Hippopotamus at Maasai Mara

Few sights capture the Maasai Mara's riverine stretches quite like a pod of hippopotamus lounging in the waters of the Mara, their bulk hidden below the surface but for the eyes, ears and nostrils breaking the water. The reserve's open grasslands and acacia woodland give way to these forested river margins, offering photographers a chance to frame hippos against the greenery that lines the water's edge. Guests joining African Wildlife of the Maasai Mara typically encounter this scene in October, when the riverine habitat remains a reliable draw for the species. Patience by the riverbank is well rewarded here, as the interplay of light on water and hide makes for genuinely striking images.