Crossing Points of The Mara Triangle : Little Peninsula

Last week I shared some images form The Peninsula Crossing point in the Mara Triangle Conservancy and this week we are heading a couple of hundred metres upstream (North) from the Peninsula to a smaller and less frequently used crossing point we refer to as “Little Peninsula”.

As you can see, this point is not nearly as pronounced as the Peninsula and doesn’t build as much pressure as the peninsula as a result of the wider entry point.

What often happens is that herds build on the edge of this small peninsula only to eventually drift downstream towards the actual Peninsula where, as a result of the increased pressure, they end up crossing. This can be quite frustrating as we have often sat with a group standing on the edges of the river, only to have the mass of the the herd move off to the peninsula.

That being said, the handful of crossings that I have witnessed here have been spectacular.

This last season we were privileged enough to have watched a crossing taking place at sunset. The only reason we were able to stick around was that camp was just 5 minutes away! A large male leopard also joined in the evening action, hunting along the exit points on our side of the river.

Whilst the view of the main entry point is beautifully clear, it is almost impossible to see the exit points as a result of the steep embankment on our side of the river. Images of the entry and exit points are almost impossible unless one is positioned slightly upstream and looking down the river. The scale of the herd entering and approaching the river is all but lost from this angle though.

Early morning light originating from low on the horizon makes for incredible shadows and shafts of light striking the dust in the early mornings at this crossing point.

These shadows and low light make for great panning opportunities as the frantic herds move along the river banks trying to find a safe entry point into the Mara River.

This is the second crossing point I’ve covered in this series so far, both of which are less than 4 km downstream from one of our regularly used camp locations. If you think that’s impressive, there are still another 3 crossing points upstream of these two before we reach the location of the Wild Eye Mara Camp.

5 pretty impressive crossing points which provide dramatic photographic opportunities, all within 4 km’s of our camp. It’s no wonder so many people have chosen to travel with us and experience this for themselves!

About the Author

Andrew Beck

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Very few people can tell you what their passion in life is. Even fewer will be able to tell you that what they do for a living is in fact their passion. My love for the bush and conservation took me on journey which would not only allow me to explore the continent which fascinates me so much, but to share my passion for photography and conservation with others. Be sure to check out my my website and instagram account.