Today will be my last post for awhile. Karen and I are off on Monday to lead back-to-back tours and will be gone for the better part of the next month. Until then, enjoy this spotted hyena cub. They are born with their eyes open and their teeth already erupted, an unusual trait among carnivores. From their very first days, they begin establishing social rank, a critical factor in a species where status can influence access to food, mates, and opportunities throughout life. Looking forward to seeing a few more in the coming weeks. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1100, f/5.6 at 1/500th of a second.
Male greater kudu are known for their spectacular spiral horns, which can grow over four feet long and twist in as many as two and a half turns. Despite their size, kudu are surprisingly elusive, relying on camouflage and an uncanny ability to slip quietly through dense bush when threatened. We were lucky to spot a small herd of them on our trip to Samburu in Kenya last June. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 125, f/6.3 at 1/800th of a second.
The beisa oryx is exceptionally well adapted to life in arid environments, able to survive for long periods without drinking by obtaining moisture from the plants it eats. In places like Samburu, it often remains active during the cooler hours of morning and evening, when the desert landscape begins to come alive. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 560, f/5.6 at 1/250th of a second.
The southern white rhino is the largest rhino species on Earth, with males weighing more than 5,000 pounds. Once reduced to fewer than 100 individuals, it is considered one of conservation’s greatest success stories, rebounding through decades of protection and management. If only we could say the same for the northern white rhinos. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 24-70mm (at 69mm) ISO 2200, f/5.6 at 1/640th of a second.
Bat-eared fox pups are born into highly social family groups, where both parents, and sometimes older siblings, help care for the young. Their oversized ears help detect the sounds of insects moving underground and also play a role in regulating body temperature. As they grow, the pups spend much of their time playing and chasing one another, practicing the skills they’ll need as adults. I photographed this one on one of my first trips to Kenya. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/80th of a second
The aardwolf may look like a small hyena, but unlike its larger relatives, it feeds almost entirely on termites, at night. In the African grasslands, encounters with birds like the buff-crested bustard create a perfect contrast — one a secretive nocturnal insect-eater, the other a daytime hunter striding through the same savanna. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 280, f/5.6 at 1/400th of a second.
As cheetah cubs grow older, their lives become a constant mix of play and preparation. Chasing, wrestling, and stalking one another helps develop the speed, coordination, and hunting instincts they’ll need to survive on their own one day. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 2000, f/5.6 at 1/800th of a second.
As dusk settles over Ol Pejeta in Kenya, impala gather at waterholes, timing their visit carefully when the heat fades but before nocturnal predators take over. Ever alert, they drink in quick turns, ears flicking and eyes scanning, relying on safety in numbers as the light slips away.
Young male lions often live solitary lives after leaving their birth pride, wandering for years before they’re strong enough to challenge for territory of their own. This guy was about at that stage. We saw him up on a small mound, surveying his surroundings. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1250, f/5.6 at 1/125th of a second.
A warthog’s curved tusks are actually elongated canine teeth, growing continuously and used for both defense and digging. They form a formidable frame around the face, built as much for survival as for show. We found this guy in a forested area of the Masai Mara in Kenya on a very memorable morning drive.Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 720, f/5.6 at 1/1000th of a second.
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Today will be my last post for awhile. Karen and I are off on Monday to lead back-to-back tours and will be gone for the better part of the next month. Until then, enjoy this spotted hyena cub. They are born with their eyes open and their teeth already erupted, an unusual trait among carnivores. From their very first days, they begin establishing social rank, a critical factor in a species where status can influence access to food, mates, and opportunities throughout life. Looking forward to seeing a few more in the coming weeks. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1100, f/5.6 at 1/500th of a second.
