PICTURE OVERLOAD TODAY!

These are all from Lake Ndutu and will definitely show you why I love this area that we are only able to visit during February safari. The amount of lions we saw was nothing short of phenomenal!! But there were also SO MANY OTHER wonderful wildlife and bird sightings. Would you believe I'm already looking forward to February 2026? We now have one full vehicle for that adventure, but would love to have 15-18 people for a total of three vehicles. If you are interested in joining us, please let us know NOW and we'll send you all of the information. Our 2026 prospective travelers February newsletter will be sent out by this weekend to everyone on our list.#instinctours #arnoldmakinda #lakendutu #SerengetiNationalPark #tanzaniasafari #tanzaniatravel #africanwildlife #africansafari ... See MoreSee Less

Birds spotted at Lake Ndutu. Hopefully, Arnold Makinda can help me out with those I've misidentified or can't remember their names! ... See MoreSee Less

It is only during the February safari that we visit the Lake Ndutu area of the southern Serengeti. That visit is one of many reasons why I love to be in Tanzania this special time of year. I've only been twice now to Lake Ndutu, but it has become a favorite spot for me, and as I review my pictures from this last trip, I love this area most for the photographic opportunities.

Wildebeest, also called gnu, are part of the antelope species of mammals and are native to eastern and southern Africa. They belong to the family Bovidae, which includes true antelopes, cattle, goats, sheep, and other even-toed horned ungulates. In East Africa, the blue wildebeest is the most abundant big-game species and is a huge part of the annual migration of over 600 miles through The Serengeti. Wildebeest often graze in mixed herds with zebra, which gives heightened awareness of potential predators. They are also alert to the warning signals emitted by other animals such as baboons.By the end of February millions of wildebeest are enjoying the short grasses of the southern Serengeti and giving birth to their young. Many of them are settling down for a time in the Lake Ndutu area, so we are able to enjoy them there. On several occasions, we have been immersed in herds where you can look in all four directions (for miles) and not see the end of the wildebeest herd. The sounds of these animals grunting and moaning can be deafening!I have found it somewhat difficult to adequately capture the experience, but Doug is currently working on a video that he will post soon. Today's pictures will give you some insight into these animals.#arnoldmakinda #instinctours #tanzaniasafari #tanzania #tanzaniatravel #africanwildlife ... See MoreSee Less

Fully aware that African wildlife is not everyone's cup of tea, I plan to wrap up this adventure over the next couple of days. Today's images are from our three day visit to Serengeti, without a doubt one of the premiere wildlife habitats in the world. ... See MoreSee Less

ARE THEY PLAYING OR FIGHTING?

No visit to Serengeti is complete without visiting the hippo hangout! This pool is located fairly near one of the camps where we stay, and we are usually there early in the morning when the hippos are returning to the river after a night of roaming and grazing on land. One night on an earlier trip, I awakened to hear what I at first thought was Doug snoring, but soon realized the noise was not coming from Doug! When I questioned our night guard the next morning, he said a hippo had been lying right next to our tent part of the night, and I was hearing him breathing.From Wikipedia- "After elephants and rhinoceroses, the hippopotamus is the next largest land mammal. Despite their physical resemblance to pigs and other terrestrial even-toed ungulates, the closest living relatives of the hippopotamus are cetaceans (whales, dolphins, porpoises). Hippos are recognizable for their barrel-shaped torsos, wide-opening mouths with large canine tusks, nearly hairless bodies, pillar-like legs, and large size. Adults average 3,300 pounds for bulls (males) and 2,900 pounds for cows (females). Despite its stocky shape and short legs, it is capable of running 19 mph over short distances.Hippos inhabit rivers, lakes, and mangrove swamps. Territorial bulls each preside over a stretch of water and a group of five to thirty cows and calves. Mating and birth both occur in the water. During the day, hippos remain cool by staying in water or mud, emerging at dusk to graze on grasses. While hippos rest near each other in the water, grazing is a solitary activity and hippos typically do not display territorial behavior on land. They are among the most dangerous animals in the world due to their aggressive and unpredictable nature. "Hippos will not win any awards for their beauty and they are not among my favorite animals, for sure, but they do have their place in the world and always provide entertainment when we visit their habitat.#arnoldmakinda #instinctours #marcycphotojourney #tanzaniasafari #wildlifephotography #hippopotamus #hippo #serengeti #serengetinationalpark ... See MoreSee Less

