Sunset over Amboseli

The sun has set over Amboseli for about 30 minutes. The elephants in the swamp are heading back to spend the night in the woods on the other side, accompanied by the wildebeests.

The silence is impressive, with a few footsteps, like whispers cutting through the water that seems golden like fine gold, accompanied by the typical grunts of wildebeests in the distance. We are overwhelmed, even assaulted, by the tranquility, peace, and calm that radiate from this moment.

Being a wildlife photographer in Africa, is not just about taking pictures of wild animals; this passion is much more consuming, and it would take pages of writing to explain its meaning.

To summarize, and in my case, it can be divided into three important segments:

1. "Capturing the Wild Moment"

Photographing a cheetah's hunt, the flight of a bird of prey, the furtive glance of a leopard in its tree, or the imposing mass of an approaching elephant is about capturing the very essence of nature: free, unpredictable, vibrant. Each image tells a story that only the present moment could offer.

2. "Immersing in Exceptional Landscapes"

The golden plains, winding rivers, and endless skies become the setting for each encounter. The beauty of the places we explore enhances each photo, grounding the animal in a dreamlike backdrop.

3. "Feeding on Calm and Wonder"

When the eye is settled behind the lens, everything calms down. The silence of the savanna, the golden light of the evening, the subtle breath of the animal… It is in this harmony that the magic of wildlife photography is born.

And with all this, I completely forgot to mention the scent:

"the scent of the wind."

A wind that doesn’t smell like anything specific but carries the essence of vast spaces and freedom. The smell of African soil after rain exudes a warm aroma of damp earth, a fragrance of crushed grass, a heavy, mineral scent, as if the soil itself is breathing after drinking the rain.

"After the scent of the wind, there's the scent of life."

The wrinkled leather of elephants, often soaked in urine; the musky fur of buffaloes; the distant carcasses—raw scents that remind us that life and death coexist in a cordial agreement.

And finally (we're not going to spend Christmas on this too!), there are the fragrances of morning and evening, the distant smells of extinguished campfires from the lodges, a humid scent of water and acacias, with that earthy aroma that will only remain damp until the sun rises.

So that's roughly what this photo posted below makes me feel when I see it. Now, I’m going to stop here as it’s starting to get a bit long, isn’t it? Hugs to all.

It is 6:50 PM in Amboseli.

1/10 s - f2.8 - ISO 1000 - 14 mm - Nikon Z9 - Nikkor 14/24 mm f2.8E.

Texte & photographies : Christophe DandurandMara Major Camp – Masai Mara, Kenyawww.maramajorcamp.com