Safari at Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
The Masai Mara is a portion of the Serengeti ecosystem which lies to the north of the Kenya Tanzania boarder. The region is best known for its wildebeest and zebra migration which tends to pass through the area July to October.
East Africa which includes Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda has the richest wild life inhabitance in the world. It was amazing to watch the animals in their natural inhabitance. You formed a very surreal connection with them and I left the safari totally in love with them. Back at home in the UK I began to adore all animal prints as it reminded me of my safari experience in Kenya.
I have drawn so much inspiration from the nature in Kenya that I can't wait to put it into practice in my interiors eg. using animal prints in orangeries and conservatories and creating an out door scene in the bathroom.
I also enjoyed learning about the animal's habits and I have briefly mentioned them below.
Basking crocodiles cooling them selves by opening their mouths in the August heat.
A crocodile with a dead wildebeest in its mouth. The Mara River was littered with rotting dead wildebeest in August as some of them drowned from exhaustion while crossing the river in large herds. Some were drowned by crocodiles who grab them by their legs and drag them under water.
The Mara River crossing by wildebeests
Hippos are usually found in groups of 10-20 females with their young, and a territorial bull.
During the day hippos spend much of their time partially submerged beneath the water. They emerge from the river after dusk. They then wonder on a round trip of up to 5 miles in search of suitable grazing before returning to the river at dawn.
Zebras like to dust bathe by rolling in the dust on their backs. It maintains the condition of their coat and may help to reflect sunlight and keep them cool. Unfortunately there wasn't much dust on this patch of grass and this zebra gave up rolling very quickly.
This is a spotted hyaena. They are the most powerful of the three species of hyaena found in Africa. They have a bear like appearance with large round ears. Their spots become less obvious with age.
Stunning view of a lioness on a tree with the male lion resting in the shade underneath, on a hot August afternoon. The lioness was gazing at a herd of wildebeest in the near distance. We thought she was going to hunt but when the wildebeest noticed her, she decided against it as the chase would have been too strenuous in the hot sun.
Here is a clearer view of topi with its distinguishable plum coloured thigh patches.
A male impala grazing on green pasture. The female do not have horns. If possible they like to drink water daily but can go without water if the vegetation is green and high in moisture.
I have drawn so much inspiration from the nature in Kenya that I can't wait to put it into practice in my interiors eg. using animal prints in orangeries and conservatories and creating an out door scene in the bathroom.
I also enjoyed learning about the animal's habits and I have briefly mentioned them below.
Basking crocodiles cooling them selves by opening their mouths in the August heat.
A crocodile with a dead wildebeest in its mouth. The Mara River was littered with rotting dead wildebeest in August as some of them drowned from exhaustion while crossing the river in large herds. Some were drowned by crocodiles who grab them by their legs and drag them under water.
The Mara River crossing by wildebeests
Hippos are usually found in groups of 10-20 females with their young, and a territorial bull.
During the day hippos spend much of their time partially submerged beneath the water. They emerge from the river after dusk. They then wonder on a round trip of up to 5 miles in search of suitable grazing before returning to the river at dawn.
Zebras like to dust bathe by rolling in the dust on their backs. It maintains the condition of their coat and may help to reflect sunlight and keep them cool. Unfortunately there wasn't much dust on this patch of grass and this zebra gave up rolling very quickly.
This is a spotted hyaena. They are the most powerful of the three species of hyaena found in Africa. They have a bear like appearance with large round ears. Their spots become less obvious with age.
Stunning view of a lioness on a tree with the male lion resting in the shade underneath, on a hot August afternoon. The lioness was gazing at a herd of wildebeest in the near distance. We thought she was going to hunt but when the wildebeest noticed her, she decided against it as the chase would have been too strenuous in the hot sun.
She decided to rest on top of the tree.
While the lion beneath was bugged by the afternoon flies.
Male and female lion cubs.
A safari jeep
Stunning sunset over the Mara landscape.
Topi are often found in large herds of more than 100 individuals. You can distinguish them by their tan coat and plum-coloured thigh patches.