Another rare sighting! It was our first time to see Klipspringers. We spotted them on a group of large boulders in The Serengeti. Unfortunately, the light was not conducive to good photos, but you have to work with what you have. 🙂

Standing less than 2 feet tall at the shoulder, they can jump 10 to 15 feet straight up in the air without breaking a sweat—and their specially adapted, hold-tight hooves allow them to scamper among the rocks without breaking anything else! I assume this was a pair and believe the female was resting while the male contemplated a jump.#instinctours ... See MoreSee Less

Looking straight up, right outside my window! He was at the edge of the road as we went by and literally couldn't have been any closer. Giraffes are "browsers" and are constantly on the move from treetop to treetop eating leaves. The giraffe is the official national animal of Tanzania, and we always see plenty of them on every safari. They're definitely a personal favorite.

#instinctours ... See MoreSee Less

On the February safari, we visit four different wildlife viewing areas: Tarangire National Park, The Serengeti, Lake Ndutu (part of southern Serengeti), and Ngorongoro Crater. All four are fantastic spots to see an abundance of wildlife, and it's really hard to choose a favorite of the four locations because they are all quite different. Today's featured images were all taken in Serengeti National Park. During our visit there, we stayed in Embalaki Tented Camp, one of my favorite spots. It's many notches above camping...more in the "glamping" world. The accommodations are wonderful, food is amazing, and the staff is ready to meet your every need.

We are now taking reservations for February 2026 and would love to have you join us! If you are interested in receiving information, please let us know.(Click on each picture for best viewing and to see accompanying commentary. ALL SHARES WELCOME AND GREATLY APPRECIATED.) #instinctours #arnoldmakinda #serengeti #tanzaniasafari ... See MoreSee Less

A third rare sighting was the serval cat. We saw one in the Ndutu Lake area and another in Ngorogoro Crater. Unfortunately, the one in the crater was almost beyond the reach of my longest lens and the other one refused to turn my way. These shots are heavily cropped and not exactly what I was hoping for, but at least they give you a good idea of what this little cat looks like. ... See MoreSee Less

And another rare sighting...BAT-EARED FOX PAIR

We found these two nestled in the weeds in the Ndutu Lake area of the southern Serengeti.#marcycphotojourney #instinctours #arnoldmakinda #lakendutu #Serengeti #tanzaniasafari ... See MoreSee Less

ALMOST THERE! Now in Dulles Airport awaiting boarding for Knoxville. What better thing to do than check back over some of the thousands of photos from the trip?

One of the great things about this latest adventure was seeing a few rare sightings. The images below show a caracal cat that was one of the first things we saw upon entering The Serengeti this time. They are a little larger than a house cat and really pretty, but rather elusive, so we were thrilled to have a chance to get a picture of this one. #instinctours #arnoldmakinda #tanzaniasafari #Serengeti #marcycphotojourney ... See MoreSee Less

A fun and relaxing last day! We started the morning at Unity School (more details later), then had a memorable visit and leisurely lunch with Makinda’s family, and mid-afternoon headed to the airport. We’re now in the Addis Ababa, Ethiopia airport awaiting our flight to Washington, DC. If all goes as planned, we arrive in Knoxville tomorrow afternoon at 2:00. Yes, we’re tired,, but happy. 😍 It was a wonderful trip! ... See MoreSee Less

As it turns out, our last night here we have great internet, so I thought I'd catch up a bit. All of these images were taken in Tarangire National Park, our first safari location and a great place to see many, many elephants. We also spotted several beautiful birds in Tarangire, as well as mongooses, baboons, impalas, giraffes, and summer landscapes. One morning we saw a whole pride of lions on a recent cape buffalo kill, but I prefer not to post those pictures. It's a good thing I never get tired of photographing elephants!

