When they’re young, cheetahs have a bushy patch of white fur across their backs. Some zoologists believe it’s an adaptation to make them look more like honey badgers, and therefore more ferocious looking to would-be predators. I photographed this not-so-scary-looking cub one afternoon in the Masai Mara of Kenya. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 290mm) ISO 400, f/7.1 at 1/800th of a second.

This is one of the smallest elephants I’ve ever seen. I’m assuming that to be the mother — a big assumption considering she was also quite small compared to the rest of the elephants in the herd. Photographed after sunset in the Masai Mara of Kenya. Nikon D850 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 190mm) ISO 800, f/3.2 at 1/500th of a second.

Vultures don’t get a lot of love out there on the African savanna. I mean, they’re vultures after all. But they shouldn’t be overlooked. Especially white-headed vultures, who on closer inspection, are surprisingly fine looking birds. This one was no doubt hanging around waiting for something to die — as any self-respecting vulture does of course. Photographed north of the Masai Mara in the Olare Orok Conservancy of Kenya. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 330mm) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/2000th of a second.

Impala are among the most graceful of Africa’s antelopes. They can run at speeds of almost 40 miles per hour and leap ten feet in the air while covering a distance of over 30 feet. I photographed these two in Ol Pajeta Conservancy in Laikipia, Kenya. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 380mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/640th of a second.

The rain doesn’t stop a black-backed jackal from getting out and searching around for a few savanna scraps to scavenge. This image was captured in the Ol Pajeta Conservancy of Kenya. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/1250th of a second.

Always a thrill to see rhinoceros in the wild, even in Lewa, Kenya where they can be quite common. Lewa, in fact, was founded as a sanctuary for both white and black rhinos. I caught these two white rhinos early in the morning as they were coming over a ridge line. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/6.3 at 1/800th of a second.

A pair of young gazelles play in the green grass of Kenya toward the end of the short rains in November. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 340mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/640th of a second.

Always fun to watch lion cubs asserting themselves in displays of bravado. This one was snarling at his sibling — all in good fun while the parents were taking an afternoon nap. Photographed in the Masai Mara of Kenya. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/6.3 at 1/200th of a second.

A young cheetah surveys the landscape of Lewa Conservancy in Kenya. November is my favorite time to visit eastern Africa. The short rains are still in effect, but most days are sunny with cloudy blue skies and the landscape is lush and green. As for the cheetah, she had recently been reintroduced into the wild, but was still very trusting of humans — thus the wide angle perspective. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 17mm) ISO 400, f/6.3 at 1/1250th of a second.

Something about this waterbuck staring straight into the camera that I find amusing. This is a female we found grazing with her calf early in the morning in Ol Pajeta Conservancy in Kenya. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 210mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/40th of a second.