Trunk Wrestle

During our African safari in 2019, one of my favorite afternoon activities was hanging out near this watering hole in Kenya. Over three days, I learned the procession of animals visiting the watering hole was consistent and even predictable. The warthogs were always the first to arrive, followed shortly after by small herds of gazelle, impala & antelope. Zebras were usually next in the queue, but one day a family of giraffes cut in line and arrived ahead of them. Lastly, always, were the elephants.

As the elephants slowly marched in, all the other animals exited the scene. As a result, the elephants had the watering hole to themselves. Without competition, they took their time and enjoyed drinking for close to an hour. Once fully refreshed, some would turn their attention from the water and interact with each other. One day, these two adults engaged in a playful trunk wrestling match. They were not violent or aggressive, but rather joyful and affectionate. At one point, their trunks & tusks were so intertwined that it seemed impossible to unravel. But then, similar to a Chinese finger puzzle, they drew even closer and released each other with ease.

Undivided Attention

Leopards are a premium sighting in the Serengeti. They are elusive creatures, mostly active during the night. But on occasion, they are spotted during the day and usually draw a crowd after guides radio their location. We were fortunate, as we saw leopards every day we were there.

On our third morning, only 5 minutes after leaving camp, we spotted this one on a rock surveilling the area. We sat here for approximately 15 minutes watching the watcher. 98% of the time, it was looking off in the distance to its left. It was not concerned with us and was far more interested in a troop of baboons making their way closer to our position. Occasionally though, it would casually turn its head and look directly at us. It had our undivided attention for 15 minutes while giving us only moments of the same.

Situated about 10 feet above us, the composition was almost equally divided between the bright, hazy morning sky and the neutral stone perch. Of course, there were colorful grasses, trees, and birds just out of view, but zoomed in on a 600mm lens, they all disappeared. Later in the day, after viewing the LCD image on the back of my camera, our guide commented on how unusual it was that a leopard is the most colorful object in a scene.

As the baboons approached, the leopard descended into the long grass for cover. We thought there may soon be a chase, but either out of luck or innate sense, the troop changed direction and avoided confrontation. Aware the opportunity was lost, the leopard disappeared into heavy brush.

Heads Up!

While in Kenya, we spent a few days in a remote lodge near the Chyulu Hills National Park. After our morning game drives, I would always come to this watering hole that is a short walk from the lodge. It is one of the few watering holes in the area, so it is a great place to sit and observe animals as they stop for refreshment. The viewing area is protected and is partially underground with only a small opening at ground level. As a result, it provides an interesting viewpoint looking up at the wildlife.

I would sit here for hours watching elephants, wildebeest, caribou, and warthogs each take their turn. One of my favorite moments each day was when a group of giraffes approached. They would slowly move in with graceful strides as they scanned the area for danger. Almost to perfection, they would each look in different directions so that all sides were examined at the same time. Eventually, concluding it was safe, they would each drink one by one. If you have not witnessed giraffes drinking, it is an interesting procedure. Their grace disappears for a moment as they slowly widen their front legs and slightly bend their knees to get closer to the ground. It is awkward at best, and when they do lower their head, you get the sense they are going to fall over forward. After a quick drink, they often rapidly raise their head to scan the area and have to go through the clumsy process again. Incredible to watch though, especially from only a few meters away, and an excellent photo opportunity.

The dynamic range of the scene was too much for my camera sensor, so I lowered the exposure to account for the bright clouds. The sky was beautiful and I did not want to lose any of its detail. At the time, I expected I would brighten the shadows in post-processing to reveal more of the scene. However, after viewing the original image on my computer, I loved the dramatic contrast. Giraffes possess such a unique form that, even in silhouette, you can easily identify them as the subjects, so I decided to keep them in shadow. There are spots and patterns visible on the skin if you look close enough...a small reward for those of you who investigate the darkness.

Mayhem

During my July safari to the Serengeti, I was able to witness a part of the great migration. This magnificent collection of over 1.5 million moving wildebeests is the largest terrestrial mammal migration in the world and considered one of the wonders of Africa.

Perhaps the most thrilling part of the migration to witness is the crossing of the Mara River. Here, herds of wildebeest brave the crocodile-infested waters to reach the fertile plains of Kenya.

As our guide drove us along the Mara River, we could see a black swarm gathering in the distance. It was impossible to determine an exact number, but our guide estimated there were at least fifteen thousand in the herd.

They slowly approached the river and waited along the bank for nearly 45 minutes. Then, one brave animal broke the serenity and rushed toward the water. At that point, the herd mentality kicked in and it was near chaos.

For approximately 8 minutes, the scene was full of panic and confusion. A huge cloud of dust appeared as thousands of wildebeests clumsily raced into the water. Many formed a tight line attempting to reach the other side, but some were confused by the surrounding mayhem and stood motionless. There were even some animals that turned around after a successful crossing and retreated back across the river, forcing them to elude the crocodiles a third time after realizing their mistake. It was a frantic and exciting spectacle.

Ultimately though, the crossing was a complete success. The crocodiles made several pursuits (and there were some narrow escapes), but every wildebeest survived the experience.

This photo captures one brief moment in the frenzy. Full of dust, dirt, disorder, and determination.

There Will Be Blood

This summer I took the trip of a lifetime...a safari to Kenya & Tanzania. The beauty of the Serengeti, the abundance of wildlife and the warmth of the people were all beyond my expectations. It was a trip filled with wonderful experiences like this one.

Prior to this trip, I had captured maybe 20-30 images of animals, so I am very inexperienced in photographing wildlife. As a result, I prepared as best as I could by reading & watching several tutorials and practicing new techniques. I did not expect to come back with images worthy of sharing, but my photographs also exceeded my expectations.

This image was taken during our first sunrise in the Serengeti. After a 5:00 am wake up call, we met our guide and started driving through the plains. This appeared almost instantly, as we crested a small rise and could see miles into a valley below. About one hundred meters in front of us this Vulture was perched ominously in silhouette to the rising sun. I immediately requested our guide to stop for a photo, but it wasn't necessary. He was already slowing down knowing that this was a unique photo opportunity.

Fortunately, the vulture remained still, so I had time to set the exposure properly for the dynamic lighting. It was a foreboding scene, but a great beginning to our time in Tanzania.