John Broderick and his wife Carol travelled with Wayfairer to Saruni Samburu and Saruni Wild in January 2020.
They spent 3 nights in the arid north of Kenya in the Samburu region famed for isolation and authenticity, plus 4 nights in the iconic and dramatic Masai Mara on Kenya's Southern border with Tanzania's Serengeti National Park.
Saruni have 4 luxury lodges throughout Kenya and they are all unique, offering a spectacular safari combining different locations but with the same respected company and atmosphere in camp. Saruni continually run a #WhyILoveSaruni Photo Competition which is certainly worth entering for the avid photographers out there!
On the 3rd July 2020 Saruni announced the winner of the 2019/2020 Saruni Photo Competition is John Broderick.
Congratulations to John who wins a 3-nights’ all-inclusive stay for two people at Saruni Samburu, Saruni Mara or Saruni Wild – internal flights included.
John Broderick & ‘The Encounter Sequence’
The thrill and suspense of nature and the wild is captured incredibly in this fantastic series of action shots. We were all left wondering…what happened next… did it, didn’t it??? Let’s hear from John himself….
“The sequence was captured on our last full day at Saruni Wild in late afternoon. We were with William Tinka, the expert guide that Saruni lodges assigned to us for the four days we stayed at Saruni Wild. I spotted the Martial eagle perched high on a tree and began taking images. The eagle took off, flying high in the sky out of view. William (Tinka) said, “John, get ready. The eagle is looking for dinner and I think it will dive for a kill.”
I set my camera for high speed action wildlife photography.
I began shooting rapid fire images with my Canon Mark IV 5D. I captured the resulting “The Encounter Sequence” showing the attack on the one-day old Thomson Gazelle who had been hidden in the grass by its parents. The sequence is unique in that shows what I would term “The Way of The Wild.” The eagle attacks, the young gazelle is mortally injured, and the eagle is driven off by the adult gazelles, who risked their own lives trying to save their offspring. One of my images documents one the adult gazelles running horns raised through the eagles’ feathers while the other adult approaches the eagle at great speed. Gazelles can run at 40-50 miles per hour. The eagle flies away without the baby gazelle. Tinka told us that the eagle will be back for the baby gazelle after we drive away. Tinka drove over to where the attack occurred and picked up and showed us the infant who was still breathing but had a deep wound in its neck”.
“Reasons why I was able to take the sequence;
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Location-location: Saruni Wild in the Mara with excellent talented guide Tinka from Saruni Wild. Tinka’s (William’s) knowledge and sharp eyes and keen interest in helping his guests is the reason I got a chance to capture the “Encounter Sequence.”
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I was lucky in that I had a bit of time to get set up for the shots.
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I have lots of experience photographing birds in flight, and I had the right camera and lens to capture the sequence.”
Wayfairer are also extremely pleased to announce...
Traveller Carina Zu Löwenstein came 4th place in this competition with her entry of Hunt in Action.
Carina stayed at Saruni Mara, the only small, boutique permanent lodge in the Mara North Conservancy.
John also was shortlisted for his images named Majestic and Road Runner.
Speak to us today to plan your visit to these beautiful locations to pursue wildlife photography and viewing with expert guiding. Click here to enquire now.