Tawny eagle are usually the most commonly seen raptor on an East African safari (at least in my experience). I caught this guy just after takeoff in Samburu National Park in Kenya. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 280, f/5.6 at 1/1000th of a second.

One of the “cutest” moments of our trip was watching these four cheetah cubs playing king of the hill. While Mom was out searching for dinner, these four were busy chasing each other around and up and down a termite mound. We had several quality sessions over a three-day period with this crew — or coalition, as a group of cheetahs is properly called. Nikon D850 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 175mm) ISO 640, f/8 at 1/1250th of a second.

It’s hard to convey just how small dik diks are without any frame of reference. We saw lots of these guys on our recent trip — definitely more than I’ve ever seen before on a single trip to East Africa. They stand between 12 and 15 inches tall, about the size of a jackrabbit. This one was nearly dwarfed by the savanna grasses, a good thing with all the predators lurking. And yes, it is a very odd name, but comes from their vocalizations when they sense danger. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 320, f/5.6 at 1/1000th of a second.

Although I’ve seen the rock hyrax on previous trips, this is the first time I was able to get decent shots. Believe it or not these little guys are the closest relatives in Africa to the elephant. Both descended from a common ancestor, the tethytheria, which went extinct 50 million years ago. The teeth, toes and skull are very similar in both species. Hyrax are another of those animals with lots of names, including dassie, rock rabbit and coney. They are usually found in rocky areas, although this one was hiding out in a termite mound in Samburu, Kenya. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 720, f/5.6 at 1/1250th of a second.

We had a few leopard sightings while in Samburu, which is in the north of Kenya. This adult male found a shady spot under a bush and was taking a break from the mid-day heat. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 180, f/5.6 at 1/400th of a second.

The bateleur is another new species for me. And I must say, a rather badass-looking raptor. These guys have become more common to see in the Masai Mara, as one of their food-source competitors, vultures, have become less common (but that’s a story for another day). Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 560, f/5.6 at 1/640th of a second.

We saw several cheetah sprints. In fact, we saw this same cheetah make a half-hearted attempt less than an hour before this successful attempt. Cheetahs are well documented as the fastest sprinters of any land mammal and it was a thrill to see this one in full pursuit. Things did not go well for the Thomson’s gazelle when it eventually lost its footing, and soon after, its life. The lack of awareness of the two zebras in the background underscores the random precariousness of life on the savanna. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 360, f/5.6 at 1/2000th of a second.

This was a particularly good trip for warthogs as well. These two were sharing an intimate moment before getting back to the serious business of eating grass. They may not be the prettiest creatures in the Masai Mara, but warthogs have a way of winning you over with their personalities. Nikon D850 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 720, f/5.6 at 1/1000th of a second.

Zebras are definitely one of the most sighted species on most African safaris. In the Masai Mara of Kenya, they’re all over the place. That said, I still love seeing and photographing them. Most foals are born during the rainy season of March and May, making our visit in June perfect for shots like this. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 450, f/5.6 at 1/1250th of a second.

Lions can be (and are) ferocious predators. But they can also look like giant house cats at times. This big boy was rolling around on a grassy hill putting on a show for us on our first full day in the Masai Mara. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1100, f/5.6 at 1/125th of a second.