2013-10-24 Maasai Mara, Kenya

This was one of my best days on safari this season, especially the morning. We started with a beautiful pride of Lions walking in the open plains, and being alone and free to move we were able to take some low angle images of them. They seemed to be willing to cross the Mara  river but eventually gave up and retreated to the bushes to rest. We carried on to the Mara river where a lot of Zebras were gathering to cross. As we approached, we came across a dying male Impala, with its leg completely broken and its belly partially eaten. No predator was in sight so we failed to understand who could have caused this. We proceeded to see a crossing with some intense Crocodile activity. I rarely have seen the Crocodiles so hungry and determined at a river crossing. As the first Zebra put its feet in the water, at least fifteen Crocodiles rushed to the scene, all ready to strike. Most Zebras were adults so they were not successful on their first attacks, but as a foal came along, it didn’t have a chance. The Crocodiles were all over it and in a few minutes nothing was left of the baby Zebra. As this ended we noticed the Vultures circling and landing where the Impala was. We realized it had probably died, so we moved in for some close up and low angle shots of the birds landing and feeding on the Impala. All very nice, until suddenly the birds started flying away in fear. We looked up and a male Leopard was crossing the plains, coming towards us, obviously attracted by the meat. We took some interesting low angle ground level images of the huge Leopard grabbing the kill and dragging it away to the safety of some nearby bushes. A wonderful experience. In the afternoon, more Lions with subadults playing under a gorgeous Mara sunset.