Graeme Houston Photography

01/09/2026

Literally minutes after leaving camp, we spotted this stunning juvenile Dark Chanting Goshawk perched high on a bush, scanning the savanna. Naturally, we pulled up and watched it for a while, not to shabby a way to kick off a game drive!

A few wee facts about these remarkable raptors:

Why "Chanting"? During the breeding season, they perform melodious, piping vocalization sequences that sound like a rhythmic chant.

Tactical Hunters: They love using high perches to target small mammals, reptiles, and insects. They’re even known to follow honey badgers and ground hornbills to sn**ch up whatever prey gets flushed out!

A Work in Progress: You can tell this one is a youngster by its brownish plumage and mottled chest. As it matures, it will molt into smooth slate-grey feathers and get a vibrant red-orange cere and legs.

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30/08/2026

There is nothing quite like drifting over the Mara Triangle with Governor's Balloon Safaris, and the lion drama on the ground did not disappoint!

Behind those majestic manes, male lions live a pretty wild, brutal, and occasionally hilarious life. Here’s what’s really going on behind those sightings:

1. Heavy Lies the Crown
A mature male lounging under a tree looks like absolute royalty. But living as an apex predator takes a massive toll. To hold down a territory, males form alliances called coalitions (usually brothers or mates). Their main job is brute-force defense against rival coalitions and heavy prey like buffalo. Seeing a magnificent male rise to reveal a crushed hip or old injury is a tough reminder of just how brutal life in the wild can be.

2. The Ultimate "Tangy" Face
Ever seen a male lion catch a whiff of a female’s scent and pull a face like he just swallowed a lemon? That funny, lip-curling grimace isn't disgust, it’s science!

It’s called the Flehmen response:

Lions have a specialized sensory organ in the roof of their mouth called the vomeronasal organ (or Jacobson’s organ).

By curling back his lip and baring his teeth, he traps scent particles and draws them directly into this organ.

He isn't judging her for being a bit "tangy", he’s running a chemical analysis on her hormones to see if she's ready for rumpy pumpy, bush style!

Nothing beats seeing the bush come to life, both from the air and on the ground!

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27/08/2026

Prime real estate in the bush!

Every day when we drive past this pool after our morning flights, nature hands us a fresh surprise. A few days ago we had this Grey Heron that decided a sleeping hippo made for the perfect fishing platform!

Nature’s Uber is looking pretty solid today. 😂

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27/08/2026

As a photographer, spending time in the Mara means constantly observing. But even the most experienced eyes need help identifying the incredible variety of bird species here.

I was intrigued by the promise of AI-assisted identification, so last August, I backed the Kickstarter for the Matata-Xplore Solvia 8x32 AI binoculars. After a full year of waiting, they finally arrived in my hands.

The concept is clever: you spot a bird, use the binoculars to 'sample' it (essentially a digital capture via a small sensor), and the on-board AI identifies the species.

Here is my honest take after testing them in the field:

✅ THE GOOD: The AI has been surprisingly accurate! It’s genuinely helpful for instantly confirming a species name. The core optical glass for viewing is also decent.

❌ THE BAD: While the AI is clever, I can’t recommend them as a whole right now. The image quality from that small sensor is, frankly, dreadful. It's at best a blur and full of digital noise. (The paradox is that the AI still works remarkably well, even when the image quality is so poor). There are just too many other usability issues and compromises at this stage to make them a practical tool. Even though the species is correct, the database is not running in tandem, so what might be a White Browed Robin Chat, is described as a green parakeet.

I’m going to persevere and see if I can figure them out, wait for decent firmware updates, but for serious observation, my Jason Permafocus are staying close!

12/08/2026

Happy World Elephant Day!

Target practice in the wild!

It almost looks like this elephant is using the local cattle egrets for target practice, but these clever birds aren't bothered in the slightest, they know sticking close to an elephant is the best meal ticket in the bush!

The Power of the Herd & Their Feathered Friends
On World Elephant Day, we celebrate not just these incredible giants, but the vital ecosystems they support. An elephant’s everyday life creates a ripple effect across the wild:

The Ultimate Be**er Fleet: As elephants trek through tall grass and splash around waterholes, they flush out swarms of grasshoppers, frogs, and insects. For cattle egrets, following a multi-ton bulldozer is pure convenience.

Built-in Pest Control & Security: In exchange for front-row dining, egrets help pick off unwanted parasites and act as early-warning spotters, letting out alarm calls whenever something unusual approaches.

Ecosystem Engineers: From digging water holes that benefit dozens of species to creating paths through dense brush, elephants truly shape the wilderness for everyone around them, egrets included!


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10/08/2026

Meet one of the Mara’s original janitors!

Spotting this, not so handsome chap looking out over his domain, he’s just biding his time while the local predators finish up with whatever herbivore met its maker today. (One day you're a majestic herbivore, the next day, a Bush Poo.)

While lions, cheetah and leopards get all the glory, these guys are the essential cleanup crew keeping the ecosystem healthy and disease-free!

