To enter the world of an African safari is to take a step into a primal and magical realm. Here majestic creatures both great and small and all wildly diverse have survived for millennia—each generation providing a link to an ancient past they all share. There are few places on earth that provide a glimpse into ecosystems such as this where the visitor is privileged to witness a space that seems both timeless and unchanged—a rarity in our modern civilization.
Of course, the camps and lodges that dot the landscape offer luxury and comforts unknown in earlier times—but in the end, these are not the primary reasons many adventurers immerse themselves here. Rather it is to experience a connection to the natural world that pulses with the flow of life—the drama between prey and predator, birth and death, and the profound beauty displayed by each individual in its efforts to survive and thrive while playing a small role in a much larger picture.
I have had the extreme pleasure of experiencing an African safari six times in over a forty-year span in both Eastern and Southern African destinations. My first was a honeymoon in Kenya—and I finally returned to this spectacular country in October 2020—exactly 43 years later to the date. The sprawl of Nairobi was greater and the traffic much busier but upon arrival into the world-famous parks and reserves in Kenya, I was grateful to find that things seemed much the same.
Photography on safari has changed dramatically over the passing decades. Using Kodak film was always challenging as the number of photos you could take on each roll was limited. You were not able to see your results until your film was processed upon your return home which offered a combination of joy and angst when the pictures were finally delivered! Today, you can peruse photos during the safari and get confirmation that you are getting the pictures you expected. Either way, what you experience on safari is a combination of luck and the expertise of your driver guide. Years later the animals still pose in similar manner—perhaps a baby elephant seen in 1977 is now one of the magnificent matriarchs leading her own family and providing wisdom for a new generation—the famous cycle of life!
Please enjoy some photos taken on safari in Kenya with film using Kodak slides in 1977 contrasted with digital format in 2020.
