Spotting a leopard is always at the top of the wish list on our African safaris. Even better to find one in a great setting like this. We were able to observe her for awhile while resting on that fallen tree. Eventually she began her hunt, climbed a tree and then disappeared into the tall grasses and scrub brush of Samburu National Reserve in Kenya. Nikon D500 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 340mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/200th of a second.

We were heading to dinner while in the Ol Pajeta Conservancy of Kenya when we spotted this African savanna hare behind our tent. It was well past sunset, but the lights from the nearby pathway and dining area were enough to illuminate the scene. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 12800, f/5.6 at 1/30th of a second.

Always fun when an elephant suddenly appears out of the bushes. This was a relatively young elephant, intent on crossing the road just as we were driving past, but allowing me to use a wide angle lens to grab a few photos. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 24-70mm lens (at 30.5mm) ISO 360, f/4 at 1/640th of a second.

Black-backed jackals are the most common canid we see on our Africa trips. That said, it’s not as if they’re all over the place — always nice to get a few sightings. They are often encountered in pairs. These two were getting a good look at us before getting back to their search for food. They are hunters as well as scavengers and will often try to boldly annoy a lion off a kill. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 800, f/5.6 at 1/1000th of a second.

This will be the only post this week as Karen and I will be off to my niece’s wedding for a few days. Always nice when the animals move to the ridge line, especially with dramatic sunrise clouds. Topi are a common antelope on the plains of the Masai Mara in Kenya. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 90mm) ISO 110, f/2.8 at 1/500th of a second.

We see two types of gazelle on our Africa trips — the Thomson’s and the Grant’s. The Grant’s are much larger and have a few more physical characteristics that distinguish them, such as a white patch on their rump that extends above the tail (just in case you were wondering). This Grant’s was photographed in the early morning in the Ol Pajeta Conservancy of Laikipia, Kenya. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 250, f/2.8 at 1/1600th of a second.

This was the beginning of a beautiful morning in Laikipia, Kenya in the Ol Pajeta Conservancy. There’s only a single elephant in the photo, but moments later we were surrounded by the rest of the rather large herd. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 180, f/2.8 at 1/125th of a second.

Bustards are large birds that spend most of their time on the savanna grasslands. I’ve previously posted the kori bustard, which is the largest. This is the black-bellied bustard, photographed in the Masai Mara of Kenya. He was performing a mating call, as well as a bit of a dance to go along with it. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 500, f/5.6 at 1/2000th of a second.

A single take of a dwarf mongoose doing as they do. Filmed in Samburu National Reserve in April. Nikon Z8, 4K at 120fps.

This lioness had just finished feasting on a Cape buffalo carcass. Moments later she plopped down in the tall grasses of the savanna for a nap. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1600, f/5.6 at 1/800th of a second.