Yellow-necked spurfowl are a common sight in Samburu National Reserve in Kenya. Also known as francolins, they are often referred to as African chickens for their habit of always running out of the way as safari vehicles pass by. This image gives a good look at that yellow neck. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 360mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/320th of a second.

A female gerenuk emerges from the bushes in Samburu National Reserve in Kenya. Their unusually long necks, as well as their habit of rearing back on their hind legs, allow them to reach foliage that other antelope species can not. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 340mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/320th of a second.

The zebras were getting understandable nervous as these three cheetah brothers went on the prowl. About twenty minutes later they made an unsuccessful sprint while attempting to capture one of the young zebra calves. Photographed in the Ol Pajeta Conservancy in Laikipia, Kenya. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/250th of a second.

There wasn’t much light left when I came across this troop of African bush elephants in Samburu, Kenya. The Samburu elephants are considerably more red and less gray than their counterparts elsewhere in Africa. But that’s only because of the red dirt in the area that they spend all day tossing over their bodies. When the light is low, the effect is that they seem to glow. Nikon D850 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 70mm with graduated neutral density filter) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/125th of a second.

Back in January, I posted a shot of this leopard resting while preparing for a hunt. The yawn gave me a different look and excuse for a repost. Soon after letting it all out, she stalked off through the tall grasses to get a better look at whatever it was she was looking at. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 330mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/160th of a second.

An olive baboon sits patiently in the rain. The olive is the most widely spread species of baboon. It can be found in twenty five different countries across Africa. I photographed this one in the Ol Pajeta Conservancy of Kenya. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/320th of a second.

This lion had just finished lunch. With that bloody muzzle, he looked like he had just gotten caught doing something that he shouldn’t have. Gruesome as it may be, it’s all part of life on the African plains. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/250th of a second.

Seemed a gif was the proper way to go with this itchy unstriped ground squirrel. Photographed near camp in Samburu National Reserve in Kenya. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 240mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/400th of a second.

Three female lions rest on the vast African plains of the Masai Mara in Kenya. Shortly after taking this shot, they were joined by two others from the pride and they made an attempt to capture a warthog. I had no idea how fast a warthog could be and despite the well orchestrated ambush by the lions, the warthog narrowly escaped. Those are cape buffalo in the distance. Nikon D850 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 125mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/2500th of a second.