- HerdTracker Live Safari Broadcast in partnership with MakeItKenya.com
Broadcast from Kenya's Masai Mara using Periscope, Internet users from around the world were able to witness Africa's greatest wildlife event -- the great wildebeest migration -- live on their mobile phones, tablets and PCs from 29 September to 5 October 2015.
We arrive in Nairobi, Kenya. Meet up with Stuart Price MakeItKenya.com photographer. A short 45-minute flight gets us to Governor's Camp on the banks of the Mara River. After a quick lunch we head out to test our new photographic kit and broadcast equipment. We see plenty lion, elephant, buck and of course a few sizeable herds of wildebeest and zebra. No crossings today, but they're definitely gathering in numbers on the East side of the river. Tomorrow looks to be promising. Videos by HerdTracker. All photos by Stuart Price, MAKE IT KENYA.
All photos by Stuart Price of MAKE IT KENYA
A pair of endangered saddlebill stork's hunt for fish and amphibians in a marshy area in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
A Banded Mongoose, on the lookout for potential predators, pops up from behing a grassy mound in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
A Hammerkop hunts for fish and amphibians in a marshy area in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
A wildebeest mother and calf stand near the Mara River in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
A Nile crocodile rests on a mudbank in the middle of the Mara River inside Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
A Ruppell's vulture circles over a group of wildebeest standing on the banks of the Mara RIver in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
Visitors to Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve look on from safari vehicles at a group of wildebeest and zebra from across the banks of the Mara River.
A lioness looks towards another approaching lion in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
A tree is silhouetted against clouds back-lit by the sun late in the afternoon in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
A group of wildebeest walk in a line along a track in towards the Mara River in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
A group of wildebeest walk in a line along a track in towards the Mara River in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
A pair of lionesses rest on the savannah late in the afternoon in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
Our first full day on safari in the Masai Mara National Reserve. We witnessed large herds of wildebeest, zebra and topi gathering at the Mara River edge, and then suddenly they all decided to cross. Photos Stuart Price MAKE IT KENYA. Videos HerdTracker.
All photos by Stuart Price of MAKE IT KENYA
Visitors to Kenya's world famous Masai Mara National Reserve are back-lit at sunrise as they head out for a game drive in the early morning
A bat-eared fox looks out from its borrow not long after sunrise in Kenya's world famous Masai Mara National Reserve
A herd of wildebeest snakes its way across the savannah towards the Mara River
The Mara River in Kenya's world famous Masai Mara National Reserve
A safari vehicle drives towards a herd of wildesbeest on the savannah towards the Mara River
A herd of wildebeest walks along the skyline towards the Mara River
Andre Van Kets, of HerdTracker, a website that gives live, real-time updates of the great wildebeest migration, sets up a satellite internet connection
Carel Verhoef (centre), Co-founder of HerdTracker, a website that gives live, real-time updates of the great wildebeest migration, interviews Samwell Chege, a guide from Pollman's safari company during a live streaming feed on HerdTracker.com
Carel Verhoef (centre), Co-founder of HerdTracker interviews Samwell Chege
A safari vehicle observes a herd of wildebeest on the savannah near the Mara River
A large group of wildebeest gathers on the savannah near the Mara River
Carel Verhoef (left) and Andre Van Kets, Co-founders of HerdTracker
Carel Verhoef (left) and Andre Van Kets, Co-founders of HerdTracker, photograph and film a large herd of wildebeest
A large group of wildebeest gathers on the savannah
A safari vehicle observes a herd of wildebeest
A large group of wildebeest is shrouded in dust as it gathers near the Mara River
A large group of wildebeest is shrouded in dust as it gathers near the Mara River in Kenya's world famous Masai Mara National Reserve
Wildebeest near the Mara River in Kenya's world famous Masai Mara National Reserve
Wildebeest shrouded in dust
A large group of wildebeest runs towards the Mara River
A large group of wildebeest in the world famous Masai Mara National Reserve
A large group of wildebeest struggle to climb the wet, sandy bank of the Mara River
A large group of wildebeest break into a run as having just crossed the Mara River in Kenya's world famous Masai Mara National Reserve
Wildebeest struggle to climb the wet, sandy bank of the Mara River
A large group of wildebeest struggle to climb the wet, sandy bank of the Mara River
Visitors in safari vehicles watch a large group of wildebeest cross the Mara River
A large group of wildebeest cross the Mara River
A large group of wildebeest cross the Mara River in Kenya's world famous Masai Mara National Reserve
A large group of wildebeest struggle to climb the wet, sandy bank of the Mara River
A large group of wildebeest struggle to climb the bank of the Mara River
Hot Air Balloon take-off. We spot the Marsh Pride of Lions again.A big beautiful male and some lionesses. Elephants too. And we say farewell to some Ausie friends who've enjoyed the Masai Mara over the last few days.
