Okay, one more cutest-on-the-African-plains contender before switching continents. Lion cubs are certainly worthy of being on anyone’s short list. This little guy was photographed just north of the Masai Mara in Kenya.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 270mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/320th of a second

After yesterday’s post of the baby elephant, someone mentioned that certain big cat babies also challenge for cutest animal on the African plains. I wholeheartedly agree. I especially like baby cheetahs. Here’s one curled up with its mom as the setting sun lights up the tall grasses of the Masai Mara in Kenya.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 360mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/200th of a second

Just a straight on shot of a baby giraffe in mediocre light. But there aren’t many things on the African plains as cute as a baby giraffe. This one was photographed in the Masai Mara of Kenya. Mom was nearby eating the leaves off the top of a bush just to the left of frame.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 400, f/6.3 at 1/500th of a second

Cape buffalo are pretty much the curmudgeons of the African plains. They are considered one of the big five (along with leopards, lions, elephants and rhinos) but they’re the one of the five that nobody really cares too much about. Probably because they are pretty common. And look like cattle. I’ve always loved the George Washington-esque horns atop their heads. And the way that they stare you down as if they can’t believe you would dare come any closer. This one, however, didn’t seem to care too much about anything at all.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 380mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/160th of a second

The grey crowned crane, or crested crane, is certainly one of the more interesting looking creatures to be found in east Africa. It is a large bird standing three and a half feet tall and weighing in at almost eight pounds. It spends the entire day foraging for a variety of both plants and animals, including seeds, grains, worms, frogs, snakes, fish and eggs. This particular crane was winding down its day before heading to a tree to rest and sleep for the night.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 00-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/200th of a second

These two bat eared fox pups were getting to know each other a little better. Of course, they should have been quite familiar with each other as they were most likely from the same litter. We came across them late one afternoon in the Masai Mara of Kenya.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 360mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/100th of a second

Using a warm white balance and shooting in the general direction of the sun produced the golden tones in this image. These two white rhinos were grazing early morning in Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya. Lewa is one of the best places in Kenya to see both white, as well as black rhinos.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/2000th of a second

Pictured up front is a single Grevy’s zebra — the largest and most endangered of the zebra species. In the background, a herd of eland — Africa’s largest antelope — graze under the twilight sky in Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya. I used a graduated neutral density filter to hold the color and detail in the sky while exposing for the foreground.
Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 90mm) ISO 1600, f/2.8 at 1/160th of a second, graduated neutral density filter

This will be the last post for a few weeks as I head to the Falkland Islands first thing in the morning. Enjoy this mother cheetah and her cub for now and stay tuned for a whole lot of penguins upon my return.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/500th of a second

I’ve mentioned a few times before that the short rainy season is my favorite time to visit East Africa. Everything is beautifully green, and you get skies like this. No Photoshopping or colored filters used here, that’s what the sky looks like at sunset over the Masai Mara. Down in the corner is a silhouette of a lone hartebeest.
Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/80th of a second