportunities. One week will be in Mara Siana Camp and one week in Mara Tangulia Camp.
Abuttolph wrote:
Hopefully you can go ahead and get a trip planned. Might be just the thing for the existential crisis.
Turns out that Entim Camp cancelled all of David's reservations and he had to scramble to find new lodges for all five weeks of photo safaris. He is not happy and I don't blame him. He thinks the issue is mostly related to them building another camp but it is not ready yet. My time with him will be divided into two different camps in different areas. After the previous discussions above in the thread about not staying in one place, I am actually pretty happy about this. The camps won't be as posh, but that is fine - I am more interested in the wildlife and photo opportunities. One week will be in Mara Siana Camp and one week in Mara Tangulia Camp. ...Show more →
Congrats, this was a blessing in disguise. This should work out much better for you, and you'll get a taste of a conservancy.
artsupreme wrote:
Congrats, this was a blessing in disguise. This should work out much better for you, and you'll get a taste of a conservancy.
Thanks. I feel the same way about it being a blessing in disguise. From talking with David yesterday, there very well may be some opportunities at these camps that we would not have had at Entim. Plus, this will be more of an older-style bush experience and that is very appealing. Fewer people too.
Has anyone done Masai Mara/Amboseli in early December? If so, how was the rain? I have 10 days of vacation time I need to burn I can't really think of anywhere else to go.
Just back from scuba in Zanzibar and safari in TZ. Some random comments: 200-600 with 1.4 TC for 90+ % of shots. I’m sure primes are sharper, but I can see the detail on a fly on a lion cub’s fur so I’m fine with the zoom. (Black rhino in Ngorongoro was just a dot one mile away!). 24-105 was perfect for hot air balloon ride, which was a highlight. Nairobi airport was surprisingly better than most US airports. Return routing was Kilimanjaro to Nairobi to Dubai to JFK. Life altering trip!
I just returned last night from my 19-day camping safari in Botswana. The main locations we visited were Nxai Pan NP, Moremi Game Reserve, Khwai Concession Area, and Chobe NP. I can't find the words to describe the incredible experience. Where else can you awaken to see a lion walking through your campsite? Or have honey badgers chasing each other around your tent?
Thanks to those who have contributed to this thread with helpful information and equipment recommendations. I carried 2 Sony a1 cameras, a 200-600, and a 70-200/2.8. Only one morning and one evening did I wish I had my 400/2.8. For me, the focal length flexibility of the 200-600 was a huge benefit.
mitesh wrote:
I just returned last night from my 19-day camping safari in Botswana. The main locations we visited were Nxai Pan NP, Moremi Game Reserve, Khwai Concession Area, and Chobe NP. I can't find the words to describe the incredible experience. Where else can you awaken to see a lion walking through your campsite? Or have honey badgers chasing each other around your tent?
Thanks to those who have contributed to this thread with helpful information and equipment recommendations. I carried 2 Sony a1 cameras, a 200-600, and a 70-200/2.8. Only one morning and one evening did I wish I had my 400/2.8. For me, the focal length flexibility of the 200-600 was a huge benefit.
I just booked a Chobe River Photo tour for July 2025 with Ann and Steve Toon. I like their smaller group and Steve has been super responsive with any question. Will have a full report later. I am taking two R5 and have the following lenses: RF 100-500, RF 24-105, RF 100 Macro 2.8 and RF 16. While the RF 24-105 is for general walkabout photography, I am wondering if the RF 100-500 f 4.5-7.1 might be too slow for very early morning and late PM shots. Is it worth getting a 70-200 at 2.8 for those twilight shots? And how will the RF 100 at 2.8 do for the same? The domiciliary CFO simply chuckled at the Canon lenses costing $ 9K.
mitesh wrote:
I just returned last night from my 19-day camping safari in Botswana. The main locations we visited were Nxai Pan NP, Moremi Game Reserve, Khwai Concession Area, and Chobe NP. I can't find the words to describe the incredible experience. Where else can you awaken to see a lion walking through your campsite? Or have honey badgers chasing each other around your tent?
Thanks to those who have contributed to this thread with helpful information and equipment recommendations. I carried 2 Sony a1 cameras, a 200-600, and a 70-200/2.8. Only one morning and one evening did I wish I had my 400/2.8. For me, the focal length flexibility of the 200-600 was a huge benefit.
safaridude wrote:
I just booked a Chobe River Photo tour for July 2025 with Ann and Steve Toon. I like their smaller group and Steve has been super responsive with any question. Will have a full report later. I am taking two R5 and have the following lenses: RF 100-500, RF 24-105, RF 100 Macro 2.8 and RF 16. While the RF 24-105 is for general walkabout photography, I am wondering if the RF 100-500 f 4.5-7.1 might be too slow for very early morning and late PM shots. Is it worth getting a 70-200 at 2.8 for those twilight shots? And how will the RF 100 at 2.8 do for the same? The domiciliary CFO simply chuckled at the Canon lenses costing $ 9K....Show more →
Can you rent a 400 F2.8 (EF or RF) or the 100-300 F2.8?
