Warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus) may look ungainly with their large tusks and warty faces, but they’re surprisingly agile and intelligent. They are also attentive parents and live in close-knit family groups called sounders. In just a few more weeks, Karen and I will be leading another group back to the Masai Mara where I took this photo. If you’re interested in traveling with us, let’s get the conversation started. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 640, f/5.6 at 1/1000th of a second.
A lion’s eyes are intense and forward-facing, built for sharp focus and excellent night vision. I captured this close up, of a lioness peering through the savanna grasslands, in the Masai Mara of Kenya. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 640, f/5.6 at 1/800th of a second.
Female hyenas are the dominant sex and raise their cubs in communal dens, where the young are fiercely protected and play constantly to build strength and social skills. Despite their reputation as scavengers, spotted hyenas are skilled hunters, and mothers will nurse their cubs for up to 18 months, one of the longest periods of any carnivore. On our last trip to Kenya, we saw so many spotted hyenas, most with cubs. If you want to join us on an upcoming trip, we’d love to talk. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 5000, f/5.6 at 1/1250th of a second.
As we get closer to our trip to Kenya and Uganda in June, and start to put the schedule together for later in the year and 2026, I’ve been thinking about some of the species we’re going to see, including the always entertaining gerenuk. Their long necks are well adapted to get at the foliage that other grazers can not (well, not including giraffes or elephants, but you get the idea). If you’d like to join us on a trip, including later this year, reach out to start a conversation. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1400, f/5.6 at 1/400th of a second.
I used my inverted monopod technique to get this low-angle shot of two white rhinos turning toward each other in Nairobi National Park. We’ll be back this June and I’m looking forward to visiting the park, and the rhinos, on our first day in Kenya. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 24-70mm lens (at 65mm) ISO 450, f/5.6 at 1/1000th of a second.
The Somali ostrich is one of the specialties of northern Kenya and one of the reasons we always like to pair the Masai Mara in the south with Samburu in the north when we plan our safaris. This particular ostrich appeared to be telling me something, but I’m not sure exactly what. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 2500, f/5.6 at 1/1600th of a second.
Sometimes you get so close to the elephants, you have to focus in on the details. We had this encounter in the Ol Pajeta Conservancy of Kenya last April. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/2.8 at 1/320th of a second.
This guy was part of a pride of young male lions we encountered late one afternoon in Kenya last April. You can see his mane just starting to come in. They had been resting and playing for most of the afternoon but when the sun began to set, they got serious and went into hunt mode. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 5600, f/5.6 at 1/640th of a second.
These young reticulated giraffes were sparring with each other, swinging their long necks to delivery punishing blows. Eventually a larger male came along and broke up the fight. Photographed in April of 2024 in Samburu National Reserve in Kenya. We’re still looking to fill an empty tent for our upcoming trip in June of 2025. If you or any one you know is interested, please get in touch for more details. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 115mm) ISO 180, f/4 at 1/2000th of a second.
I captured this white rhinoceros crossing a dry river bed as we were leaving Nairobi National Park on the final night of our trip to Kenya last April. The horizontal layers of color on the rhino almost mimick the colors of the sky. You can also see deep scratches across the upper body of the rhino, likely from branches and thorns while walking through the thick bushes. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 70mm) ISO 450, f/2.8 at 1/400th of a second.
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