This particular bird is a Rüppell’s Vulture, you can tell by that gorgeous, scaled-looking feather pattern on his back, they have bright amber eyes, and a pale yellow bill!

A few wee factoids about these savannah custodians:

High-Altitude Champions: Rüppell's Vultures hold the world record for the highest recorded bird flight at a staggering 37,000 feet (11,300 meters)! That’s commercial airliner altitude!

Ironclad Stomachs: Their stomach acid sits near a pH of 0, allowing them to safely digest bacteria and deadly toxins like anthrax and botulism that would kill other animals.

Big Appetites: A single vulture can scran up to 1kg of meat in just one sitting. Makes them a very efficient clean up crew.

Without these heavy-duty sanitation workers, the savannah would be a much grimmer place. Next time you spot one, give him a nod of respect! And, they never go on strike, much respect.

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07/08/2026

Mid-afternoon on a game drive is usually far from ideal, the light is harsh, glaring, and unforgiving. But when it’s the time you’re out, you make the most of it.

Honestly, I was feeling a bit distracted today, carrying a lot on my mind, when a few zebras started walking right towards us. Neither my camera nor I were quite ready for the moment, but I snapped the shot anyway.

When the light and timing don't line up, sometimes you just have to lean into the chaos and try something artistic. A little playing around in post and converting it to black and white gave it a whole new life. It turns out "imperfect" can turn into
Sometimes in photography—and in life—you just have to take what you’re given and turn it into art.

What do you think?

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Award winning photographer.
Currently based in the Mara Triangle, Kenya. Professional Hot Air Balloon Pilot at Governor's Balloon Safaris.

06/08/2026

Feathers, Fins, and Loud Alarm Calls: A Week in the Field!

Spent some time behind the lens this week and was treated to a fantastic mix of avian characters,from tactical precision fishers to the absolute divas of the skies.

Here’s a look at who made the cut for this week’s gallery:

1. Little Bee-eater
Don't let the small size fool you; these tiny acrobat-jewels are absolute aerial precision hunters. Watching them dart off a perch, sn**ch an insect mid-air, and return to the exact same spot to whack it against a branch never gets old.

2. Yellow-billed Stork
Pure elegance in motion. With that bright yellow bill, deep pink face, and slow-motion wading style, they look like they stepped straight out of a watercolor painting.

3. African Jacana
Also known as the "lily-trotter" (or the "Jesus bird"), thanks to ridiculously long toes that let them walk on floating vegetation as if it were solid ground. Watching them sprint across lily pads with zero effort is always a treat!

4. Hadada Ibis
The undisputed 5:00 AM alarm clock of the wild! Love them or hate their famous, ear-splitting "HA-DA-DA!" call, you have to appreciate their glossy, iridescent wing feathers when the light hits just right.

5. Little Heron
The master of patience. Compact, stealthy, and completely motionless in the reeds until—snap!—a lightning-fast strike. A masterclass in focus for any photographer.

6. Lilac-breasted Roller
Saved the showstopper for last. With a palette of pastel purple, turquoise, emerald green, and rich brown, it’s basically a living rainbow. Always a crowd favorite, and for good reason!

Which one is your favorite shot of the set? Let me know in the comments!

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06/08/2026

The fine line between environmental depth and total visual obstruction!

When tracking a serval through thick cover, foreground foliage can be a wonderful asset. When it works, it frames the subject, adds context, and gives the image a sense of place,much like wildlife photographer Simon D'Entremont demonstrated with his stunning portrait of a male lion peering through foreground grass (https://bit.ly/4wEiUj7). The grass didn't block the lion; it elevated the frame.

With a bit of careful editing in Image 1, removing one leave opens up those gorgeous, intense eyes and brings the cat’s face back into focus while keeping the natural, thicket frame intact.

Then... there are moments like Image 2..

Nature somehow arranged a cluster of leaves and a twig into the exact shape of a cat face, neatly masking the eyes and nose! It’s almost impressive how precisely placed that obstacle was to ruin a great moment.

These were taken on the way back from flying using my Sony RX10iv.

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05/08/2026

I was sitting outside enjoying a quiet cup of tea at my house in the Mara yesterday, minding my own business, when this showstopper swooped in and landed in the tree right in front of me!

I ditched the mug, grabbed the camera, and managed to snap these two shots before it took off again.

This dramatic visitor is a Long-Crested Eagle, easily recognizable by that legendary, funky, punk-rock feathered crest.

A few quick, cool facts about this majestic raptor:

The Ultimate Mohawk: That dramatic crest isn't just for show, when they're alert or perching in the wind, those long head feathers flare up into a full, striking crown.

Savannah Pest Control: Their diet consists almost entirely of small rodents and snakes. They love perching in tall, open trees near grasslands to scan for any tiny movement in the grass below.

Piercing Glances: Those intense, golden-yellow eyes give them one of the most striking and focused stares in the entire avian world!

Definitely one of the best tea-break interruptions I've had out here in a long time.

Taken with my Nikon Z8 and Sigma 600mm lens.

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