Depending on how you look at it, this is either a zebra walking past a bustard, or a bustard walking past a zebra. Either way, it was taken early morning in Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya. Kori bustards are known for being the largest flying birds in Africa. Burchell’s zebras are known for being known by many names: Bontequagga, Zululand Zebra, Idube, Bontsebra, Mangwa, and Damaraland Zebra. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/7.1 at 1/400th of a second.

This wasn’t exactly a friendly greeting. The two male elephants were sizing each other up, which led to a brief fight before the larger of the two maintained his superiority. Photographed in the Masai Mara of Kenya. Nikon D850 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 400, f/5 at 1/2000th of a second.

This olive baboon was standing in a field of grass surveying his area in the Masai Mara of Kenya. They’re called olive baboons because at a distance their coat can appear a greenish gray. This particular species of baboon is common through much of the central African continent. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 310mm) ISO 400, f/8 at 1/500th of a second.

These two bat-eared fox pups were playing just outside their den while their mother was out hunting for dinner. We watched as the mom headed off and then the pups became more animated but never strayed far from the safety of the den. Photographed in the Masai Mara of Kenya. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 380mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/80th of a second.

Seeing a giraffe rising above the African landscape is always an impressive sight, but especially on mornings like this when such a huge creature suddenly appears out of all that green-season foliage. This species is a reticulated giraffe — less common than the Masai giraffe and known for its distinct geometric patterns. Photographed in Samburu National Reserve in Kenya. Nikon D850 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 130mm) ISO 400, f/2.8 at 1/8000th of a second.

A black-backed jackal shakes off the rain before heading out to scavenge up a meal. Although they do hunt smaller mammals, they prefer to find (and often steal) leftovers from the apex predators of the African savanna. Photographed in the Laikipia region of Kenya. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 340mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/1000th of a second.

I’ve mentioned before just how small dik diks are — one of the smallest antelope species in Africa. If you look close you can see that this one has a fly on its forehead between the eyes. That should give a bit of an indication just how small in size they are. Photographed in Samburu, Kenya. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 380mm) ISO 400, f/9 at 1/60th of a second.

Other than baboons, vervet monkeys are the most commonly seen primates on East African safaris. They often hang around camps, and can be particularly mischievous. At Samburu in Kenya, you need to lock your tent at all times because the monkeys have figured out how to unzip the front entrance and ransack everything inside in search of food. I photographed this mother and her infant while we were eating lunch at the camp’s dining area. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/400th of a second.

We got up and out before the hippos got up and in. They often leave the water at night and can be found grazing at dawn. As soon as the sun gets hot, however, they generally get back into the water. Their skin is very susceptible to burning and they spend the hot part of the day with their bodies fully submerged. You can see cape buffalo in the background not yet fully awake. Photographed on the Masai Mara plains in Kenya. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 240mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/250th of a second.

As I’ve mentioned before, warthogs don’t get a lot of respect when it comes to most safari-goer’s wish lists. But they remain one of my favorites, especially when the piglets are out and about. We spotted this mother and one of her piglets on a morning game drive in the Masai Mara of Kenya last year. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/2000th of a second.