Here is a clearer view of topi with its distinguishable plum coloured thigh patches.
A male impala grazing on green pasture. The female do not have horns. If possible they like to drink water daily but can go without water if the vegetation is green and high in moisture.
These are Thomson's gazelle with a prominent black strip on it's body that distinguish them from the Grant's gazelle. Both male and female have horns, but the female's horns are small, thin and not fully formed. Male horns are heavier and pointed measuring approximately 12inches.
Black-backed jackal is the commonest of the three jackal species found in East Africa. They look like a fox but have a black back down to the tip of the tail and large ears. The male are only slightly larger than females.
Cheetahs are easily distinguished from leopards by the distinct black "tear marks" running from the inner corners of their eyes to the edges of their mouth.
The Masai giraffe which occur in Kenya and Tanzania. Due to their great height and excellent vision, giraffes are often quick to spot a predator on the move.
They can gallop at the speed of 35mph and feed on leaves off trees and bushes and soft thorns.
The Olive baboon is heavily built monkey with a dog-like head and olive brown coat. The tail points straight up at the base and then loops over. A mature male has a well developed mane or cape around their neck and shoulders.
The dwarf mongoose is the smallest African carnivore. The coat colour varies from reddish brown to yellowish grey. Males are slightly heavier than female.
A reddish brown dwarf mongoose
Agama lizard (sometimes called Rainbow lizard) are East Africa's most commonly seen lizard. The males are often brightly coloured while females.
Vultures
Egyptian Goose is distinguished by its brown eye patch, brown back and pink legs. It is usually seen in pairs.
Male ostrich are jet black with white primary plumes in the wings and tail. Female and babies are grey or dull brown. North African and Masai races have pink neck and thighs, Somali race blue neck and thighs.
The Southern Ground Hornbill is a large turkey-like bird with black plumage and a distinctive red face and throat wattles.
The Roller have predominantly rufous brown plumage on the back, with blue and lilac below.
Yellow-billed Stork has bare red face, long, slightly decurved bill, and black wings and tail.
Ballooning over the Mara landscape was an amazing experience as the views were spectacular.
Herds of wildebeest seen from above.
View of Thomson's Gazelles
A female from the Masai village selling her craft work and jewellery to tourists.
A Masai warrior.
Venice October 2011
Though Venice is no longer a great European trading metropolis, it is still a busy shopping centre. Window display provide a visual feast with their dazzling displays of jewellery, fabrics, glass and masks.
Venetian craftsmanship still survives with bookbinders, carpenters, mask-makers and even mosaicists found in small workshops off the beaten track.
Rialto Bridge seen in a distance was the only bridge over the Grand Canal until 1854.
A picturesque apartment facade
A stunning shop window display
Murano glass items displayed like jewels inside a shop
Inside Rubelli House
Rubelli House - Silk damask stretched on battens line the walls in a traditional style
Rubelli House
A worker of Seguso glass factory in Murano
Murano glass chandeliers in the show room
Venice by night
House of Jewellery designer Marie Bagnasco
Murals on the walls of the bedroom
Marble bathroom
Colourful city of Burano famous for its lace making
A walkway in a restaurant garden in Burano
A very theatrical shop window display
Inside the shop was filled with masks, muppets and costumes
Out side La Fenice Theatre. The theatre opened in 1792 and was originally an opera house. Unlike other theatres in the city, whose entrances are in secluded places, La Fenice is the only historic Venetian theatre facing onto an open space. It is also the only one with neo-classical style colonnade in its facade. This bears the theatre's insignia in the centre portraying the phoenix that rises from the flames, carved in 1837 to a design by Giambattista Meduna.
The Palace of Doges with a gothic facade. Doges were glorified slaves of the Republic and probably Europe's first constitutional monarch.
St. Mark's Basillica served as a private ''chapel' to the Doges for almost a thousand years.
St. Mark's
The atrium mosaics, depicting scenes from the old Testament are some of the finest and oldest in the Basilica.
Since the 18th century, fashionable cafes and their bands have been a feature of life at St. Mark's Square.
