Currently down under the English Lionesses are trying to go one better than their better paid male counterparts. Well seasoned Kichechians Rachel Chapman and Ros Gray decided to do a vets tour to the Mara. They brought along Rachel’s 18 year old niece, Lucia Baynes on debut, but, as the fabled Charlton once said -'if he/she's good enough, she's old enough'. Lucia had never fastened her pumps onto the hallowed stadium of Mara North and she'd never even held a DSLR camera. By day two she was shooting with the clinical skill of Lauren James.
'There is no better place to see or photograph rhino' is a recent comment from a Kicheche Laikipia alumni. She was right. Virtually every game drive delivers these armoured browsers and grazers. Kicheche Laikipia's conservancy, Ol Pejeta has been so successful in protecting this endangered species that it is easy to become complacent over their future.
Esther is young, she is also ambitious and critically extremely competent. However, with little notice she is given a photographer never knowingly undemanding. Pressure on, yes. Did it show, not a bit of it.
First time spotter Ben Joel has had quite a safari. He also has the images to prove this, but more importantly they embody the potent power of the conservancies, in this case Olare.
Early season, Kicheche early. I first had this idea 12 years ago. This was the genesis: James Nampaso: 'Paul we leave at 04.30'. That sounds easy but when you have three vehicles and a dozen wildlife zealots rising rudely before dawn a whole Kicheche machine has to get into gear to make it happen. It was only a whim, a gamble, an unendorsed tale of a mother leopard with an extended family. It worked: we saw six - a mother with one then a family including triplets (it's not an incredible photo but it is four leopards up a tree!) ... all before seven o clock.
