Big Cat Photo Safari

Wow - what an incredible day we had yesterday.

Having visited two years ago we decided it was time we went back to the Wildlife Heritage Foundation to do one of their big cat photo safari's. It was a totally awesome day - again.

I hope lots of people reading this check it out. You can book to go and allt he money helps the cats. You can also donate or adopt - the cats will thank you for it.

I think we enjoyed it even more this time as we knew what to expect. This time they had many more cats. The place is growing so much and the enclosures are wonderful. The cats are all so well looked after and they have great enclosures and wonderful enrichment programmes. They have also been very successful at breeding the cats and we were able to see the two tiger cubs and the two Amur leopard cubs born there to their residents.

Under the expert guidance of Andy who was so knowledgeable about not only the cats themselves but also photography, we spent the whole day with the big cats taking pictures.

For the first time ever in my life I took my camera off auto as Andy explained exactly what I needed to do and even showed me buttons I didn't know my camera had to alter the exposure as well as finally understanding aperture priority, ISO and shutter speed.

I took some 1500 photos and no -I haven't looked at them all by any means. Plus Nij took another 400 which is unheard of for him. He can go for a whole day out and only take 6 pictures! Mind you - each of the 6 will be a stunner and better than the 300I will take!

Our day started with watching the three lions Tiny Kafara and Manzi, being fed. I made the photo shared here of that black and white as the pictures are quite gory. They ae lions - they eat raw meat! Such is the way of the world.

We moved on to Tigers and cheetahs and I re-met my favourite cat there - and I think he still is - the gorgeous cheetah Pepo. he is an old gentleman now but so handsome. he looks like a living spotted teddy bear. His new friend Mephisto wasn't nearly as handsome in my book. Though it was stunning watching him run for meat.

We spent time at Bruno and Padi's enclosure but sadly Bruno was having a tired day - as old men do - and didn't feel inclined to come over and play. I don't blame him. It was hot and sunny and just the day for basking. He did react when Nigel called his name though. We have now taken out an adoption of Bruno, our old friend from 13 years ago, and we do plan on going back to see him again.

This time there was the chance to go in with two of the cats. These are not by any means tame cats. They are wild and thought the two we visited with inside their cages were smaller than the lions and tigers, they were every inch wild and clearly could do serious damage if they were minded to.

We went in with Malawi the feisty Serval and Petra the beautiful and agile Lynx.

Petra jumped - a lot - for us and it was amazing. She could clear 8 foot from a standing start quite easily. We both failed to capture her in focus and this was one of the best shots we have of her agility.

Not a great photo but a great testament to her. The similarities between her and Kira were amazing. Kira is so much smaller and so is scaled down of course, but she regularly jumps 4 foot high to catch a thrown mouse. 

Andy warned us that Petra looked quite small from outside her enclosure but that she would seem bigger when we went in. 

He was right! 

There were also two pumas, Viktoria and Valentina who were new arrivals since our last visit and we were thrilled to see them. Valentina was not quite so friendly! Viktoria was a lot more amenable and spat a lot less!

She was also a jumper and had decided, all by helself, that she would jump the pond to get meat.

I stress, these are not tame cats who are taught tricks and perform. It is always made very clear that they do what they want to do and if they choose not to play so be it. It is all about them - not the visitors - which is just waht it should be.

However, we were pleased that Viktoria wanted to show off her jumping prowess and we were both really pleased with the action pictures we managed to get.

It ws an awesome day and I will leave you with more pictures from our photo safari.

Andy and all of the staff, thank you so much for a wonderful day and such a fantastic opportunity.

I will try and never put my camera back on auto!

 

 

Comments

[Sherry]

Wow! Gorgeous pictures! Thanks so much for sharing! Would love to be able to do that (of course, would first have to find a way to make it across "the pond")!

[Kim]

What wonderful photos! I've never had my camera off auto either. My son, the film major, is always trying to encourage me to give it a try. It's always seemed so very complicated; but perhaps I should concentrate and try it. Your results are just stunning. Thanks for sharing!
Blessings,
Kim

[Sarah Grant]

Oh these are just superb shots Karen - Andy makes it all seem so easy. Lucky you getting to go again!
xx

[bonnierose]

oh my such gorgeous photos.. wow... I am so happy to be with u on the IT'S A CREATIVE LIFE DT.. hugs, BONNIEROSE

[Deanne]

oh wow, these are beautiful :) i adore tigers :) congratulations on the iacw DT, cant wait to start :) xxx

[Debbie Roberts]

Love your photos, really excited to be a fellow IACW member, Debbie x

[Suzanne]

OMG Dolly what truly fabulous photos. Love the one jumping over the pond. It must be such an amazing experience.

[Glenda]

Oh, what magnificant animals, thank you so much for putting up so many lovely photos, it's a joy to look at them, it must be quite awe inspiring to see them for real.

Glenda