All photos by Stuart Price of MAKE IT KENYA
Members of a group of lions known as the Marsh Pride, made famous by wildlife film-makers Jonathan and Angela Scott in the BBC natural history serialisation Big Cat Diary, yawns having woken from an afternoon nap in the shade of a tree in Kenya'
A member of the Marsh Pride yawns having woken from an afternoon nap in the shade of a tree in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
The Marsh Pride sits in the shade of a tree in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
Two lionesses from a group of lions known as the Marsh Pride.
The dominant male of the Marsh Pride.
A lioness wakes up from an afternoon nap in the shade of a tree in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
The marsh sits on top of a earth mound in Kenya's Masai Mara
A male lion sits in long grass late in the afternoon in Kenya's Masai Mara
A lioness yawns while sitting on top of an earth mound late in the afternoon in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
A lioness focuses on a group of Burchell's zebra in the distance.
A lioness from the Marsh Pride
A lioness stalks a group of Burchell's zebra
Marsh pride lioness focuses on a group of Burchell's zebra in the distance.
A lioness and the dominant male from the Marsh Pride
A male lion walk past a safari vehicle late in the afternoon in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
Andre Van Kets, Co-founder of HerdTracker.com films a live stream of a group of lions in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
A lioness of the Marsh Pride walks past a safari vehicle.
The Marsh Pride eyes a group of Burchell's Zebra in the distance
Members of a group of lions known as the Marsh Pride stand in long grass late in the evening in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
The dominant male of the Marsh Pride walks through long grass late in the evening in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
The Marsh Pride watches a group of Burchell's Zebra in the distance.
“The Mara never disappoints” - that saying was certainly true today. Even though the river crossing we expected did not happen, we saw so many wonderful wildlife sightings, including a lioness stalk, hunt and catch food for her cubs. So many magical moments here in Kenya. And great fun to experience all of this with the CNN crew who was covering the world's first live web broadcasts from the great wildebeest migration.
All photos by Stuart Price of MAKE IT KENYA
A giraffe in silhouetted just after sunrise on the savannah of Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
A dominant male of the Marsh Pride of lions takes a drink from a water hole, also occupied by a hippopotamus, in the early morning sunlight on the savannah of Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
A dominant male of the Marsh Pride of lions walks in the early morning sunlight on the savannah of Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
A dominant male of the Marsh Pride of lions walks in the early morning sunlight on the savannah of Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
A female lioness of the Marsh Pride of lions takes a drink in the early morning sunlight on the savannah of Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
A hippo looks on from a water-hole in the early morning sunlight
A dominant male of the Marsh Pride of lions
A dominant male of the Marsh Pride of lions on the savannah of Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve
A dominant male of the Marsh Pride of lions walks is greeted by a female in the early morning sunlight on the savannah of Kenya's Masai Mara
A male member of the Marsh Pride of lions
A female lioness of the Marsh Pride of lions looks on from behind a bush
A female lioness hides behind a bush
A young elephant snatches grass and herbs as it walks across the savannah of Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve
A young elephant in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve
A cheetah sits atop an earth mound
A cheetah stalks through the savannah grasslands
A cheetah on the savannah of Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve
A cheetah makes it way through the savannah of Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve
A cheetah in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve
A cheetah looks out from an earth mound on the savannah of Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve
A line family of elephants walks across the savannah of Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve
A group of Australian tourists say their goodbyes at an Musiara Airpstrip having completed their safari in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve
A sign at Musiara Airstrip welcomes visitors to Governors' Camp in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve
A female leopard is well camoflaged as she sits in deep scrub along a ravine in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve
A female leopard in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve
A female leopard is well camoflaged as she sits in deep scrub
A female leopard walks along a ravine in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
Maasai guide and tracker Stephen Liaram from Alex Walker's Serian Camps
We started our day with a balloon ride over the Masai Mara. Wow. What an experience. We travelled from Governor's Camp to our next lodge, andBeyond's Kichwa Temba Tented Camp in the Mara Triangle.
