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.

The little bee eater is a very common bird throughout most of sub Sahara Africa. In fact, it is estimated that there are between 60 and 80 million of them. That said, always great to see their pleasantly bright yellow and green plumage and blue eyebrow above that red eye. Both males and females share the same appearance. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (with 1.4 teleconverter attached for 550mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/400th of a second.

Lilac breasted rollers are common birds throughout sub-Saharan Africa, but that doesn’t make them any less spectacular. Especially when you see them in flight and displaying the full range of color on their wings. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/6400th of a second.

Botswana can present a photographic challenge with all its dry scrubland and bright sunshine. Not always a good combo for pleasant images. But when that African sun is low on the horizon, even the dead bushes can look great if the subjects are catching the light just right. I spotted this small herd of impala early in the morning in the Linyanti Concession. About twenty minutes later, the lighting conditions quickly deteriorated. Of course, that made it the perfect time to put the camera down and just enjoy the amazing sights and sounds that only Africa can provide. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/800th of a second.

This is the spotted thick-knee, also known as the spotted dikkop or Cape thick-knee. As the name would suggest, those knees are pretty thick. Thick-knees are also pretty smart, often faking an injury to draw predators away from a nest. They range throughout much of sub-Sahara Africa, preferring grasslands and savanna where they spend the majority of their time. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/200th of a second.

The martial eagle is the apex predator at the top of the avian food chain throughout its range in southern and central Africa. They are very large eagles (with a wingspan of nearly 7 feet) and can be ferociously efficient hunters. Those two traits combined with their spotted chests have earned them the nickname of “leopard of the sky.” When it comes to diet, martial eagles are opportunists, preying on everything from reptiles, amphibians and small mammals to even mid-sized ungulates. Because they will attack livestock and other game, they also happen to be one of the most persecuted bird species in the world. They hunt at much higher altitudes than most raptors, mainly due to their incredible eyesight — courtesy of eyes nearly the size of a human. It is estimated that they can spot prey up to 3.7 miles away. I photographed this one in the Okavango Delta of Botswana. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 300mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/1000th of a second.

The hamerkop is a fairly common bird throughout much of Africa, but still a good find when you come across one. They get their name from the hammer-like shape of their head. They are generalists when it comes to diet, but prefer fish and amphibians and they can often be seen wading in flooded areas of the savanna. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 3200, f/4 at 1/200th of a second.

This water hole wasn’t too far from the camp I was staying at in the Kalahari Desert of Botswana. The first few days we had seen quite a few antelope species stopping for a drink, but then finally the big boys showed up. This guy filled up for quite awhile and as soon as he got up to leave, a second big-maned male walked up and took his spot. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 400, f/6.3 at 1/400th of a second.

A pregnant meerkat taking a break at the end of the day before heading into the burrow for the night, Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 95mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/200th of a second