Just a quick post today as I am running a little short on time at the moment!
I loved watching these elephants greet each other as they all congregated around a dam. Different family groups joined up, took their time with greetings, getting refreshing drinks, and eventually, heading off in their separate ways.
It’s always a joy for me to spend time amongst elephants.
Here we are at Monday again. I felt like editing some elephant images recently, so that is what I have decided to share today. Elephants, with their amazingly textured skin, look fantastic in monochrome images (at least I think so!)
I hope you enjoy my selections. Have a great week!
A lone bull elephant crossing the Boteti River in Botswana.An elephant enjoying some tasty greens.Giving the grasses a good shake, to remove excess dirt, before eating.An elephant enjoying a drink at one of the dams on Phinda Game Reserve.There is actually a pair of elephants here, climbing out of the dry riverbed in front of Ngala Tented Camp, but one is mostly obscured by the bushes. This image looked pretty flat and lifeless from the harsh midday sun, until I did the black and white conversion. I couldn’t quite go ask them to repeat the trek at a later time when the lighting was more favourable!
I’m keeping fingers crossed that I’ll have the opportunity to see lots of big cats while of safari next month. Here are a few images from my previous travels to start the week.
Wishing everyone a fantastic week ahead!
A family of cheetah huddled together during a wind storm.A sleepy looking lion, obscured by the tall grasses.A leopard obscured by the vegetation.
No jokes, funny business or shenanigans here. Just a trio of zebra images for the 1st monochrome Monday of April.
Wishing everyone a fantastic week ahead!
A zebra foal seen in Etosha National Park.We all have that one friend that looks a bit awkward when smiling for the camera!This zebra was not at all concerned by our vehicle, and walked up right next to where we were parked. I think it was using the tree stump as a scratching post after I snapped this.
I’m keeping with yesterday’s Palm Springs theme, but this time, a black and white interpretation.
I hope everyone’s week has gotten off to a fantastic start!
Deconstructed palm trees.Palm fronds.Joshua Tree at dusk.A Joshua tree and a sky full of stars.Joshua Tree by day.Lots and lots of desert plants, speaking loudly without any words. So clearly saying “Look, but do not touch”.This was taken in the back garden of the property I stayed at. I kept hearing a familiar call, but didn’t realize that there were flickers in Southern California. Here, it is being tormented by a couple of Costa’s hummingbird. All I had to hand was my Panasonic camera, which at full zoom leaves something to be desired, but I’d rather have the moment than not. I always find it interesting seeing tiny hummingbirds bossing around much larger birds.
Some leopards to start the week! Leopards are definitely my favourite cats to watch (well, at least of the cats I have seen so far… once I have the chance to see tigers and jaguars, I’ll have to revisit this statement!)
The first image was taken in Botswana in the Okavango Delta, in a sighting filled will drama (for the humans involved). Several vehicles from another camp were following this leopard, who was doing what leopards do best, being elusive and sticking to the cover of the bush. There had been a lot of flooding in the area, and a vehicle got stuck while following this cat, and then a second got stuck, trying to help the first. Our awesome ranger saved the day and got the vehicles mobile again, but both stuck vehicles missed out on the few photo opportunities that were available, like this one.
Seeing this image brings back fun memories of a great (and rather muddy) game drive. This can be a typical leopard sighting; lots of cover, grasses and bushes, but that’s also why I like it, because it is realistic.
This second image was also from the delta, and I have posted of this sighting many times before so I won’t go on and on. I think though, this shot is how people dream of seeing leopards, but the one above is a far more realistic scenario.
A gorgeous leopard who spent a late afternoon, through sunset, perched in tree, with only us there to watch.
This final image was taken in South Africa; our guide took us to a sighting of a mama leopard and her two cubs in ravine, and we had a brilliant time watching the cubs playing on the fallen trees, scampering through the swamp, and wrestling with each other. The cub pictured here was just about to pounce on its sibling, who was a few feet below on the ground. This was one of those sightings where, as we drove back to camp, our guide told us “we probably should keep this quiet while there are other guests around”.
A playful leopard cub descending a fallen tree.
Just so you know, you can find lots of images like these over in my gallery page!
The amazing Okavango Delta, from the air, is the image I have selected for my monochrome Monday post this week. It is such an amazing and beautiful location, and one that absolutely needs to be experienced from the land, the air and the water to truly get an appreciation for the magic of the place. Definitely a destination I hope to return to again.
I have been incredibly fortunate to see wild dogs on all the trips I have taken to southern Africa. My very first trip, when asked what animal I hoped I would see, it was the wild dog. I knew they were rare, endangered, and can be difficult to find, and when our guide Mike found them during our day trip to Chobe Park, I was beyond thrilled. And I have remained thrilled each time I have had the good fortune of spending time with these amazing animals.
All the images below were from my last trip, when we had wild dogs sightings over 3 days in the Okavango Delta.
On of the pack members breaking off as they set off on a hunt.Resting, yet still alert. After we parked the vehicle, this dog settled in within a few feet of the land rover.A classic puppy pose 🙂The pack greeting each other as they all awoke from an afternoon of napping.Watch dog.