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Captured in the heart of Namibia, this black and white photograph highlights the tender bond between a zebra mother and her nursing foal. Set against the rugged landscape, this moment reflects the beauty of wildlife, nature, and maternal love in the African wilderness. A timeless scene from the untamed landscapes of Etosha National Park.
A young rhino calf takes its first steps into the vast Namibian savannah, full of curiosity and strength. Captured in golden sunlight, this image symbolizes the beauty of wildlife conservation and the importance of protecting these majestic creatures for future generations.
Here is the second in a series of three shots of the lioness, with her cubs in a dry riverbank in the Kruger National Park.
Featured on Flickr EXPLORE #50 on 2021/09/20.
A female leopard, (Panthera pardus pardus), typically gives birth to a litter of two or three cubs. She abandons her nomadic lifestyle until the cubs are large enough to accompany her. She keeps them hidden for the first eight weeks and moves them from one location to the next until they are old enough to start learning to hunt. They get their first taste of meat in six or seven weeks and stop suckling after about three months. The cubs continue to live with their mothers for about two years.
The beautiful Luluka, female Leopard, gave birth to a cub in August, 2020. They normally move their dens every 2-3 weeks, so as to keep other predators away from the cub. Luluka was seen emerging from her den, deep in the woods, scouting for a new den for her young cub.
Photo captured during a photography safari on an early morning game drive in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.
King Morani, one of the original Four Musketeers who use to rule over the famous Marsh Pride, with brothers Scarface, Hunter and Sikio
They came to fame when they took over the Marsh pride and many other prides in the area and were known for their prowess and savagery in their heydays.
They have since lost control over the Marsh Pride to the Six Pack Pride and have moved away to the Paradise plains.
King Morani was captured on an early morning game, sitting close to his elder brother Scarface, during a photography safari drive in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.
Zum heutigen Welt-Löwen-Tag
6 kleine Racker richten direkt vor unserem Auto einen Kinder-Spielplatz ein!
Die Spielregeln sind überall gleich. Früh übt sich, wer der Stärkere ist.
Trotzdem geht es sehr friedlich zu - Ständig beobachtet von den stolzen Müttern dürfen sich diese kleinen Simbas völlig ungestört ihrem Spieltrieb hingeben.
Zum heutigen Welt-Löwen-Tag, der erst 2013 ins Leben gerufen wurde, um auf die Schutzbedürftigkeit der Löwen aufmerksam zu machen, kann ich nur hoffen, dass auch in der jetzigen Zeit gerade der Nachwuchs in den afrikanischen Parks eine echte Überlebenschance hat und nicht von Wilderern getötet oder aus dem Rudel gestohlen werden.
Masai Mara - Kenia
6 little cups set up a children's playground right in front of our car!
The rules of the game are the same everywhere. It's early to practice who's the strongest.
Nevertheless, it goes very peacefully - constantly observed by the proud mothers, these little Simbas are allowed to indulge in their play instinct completely undisturbed.
On today's World Lion Day, which was only established in 2013 to draw attention to the need for protection of lions, I can only hope that even at the present time, especially the offspring in the African parks have a real chance of survival and are not killed by poachers or stolen from the pride.
Maasai Mara - Kenya
All rights reserved. © Uli Assmann
Two stunning sable antelopes stand gracefully in the warm glow of Namibia's golden light. With their elegant, curved horns and deep brown coats, they embody the untamed beauty of the African savanna. A true testament to the majestic wildlife of Namibia.
She sits calmly while her young cubs play in a shallow ravine nearby. When mom decides that it's time to move on she lets out a low, barely audible growl. She is calling them to come. The cubs stop playing instantly. They look back in her direction, then at each other, then like most children they leap back into their raucous activities, making believe they never heard a thing. After a few minutes, mom becomes a bit concerned. After all, although they are nearby they are out of her sight. Finally, she gets up and walks to the edge of the ravine, to make certain that her young jewels are still safe. To coax them away from morning playtime she ultimately has to climb down into the ravine herself. She never loses her patience, eventually coming out with the playful two in tow. Of course, moving on does not mean that two young cubs can't continue to have fun, and so the game of "hunting mom" begins. Despite sharp nails and dagger like teeth, she walks along with pride and I swear I can detect a hint of a smile on her face. #iLoveNature #iLoveWildlife #Wildlifephotography in #Tanzania #Nature in #Africa #Serengeti #Lions #LionCubs #DrDADBooks #Canon #WildlifeConservation
I would like to say,in light of newspaper articles, I never cost any harm to the deer,its habitat or in any other ways. We used a guide and there was no stress involved photographing the game. I love taking pictures but I love nature more!
