Mother and Child
African Elephant Loxodonta africana
These fine examples of the African Elephant are wading back to the south bank of the Chobe River after enjoying an afternoon’s grazing on one of the many islands in the river.
This image was captured on the Chobe River, near Kasane, northern Botswana, Southern Africa.
Whoa!
African Elephant Loxodonta africana
We ventured a little too close to this “gentle giant” while he was enjoying a late afternoon swim! He was not at all comfortable with us being so close!
This image was captured on the Chobe River, near Kasane, northern Botswana, Southern Africa.
On the road again….
Lioness Panthera leo
Lionesses do most of the hunting for their pride. They are more effective hunters as they are smaller, swifter and more agile than the males, and unencumbered by the heavy and conspicuous mane, which causes overheating during exertion. They act as a coordinated group with members who perform the same role consistently in order to stalk and bring down the prey successfully.
This beautiful specimen exhibits not only determination to go where she wants to be, but also exudes the incredible power and agility of this typically African predator.
This image was captured in the Masai Mara conservancy, south west Kenya, East Africa.
Tango in Etosha
Burchell’s Zebra Equus quagga burchellii
Burchell’s zebra is a southern subspecies of the plains zebra. It is named after the British explorer and naturalist William John Burchell.
These magnificent animals are plentiful in the Etosha National Park which surrounds the Etosha Pan in northern Namibia. Herds numbering in the hundreds are commonplace in this part of Namibia.
These fine specimens were photographed on the Andoni Flats in the north eastern part of ENP.
King of the Mara
Lion Panthera leo
During the annual migration of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle between Kenya and Tanzania, the availability of prey far exceeds the requirements of the predators. The Mara plains abound with the big cat predators. It is not merely by accident that this area is the location of the BBC’s “Big Cat Diaries”.
This image was captured in the Masai Mara Conservancy, south west Kenya, East Africa.
Double Trouble!
Chacma Baboon Papio ursinus
The Chacma Baboon, also known as the Cape Baboon, is one of the largest of all monkeys.
Located primarily in southern Africa, the chacma baboon has a wide variety of social behaviors, including a dominance hierarchy, collective foraging, adoption of young by females, and friendship pairings.
In general the species is not threatened, but human population pressure has increased contact between humans and baboons. Hunting, accidents and trapping kill or remove many baboons from the wild. This has reduced baboon numbers and disrupted their social structure.
The little ones are very playful!
This image was captured on the Chobe River, near Kasane, northern Botswana, Southern Africa
Handsome!
Lechwe Kobus leche
The Lechwe, is an antelope found in Botswana, Zambia, southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, northeastern Namibia, and eastern Angola, especially in the Okavango Delta, Kafue Flats and Bangweulu Swamps.
Lechwe stand 90 to 100 cm (35 to 39 in) at the shoulder and weigh from 70 to 120 kg (150 to 260 lb). They are golden brown with white bellies. Males are darker in colour, but general hue varies depending on subspecies. The long, spiral-structured horns are vaguely lyre-shaped, they are found only in males. The hindlegs are somewhat longer in proportion than in other antelopes, to ease long-distance running in marshy soil.
Lechwe are found in marshy areas where they eat aquatic plants. They use the knee-deep water as protection from predators. Their legs are covered in a water-repellant substance which allows them to run quite fast in knee-deep water.
Lechwe are diurnal. They gather in herds which can include many thousands of individuals. Herds are usually all of one sex, but during mating season they mix.
[Ref: Wikipedia]
This image was captured on the Chobe River, near Kasane, northern Botswana, Southern Africa.
Going Down!
Leopard Panthera pardus
The leopard is a member of the Felidae family with a wide range in some parts of sub-Saharan Africa, West Asia, the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia to Siberia. It is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List because it is declining in large parts of its range due to habitat loss and fragmentation, and hunting for trade and pest control.
The leopard is the smallest of the four “big cats” in the genus Panthera. Compared to other members of the Felidae, the leopard has relatively short legs and a long body with a large skull. It is similar in appearance to the jaguar, but is smaller and more slightly built. Its fur is marked with rosettes similar to those of the jaguar, but the leopard’s rosettes are smaller and more densely packed, and do not usually have central spots as the jaguars do. Both leopards and jaguars that are melanistic are known as black panthers.
The species’ success in the wild is in part due to its opportunistic hunting behavior, its adaptability to habitats, its ability to run at speeds approaching 58 kilometres per hour (36 mph), its unequaled ability to climb trees even when carrying a heavy carcass, and its notorious ability for stealth. The leopard consumes virtually any animal that it can hunt down and catch. Its habitat ranges from rainforest to desert terrains.
[Ref: Wikipedia]
This image was captured on the Chobe River, near Kasane, northern Botswana, Southern Africa.
Built for Speed
Cheetah Acinonyx jubatis
These beautiful animals are, of course, one of the deadliest predators on the plains of Africa. In the Masai Mara this is no exception and is very evident. Together with the other large predator cats, the lion and leopard, they wreak havoc among the migrating herds of Wildebeest (Gnu), Zebra, Topi and Thomson’s Gazelle.
They are known for two particular discriminating features; they are the fastest land animal – accelerating 0-100 kph in 3 seconds and reaching a top speed of 120 kph (75 mph) over short distances; and they are the only large cat that has retractable claws.
They are particularly fond of sitting on termite mounds to survey their surroundings.
The East African animals seem to be much lighter in colour than their Southern African cousins. Cheetah are included in the IUCN list of Vulnerable Species.
This image was captured in the Masai Mara Conservancy, south west Kenya, East Africa.
Elephants in the Mist
African Elephant Loxodonta africana
The dust caused by the elephants’ rapid approach to the water’s edge, combined with the fading light of the encroaching dusk on an autumn afternoon, lends a misty and mystical atmosphere to this image. The elephants had come for a sundowner late on a May afternoon. This waterside view of them enjoying a thirst-quenching drink is one of my favourites!
This image was captured on the Chobe River, near Kasane, northern Botswana, Southern Africa.
Duncan's Nature Photography 