#instincttours #arnoldmakinda #marcysphotojourney #Safari #safariphotography #tanzania #tanzaniasafari(SHARES ALWAYS WELCOME AND GREATLY APPRECIATED!) ... See MoreSee Less

As we move from one location to another, it's never boring. There are so many things to see and enjoy along the way. I'm always telling people that these safari trips are so much more than animals! We have found the people of Tanzania to be beautiful, kind, and so joyful. Featuring a few images today that were taken along the road as we left Arusha and drove to Tarangire National Park. #instincttours ... See MoreSee Less

You've probably figured out by now that internet has been slow and spotty so far. Here's just a few images from the first two days while in Tarangire National Park. Tarangire is known as the elephant's paradise, and we won't question that after SO MANY incredible elephant sightings. #instincttours ... See MoreSee Less

While here in Tanzania, we are really loving having time with Makinda to finalize plans for 2026 Instinct Tours. This morning we visited an authentic Maasai village, and we plan to include this experience as part of our cultural and educational emphasis. This little goat was born early this morning, and I couldn’t resist a cuddle. ... See MoreSee Less

BEFORE AND AFTER!

Look carefully at today's pictures to see how your 2024 donations (February and June) transformed a Unity School classroom. In addition to repairs of walls and floors, new paint, and brand new desks, we also bought books and school supplies and put in flushing toilets for girls and boys bathrooms. Your money goes a long ways in Tanzania!Tomorrow is the last day to donate for our current campaign. We are so thankful to have collected $1300 so far, but are still short of our $2000 goal.Thank you so much for your generosity. God is blessing our efforts! ... See MoreSee Less

Plans are really shaping up for the Tanzania Adventures 2026 with Marcy's Photo Journey and Instinct Tours! Have you thought seriously yet about going with us on a life-changing journey next year? We are traveling to Tanzania in February, June, and September and would love to have you join us.

Contact us for details!(View each image full screen for accompanying commentary. ALL SHARES GREATLY APPRECIATED.) ... See MoreSee Less

As I've watched the news today, there have been so many stories about the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp. When we visited in the summer of 2023, it was the shoes that gripped me more than anything else. A huge pile of little shoes, medium shoes, big shoes, women's shoes, men's shoes, and children's shoes...all of them once on the feet of those who were brutally killed in that horrible place.

As hard as it was to be there, I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to visit. Life changing, for sure. ... See MoreSee Less

Thanks to all who have contributed to our current Unity School fundraiser. So far response has been minimal, and we only have two more weeks! We need your help. Payment can be made through Venmo, PayPal, or personal check. ... See MoreSee Less

Not everyone thinks of birds when they think about an African safari. "The Big Five" (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and cape buffalo) are usually the first things that come to mind. Our travels to Tanzania have revealed that safaris there have some of the most unusual and beautiful birds in the world.

The Grey Crowned Crane is the national bird of Tanzania. They are omnivorous, feeding on plants, worms, insects, lizards, and small mammals. Their range stretches from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Kenya to southeastern South Africa and Tanzania. Grey Crowned Cranes are non-migratory, but undertake variable local and seasonal movements and are most abundant in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.Adult cranes can be 3-4 feet tall and weigh around 8 pounds. They mate for life and live an average of 22 years in the wild. A successful pair of mated crowned cranes will maintain their family structure for as long as 9 to 10 months, after which the young birds tend to join together in flocks, spending much of their time feeding in fields.Crowned cranes are the only cranes that roost in trees. All of their chicks hatch at the same time as well, which is uncommon among cranes. Courtship is still poorly understood; however, scientists believe it is all in the mating dance between the male and female. The dance consists of bobbing, flapping wings, and swinging circles around each other.The male is the principle defender of the pair, calling a loud warning to other cranes in his territory.I feel fortunate to have photographed these amazing birds on safari in both Kenya and Tanzania. ... See MoreSee Less

DOUBLE SALES THIS WEEKEND!