Zur Mittagshitze hatte sich das Löwenrudel in den Schatten zum Schläfchen zurückgezogen.
Der Nachwuchs hält von so etwas gar nichts und sucht sich seine eigene Beschäftigung. Die Mutter darüber nicht gerade erfreut.
Masai Mara - Kenia
In the midday heat, the lion pride had retreated into the shade for a nap.
The offspring thinks nothing of such a thing and looks for its own occupation. The mother is not very happy about this.
Maasai Mara - Kenya
All rights reserved. © Uli Assmann
Dominant male lion of the "Double-crossing" pride, Massai Mara, Kenya
All rights reserved. © Thomas Retterath 2018
The thrill of a safari is always one of the draws of the African savannah. The sun starts to rise, peeking up over the horizon of the valleys. Guests head out with sleepy eyes that quickly become vigilant as a breath of fresh air wakes them. The excitement builds of what is to come.
In honour of International Leopard Day, let me share some incredibly fascinating facts about one of the most sought-after members of the big five.
The leopard is the most elusive of all the big predators. They are well camouflaged making the sight of them even more rewarding.
Most leopards are light in colour with distinctive dark spots, called rosettes. The rosettes consist of groups of 5 to 6 spots arranged in a tight ring. This feline varies in size and colour depending on the location and habitat. Leopards are found all over sub-Saharan Africa. They occupy the grasslands that have trees in which they can hide and sleep during the heat of the day.
During my recent trip to the Maasai Mara, we sighted Jilime, daughter of Luluka, late in the evening. Jilime is just over 2 years old and is turning out to be a successful Leopard in the wild having gained her independence from her mother recently.
We saw her late in the evening resting up a tree with a Black-backed Jackal barking at her from a distance. The next day she was resting in the grass below a tree with the Jackal hanging between the branches, having been hunted during the night.
Photographed during a photography safari on an early morning game drive in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.
Lions have a rather unique and complex social structure that sets them apart from most other feline species. Social bonding between members of a pride is reinforced by head rubbing and licking behaviors. Only a few studies have tried to examine these activities in efforts to determine how they are used and if the frequency of use is different between different members of a pride, and most studies have been carried out on captive lions. One thing is certain. Close contact is an important means of maintaining the social structure of a pride. My experience tells me that so many animal interactions are not species specific. Modifications thereof occur across the animal world. Think about that the next time you hug or kiss a love one. We are not as different as you might ultimately think. Hugs may just be the purrfect addition to every day. #Lions
In the heart of the Namibian wilderness, a powerful scene unfolds: a rhino mother and her calf quench their thirst at a remote waterhole, watched by curious zebras in the background. This photograph captures the tender bond between mother and child, the resilience of life in the arid desert, and the co-existence of diverse wildlife species in one of Africa's last great wild frontiers.
Two young elephants having fun in the high grass of Tarangire National Park, Tanzania, Africa. This photo was taken during the 'short' rainy season, hence the dense green grass.
This photo was taken using an M.Zuiko 40-150mm f/2.8 Pro lens and MC-14 1.4x teleconverter (@180mm).
A leopard cub, like most animals in the wild, faces an uncertain future. Many never reach adult age. But leopards have one advantage. They are fastidious climbers and spend much of their time in the trees. Trees provide safer refuge and a place to store their food, away from potential threats of predation. A young cub follows in his mother’s footsteps, scaling and descending a large acacia that they call home. #Leopard
Interested in seeing a short time-lapse of this little one stalking mom along the tree? Just go to youtu.be/PRzF8YmqyJk
King Romeo II of the Double Cross Pride was sighted basking in the early morning golden sunlight with the rest of his pride members lounging close by waiting for breakfast to be served.
Photographed on an early morning game drive in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.
It seems that most people fancy the thought of seeing a male lion. Don’t get me wrong. I like seeing them, but I am much more entertained seeing a pride of females and cubs than seeing the big boys. Females are better hunters and form more intricate social structure within a pride and frequently tend to be much more active. They also share cub-rearing responsibilities, caring for each other’s young as if they were their own. Apart from their slightly larger build and strength, males differ predominantly only in the distribution of their fur. It all comes down to hair! Males have an accumulation of long hair around their heads called a mane. That, it seems, is what all the hoopla is bout. An attraction to the mane is the main attraction! #Lions
A baby rhinoceros explores its sun-drenched surroundings in the arid landscape of Namibia. Captured in a tender yet powerful moment, this image symbolizes both the vulnerability and resilience of wildlife in Africa.
