Getting new perspectives on any well covered subject means trying less frequently used methods, such as from inside a hide.
We made use of three hides during this specialized photographic safari. One positioned at eye level with a large pod of hippos and two other hides, located below and in front of active carmine bee-eater colonies. Both of the hides offered fantastic angles for our photography and gave great results after spending several hours in each.
Photographing hippos at such close quarters is an experience in itself, but when you can get close enough to see all the detail, usually not visible from ‘normal’ angles, is when the images really ‘pop.’
The carmine bee-eaters proved a test for everyone, as they rarely sit still for long periods of time, but eventually, after some time patiently watching and waiting, as some perched, while others flitted around, we eventually got some great images!
These incredible birds nest during the early summer in the cut away banks of many of the larger rivers in this part of Africa. Tunneling about 4 foot into the wall, they lay 2-4 eggs and spend the next few months raising their chicks in the area, before migrating north into east Africa for our winter.