“Thank you. I bow in gratitude for the gift of you that you have shared. The Wednesday morning emails became balm for my anxious soul. You continue to inspire me.”
Last week I got some exciting news. I learned the name of the adult female elephant on the book cover is Hatsy! Dr. Winnie Kiiru, who wrote the Foreword to The Wisdom of Elephants, asked researcher Dr. Cynthia Moss if she could identify the lead elephant on the cover.
Read MoreIt’s decision time in my book project. Last week I uploaded 20 test pages to the printer in Calgary AB. I was thrilled to open the front door a couple of days later and find a package on my doorstep. This project is no longer living on my computer – it has entered the next dimension of publishing reality.
Read MoreThe world has lost another Big Tusker. These animals represent a group of African elephants with huge tusks unique to the Amboseli and Tsavo regions of southern Kenya.
Read MoreThis is a dark time in world history. My heart breaks to read about the senseless murder of innocent people and mass destruction. Here’s the good news, as humans we are more inclined to help and be compassionate than to kill and be cruel.
Read MoreMy book, The Wisdom of Elephants is back from the book designer and the pdf draft is in the hands of beta readers in Kenya. I never imagined I would publish a book. It is happening, it’s coming together!
Read MoreI am sad to report that beautiful Fig, my favourite leopard was killed by two male lions March 5th. Leopards and lions do not get along. I don’t know the details of what happened, but if she was ambushed by two mature lions, Fig would have little chance of surviving.
Read MoreYou know how to spot a leopard? asked Kupai, as we bumped down the track in the Toyota Land Cruiser. “Look for a tail hanging in a tree!” I replied triumphantly, feeling the flush of pleasure of showing the teacher she’d learned something about finding leopards.
Read More“Wildcat!” Kupai and I exclaimed in unison. We’d only rolled a few yards down the road from the lodge on our first game drive when we spotted the resident warthog, aka Pumba, snuffling at something on the road. I scrambled for my camera to capture the small grey cat strolling ahead of the curious warthog.
Read MoreDo you think animals can feel love? I sure do! With Valentine’s Day this week, let’s talk about love. One of my goals in photography is to make images that touch people’s hearts. Watching African wildlife’s interactions is a reminder that these animals are sentient beings who care about each other.
Read MoreThis week, I’m busy preparing an online presentation for an Ontario Camera Club about Visual Story Telling. So, in the spirit of sharing with more than one audience, here are some of my pointers for photographers and storytellers.
Read MoreThis week I’m turning my story telling over to David Kupai Senchura, my Maasai guide extraordinaire on the Mara Game Reserve. We set our goal one morning to visit the Musiara Marsh Pride of lions.
Read MoreIf you come across a herd of Cape Buffalo on a game drive, you will usually see red or yellow-billed oxpeckers perched their bodies. The birds provide a valuable service - they eat insects and ticks. The symbiotic relationship between the oxpecker and the hooved host is known as mutualism.
Read MoreWelcome to Sarara Camp, there’s a giraffe in the bathroom! Robert Lemayian, my Samburu guide and I laughed out loud when we encountered a reticulated giraffe munching the shrubs beside the outdoor bathroom as he gave me a tour of my accommodations.
Read MoreMy Maasai guide, Kupai, and I came across a mother elephant and her tiny newborn out on a game drive on the Maasai Mara last month. The little calf was full of personality and confidence. When we approached it flared its ears and raced towards us in a mock charge…
Read MoreThe gates opened for the next feeding at the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, but the orphans were nowhere in sight. The region is experiencing a devastating drought, the keepers and their young charges were forced to walk further out into the bush to find enough to eat. Finally, the first group of orphans arrived. They raced across the compound for their bottles.
Read MoreKaribu – welcome to our school, said Terri, a Montessori teacher at the mobile preschool in the Sarara Valley, Northern Kenya. Her classroom is a large, screened tent with a wide awning shading the door. This school is unique, it moves with the people.
Read MoreThe Maasai woman pressed a handful of necklaces against my window when we pulled up to the Musiara gate exiting the Mara Game Reserve. A young girl nudged her aside with a handful of colourful shukas (Maasai shawls). Their eyes said it all - buy my crafts.
Read MoreTears of overwhelm and joy pricked my eyes when I read the email on September 9, 2021. Congratulations! We are contacting you today because your image has been selected as a Highly Honored finalist in the final round of Judging for the 2021 Benjamin Mkapa African Wildlife Photography Awards.
Read More“If we do not do something to prevent it, Africa’s animals, and the places in which they live, will be lost to our world, and her children forever.” – Nelson Mandela
Read More“I’d love to get down low” I whispered. “If we find a good spot you can get out” Pilipili replied. Get out? My heart rate rose a few more levels. Although the bull elephants appeared peaceful and benign, at six tons Big Tusker Tim could flip our truck with one casual swing of his trunk or step on me and it would be all over.
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