Our guide, Makko, pointed out this Rhino to us towards the end of a long afternoon of driving. Hushed excitement gave way to silent awe as the scene unfolded in front of us.

Here is a group photo of the amazing Masai Warriors that guided our entire journey from the moment our plane touched down on the dirt runway. Their guidance and friendship made this trip an absolute dream come true.

Elephants have to cover large amounts of territory to find food, water, and room to roam. We found them scattered across the landscape in small family groups. They were curious but wary of our vehicles and presence, so we kept our distance and used long lenses to get closer shots. These animals were majestic, and a reminder of what is at stake when we talk about conservation of these lands and animals.

The cathedrals here are of natural construction- nature itself is the architect of sacred spiritual spaces. This ancient tree was the centerpiece of our Conservancy Camp, and we gathered around a bonfire to hear stories of this land and learn traditional dances and songs from our Masai guides. One tradition is seeing who can jump the highest, in order to prove ones strength. We all jumped as high as we could, but it was never as high as the warriors. As sparks flew upwards like spirits from the embers, we basked in the warm glow of each others companionship.

Whenever I travel, I always find myself gazing at the moon. It's like a celestial anchor, rooting us in the same reality, no matter from where on earth we are watching. To gaze up and know that others around the world are looking at the same thing makes me feel deeply connected to the global community, of which we are all a small part.

As we drove back to camp after a 12 hour day of exploring, the skies exploded into one of the most stunning sunsets I have ever seen. We stopped the car to make a few images and bask in the colorful heat of the last breaths of daylight.

No Safari would be complete without these majestic felines making an appearance. I've only ever seen them in nature shows and maybe at the zoo- either way, nothing could prepare me for this encounter. Their calm strength is obvious, even as they lay in the shade and rested, their eyes were scanning, hyper-aware of all that occurred around them. Just when we thought things couldn't possibly get more interesting, three cubs emerged from the brush. Luckily I had a 200mm lens and could get really close for the visuals without disturbing the group.

Cheetahs are famously the fastest land animals, achieving speeds of 65-75 MPH at full clip. Fortunately the ones we encountered were more interested in resting, which made for some stunning poses and cute moments between a mother and her cubs. To see these animals in their natural environment was a privilege I won't ever take for granted.

Back at camp, we turned some downtime into lessons about traditional weapons and hunting techniques employed by the native peoples of this land. Bows, clubs, and spears were explained and we all took our turns trying to hit static targets. Our guides made it look easy, but when we took things into our own hands, the targets seemed rather easy to miss.

The local villagers live in ways that we would consider more humble, mud huts for permanent shelter and wood fires to heat the interiors. The windows are barely there to keep them invisible by night, and the interiors are often smoke filled from cooking. While the Masai might lack what we consider modern amenities, they certainly don't lack the more important things- community, connection, and family support. We visited this local village and we were able to purchase handmade items like blankets and jewelry. That money helps to support their group here in the Masai Mara.

This land was so expansive and full of life that it almost felt like we were visiting another planet. Maybe it was the fact that we were so far from home, or the fact that so much of what we saw was completely fresh to our eyes- but no matter the perspective we took, I felt entirely transported. Here are some more of the animals we were lucky enough to encounter during our trip.

These days were long, bumpy excursions into the wilderness. Having a camp to come back to was a beautiful way to end each day. Absolute calm permeated our little corner of the forest. Animals wandered through with abandon, unconcerned about the guests in their natural landscape. We were able to connect with our fellow travelers and have deep conversations about our experiences.

Cottars has a vintage Rolls Royce for special trips out for sunsets. On our last night, we drove out into the hills, had champagne, and reflected on everything we had witnessed. One thing I know for sure is that it won't be my last time visiting this part of the world. This experience changed me forever and if you ever get the chance to experience it for yourself, I'm sure it will change you too. Thank you to Kin Travel for the experience, Brian Jones for the vision, Calvin and the whole Cottars family for the hospitality, and our local guides for their inclusion. I cannot express my gratitude in words fully, so hopefully these pictures will suffice.