Our gallery at Painted Tree Boutiques - Knoxville, TN is having a HUGE END-OF-SEASON-SALE beginning tomorrow and going through Monday. The Cleveland location, at Grit & Grace Market, is having a FIVE YEAR BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION on Saturday.ALL REGULARLY PRICED WALL ART IS DISCOUNTED BY 25% at BOTH LOCATIONS. Come by and see us and check out current inventory. I'm confident you'll find something you love! ... See MoreSee Less

In a little over three weeks, Doug and I will again have the privilege of traveling to Tanzania and visiting Unity School. We're especially excited this time to see first hand all of the wonderful improvements that were made with your donations after we left in June! With your help, new flushing toilets were installed, one classroom was completely refurbished with wall and floor repairs, new paint, and new student desks.

Will you consider helping us again? We will be collecting donations through February 2nd. You may send us a check or donate through Venmo or PayPal. If you choose to use PayPal, it works best if we use our personal account so that we don't incur a business service charge.We will not be taking donated school supplies this time because we have found that it is much easier if we just collect money and then buy the supplies once we get to Tanzania.Each time we have asked for your help, we have exceeded our goal!All donations are greatly appreciated and will be a blessing to these precious students. ... See MoreSee Less

Our first official newsletter for all who are interested in Tanzania 2026 is going out today! If you have any interest in finding out more about joining us as we head to Africa three times next year, please be sure we have your email address. ... See MoreSee Less

Through the end of 2024, we are offering 25% off of all wall art at Grit & Grace Market in Cleveland and 20% off artwork at Painted Tree Boutiques - Knoxville, TN.

Enjoy a great variety of sizes and formats at both galleries! See something you love, but aren't able to get to either location? Contact us for shipping cost. We can still have it to you by Christmas! ... See MoreSee Less

Eight weeks from yesterday, on February 6th, Doug and I will be returning to Tanzania for the fifth time! We can hardly wait to get there, see our friends at Instinct Tours, and enjoy another two week safari. This time it will just be us, so we'll have some flexibility to explore new areas and investigate some exciting options for future group safaris. We are looking forward to spending a great amount of time with our friend Makinda, working closely with him to assure that the Instinct Tours package will continue to offer the VERY BEST safari adventure out there! Once again, we will be visiting Unity School and seeing first hand the improvements that your donations provided this past summer.

Believe it or not, preparation and planning are already well underway for THREE AMAZING TRIPS IN 2026. Since the dates were announced last month, we already have travelers who are committed to joining us for each one of the three tours. If you happened to miss the announcement earlier, check out the 2026 options below. MAMAS AND BABIES SAFARI will be February 19th (departing US) through March 5th (returning home). Do you love seeing wildlife babies with their mamas? This safari is just for you!COOL SEASON SAFARI is set for June 12th (departing US) through June 25th (return home). For all who hesitate to go to Africa because you think it's unbearably hot, June is a wonderful month to visit when temperatures are pleasant and weather is great!GREAT MIGRATION SAFARI takes place from September 4th (departing US) through September 17th (return home). See the incredible migration of millions of wildebeest, gazelles, and zebras as they make their annual trek across over 600 miles of The Serengeti. For all who enjoy nature's more dramatic side, you may want to consider this adventure. One thing I know for sure is that each trip will be uniquely wonderful! Because tourism is literally exploding right now in Tanzania, we have to begin right away firming up plans for 2026, in order to secure the very best accommodations and itinerary. Estimated cost is projected to be less than $7500 per person, plus flights. Please contact us by private message or leave a comment below with your name and email address if you are interested in going with us in 2026. Your name will be added to our growing list, without obligation. As planning progresses over the next few months, you will receive updates by email. We already have travelers who are joining us for their second and third time. THAT ALONE SPEAKS VOLUMES! ... See MoreSee Less

GOOD NEWS!

