Graeme Houston Photography

08/09/2026

Beyond the Big Cats: The Mara’s Hidden World

When people think of the Maasai Mara, the mind instantly jumps to big cats and the Great Migration. But pause for a moment and look up, with over 500 recorded bird species, the Mara’s feathered residents are just as breathtaking!

I spent today rummaging through some outstanding wildlife captures to give them a fresh edit. Here is a look at today's roundup:

Lilac-breasted Roller – A kaleidoscope of turquoise, purple, and green.

Little & White-fronted Bee-eaters – Vibrant, agile aerial hunters.

Black-chested Snake Eagle – A formidable raptor scanning the plains.

Rüppell's Starling – Covered in striking, iridescent metallic-blue feathers.

Spectacled Weaver Bird – Master engineers of intricate woven nests.

African Jacana – The "lily-trotter" with impossible-looking toes.

Grey Heron – A patient, regal hunter along the riverbanks.

Arrow-marked Babbler – Social, noisy characters moving in tight-knit groups.

Next time you’re on safari, don't forget to scan the canopy—there’s an entire world beyond the big game!

Which species is your favorite shot? Let me know below!

Governor's Balloon Safaris Get Birding Podcast fans Nikon DxO Adobe PhotoshopAdobe Lightroom

07/09/2026

I usually drive straight past giraffes, 99% of the time they’re just standing around tall in a boring spot, doing absolutely heehaw! But this "tower" caught my eye down drinking and spraying water everywhere, so I used the 600mm lens to at pretty much full reach to lock them in. It wasn't until I reviewed the shots later that I spotted the real surprise: a whole hitchhiking crew of oxpeckers!

Turns out there was a lot going on in this frame. Drinking is high-risk for giraffes because doing the front-leg "splits" leaves them vulnerable to predators ( the fella in the pics could lose his twig and berries to a passing predator). Luckily, their oxpecker sidekicks double as a mobile spa and alarm system, scranning on ticks while keeping a lookout for danger.

ID Tip: Spotting oxpeckers in the wild? Red-billed Oxpeckers have a solid red beak and a yellow ring around their eyes, while Yellow-billed Oxpeckers have a yellow-and-red beak with no eye ring!

fans Nikon

05/09/2026

The "Widowmaker"

With the large numbers of Cape buffalo here in the Mara Triangle, I often just drive by. But this fella was standing his ground and posing so perfectly that I had to grab a photo.

He might look calm, but Cape buffalo haven't earned the terrifying nicknames "The Widowmaker" and "The Black Death" for nothing. They're part of Africa’s Big Five and are widely considered one of the most dangerous animals on the continent.

Old, solitary bulls like this one are often dubbed "Dagga Boys" (from the local word for mud) because they spend their golden years wallowing in mud holes to cool off, soothe their skin, and protect their aging joints.

A "M'bogo" is Not a Cow: In some parts of East Africa, the Cape buffalo is sometimes referred to as "M'bogo." While they resemble cows, they are a completely distinct species.

The Herd Protects: While they look intimidating individually, they are exceptionally social animals. When threatened, they often form a tight, defensive circle with mothers and calves in the middle.

A Memory Like An Elephant: They have a phenomenal memory. There are many documented cases where buffalo have tracked and "sought revenge" on hunters who had previously wounded them, sometimes many years later.

Self-Medication: When they have ticks or internal parasites, buffalo have been observed to "self-medicate" by rolling in specific types of mud or eating certain plants.

Voting Behavior: When the herd needs to decide where to move next, "voting" sometimes occurs. Some observers note individuals turning and lying down in a particular direction to suggest the herd's next heading.

fans Nikon

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.

fans Nikon Get Birding Podcast

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!

fans Nikon Sony

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. 😂

fans Governor's Balloon Safaris Get Birding Podcast

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!


fans Mara Elephant Project Governor's Balloon Safaris Get Birding Podcast

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.

fans Nikon Governor's Balloon Safaris

Get Birding Podcast

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?

Follow for more..


fans Governor's Balloon Safaris Nikon

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