Masai Mara, Kenya

Ultimate Meditation

01 / 01

OM-1 Mark II · OM 150-600mm F5.0-6.3

150 mmƒ6.31/125ISO 200

The story

Another day on the Mara comes to a close — intense again, full of moments. After six in the evening, no tourist is allowed to remain in the reserve. So we head back to the lodge. We have ten minutes left, and so we asked our guide Brian to pull over. Engine off. We want to fully soak in this rare moment of stillness.

We can hear the wind picking up across the endless savanna plains; above us, clouds are playing out a dramatic battle of light with the last rays of sun — at least for today… My restless eye catches a bird of prey in the distance, sitting calmly on the only acacia on the horizon, which together with another jeep racing the six o’clock curfew completes the scene beautifully.

In that moment, it feels as though no problems exist. I feel an immense sense of gratitude for being able to experience this. It’s just us and wild Africa.

What follows is a drive through the little village of Talek, a shower, dinner, and… the nightly two-hour ritual of culling the “grey and forgettable” shots over a perfectly chilled Tusker. Or three… depending on how deep into it we get — or how many bad shots need washing down.

Masai Mara, Kenya · February 13, 2026