Genet
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
Black-Backed Jackal
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
Female and Male Red Lechwe
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
African Wild Dog Having a Good Yawn
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
Ostrich Portrait
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
Southern Yellow Hornbill Portrait
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
Zebra in Tall Grass
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