All photos by Stuart Price of MAKE IT KENYA
Tourists take photographs on a smartphone as a Governor's Hot Air Balloon is inflated with air
people gather as a Governor's Hot Air Balloon is inflated with air for a flight over the Masai Mara National Reserve
Moses Kaleku, head guide from the Safari Collection's Sala's Camp poses for a photograph
Moses Kaleku, head guide at the Safari Collection's Sala's Camp
A Governors' Hot Air Balloon gets inflated for take-off
Gas is flared into a Governor's Balloon Safari hot air balloon
People watch a gas is flared into a Governor's Balloon Safari hot air balloon
Getting ready for lift-off into the Kenya skies
Preparing for a flight over the Masai Mara National Reserve
People watch from inside the basket as a Governor's Balloon Safari hot air balloon prepares for take off
Governors' Balloon Safari takes off from Little Governor's Camp
People wave as a Governors' Balloon Safari takes off from Little Governors' Camp for a flight over the Masai Mara National Reserve.
A Governor's Balloon Safari takes off from Little Governor's Camp
Gas is flared as a Governor's Balloon Safari takes off from Little Governor's Camp
Flying high above the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Governor's Balloon Safari over the Masai Mara National Reserve.
Governor's Balloon Safari flies over the Masai Mara
Flying over the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Hot air balloon safari Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Engineers and technicians make final preparations
Final preparations for a Governor's Balloon Safari hot air balloon flight
Masai Mara National Reserve before sunrise
Tourists take photographs and look out from the basket of a Governor's Balloon Safari hot air balloon
Masai Mara sunrise
Burchell's Zebra on the savannah
Burchell's Zebra on the grasslands of the Masai Mara
Andre Van Kets (left) and Carel Verhoef, Co-founders of HerdTracker
Andre Van Kets of Discover Africa
A hot air balloon floats along the course of the Mara River
Nile crocodile on the banks of the Mara River
Our first day on safari from Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp. Our knowledgable, personable and enthusiastic guide Jackson took us to the deep south of the Mara Triangle where we were surrounded by herds of wildebeest. We also saw cheetah, a juvenile martial eagle, long-crested eagle, four of the big five in a single scene - and then enjoyed a night drive where we swapped some great stories with Jackson.
All photos by Stuart Price of MAKE IT KENYA
Masai guide and tracker Stephen Liaram from Alex Walker's Serian camps looks out across the savannah of the Masai Mara National Reserve
Birds fly before dawn in the Masai Mara National Reserve before sunrise
A male lion from the Marsh Pride looks out across the savannah of the Masai Mara National Reserve
A lioness yawns as a male lion from the Marsh Pride looks out across the savannah
A male lion from the Marsh Pride rests on the edge of the savannah of the Masai Mara
A lioness from the Marsh Pride looks across the savannah in search of prey
A lioness from the Marsh Pride runs across the savannah
A lioness from the Marsh Pride carries a young warthog
A line of wildebeest makes its way across the savannah past a safari vehicle towards the Mara River
Wildebeest migration makes its way to the Mara River
Wildebeest in the Masai Mara
Herdtracker Co-founders Andre Van Kets (left) and Carel Verhoef (right) host a film crew from CNN in the Masai Mara National Reserve
Wildebeest on the savannah
Andre Van Kets (left) and Carel Verhoef (right) host a film crew from CNN
A lone bull elephant feeds on herbs and grass on the savannah in the Masai Mara National Reserve
A lone bull elephant stands on the savannah in the Masai Mara National Reserve.
Our last full day on safari in Kenya's magnificent Mara region. We were on game drive from sunrise to sunset - 13 and a half hours. We were rewarded with superb sightings of all three big cats: Leopard, Lion and Cheetah. And not another vehicle in sight for any of these sighings. That's the magic of the Mara.
All photos by Stuart Price of MAKE IT KENYA
A lone bull elephant in the Masai Mara National Reserve
Elephant in the Masai Mara
A bull elephant in the Masai Mara
The tusks of a lone bull elephant
A bull elephant in the Masai Mara, Kenya
A lone bull elephant feeds on herbs and grass
Elephant grazing in the Masai Mara
Bull elephant feeding in the Mara Reserve
A heavy rain storm sweeps across the savannah of the Masai Mara National Reserve
A storm brews in the Masai Mara
A sub-adult member of the Marsh Pride looks up at a passing eagle overhead in the Masai Mara National Reserve
A dominant male of the Marsh Pride walks across the savannah of the Masai Mara National Reserve
Members of the Marsh Pride sit atop an earthen mound on the savannah of the Masai Mara National Reserve
Two sub-adult members of the Marsh Pride
A lioness greets a dominant male of the Marsh Pride
A heavy rain shower sweeps across the savannah of the Masai Mara National Reserve
A line of wildebeest makes its way south beneath the Oloololo escarpment in the Mara Triangle
A male leopard in the Mara Triangle - which forms part of Kenya's wider Masai Mara ecosystem.
