July & August Photo Contest Winners Announced

Our call for submissions in the July and August Micato Safaris Photo Contest yielded tremendous results, once again.  Our Micato Safaris judges poured over images of kudus and gazelles, Maasai warriors and grandchildren, as well as the African landscapes of which we are so fond.  The talent of the following four photographers rose to the top this summer:

July 2015
WINNER
Grant Stephens

Grant tells us that while on safari in East Africa with his parents, “We came across dead impala in a tree and we became quite excited when our drivers told us we were close to a Leopard. We anxiously drove around searching different trees for this amazing hunter. We came across this beautiful Leopard and gazed upon it as it stared back at us. Soon the Leopard stood up, hopped onto a lower branch then jumped out of the tree. I had had my camera focused on him the whole time waiting for an opportunity to photograph him. As this magnificent leopard ran away, I looked down at my camera screen and was just ecstatic with the moment that I had captured.”

July  2015
HONOURABLE MENTION
Lucie Fjeldstad

We agree with Lucie when she says that “Kenya is NOT just about the wildlife.  It’s about endless savannahs, sunrises, sunsets and some of the friendliest, most colorful people you will find anywhere in the world.”  She went on to question “Wouldn’t the entire world be better if we all dressed in bright and lively colors?  It couldn’t help but brighten our day, much like meeting this fellow and his family did for us when our guide took us to a Maasai village.  Everyone was so welcoming and friendly!   The costumes, the colors, the jewelry, and even the hairstyles are gorgeous, regardless of whether we are talking about the men or the women or the children!”

August 2015
WINNER
Bob Fjeldstad

Bob tells us that “Once you are within 20-25 miles of Victoria Falls you can see the cloud of water vapor rising over 1000 feet in the distance and you begin to understand how that cloud resembles smoke!  Then as you get closer and closer to the Falls you hear the crashing of hundreds of tons of water a mile wide careening over 350 feet to the rocks below sending up clouds of spray and mist high up into the sky.”

He says that “The nickname of “the Smoke that Thunders” seems so apropos!!!  It is impossible to capture the breadth of Victoria Falls in a single picture frame from ground level.  So in the absence of today’s aerial drones, we found a helicopter service that would take us around the Falls.  While the Falls are stunning from ground level, they are unbelievable from above and we took tons of pictures, ” and we wholeheartedly agree!

August 2015
HONOURABLE MENTION
Simon Shore

Teenager Simon Shore may just be our youngest Honourable Mention in the history of the Micato Safaris Photo Contest.  He tells us that while he was travelling in East Africa with his parents, “We ran into these beautiful cubs just as the sun was setting.  We followed them from the tall grasses to this deserted ant hill and watched them enjoy the cool evening and locate the perfect kill.”  Simon feels that “This photo captures the powerful bond of this beautiful cat family.”

Is next month’s winner or honourable mention sitting on your hard drive?  Regardless of when you travelled on Safari with us, your photos are eligible.  You just may be the winner of next month’s $250 credit in our online Safari Shop.  For details on how to enter, and to view photos from our past winners, be sure to visit the Micato Photo Contest on our website.