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.

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.