A male leopard in the Mara Triangle
A pair of topi antelope stand side-by-side to keep watch for predators in the Mara Triangle
A young male leopard in the early morning light
A young male leopard in the Mara Triangle
A young male leopard in the Masai Mara
A young male leopard spotted in the Mara Triangle
A young male leopard stalks its prey in the Mara Triangle
A young male leopard stalks through long grass in the golden morning light just after sunrise in the Mara Triangle
A young male leopard stalks through long grass
A young zebra foal not more than a few days old, stands with its mother in the Mara Triangle
An elusive young male leopard in the Masai Mara
Close up view of a male leopard
What an incredible week in the Mara. While Carel and Stuart went on a morning game drive with wildlife photographer Lou Coetzer, Andre spent the morning enjoying Kichwa Tembo's peaceful and relaxing setting. We flew out to Nairobi around midday, to connect with our international flights from Jomo Kenyata International Airport. Big thanks to the team from MAKE IT KENYA for hosting the HerdTracker team. Safari Njema.
All photos by Stuart Price of MAKE IT KENYA
A migratory European bee-eater sits on the branch of a tree in the Mara Triangle
A line of wildebeest makes it's way south beneath the Oloololo Escarpment in the Mara Triangle
Wildebeest beneath the Oloololo Escarpment
A nomadic male lion stands under a desert date tree
A male lion rests in the shade of a desert date tree
A nomadic male lion watches lines of wildebeest and Burchell's zebra
A male lion in the Masai Mara
A Bateleur eagle flies over the savannah near the Oloololo Escarpment in the Mara Triangle
A Bateleur eagle flies over the savannah of the Masai Mara
Andre Van Kets (left) and Carel Verhoef (far right) co-founders of HerdTracker, prepare for a live broadcast
Andre Van Kets (left) and Carel Verhoef co-founders of HerdTracker, prepare for a live broadcast on the Twitter application Periscope
Andre Van Kets, co-founder of HerdTracker
Carel Verhoef (left) and Andre Van Kets, co-founders of HerdTracker
Carel Verhoef (left) and Andre Van Kets, co-founders of HerdTracker, prepare for a live broadcast
A line of elephants makes it's way across the savannah between wildebeest and Burchell's zebra in the Mara Triangle
An Augur buzzard takes flight from a tree stump on the savannah near the Oloololo Escarpment in the Mara Triangle
An Augur buzzard near the Oloololo Escarpment in the Mara Triangle
A Tawny eagle dives down towards a recent cheetah kill on the savannah in the Mara Triangle
Game drive in the Mara Triangle
Looking for the wildebeest migration
The savannah plains in the Masai Mara
Thousands of wildebeest crossed the Mara River in July, August and September. Here are some highlights as reported by HerdTracker's migration tracking app earlier in the season.
The #MaraLive safari broadcast is brought to you by MakeItKenya.com - the newly launched Kenya international campaign, offering a rich source of digital content and inspiration for travellers and media.
HerdTracker is web-app that tracks the great migration in real-time on a Google map. Follow the migration from your mobile phone, tablet or PC - or use it to plan your next migration safari to Kenya.
www.discoverafrica.com/herdtracker
Learn more about the #MaraLive safari broadcast partners and special guests.
Governors Camp nestles in the forest along the winding banks of the Mara River, it's waters teeming with bird-life, hippo and crocodile, in the heart of Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve. Some of the 37 tents line the riverbank, tucked into the forest they enjoy uninterrupted views over the Mara River, others have views across the sweeping plains of the Masai Mara.
Created in 1972 Governors Camp set new standards in luxury for a tented camp. Today it's still Africa's best. Everything is under canvas, all tents have en-suit bathrooms with hot and cold running water and flushing toilets. There is a bar tent with deck overlooking the Mara River and dinning tent with views over the plains.
Known as Kenya's best loved safari camp, Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp offers a quintessential game viewing experience, with sweeping vistas of the Masai Mara and the Sabaringo River. Located where the riverine forest meets the sweeping plains in the path of the awe-inspiring Great Migration, the camp provides an authentic dose of African wildlife, delivered with legendary Kenyan hospitality.
Kichwa Tembo is renowned for its gracious teams of Kenyan staff whose warm welcome, charming service and effortless energy delight guests from all over the world.
Kenyan safari packages offered by DiscoverAfrica.com, the creators of HerdTracker
Victoria Johnson
Make It Kenya
tourism@makeitkenya.com
Tel: +97 156 932 7530