From now through the end of 2025, enjoy a 25% price reduction on all of our wall art, including canvases, metals, and matted prints at Grit & Grace Market.We stock beautiful fine art photographic artwork from right here in Tennessee to around the world! Inventory includes work from all four seasons.Give the gift of art to someone you love this Christmas! It's a gift that will be enjoyed for many years to come. ... See MoreSee Less

We have two BIG EVENTS tomorrow and are hoping many of you will join us for at least one of them.

1. It's Christmas Market Day at Grit & Grace! All of our wall art (canvases, metals, and matted prints) will be 25% OFF, and calendars are reduced by 20%. We also have restocked our boxed notecards, 5 X 7 deluxe card sets, and individual greeting cards for this special day. Come by our gallery (inside the store) and enjoy a fabulous selection of artwork.2. For the first time ever, Maryville Makers are having a Christmas Market on the campus of Maryville College. We'll be setting up our tent and taking several great gift options to this event. Take 20% OFF all wall art, including canvases, metals, and matted prints. We'll also have notecards, greeting card sets, and calendars (reduced by 20%) The market begins at 10:00 am and goes until 3:00. Don't let the cold stand in your way!SURPRISE SOMEONE WITH THE GIFT OF ART THIS CHRISTMAS! (For best viewing, click on each picture and see accompanying commentary.) ... See MoreSee Less

It was a great weekend for Photo Journey!

Our website (through Fine Art America) hit a milestone by surpassing 300 sales. More than I ever could have imagined when we started! November was a record month with 13 online sales.With recent orders, we now have made 90 sales through our Etsy shop.Five large, framed canvases (see images below) found their permanent homes and left our Painted Tree Boutiques - Knoxville, TN gallery over the weekend.Thank you to our wonderful customers! We love and appreciate you. ... See MoreSee Less

We love to bring our customers special images from right here in east Tennessee to other locations of our beautiful country to around the world!

Right now we have the best selection ever at our gallery in Grit & Grace Market. See some of the landscapes now available and GREATLY REDUCED for our biggest sale of the year, coming up this weekend.Take 30% OFF ALL REGULARLY PRICED WALL ART, 25% OFF REGULARLY PRICED MATTED PRINTS, and 20% OFF 2025 CALENDARS!Sale begins Black Friday and continues through Sunday.This sale applies to all followers and friends of Marcy's Photo Journey. If you see something you'd like to have in your home or office and do not live near either on of our gallery locations, let us know this weekend to receive the discounted price. We will gladly ship your artwork to your home! ... See MoreSee Less

Just a small glimpse of images we have in our Knoxville gallery! See fine art photography from right here in Knoxville to the Great Smokies to around the world.

Take 30% OFF ALL REGULARLY PRICED WALL ART, including framed canvases and metals, from Black Friday through Cyber Monday. Selected items are reduced for even greater savings.Be sure to check ALL THREE locations in Painted Tree Boutiques...see us in G 9-10 (local and US travel), B-15 (world travel), and D-22 (wildlife and birds). Also take 20% off our "Smoky Mountain Memories 2025" calendars during this sale. ... See MoreSee Less

TODAY'S WEBSITE SALES!!

How about a Neyland Stadium coffee mug for your favorite VOLS fan? Or a beautiful tote bag showing off the Cades Cove horses for that family member who loves the Smokies? Maybe a jigsaw puzzle for that hard to buy for father-in-law?All of those items, plus beach towels, stationery, yoga mats, and other lifestyle selections are 25% OFF TODAY ONLY!Choose from over 5,000 fine art photography images and personalize a special gift for someone on your list. Just go to marcysphotography.com and get started. It's easy!(To fully appreciate the quality of these products, view each image full screen. Thanks to those who visited the website yesterday and took advantage of the previous sale.) ... See MoreSee Less

25% OFF ALL HOUSEHOLD ITEMS TODAY ONLY!

If you're looking for a great gift or something special for your own home, our website is offering substantial savings today. Just in case you haven't heard, any of our images can be captured on throw pillows, shower curtains, blankets, towels, Christmas ornaments, and many other home decor items.Check out the savings TODAY ONLY at marcysphotography.com ... See MoreSee Less

Look for our "Smoky Mountain Memories 2025" wall calendars this weekend in both galleries! Enjoy a preview of each month below, with a frameable, seasonal image on each page.

