Justin Bell, Author at A Step Ahead

A Small Cat Hunts

Justin Bell2016-09-21T08:01:06+01:00African Safari, Justin Bell, Rare species, Tanzania|

The Land-cruiser stopped so that we could watch a group of chattering banded mongooses rushing across the track. Every now and then one would stand on his hind legs and look around in case there was danger. While there one of us noticed a water monitor lizard lounging over an acacia branch above us. He seemed to have an ideal spot to enjoy a cool breeze, and we wouldn’t have noticed him if we hadn’t been parked underneath him. Then something flashed past the front of the Land-Cruiser, and a second later we heard the squealing of a distraught mongoose.

The Upside Down Tree

Justin Bell2023-11-24T12:39:47+01:00African Safari, Justin Bell, Tanzania|

I am back in Ruaha national park in central Tanzania. The last time I was here was a couple of years ago. I am not sure why I like this park so much, aside from the stunning amount of wildlife I usually see here. Perhaps it is something to do ...

The rarest large cat in Africa

Justin Bell2020-04-23T12:07:04+01:00Justin Bell, Major predators, Tanzania|

Most people who come on safari hope to see some of the big cats – lion, leopard and cheetah. Nearly everyone will see a lion, and more likely several. Depending on where you are on safari, there is a good chance of seeing one of the other two large felines. ...

A night under the stars

Justin Bell2014-08-30T12:24:40+01:00African Safari, Justin Bell, Tanzania|

As we arrived at the exclusive Kiba Point Lodge in the Selous Game Reserve (Tanzania), waiters greeted us with fresh towels and a frosty glass of passion juice. The lodge emanates space, even though it is tucked in the shady trees of a riverine forest. All the structures are built ...

Special species – lesser kudu

Justin Bell2014-08-30T19:19:12+01:00African Safari, Justin Bell, Rare species|

The last great wilderness areas in warm climes are in Africa. Most of these areas have only been dramatically effected by man in the last 100 years. As a result we are lucky today to be able to see an astounding number of animals while on safari. Some species do ...

Our first day in Namibia

Justin Bell2019-12-13T16:55:12+01:00African Safari, Justin Bell, Namibia, Rare species|

We had left the lush green swamps of the Okavango Delta a day before. One of the last activities we did there was riding in a mokoro alongside a family of African elephants. We were poled through the channel, gliding an arm’s length from the elephants, as they sloshed their ...

Hungry lions – Our second day at Vumbura

Justin Bell2014-08-30T12:25:21+01:00African Safari, Botswana, Justin Bell, Major predators|

So, Wild Dogs hunting on Day One at Vumbura. Could Day Two possibly come close to that? The following afternoon we had planned a mokoro (dugout canoe) ride in the Delta. We set off from the camp after tea, heading in the direction of the place in one of the ...

Our First Day at Vumbura in the Okavango Delta

Justin Bell2019-12-13T17:06:37+01:00African Safari, Botswana, Justin Bell, Rare species|

The African Wild Dog is one of Africa’s rarest large predators. Although they may look a little thin and sometimes mangy, I have a great deal of respect for these much maligned animals. I hoped to see them in March when I was on safari on the Serengeti Plains (Tanzania), ...

Tracking a White Stork

Justin Bell2024-11-27T07:35:40+01:00Journeys, Justin Bell, Serengeti|

I catch the daily morning flight on KLM from Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The airport terminal disappears from view within a few minutes of leaving the gate as we taxi through the mist and line up for take off. There is not much to see through the window but ...

A closer look at the migration

Justin Bell2024-11-27T07:34:14+01:00African Safari, Justin Bell, Serengeti, Tanzania|

We were on safari to witness the wildebeest migration in the green season, when they tend to disperse on the Plains, and we did. Wildebeest were everywhere – around us, behind us, and spread out far into the distance. Sometimes we could see lighter-colored bands of animals, which were herds ...

Young cheetahs hunting

Justin Bell2024-11-27T07:34:14+01:00African Safari, Justin Bell, Major predators, Rare species, Serengeti, Tanzania|

A contrast to the scenario from my previous post was to happen a few days later when we found two hungry sub-adult cheetah attempting to hunt in an area further west of the Serengeti Plains, where the migratory herds are unlikely to arrive until June. They were young siblings about ...

Mother cheetah – the provider

Justin Bell2024-11-27T07:34:14+01:00African Safari, Justin Bell, Major predators, Serengeti, Tanzania|

Throughout the morning we had driven across the Plains through herds of wildebeest and zebra. Day and week old wildebeest calves were everywhere. Prey was so abundant and widespread that it was hard to imagine any predator going hungry. We came across a mother cheetah and her four large cubs ...

About Justin Bell

Recent Blogs

On Rhinos

Qualities of a Guide

Dave awarded accolade

Family time with chimpanzees