These two lion cubs were seeking shelter from the rain under a stand of trees in Ol Pajeta Conservancy in Laikipia, Kenya. There was a third cub nearby, as well as mom to the right of frame.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 1600, f/3.5 at 1/200th of a second

It’s been a while since I posted bat-eared foxes. Here are two pups that I photographed in Kenya in the Masai Mara. Mom was out hunting while these two played in and around their den.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/200th of a second

It’s not entirely rare to see a hippo out of water, but not exactly common either. They do spend the majority of their waking hours in rivers, lakes and ponds, seeking relief from the heat and much needed protection for their sensitive skin. But they will sometimes seek dry land at night to sleep, and they can occasionally be spotted eating grass in the early morning hours before the sun rises. The one thing that is for sure is that they are not to be messed with. This big guy we encountered one morning in the Masai Mara of Kenya was eyeing us cautiously as I snapped a few pictures. We quickly moved on, making sure that he didn’t feel threatened and that he had a clear path back to the water.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/320th of a second

This cheetah was taking a quick break from feverishly feasting upon an impala. Cheetahs will often try and eat as quickly as possible before larger and stronger rival carnivores, such as hyenas or lions, run them off. They are rare among cats in that adult males are social and will travel in groups of up to five, while adult females without cubs, are mostly solitary. On this particular kill in Ol Pajeta Conservancy in the Laikipia region of Kenya, there were two adults, indicating that they were most likely males.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/400th of a second

Not a great shot technically — more of a snapshot really — but I like the story that this one tells. The lioness was taking her sweet time with that wildebeest kill. She had long since gotten all the meat out of it that she could, but she refused to leave even a scrap behind for that persistent, brave, and I assume, annoying jackal. There were actually two black-backed jackals that kept creeping up behind her, nipping at her tail and trying to get her off the kill. And as always there were a few vultures around (you can see one out of focus in the background), waiting patiently for their turn. Eventually the jackals gave up and moved on. As soon as they were out of sight the lion left too, after which about twenty vultures moved in to grab whatever was left.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 1600, f/2.8 at 1/400th of a second

The secretary bird is a fairly common sight in sub-Sahara Africa. I photographed this one in the Masai Mara of Kenya. They are mostly spotted on the ground but also in trees. The secretary bird is quite tall, reaching more than four feet. It has been described as having an eagle like body and head, atop crane like legs. As for the name, I will quote from Wikipedia — “Its common name is popularly thought to derive from the crest of long quill-like feathers, lending the bird the appearance of a secretary with quill pens tucked behind their ear, as was once common practice. A more recent hypothesis is that ‘secretary’ is borrowed from a French corruption of the Arabic saqr-et-tair or ‘hunter-bird.’ The generic name Sagittarius is Latin for “archer,” perhaps likening the secretary bird’s “quills” to a quiver of arrows, and the specific epithet serpentarius recalls the bird’s skill as a hunter of reptiles.”
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/6.3 at 1/1600th of a second