Reticulated giraffes in Kenya’s Samburu National Reserve are always alert to predators, and a leopard in the area can make them visibly uneasy. They will stand tall, scanning the bush with their excellent vision, and may even stare fixedly in the direction of a hidden leopard, sometimes giving away the big cat’s location to other animals on the savanna. And to our guide and us. We knew the leopard was in the area and hiding somewhere in the thick bushes. The giraffes non-wavering gaze gave us our starting point. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1400, f/5.6 at 1/2000th of a second.

Oxpeckers and zebras share a classic African symbiosis. Oxpeckers perch on zebras’ backs, feeding on ticks, flies, and other parasites that bother the zebra, which gives the bird a reliable food source and the zebra some relief from pests. Beyond grooming, oxpeckers also act like little sentinels, raising alarm calls when danger approaches, which can alert the zebra to predators. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm lens, ISO 4000, f/5.6 at 1/250th of a second.

This was the big male leopard we saw on our June trip to Kenya. He was actively moving around so we were able to get images of him in multiple settings, including walking straight toward camera. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 720, f/5.6 at 1/1600th of a second.

Ordinarily I try to avoid completely white, blown out backgrounds like this when I capture birds in flight. But with a bird as colorful as the lilac-breasted roller, that white backdrop simply gets out of the way and lets the bird’s wings have all the attention. Photographed on the Masai Mara of Kenya back in June.Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1100, f/5.6 at 1/2000th of a second.

Ever really look at an elephant’s tail? It’s tipped with a tuft of coarse hair that works like a flyswatter to keep biting insects away. Calves often hold onto their mother’s tail while walking, using it as a guide and reassurance in the herd. Elephants also use their tails for communication. A relaxed, gently swinging tail signals calm, while a stiff or rapidly swishing tail can show agitation or warning. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 720, f/5.6 at 1/3200th of a second.

Thanks everyone for the well wishes for our cat Lily yesterday. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming. The sun rises fast on the Kenyan savanna. We were rushing around trying to find a subject to put in front of it and spotted a few grey crowned cranes. I was able to get out of the vehicle and on the ground, which enabled me to place the crane’s head above the horizon line for a more dynamic composition. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 64, f/5.6 at 1/125th of a second.

The saddle-billed stork is one of Africa’s tallest and most striking storks, standing up to five feet tall with a wingspan that can reach over nine feet. It gets its name from the bright yellow “saddle” shield at the base of its long red-and-black bill. Unlike many storks, it tends to be solitary or seen in pairs rather than in large flocks, stalking wetlands for fish, frogs, and other prey. It’s always a favorite sighting for guests on our African safaris. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 125, f/5.6 at 1/500th of a second.