Island Donkeys- Lamu, Kenya

In the absence of cars on Lamu Island, donkeys transport everything from humans to building blocks.

Mara Elephant at dusk. Masai Mara, Kenya

Peacful pastures in the Mara Triangle in the late afternoon during the Long Grass Season.

Mara Vulture

Lappet-Faced Vulture from the Mara. There are, (if I recall correctly), four common species of vultures that converge on the Masai Mara during the Migration: this one, the Hooded Vulture, Rupell's Griffon Vulture and the African White-Backed Vulture. If really you're lucky you might see the uncommon Egyptian Vulture hammering an ostrich egg with a rock.....

Cheetah at water- Masai Mara Kenya

It's clear that Cheetahs don't mind a bit of mud in their drinking water when thirsty.

Kongoni- Nairobi Park, Kenya

A back-lit shot like this rarely works, but I like the composition here- with the shallow depth of focus, angled ears and horns & scalloped purple horizons.

Alert Tick-Birds- Masai Mara, Kenya

Tick Birds keep a wary eye on the photographer from atop a Cape Buffalo in the Masai Mara.

Zebra at the River- Masai Mara, Kenya

Zebra quenching their thirst with Mara River Water. As alert as they appear to be, a crocodile can swim within meters undetected, exposing only eyes and nostrils. One would think that evolutionary pressures over the millennia would equip zebra & other wildlife with the ability to detect approaching crocs, but apparently not! Crocs rarely attack full grown zebra, but their young are fair game....

Bouquet of Impala- Nairobi Park, Kenya

A bouquet of impala heads from Nairobi Park. The young males have small horns (females have none). This is part of a harem dominated (or so he thinks) by a single male...... for as long as he has the energy to keep rivals away AND service his females.

Lion on zebra- Masai Mara Kenya

Breakfast of Champions!!

Female Impala- Nairobi Park, Kenya

To get the shallow depth of focus on these Impala, I used a telephoto lense with the camera set on 'portrait mode' at ISO 400.

Squacco Heron- Lake Baringo.

Common to the shores of Lake Baringo. According to the 'Birds of Kenya & Northern Tanzania' (Christopher Helm, London), the call is "a grating Krruk!".

Lamu cat & dhow, Shella Beach, Kenya

Cats come down to the beach in the afternoon to wait patiently for the return of fishing boats. Fish are gutted on the beach, and between the cats and tides, Shella Beach remains acceptably clean from day to day.

Wart Hog- Masai Mara, Kenya

 

This old fellow sports an unusually large set of tusks. Note how the rapier-thin lower canines  sharpen themselves against the base of the large upper tusks. Even full-grown lions respect weapons like these, and with a pig's well-developed brain plus a life span in the wild that can exceed 10 years, a (+- 60kg) Mara veteran like this can definitely save his own bacon!

Mara Cheetah & Tree

This female cheetah was rubbing her cheek against the tree- very cat-like behavour.

Ground Hornbill- Masai Mara Kenya

The Southern Ground Hornbill. These are uncommonly seen local residents in the Masai Mara & similar grasslands throughout East Africa. The size of a turkey, they make a low pitched but loud 'oooomh' noise, often a dawn, that can be easily mistaken for a lion.... especially if it's close to your tent!

Mount Kenya- January 2011

The second tallest mountain in Africa after Kilimanjaro, Mt. Kenya stands on the equator at 17,057 ft tall and hosts the 276 square mile Mt. Kenya National Park. It is a free-standing extinct volcano having one of the largest basal diameter-to-height ratios in the world..... it's obviously a challenge to show the WHOLE thing in one photo!

Klipspringer antelope- Masai Mara, Kenya

The Klipspringer is a mostly solitary inhabitant of steep rocky areas in East Africa. It's modified hooves give an impression of 'tip-toeing', allowing maximum grip on smooth rock by concentrating it's weight on a minimal area. I'm told the name  means 'cliff springer' or 'rock springer', describing it's ability to move with ease though rocky & steep areas most predators would find difficult.

Masai Mara Hippo

The dominant male in a group of some 45 hippo in the Mara River. An old chap, and a fighter, as revealed by the scars.

Family group- Amboseli Elephant

The family group Matriarch leads- and is obviously the most alert individual in the group.... that's her job!

Lion & Silver-Backed Jackal, Masai Mara Kenya

 

'Is he asleep, or just pretending?' the jackal asks....