No two safaris are the same: A Photographer's perspective

I hope you will join me more than once in a workshop! As a wildlife photographer, I’ve had the privilege of engaging some of the most breathtaking landscapes on Earth. The Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha—these places have become familiar terrain, yet no matter how many times I return, one thing remains true: every visit is different.

I remember my very first safari, the sheer excitement of tracking a pride of lions as they lounged in the golden grass and a hippo reminding me of his territory on Lake Naivasha. The next safari? Those same lions were nowhere to be found and I did not even see a hippo, but instead, I witnessed a dramatic cheetah hunt that left us breathless. By my fifth safari, I had seen torrential rainstorms turn the Mara into a misty dreamscape, elephants vanishing into the fog. On my tenth, we followed a leopard up a tree with its recent kill—something I had never experienced before.

Even after countless safaris, I still arrive with no expectations, only anticipation. The wildlife writes its own script. One day, a herd of elephants may appear at dawn, dust swirling in the golden light. The next, a pride of lions may steal the scene with a playful morning greeting. Some days are filled with heart-pounding action, while others reveal quiet, intimate moments—a mother giraffe nuzzling her calf, a lone jackal trotting across the plains.

That’s the beauty of nature—its unpredictability. No two safaris, no two game drives, and certainly no two photographs are ever the same. It’s a constant lesson in patience, adaptability, and appreciation for the wild as it unfolds. Each safari brings a new story, a new challenge, and a fresh perspective, no matter how many times I’ve been there before.

So, for those who think they’ve “seen it all” after one safari, I smile. Because I know that the next time they return, the Mara will greet them with something entirely new—just as it always does for me. And that is what makes wildlife photography endlessly exciting.

Have you ever returned to a place only to experience it in a completely new way? Tell me about it!