This was the last morning of our trip to Botswana. Much like the first five mornings, a big orange sun rose at six a.m. into a cloudless sky. The sun was still low enough for some decent shots when we came across a solitary giraffe. I was hoping the big guy would entertain us with a drink at the water hole, but he seemed a bit timid, perhaps because he was on his own in an open area and sensed danger. Giraffes put themselves in a vulnerable position when they splay their legs and take the considerable effort to quench their thirst. Instead, I took a few portraits and we moved on.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 130mm) ISO 560, f/22 at 1/20th of a second

We ran into this leopard several times during our six days in Botswana. On this encounter, she was sitting in a sausage tree waiting for impala to walk beneath to eat the flowers that had fallen on the ground. From the reports we heard back at the camp, we just missed the action. She sat patiently for hours until a small herd, noses to the ground, came foraging for the flowers. Then she dropped from the tree and killed one of the unsuspecting impala. We would later catch up with her again with the fresh kill.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 300mm) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/500th of a second

The lilac breasted roller has few rivals as the most colorful bird in Africa. It also happens to be a fairly common bird. I was able to get a few shots of this one perched on a branch before if flew off.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 270mm) ISO 400, f/7.1 at 1/1600th of a second

Late in the afternoon toward the end of our Botswana trip, we came across a large troop of baboons. Most of them scattered upon the approach of our vehicle, but several stood their ground, including this mother and her baby. There were lots of other babies as well, all curiously peeking around their mothers to get a better look at us.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/200th of a second

Sometimes, it’s nice to put the big lens down and go a bit wider to include the environment. In this case, the first rays of the Botswana sun were illuminating this tree and the three impala that were grazing beneath it, turning them all a deep red.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 70mm) ISO 800, f/2.8 at 1/4000th of a second

Grazing zebras are a common sight on the savanna. This small herd was enjoying a late breakfast when we came upon them backlit by the rising sun.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 95mm) ISO 400, f/22 at 1/60th of a second

I recently posted a photo of the dwarf mongoose. This guy is a different species, called the slender mongoose. He/she was also photographed on our recent trip to Botswana.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/1250th of a second

It was late in the day when I captured this photo of a giraffe running across the savanna in Botswana. Panning my camera with the giraffe while using a slower shutter speed created the nice motion blurred effect of the landscape. Seeing giraffes run is always one of my favorite things to watch while on safari — both awkward and graceful at the same time. It almost appears as if they are running in slow motion.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/30th of a second

I’ve posted quite a few photos of black-backed jackals in the past but never a side-striped jackal. These guys tend to be larger and more nocturnal than their black-backed cousins. They are also far less carnivorous, with a large portion of their diet coming from invertebrates and fruit. This guy was out foraging early one morning in Botswana.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/800th of a second