One of the reasons I like traveling to Africa during rainy season, is skies like this. Quite often the sky gets very dark due to an approaching storm, but the sun is still shining bright on the foreground subject. These reticulated giraffes were getting their fill of thorny bushes, seemingly unconcerned with the drama building behind them. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1250, f/5.6 at 1/3200th of a second.

We travelled to Kenya earlier this year in the middle of rainy season. That said, we had very little rain (at least that affected the trip). When it did rain it was at night, and for the most part, it was sunny during the day. With a few exceptions. This was the final afternoon before flying home that night. Karen and the rest of the guests decided to take it easy and check out a new restaurant in Nairobi. I, of course, saw one more opportunity to find wildlife and headed to Nairobi National Park. It rained a lot that afternoon, but that just made for some interesting photos. And the rhinos certainly didn’t seem to mind. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 120mm) ISO 6400, f/5.6 at 1/1000th of a second.

Vulturine guineafowl are birds we usually see in Samburu National Reserve in north central Kenya. They spend most of their time on the ground, but will take to the air when necessary. They have some impressive plumage with the stripes, dots and streaks of blue and purple. They are guineafowl and not vultures, but those heads are certainly — as the name would suggest — vulturine. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 70mm) ISO 2200, f/4 at 1/640th of a second.

Waterbuck are one of the largest of the antelope species we see on our Kenyan trips. Only the males have horns. This mother and her calf were getting some late grazing in before the sun set on another day in the Masai Mara. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 12800, f/5.6 at 1/1000th of a second.

You never know what we’re going to see on our night drives in Kenya. Night safaris are illegal in all of Kenya’s national parks these days due to poachers (they are easier to catch if tourists aren’t out there as well). But sometimes we stay in areas that aren’t national parks where going out at night is possible. This was taken in Ol Pajeta Conservancy in central Kenya. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 6400, f/5.6 at 1/160th of a second, flashlight and safari vehicle headlights.

The kori bustard is the largest flying bird in Africa. This one was putting on quite a courtship display, puffing out those neck feathers, although we never saw who he was performing for as he walked around strutting his stuff in a big, seemingly empty field. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 720, f/5.6 at 1/2000th of a second.

We still have a few slots open for our June 2025 trip to Kenya and Uganda. Reach out for details. While in Kenya, we often see bat-eared foxes, including these pups we came across in the Masai Mara, just outside their den while Mom was out hunting for dinner. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 380mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/80th of a second.

Lions often get active just as the sun goes down, making for some great photo opportunities. If you want to join us on our next trip to Kenya and Uganda in June of 2025, we still have a few open slots. Reach out if interested in hearing more. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 5600, f/5.6 at 1/500th of a second.

Those long necks are used for more than just to reach the top leaves on an acacia tree. Males will often use their powerful necks to battle over territory. Fights can get quite aggressive as giraffes swing their necks violently hoping to land body blows against their opponents. But they also use their necks to show affection. Thus was the case with these two reticulated giraffes in Samburu National Reserve in Kenya. They’re both males, but clearly quite fond of each other as they perform a gentle dance. Nikon Z8 at 4K at 120 fps.

Generally, the more common the animal, the less sought after by safari goers on the trips we lead to Africa. Everyone wants to see the cats and other more difficult to track down species. But there are a few notable exceptions. Zebras being one of them. And they tend to be really common. At least the plains zebras. Enjoy this quick video of some of the zebra action on our trip to Kenya in April. Nikon Z8 at 4K.