Lion, (Panthera leo), large, powerfully built cat (family Felidae) that is second in size only to the tiger. The proverbial “king of beasts,” the lion has been one of the best-known wild animals since earliest times. Lions are most active at night and live in a variety of habitats but prefer grassland, savanna, dense scrub, and open woodland.
The male’s outstanding characteristic is his mane, which varies between different individuals and populations. It may be entirely lacking; it may fringe the face; or it may be full and shaggy, covering the back of the head, neck, and shoulders and continuing onto the throat and chest to join a fringe along the belly. In some lions the mane and fringe are very dark, almost black, giving the cat a majestic appearance. Manes make males look larger and may serve to intimidate rivals or impress prospective mates.
King Mpakasi, a young male lion in his prime, was photographed on a late evening game drive in the Nairobi National Park, Kenya.
On an overcast morning, along the Serengeti's winding trails we see a sight in the distance. With the scent of acacia and a cool breeze blowing across the open plains a lion and his queen rise up to greet us. They settle down in a most inviting pose that almost beckons us to join them. Zebras dance in the distance. For a moment I'm reminded of the lyrics from Hotel California..."you can check out anytime you want, but you can never leave." As beautiful as this vista is, I think I'll remain in the car! #iLoveNature #iLoveWildlife #WildlifePhotography in #Tanzania #Nature in #Africa #Serengit #Lions #DrDADBooks #Canon #WildlifeConservation
Ein Afrikanischer Elefant im Savuti Game Reserve (Chobe-Nationalpark, Botswana).
An African Bush Elephant in the Savuti Game Reserve (Chobe National Park, Botswana).
King Sirikoi is one of the most handsome of the lions in Nairobi National Park. After the recent demise of both the old guards Sam and Cheru, he is the eldest of the rest of the males.
He needs to form a coalition with one of the other young males and can easily be crowned the undisputed King of NNP.
Photographed during a Photography safari on a late evening game drive in Nairobi National Park, Kenya.
A breathtaking close-up of a cheetah in Namibia, its piercing golden eyes scanning the savanna. This sleek and powerful predator embodies the untamed beauty of Africa, blending perfectly into its dry, rugged environment.
Male lions in the Tsavo don´t get massive manes like lions in other parts of Africa.
We were told, this is because of the extreme heat in this park.
Not sure, if this the only reason.
Ladies, that´s effective shopping:
food, shoes, clothes and wall decoration all in one.
Lion taking down pregnant Wildebeest at Ndutu, Tanzania.
All rights reserved. © Thomas Retterath 2013
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At some point most photographers are taught that the best lighting of a subject comes from “over the photographer’s shoulder.” As a rule, this is still mainly justified, however, one should never dismiss the power and drama created by carefully backlighting a subject. Light that comes from behind a subject presents certain inherent problems. The biggest problems are related to properly exposing the subject and background. Underexposure will lead to the subject being dark and imperceptible. Overexposure will lead to a dramatically “blown out” background and loss of its detail. Finding the “sweet spot” where details in the subject are easily recognizable and free of “noise” or distortion, and the background is exposed properly has become an art, of sorts. Improvements in hardware and software have made the processes more successful.
In this image, a leopard stands in a tree in Samburu National Reserve. Light is coming from a setting sun behind the big cat. Proper exposure provides for adequate lighting of the subject with a dramatic “rim” enhancement of light surrounding the edges of its body. The process can be helped in many instances by adding “fill flash.” However, most wildlife photographers shy away from using flash in the bush. In many cases it drives the subjects away and nonuser photographers insane! #Leopard
Leopards (Panthera pardus pardus) are the most beautiful of all the wild cats and the most elusive. Sighting one in the wild is a treat in itself let alone getting to photograph it in it's natural habitat.
The beautiful Kaboso, the Double Cross female was elusive as usual but we did manage to sight her finally, coming out of the bushes going towards her resting place.
Captured on a Photography safari during an early morning game drive in the Double Cross area of Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.
walking on the pad in the Serengeti.
The shot´s not so good as the sighting was ;)
All rights reserved. © Thomas Retterath 2013
King Scarface, one of the original Four Musketeers who use to rule over the famous Marsh Pride, with brothers Hunter, Sikio, and Morani they were known for their prowess and savagery in their heydays.
Scar earned his identity in 2012 when he narrowly escaped death after being speared by a Maasai warrior protecting his cattle. But with the help of conservancy vets he was soon back on the hunt albeit, less one eye.
They have since lost control over the Marsh Pride to the Six Pack and have moved away.
King Scarface was captured on an early morning game, sitting close to his brother Morani, during a photography safari drive in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.