While people may not think that general game such as zebras, antelopes, or giraffes are quite as spectacular as the Big 5, I beg to differ. Yes, they are ubiquitous, but that does not make them any less interesting. We saw them fiercely fighting for dominance, standing around looking cute, running from predators, joyfully jumping about in the water, daring a pride of lions (giraffes can be incredibly stupid!), nursing their young and peacefully grazing. Without them, Africa wouldn’t be the same.
Tag: Wildlife Photography
Predators
The Beauty of Birds in Flight
Birds in flight are fascinating me. The way they spread their feathers, stretch their delicate bodies and show off the beautiful colors and patterns of their plumage – it’s simply mind-boggling. On our last trip to Africa I set out to focus more on capturing this momentary beauty. Enjoy!












The Good, the Bad, the Ugly
Buffalos – uniquely black
Striking Patterns
Antilopes!
Pachyderms
Black and white rhinos, elephants and hippos: they are truly magnificent creatures, though quite a challenge to ban on film as the composition can easily get boring and static. Oftentimes, they may also look “classier” (more artsy?) in black and white. This said, I hope you enjoy this selection of coloured pictures as well. My personal favourite: the “turning hippos” (Ngorongoro Crater).
More Birds
Weavers, bee-eaters, rollers, owls, kingfishers, hornbills, magpie shrikes, secretary birds, herons, ducks, storks, marabous, vultures, cranes, eagles, drongos, ibis, flamingoes, hamercops, champagne birds, kites, … Without exception they are all beautiful, elegant, and never boring. The pictures above were taken in Botswana (Okavango Delta), South Africa (Phinda, Ngala, Kirkmans), Namibia (Sossusvlei), and Tanzania (Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater). You may wonder what my favourite bird is? My honest answer: the African Hawk Eagle. Although the flamingo is a close second. What is yours?
Wild Dogs
African Wild Dogs – we did not see them for many years; they are indeed a rare sighting. But finally we lucked out and came across two large packs in Ngala, South Africa. One of them counting 19 individuals, the other about 10. We watched them tease elephants, ‘play’ with a group of buffalo bachelors, fight over a recent mini kill (a shrub hare) and scare off hyenas. They are fierce, fast, constantly on the move and highly successful predators. In short, absolutely stunning animals.