Well, maybe not telling a joke, but it kind of looked that way. Zebras are, however, the subject of many folk tales in Africa, which tell of how they got their stripes. According to the bushmen of Namibia, zebras were once all white before an unfortunate encounter with a baboon at a water hole. Seems the two species got into a fight and the zebra kicked the baboon so hard that it tipped over a fire. The fire sticks hit the zebra and left the scorch marks all over the white fur. I’m not saying they’re good stories, just that stories exist. Enjoy.

This cheetah mother had two cubs. The other one was running around behind her, still playing while this little guy seemed to be settling in for the night. The photo was taken in the northern section of the Masai Mara in Kenya.

The male impala were in their rut when we were in Kenya in November. The males were chasing each other all over the place, vying for mating rights with the females. This guy seemed to be getting the best of  his competition, running down any challengers.

During the day, hippos rarely leave the water, but at night they typically sleep on land. They are very susceptible to sunburn and as soon as the sun starts to get hot, they get back in the water. This was first thing in the morning when the sun just broke the horizon and several hippos were out foraging on the plains of the Masai Mara in Kenya. In the background, a few buffalo keep a close watch on their often cantankerous neighbors.

Nothing much going on here, just a giraffe sticking out its tongue. This one was taken in Lewa in Kenya.

The sun had already set when I captured these two zebras nuzzling up to one another. I liked that it’s not a complete silhouette — that you can still see detail in the zebra’s bodies. The photo was taken in the Laikipia region of Kenya on our most recent trip back in November.

These three lion cub siblings seemed to be lining up for their family portrait. This one was taken in the Laikipia region of Kenya.

This leopard was in an area of the Masai Mara that didn’t allow off-road driving. We watched from quite a distance trying to predict which way she would move. Several other vehicles were in the area and we decided to distance ourselves as much as possible from them. It was the right decision. When the leopard finally started to move she came right toward us, passing about ten feet from our vehicle and allowing me to get some nice close ups.

There are three kinds of zebras in Africa. This is a Grevy’s zebra, the largest as well as the most endangered of the three. Unlike other zebras, the Grevy’s stripes do not extend to the belly. The two birds are called glossy starlings. They are quite common throughout much of Africa.

I know someone who likes doves. It’s her birthday today, so this one is for her. It’s not just any ordinary dove… this is an emerald spotted wood dove. It was photographed in Olare Orok, Kenya, just north of the Masai Mara. Enjoy — and happy birthday.