For many safari goers, the African wild dog is at the top of the wish list. I got lucky with them on my first trip to Botswana. At the end of the day when the sun was low on the horizon and saturating the dry grass of the savanna, we came across a pack of about thirteen dogs. They were resting in the grass, playing and winding down after a day of hunting. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 340mm) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/800th of a second.
The saddle-billed stork is a very large wading bird found throughout sub-Sahara Africa. The can grow to almost five feet tall with a wingspan that approaches 9 feet. I photographed this one wading along a road in Botswana. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 330mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/160th of a second.
An adult cheetah rests in morning light atop a termite mound in the Linyanti Swamp area of Botswana. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/1250th of a second.
It’s been awhile since I posted a meerkat. This guy was running straight toward me while I was down on the ground. The sun was getting a bit higher in the sky, but still providing nice side light. As with all my meerkat shots, this was photographed in the Makgadikgadi Pans of Botswana. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 340mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/800th of a second.
The Makgadikgadi Pans are a fascinating place in north-eastern Botswana. During the dry season, very little wildlife can exist in this dry, harsh, desert environment. But following a good rain, the pans become an important migratory route for several species. In fact, one of the largest populations of zebra can be found in the pans at any given time of the year. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 102mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/4000th of a second.
Elephants will occasionally charge a safari vehicle. Should it be a concern? Of course. They are incredibly powerful beasts. That said, the vast majority of charges are mock and a good guide will know the difference between when an elephant is genuinely agitated and means business and when it’s just trying to give you a pseudo-friendly warning. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 70mm) ISO 800, f/2.8 at 1/125th of a second.
The black-backed jackals of Africa look a lot like our coyotes. They are known as opportunistic omnivores. They hunt smaller mammals, but more often than not, they scavenge the kills of lions and other cats. I photographed this guy as the sun was setting on the Kalahari Desert in Botswana. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/250th of a second.
I usually try to capture some detail, even in silhouettes, but this image of a cheetah and termite mound seemed to call for the full black out of the subject against the twilight sky. Photographed in the Linyanti concession of Botswana. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/8 at 1/200th of a second.
Wildebeest don’t get a lot of respect. I myself rarely post this most ubiquitous of savanna grazers. Time to change that. This is the blue wildebeest, also known as the white-bearded wildebeest, common wildebeest or brindled gnu. To predators like lions, leopards, hyenas and cheetah, they are also known as dinner. I photographed this one in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve of Botswana. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/800th of a second.
On safari, not many people bother with the francolins that always seem to be scurrying out of the way as we drive toward a lion, leopard or some other big ticket item. I like to capture everything, and made sure I got out of the vehicle and down on the ground for a better perspective of this red-billed francolin. Photographed in the Linyanti Concession of northern Botswana. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/1000th of a second.