I’m going to stick with the silverback-double-shot theme for one more day. Here’s another of the three big boys from the troop getting his mid-day nap. He also looks like he could use some dental work. The teeth weren’t a sign of aggression, but simply a bit of a yawn. Top Shot: Nikon D850 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 82mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/1000th of a second. Bottom Shot: Nikon D850 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 110mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/800th of a second.
This big guy was trying his best to get comfortable for an afternoon nap, but apparently having a difficult time of it. He was one of three silverbacks in this small troop of nine mountain gorillas, which is very unusual but because the three are all related, they won’t push the others out of the group. Top photo: Nikon D850 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 98mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/320th of a second. Bottom photo: Nikon D850 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 102mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/250th of a second.
This white bearded wildebeest seemed to be quite impressed with the leaping skills of the impala. Just another afternoon in the Maasai Mara. Nikon D850 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 150mm) ISO 400, f/2.8 at 1/1250th of a second.
The hadada ibis lives in sub Sahara Africa. The species is named for its call while flying, which usually consists of three to four notes, which I guess sounds like hadada. I didn’t hear this guy, only saw him/her perched in a tree outside of my tent in Samburu, Kenya. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/250th of a second.
There are around thirty species of mongoose. These guys are banded mongooses. Yes, the plural is mongooses (not mongeese) and a group of them is called a mob (or sometimes a pack). They look a lot like meerkats and are, in fact, in the same family. This mob of mongooses was photographed in the Maasai Mara of Kenya. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/8 at 1/500th of a second.
These are the most commonly seen geese while on safari in Kenya. They were considered sacred by ancient Egyptians and appear in lots of their artwork. This one was coming in for a landing toward the end of the day. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/1600th of a second.
These two lions were part of a very large pride we saw in the Maasai Mara of Kenya. I think there were fourteen or more. That’s how many walked right by us as they headed up a hill to take an afternoon siesta, not even looking at us as they passed. Nikon D850 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 175mm) ISO , f/2.8 at 1/4000th of a second.
The superb starling is a pretty common bird on east African safaris. That said, I still love seeing these colorful little guys as they fly from perch to perch, or, more often, from ground to perch. I photographed this one at close range in Samburu. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/640th of a second.
I’m going to keep the Kenya/Uganda pics going for another week or so before mixing in posts from the rest of the world if you don’t mind. This was a young spotted hyena that we think was lost and trying to find its mother. The day was coming to a close and the little guy seemed to be running as fast as he could to get to wherever he was going. Photographed in the Maasai Mara of Kenya. Nikon D850 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 80mm) ISO 800, f/3.2 at 1/250th of a second, graduated neutral density filter.
Here’s another one from Samburu in Kenya. And another from the comfort of our camp. The hornbills, like the vervet monkeys and baboons, would regularly visit us while eating lunch. For those that are familiar with The Lion King, this is the real life version of Zazu. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/60th of a second.