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.

It was at this time last year that I arrived in Africa for my last photo trip before locking down. Seems a lot longer ago than that. Here’s hoping I’ll have the chance again sometime in 2021. These African elephants paid us a visit as the sun set behind the mountains of Samburu National Reserve in Kenya. Nikon D850 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 70mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/250th of a second.

Hope everyone had a great New Year. To get things started in 2021, here’s an olive baboon I met a few years back, shaking off the rain in Ol Pajeta Conservancy in Laikipia Kenya. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 330mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/400th of a second.

When I get back from every big trip, the first thing I do with my photos is to identify every animal and put them into folders. I always end up with a bird folder labeled “Unidentifieds” — those that Google doesn’t have any obvious answers for. Usually that folder remains forgotten as most of those birds are rather drab looking and as such, not given much attention. Tonight I decided to delve into my Unidentifieds folder from my Kenya trip back in 2011. Among the mystery birds, I came across this pleasant looking little guy. I was determined to identify him and to the best of my ability, I think he’s an African gray flycatcher. Not the most colorful bird I saw at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, but given a second look, I found him quite agreeable. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 340mm) ISO 400, f/6.3 at 1/160th of a second.

I saw this elephant a few times on my most recent trip to Kenya and each time it appeared as if he was presenting me with his trunk, like a waiter presenting a bottle of wine. Perhaps he just needed a place to rest the trunk so it didn’t drag on the ground, or maybe it was some sort of an injury. Who knows, but it was interesting that it seemed to be a habitual thing. Nikon D850 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 150mm) ISO 800, f/2.8 at 1/800th of a second.