Hartlaub's Turaco, Nairobi Kenya

The Hartlaub's Turaco is quite common in our back yard, & definitely adds some ornamental Christmas cheer.

Mara Leopard

Something lurks in the bushes..... better not be on foot in the Mara!

Lion Cubs at Play, Masai Mara Kenya

Sparring partners.

Elephant & Masai Mara Grasslands

Residents of the Mara Triangle benefit from the exclusion of Masai livestock. Grass is grazed short with visible soil erosion outside the conservancy.

Marshal Eagle, Nairobi Kenya

A regal Marshal Eagle, Nairobi National Park. This species is large enough to carry off a young Thompson's Gazelle.

African Darter, Lake Baringo Kenya

Bird and tree have similar curves...

Zebra Communication, Masai Mara Kenya

Zebras seem to have a great sense of humour.

Zanzibar Beach

Palm Beach (Zanzibar).

Crowned Cranes, Amboseli Kenya

A Royal Family- Crowned Canes in Amboseli.

Elephant Rear, Masai Mara Kenya

Tasting this 'n that.....

Swamp Hippo, Masai Mara Kenya

Social outcasts take refuge in swamps near the Mara River.

Elephant Rubbing Tree, Amboseli Kenya

A favoured rubbing-tree, with rubber. Amboseli.

Lioness VS Hyena, Masai Mara Kenya

There GOES trouble!

Spotted Hyena Display, Masai Mara, Kenya

Here comes trouble! Tail-up is a display of aggression.

Elephant Family Unit, Masai Mara Kenya

A family unit is led by a mature matriarch & (mainly) her offspring. The males associate only during the mating season.

Ring-Necked Dove, Nairobi

I'm testing a new lens & the dove is observing keenly....

Mara Dawn with Elephant

A rosy dawn in the Mara. Weekends are for safaris.....

Elephant, Masai Mara Kenya

This one's name is Droopy.... or should be if it isn't. Very relaxed.

Rhino VS Lion, Masai Mara Kenya

The lioness beat a retreat once the young (but aggressive) Black Rhino turned and started stalking her.

Lion & Wildebeest, Masai Mara Kenya

A young lioness testing the flight distance of gnus.

White Rhino, Nairobi National Park.

A big White Rhino from Nairobi Park. The don't usually hold a pose for long!

Pure Beach, Zanzibar Tanzania

Meanwhile, somewhere in Zanzibar.......

Zebra, Mutual Grooming

Mutual grooming is the primary source of vitamin D for most herbivores. It is produced when oil on hair is exposed to sunlight.

Lilac-Breasted Roller, Masai Mara Kenya

Lilac-Breasted Roller take-off. To catch a flying insect no doubt....

Banded Mongoose, Masai Mara Kenya

 

Alert & ready for mischief.

Mara River Elephants, Masai Mara Kenya

A little nudge now and then can certainly help.

Crowned Crane, Masai Mara Kenya

Crowned Crane- head-on.

Elephant, Amboseli Kenya

Where to now?

Warthogs, Masai Mara Kenya

Three piggies on the trot- from the Mara Triangle.

Mara Leopard, Mara Conservancy Kenya

Always a big bonus to see a leopard on safari. Local guides & driver's swahili code-name for this cat is 'Doa Juu', which translates to 'spots up', referring to the leopard's arboreal preferences. The Cheetah, a ground dweller, is called 'Doa Chini', as in 'spots down'. Don't tell anyone- it's a secret code!

Zanzibar Tidal Flat & Canoe

The bottom half of this canoe is dug out from a single log. A new one sells for approx USD 1000 in Zanzibar.

Reflection of an Elephant

A big reflection! From the Mara Triangle.

Baby Elephant, Masai Mara Kenya

Almost lost in the tall grass. This will change.... increasing from 90kg to 5000kg in 30 years.

South-East Zanzibar

Two canoes at high tide, Zanzibar.

Wildebeest, Masai Mara Kenya

When in doubt: Run!

Night Heron, Lake Baringo Kenya

A Black-Crowned Night Heron from Lake Baringo.

Lion Cub & Cape Buffalo, Masai Mara Kenya

Roar!

Leopard in the Grass, Masai Mara Kenya

A definite loss of humour here. I'm told that this male resident of the Mara Triangle specialises in catching adult Impala, and it appears he has received the sharp end of an impala's (very sharp) hooves to the face.

Crowned Crane Feathers

Crowned Crane neck feathers (hackles) in B&W.

Impala- Selective Browsing, Masai Mara Kenya

As part of a 'Grazing Mosaic' evolved to share limited resources, every wild herbivore has it's favourite array of plant species- and even it's favourite parts of those plants... Can't say the same for domestic livestock unfortunately.

White Rhino, Nairobi Kenya

One of the resident White Rhinos in Nairobi National Park. Note the wide lips for grazing.

Male & Female Lion, Masai Mara Kenya

Honeymooners.

Zebra Drinking From The Mara River

Zebra prefer drinking from the river as opposed to stagnant ponds & swamps in the Mara.

Bandeded Mongoose, Masai Mara Kenya

A Banded Mongoose- one of a pack ( aka: mongaggle/troup/business) of a dozen in the (green) Mara Triangle last weekend. And yes, looking up what a collection of mongoose' is called results in a variety of answers....

Masai Giraffe, Masai Mara Kenya

Definitely one of the oddest-looking mammals we have here.....

Mature Warthog, Masai Mara Kenya

When warthogs get to the age where they carry tusks like this even lions accord due respect.

Topi, Masai Mara Kenya

A coy Topi, Masai Mara.

Hot Air Over the Mara

Basket-cases.

Lion Cubs at Play- Masai Mara

Who will be the king of this termite mound??

Cheetah, Masai Mara Kenya

A clear-eyed young male cheetah from the Mara Triangle.