The slender mongoose is a crafty little carnivore widespread throughout sub-Sahara Africa. The species also happens to be a dead ringer for my good friend Tony who got engaged last night. So this one goes out to you Tony and Shardae — for the engagement — and for looking like a slender mongoose.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/1250th of a second
As common as they can be on safari, I never grow tired of photographing zebras. This one was strutting with purpose across the flooded plain of the Linyanti concession in Botswana.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 400, f/6.3 at 1/1600th of a second
This genet interrupted our dinner one night while on safari in Botswana. I always bring my gear with me to meals just in case of such an occurrence. Usually, nothing, but this time I was able to get a series of shots, a few of which I’ve posted in the past. Genets are strictly nocturnal and a somewhat common sight around camps after dark in eastern and southern Africa.
Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 270mm) ISO 640, f/4 at 1/60th of a second
Jackals are sort of the coyotes of Africa and Asia. I’ve photographed two species in Africa and another in India. This is the black-backed jackal and he was doing his jackal-y thing in the Kalahari Desert in Botswana. My three day visit to the Kalahari was made extra special by the fact that I was the only guest at the camp at the time. It was easy for me to get out of the safari vehicle when appropriate to capture eye level shots of all the great wildlife.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 340mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/400th of a second
Red lechwe are an African antelope that prefer to spend the majority of their waking hours in or around water. The top photo is the female of the species and the bottom the male. They were both part of a herd that was dashing across the flooded plain of the Okavango Delta in Botswana.
Top Photo — Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 220mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/400th of a second
Bottom Photo — Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 260mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/400th of a second
This African wild dog was just letting out a bit of a yawn before settling down for the night. After tracking them for quite some time, we finally came upon this pack of wild dogs late afternoon in northern Botswana.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 330mm) ISO 400, f/5 at 1/400th of a second
Just a simple ostrich portrait for a Friday. The facts: The ostrich is the largest bird species on the planet. They can’t fly. The myths: They hide their head in the sand when frightened. This ostrich was doing his best to avoid the flies (obviously not good enough) in the Linyanti Concession of Botswana.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/400th of a second
Here’s another one from Botswana. This time the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and a southern yellow hornbill. I think he/she was trying to wink at me but couldn’t quite get that left eye to close. I was hiding in a blind waiting for a honey badger to make its nightly rounds and having a good time with the close approach of several of the local birds.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/400th of a second
A zebra, sort of hiding in the tall grass of the Okavango Delta in Botswana. It was early in the morning and there was a herd of tsessebe with a few zebra mixed in here and there, no doubt doing their best to stay out of sight of any would be predators.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/2000th of a second
This cheetah was just doing what any self-respecting cheetah would do. Marking his territory. He was one of three brothers that I saw over the course of a few days while staying in northern Botswana.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/1000th of a second
