from Dispatch #2: Predators and Prey Posted December 2, 2011
We came to the far northern Serengeti first for a six-week camp because the essential wildebeest migration was there.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #2: Predators and Prey Posted December 2, 2011
The grass is burned by the park to stimulate growth. We found these buffalo bones just has they were left by the lions, hyenas, and finally vultures.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #2: Predators and Prey Posted December 2, 2011
All the animals were shy because of heavy poaching in the past and the lack of calming tourism ... except this female cheetah who followed the migration from the adjacent Masai Mara.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #2: Predators and Prey Posted December 2, 2011
The lions were especially shy and hard to find, even though every night they serenaded our camp with roars.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #2: Predators and Prey Posted December 2, 2011
This was my place to find the call of the wild before we moved south to the study area and lions that we could find each day.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #3: Cobra in the Kitchen Posted December 5, 2011
Finding elephants was calming for me and we saw many male coalitions hanging out together.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #3: Cobra in the Kitchen Posted December 5, 2011
We saw large families with lots of kids that were calm as long as we approached slowly and with elephant etiquette.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #3: Cobra in the Kitchen Posted December 5, 2011
It was disturbing and alarming to see so many maimed and missing trunks caused by poachers’ wire snares.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #3: Cobra in the Kitchen Posted December 5, 2011
An elephant without a trunk is lost and the wire snare problem could be solved with help from the international community.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #3: Cobra in the Kitchen Posted December 5, 2011
We saw this mom playing with her infant by pulling his trunk with hers.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #4: Jonestown Crossing Posted December 6, 2011
I have always wanted to witness the wildebeest migration crossing the Mara river. Now I’m obsessed with how to see it in a different way, this 800mm view is not it.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #5: Homage to Keith Richards Posted December 7, 2011
We placed five camera traps at a site on the Mara River were a pod of hippos have a nest. I hoped to catch all the animals that used the hippo’s trail to come and go.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #5: Homage to Keith Richards Posted December 7, 2011
Everything was being destroyed by curious hyenas and hippos angry after being flashed in the face, so we told the cameras not to take pictures at night ... just at dusk and dawn.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #5: Homage to Keith Richards Posted December 7, 2011
So we only caught this big male leopard in the last days when I changed the trap setting to take pictures 24/7.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #5: Homage to Keith Richards Posted December 7, 2011
Not the view I was hoping for.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #5: Homage to Keith Richards Posted December 7, 2011
I placed buffalo skulls that we found all around the site in each camera’s view as a wink and nod to Keith Richards.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #6: Bad Water, Bad Dreams Posted December 8, 2011
Everything tasted and smelt of death, and it does not leave you when you drive away.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #7: Hard Lessons, Hard Choices Posted December 9, 2011
The rains bring skies to the Serengeti that literally can take your breath away.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #8: Last of the Breed Posted December 12, 2011
The dark side of the far northern Serengeti is wire-snare poaching. We stumbled upon this zebra foot with the killing snare still attached.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #9: Night and Day Posted December 13, 2011
The wildebeest migration crosses the Mara river with a very careful start followed by full-throttle chaos.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #10: Micro-copter Posted December 14, 2011
The tiny micro-copter, our giant tsetse fly, can allow aerial views very close to wildlife—we hope.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #11: Bad and Getting Worse Posted December 15, 2011
Many wildebeest drowned in this floodwater crossing.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #12: The Art of Waiting Posted December 16, 2011
We finally got an intimate wide-angle view of the migration crossing using a hidden camera triggered by radio signal.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #13: The Poetry of Giraffes Posted December 19, 2011
We came upon a giraffe with a poacher’s wire snare wrapped around his neck. We reported this to the park guards, hoping it could be removed.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #13: The Poetry of Giraffes Posted December 19, 2011
A sudden storm came up with a rainbow and we searched quickly for the 14 giraffes we had seen feeding together.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #13: The Poetry of Giraffes Posted December 19, 2011
A hard rain brought them together in a thicket and I worked furiously in our open car, drenching everything.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #13: The Poetry of Giraffes Posted December 19, 2011
The storm’s passing brought clear skies and a glorious sunset.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #13: The Poetry of Giraffes Posted December 19, 2011
We finished with orange giraffes and a deep breath.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #14: The Language of Love Posted December 20, 2011
Hyenas hunting zebra randomly flushed a baby Thompson’s gazelle from its hiding place.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #14: The Language of Love Posted December 20, 2011
The chase was quick.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #14: The Language of Love Posted December 20, 2011
Death was quicker.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #14: The Language of Love Posted December 20, 2011
Not enough to share.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #14: The Language of Love Posted December 20, 2011
Followed by a long running dance which I chased driving with one hand and shooting with the other.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #15: Famine and Feast Posted December 21, 2011
From almost a mile away, the starving pride saw three warthogs disappear into their night den.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #15: Famine and Feast Posted December 21, 2011
At dusk they dug furiously, sensing a meal.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #15: Famine and Feast Posted December 21, 2011
Thunderous screaming lasted only for a few seconds as the warthog was pulled from the den.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #15: Famine and Feast Posted December 21, 2011
The warthog was quickly torn apart followed by desperate feeding.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #15: Famine and Feast Posted December 21, 2011
A small meal to feed a family of 14.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #16: Dear Craig Posted December 22, 2011
We have been amazed at how close we can get...
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #16: Dear Craig Posted December 22, 2011
...with our ground-level view remote-controlled camera car.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #16: Dear Craig Posted December 22, 2011
The lions even forget about it and behave naturally.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #16: Dear Craig Posted December 22, 2011
At night the lions are comfortable with us being very close.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #16: Dear Craig Posted December 22, 2011
Our infrared illumination does not disturb them.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #16: Dear Craig Posted December 22, 2011
Under the full moon they sleep next to us, not attempting to hunt.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #17: A Lion’s Roar Posted December 23, 2011
For three hard days and nights ...
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #17: A Lion’s Roar Posted December 23, 2011
...our black-maned male lion mated with three different females from the same pride.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #17: A Lion’s Roar Posted December 23, 2011
Finally finished, he roared three times and walked away in search of a badly needed meal.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #18: Naming the Nine Little Cubs Posted December 27, 2011
They watch and learn as the moms stalk wildebeest.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #18: Naming the Nine Little Cubs Posted December 27, 2011
Afterwards, they are always greeted with affection.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #19: The Far Side Posted December 28, 2011
One lioness in particular started to look at us and drool.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #19: The Far Side Posted December 28, 2011
We are taking a break for the holidays and will return to the Serengeti in February. Can’t wait to see how the cubs have grown.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
from Dispatch #20: Thank You Posted December 27, 2011
On our last visit with the pride a small fight broke out just as the moon was rising.
Photograph by Michael Nichols
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