Calendars are 11 X 17 and are priced at $32.50. If you'd like to have a calendar shipped to your home, please contact us for shipping cost. ... See MoreSee Less

RECENT SALES!

Although we haven't been able to devote much time to our business over the two months, we feel very blessed to have had several sales. It's still not too late to place a special order for Christmas. Both galleries are currently well-stocked with a great variety of artwork and cards, and calendars are coming this weekend. We'd love to have you stop by and take a look! If you aren't near either gallery (Knoxville or Cleveland, TN), ordering on the website is easy. Find us at marcysphotography.com. ... See MoreSee Less

Had I any choice, I wouldn't have chosen Fall, my favorite season, to be recovering from surgery. We only made it to Cades Cove twice, and one of those times was after shoulder surgery, so I couldn't take pictures. Although I was inside the vast majority of the time during the last couple of months, it looked like we had a colorful, but very dry, season. Here's a few images from after knee surgery and before shoulder replacement! ... See MoreSee Less

2026 SAFARI DATES ARE NOW OFFICIAL!

There are so many reasons that Doug and I love to take friends and family with us to Tanzania. We truly love sharing the adventure with others and witnessing our travelers experience for themselves the joy and excitement of the people and wildlife of this amazing country. No trip is ever the same because each time we go, there are brand new friends to meet and territories to explore.We also love supporting Unity School and assisting our dear friend Makinda with his new safari company, Instinct Tours. Although we never could have foreseen Tanzania as such a big focus of our retirement years, we knew when we first visited there in 2021 that we would be back. Next February, we will be returning for the fifth time, with two more great adventures in May and September of 2024.And then it's on to 2026! Think about joining us for one of the following:MAMAS AND BABIES SAFARI will be February 19th (departing US) through March 5th (returning home). Do you love seeing wildlife babies with their mamas? This safari is just for you!COOL SEASON SAFARI is set for June 12th (departing US) through June 25th (return home). For all who hesitate to go to Africa because you think it's unbearably hot, June is a wonderful month to visit when temperatures are pleasant and weather is great!GREAT MIGRATION SAFARI takes place from September 4th (departing US) through September 17th (return home). See the incredible migration of millions of wildebeest, gazelles, and zebras as they make their annual trek across over 600 miles of The Serengeti. For all who enjoy nature's more dramatic side, you may want to consider this adventure. One thing I know for sure is that each trip will be uniquely wonderful! Because tourism is literally exploding right now in Tanzania, we have to begin right away firming up plans for 2026, in order to secure the very best accommodations and itinerary. Please contact us by private message or leave a comment below with your name and email address if you want to go with us in 2026. We already have travelers who are joining us for their second and third time. THAT ALONE SHOULD SPEAK VOLUMES! ... See MoreSee Less

2026 SAFARI ADVENTURES IN TANZANIA!

It's now time to get serious about planning for our three exciting trips to Africa in 2026. Marcy's Photo Journey will once again be working with Arnold Makinda of Instinct Tours, located in Arusha, Tanzania, to make your dream of a first-class safari a reality.We will be traveling over a period of two weeks during the months of February, June, and September. Specific dates will be announced in the next couple of weeks as we work out itinerary and accommodation details. Our objective is to provide the VERY BEST CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND WILDLIFE VIEWING EXPERIENCE for our participants. We offer excellence in itinerary, accommodations, and guide services, within the context of a small group setting. Have you ever considered a trip to Africa, but were daunted by the distance and planning? Doug and I are here to help facilitate, answer questions and concerns, and escort you there and back. We guide you through the visa process, immunization requirements, flight recommendations, and much more. Each trip has only 18 spots available, and we are beginning our list of interested prospects today. To be added to the list, we need names of passengers and email addresses. Cost of safari package will be around $7000 per person. In addition, travelers are responsible for international flights from their home airport to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. ... See MoreSee Less