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.

I was deliberately shooting at a slow shutter speed to get a sense of movement while panning with this beisa oryx. The foreground bushes added to the motion-blurred effect as the oryx ran through the scrub brush of Samburu National Reserve in Kenya. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 180, f/5.6 at 1/30th of a second.

The light was bad. My lens was too long. Camera was shaky. Nevertheless, here’s 67 seconds of baby elephant cuteness. Enjoy. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, 4K/120fps.

This beauty is a red-chested sunbird, captured during one of my favorite times of day while on safari — in between game drives when I get to walk around camp while most everyone else is taking their afternoon siestas. It’s a small bird found in parts of East and Central Africa. Males, like this one, have an iridescent green head, scarlet chest, and metallic blue highlights. Using a slender, curved bill, it feeds on nectar from flowers, often hovering like a tiny hummingbird, though it will also perch to feed. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1800, f/5.6 at 1/2000th of a second.

Threat display or simply a yawn? If the former, it’s meant to warn off rivals or predators without physical confrontation. It’s sometimes accompanied by vocalizations or raised fur, which makes the tiny mongoose appear larger and more intimidating. Within the group, it can also be a way to settle dominance disputes or assert rank, part of their highly social and communicative behavior. I should state that even though it looks like she’s looking straight at me, the display started with her looking off to the side at other mongooses before she turned her head toward camera and closed her mouth. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 2000, f/5.6 at 1/1000th of a second.