At the locations we visit on Crane Wildlife Tours, the safari never stops. Dwarf mongooses are just one of the species that can be found back at camp during down time. We usually see quite a few of them. Pups are raised in a shared den with help from the whole group. These mongooses live in tight-knit family units where older siblings and other adults act as babysitters, bringing food and guarding the pup while the mother forages. Pups quickly learn the rules of the group by mimicking adults and joining in on playful wrestling matches that build coordination and social skills (behavior we often observe while eating lunch). Though small, dwarf mongooses are bold and cooperative, traits passed from mother to pup in one of Africa’s most charming and efficient social systems. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, IOS 2000, f/5.6 at 1/1000th of a second.

We always see a lot of elephants on our trips. But this time, we saw more baby elephants — and at extremely close range — than ever before. I used my camera-at-the-end-of-a-monopod technique to get this look under the hood of a Mom shielding her calf as they walked by our vehicle. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 24-70mm lens (at 24mm) ISO 640, f/5 at 1/500th of a second.

This will be the last post for a few weeks as we head off to lead another tour to Kenya and Uganda on Monday. Here’s hoping we have some luck with one of the more elusive cats — the serval. I captured this one way back in 2012 on the final night of our final day of a two week trip. We’re currently planning tours for later this year, next year and into 2027. Contact if you’re interested in traveling with us and seeing more of Africa’s amazing wildlife. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 1600, f/2.8 at 1/80th of a second.

Warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus) may look ungainly with their large tusks and warty faces, but they’re surprisingly agile and intelligent. They are also attentive parents and live in close-knit family groups called sounders. In just a few more weeks, Karen and I will be leading another group back to the Masai Mara where I took this photo. If you’re interested in traveling with us, let’s get the conversation started. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 640, f/5.6 at 1/1000th of a second.

A lion’s eyes are intense and forward-facing, built for sharp focus and excellent night vision. I captured this close up, of a lioness peering through the savanna grasslands, in the Masai Mara of Kenya. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 640, f/5.6 at 1/800th of a second.

Female hyenas are the dominant sex and raise their cubs in communal dens, where the young are fiercely protected and play constantly to build strength and social skills. Despite their reputation as scavengers, spotted hyenas are skilled hunters, and mothers will nurse their cubs for up to 18 months, one of the longest periods of any carnivore. On our last trip to Kenya, we saw so many spotted hyenas, most with cubs. If you want to join us on an upcoming trip, we’d love to talk. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 5000, f/5.6 at 1/1250th of a second.

As we get closer to our trip to Kenya and Uganda in June, and start to put the schedule together for later in the year and 2026, I’ve been thinking about some of the species we’re going to see, including the always entertaining gerenuk. Their long necks are well adapted to get at the foliage that other grazers can not (well, not including giraffes or elephants, but you get the idea). If you’d like to join us on a trip, including later this year, reach out to start a conversation. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1400, f/5.6 at 1/400th of a second.

I used my inverted monopod technique to get this low-angle shot of two white rhinos turning toward each other in Nairobi National Park. We’ll be back this June and I’m looking forward to visiting the park, and the rhinos, on our first day in Kenya. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 24-70mm lens (at 65mm) ISO 450, f/5.6 at 1/1000th of a second.

The Somali ostrich is one of the specialties of northern Kenya and one of the reasons we always like to pair the Masai Mara in the south with Samburu in the north when we plan our safaris. This particular ostrich appeared to be telling me something, but I’m not sure exactly what. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 2500, f/5.6 at 1/1600th of a second.