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Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer). Shingwedzi, Kruger National Park, South Africa.

Head on view of a large male Cape buffalo with its huge set of horns, taken from the relative safety of a safari vehicle (they can and have rammed a vehicle, especially when feeling threatened). They weigh up to a ton and are considered one of the most dangerous of the African Big 5 to encounter in the wild due to their unpredictability, their huge size and dangerous horns. They can attack ferociously without warning and with surprising speed.

24/10/2025 www.allenfotowild.com

African Elephant (Loxodonta africana). Letaba, Kruger National Park, South Africa.

Den Tag zuvor hatten wir eine Löwin beobachtet, die sich relativ früh am Nachmittag von ihrer Gruppe entfernt hatte und allein Richtung Berge verzog. An ihren ausgeprägten Zitzen konnten wir vermuten, dass sie im dichten Gestrüpp ihren Nachwuchs versteckt hält und nun versorgen wollte.

 

In der folgenden Nacht regnete es unentwegt, und so erlebten wir am nächsten Morgen für kurze Zeit dichten Nebel über der Savanne - eine unglaublich tolle Licht-Stimmung, die sich hierbei für kurze Zeit ergab.

Dort wo sich am Vortag die Löwin von ihrer Gruppe entfernt hatte, tauchte sie im dichten Frühnebel plötzlich mit ihrem Nachwuchs auf.

Ein Einblick in diese schöne Familienidylle gewährte sie uns nur für einen kurzen Moment, bevor sie mit ihrem Nachwuchs wieder im dichten Gestrüpp verschwand.

 

Early morning fog in the Masai Mara

The day before we had observed a lioness who had left her group relatively early in the afternoon and moved off alone towards the mountains. From her pronounced teats we could assume that she was hiding her offspring in the dense undergrowth and now wanted to take care of them.

 

In the following night it rained incessantly, and so we experienced dense fog over the savannah for a short time the next morning - an unbelievably great light atmosphere, which resulted from this for a short time.

Where the lioness had moved away from her group the day before, the lioness suddenly appeared in the dense early morning fog with her offspring.

A glimpse into this beautiful family idyll she granted us only for a short moment, before she disappeared again with her offspring in the dense undergrowth.

 

Masai Mara - Kenya - September 2021

 

All rights reserved. © Uli Assmann

 

Leopard sightings are always a highlight of each safari. In the South Luangwa NP, Zambia, sightings are not rare at all, daily sightings almost guaranteed. But not often they pose as nicely as here.

Kruger National Park, South Africa

A pair of young lion brothers, not yet with their full manes, prowl together across the savanna near the border between the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti, Tanzania. Brothers almost always stay together, which increases their chances of successful hunts and helps them to maintain territory and build prides. Note the numbers of annoying insects buzzing around their faces.

10/09/2025 www.allenfotowild.com

Featured on Flickr Explore #27 on 2023-01-23,

 

During a recent trip to the Maasai Mara, we were lucky to sight Jilime, daughter of Luluka, late in the evening. Jilime is over 2 years old and is turning out to be a successful Leopard in the wild having gained her independence from her mother.

 

Queen Jilime posing on a tree was captured during a photography safari on a late evening game drive in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.

Although the annoying flies accompany the lioness every time she moves, she looks with a very clear gaze in search of food for herself and her offspring.

 

Kenya - Maasai Mara

 

Klarer Blick!

Obwohl immer wieder die lästigen Fliegen die Löwin bei jeder ihrer Bewegung begleiten, schaut sie mit sehr klarem Blick auf der Suche nach Fressbarem für sich und ihrem Nachwuchs.

 

Kenia - Maasai Mara

 

All rights reserved. © Uli Assmann

Portrait of a lion | Kruger Sightings

 

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I have to say that this rhino is only locked up there while the keepers are cleaning the enclosure!!!

Have you ever been stalked by a leopard?

 

This look? The decisive moment for Samson, the Amur Leopard right before he tried to attack me!

 

Not something on my bucket list... Not something I thought I'd ever face... But...

 

I was taking pictures of Samson, the four year old Amur Leopard at Brookfield Zoo. He was quite active this day - roaming his habitat - going for birds if they strayed too close. I hoped to get some good action shots. He's grown quite large now - 5 feet? 100 lbs? A sizeable cat - much larger than his mom, Lisa.

 

It was cold and in the middle of the week - there were very few people around - in fact, I was alone with him. He was high up on the rocks - a typical place, and I moved over by the netting on the right side, and leaned in to minimize the appearance of the netting in the image capture.

 

He suddenly, intently focused on me, then moved along the rocks, toward the angled log that lets them climb up and down on that side of the habitat. Running first, then slowing, as he moved down the log - leading to the look you see.

 

I didn't realize it at the time, but he was stalking me. Judging that maybe, just maybe I was close enough to get at. Sizing me up.

 

Me? I was oblivious as to his intent - I was happy to get some big cat action!

 

Then he raced down the log, bounded to the ground, right toward me! I was just trying to keep him in the frame, but couldn't see his actions clearly, he was moving so fast!

 

Before I knew it, he leapt and hit the netting, bowing it way out toward me - he was going for my head! I backed away, the netting held, and he had a disappointed look on his face.

 

If you've seen Encanto, in the "Don't Eat Those" scene, the Jaguar has the same expression - I should post it.

 

Playing? Hunting? Both? I oddly did not feel frightened by this - but it could have been dangerous.

 

He did variations of this charge a few more times, but none as powerfully as that first leap. A couple of times he snuck up on me and was next to me before I knew it - again on the netting. After a while, he went up on the rocks for a nap, and I left...

 

A crazy encounter for sure. Hopefully I provided him some novel entertainment - a respite from his usual life. I won't soon forget it!

Featured on Flickr Explore #69 on 2021-03-05

Elephants (Loxodonta africana) are the largest land animals on Earth, and they're one of the most unique-looking animals, too. With their characteristic long noses, or trunks; large, floppy ears; and wide, thick legs, there is no other animal with a similar physique.

A baby elephant is called a calf. It weighs about 250 pounds at birth and stands about three feet tall. Calves can't see very well at first, but they can recognize their mothers by touch, scent, and sound.

Baby elephants stay very close to their mothers for the first couple of months. The calves drink their mother's milk for about two years, sometimes longer. They drink up to 3 gallons of milk a day! At about four months old, they also begin eating some plants, like adult elephants, but they continue to need as much milk from their mother. They keep drinking milk for up to ten years!

 

This beautiful Elephant family was captured on a photography safari during an early morning game drive in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.

High Key Edition

 

All rights reserved. © Thomas Retterath 2018

 

instagram @thomas63retterath

Featured on Flickr Explore #40 2022-01-21

 

Pride lionesses (Panthera leo) often synchronise their reproductive cycles and communal rearing and suckling of the young, which suckle indiscriminately from any or all of the nursing females in the pride. The synchronisation of births is advantageous because the cubs grow to being roughly the same size and have an equal chance of survival, and sucklings are not dominated by older cubs. Weaning occurs after six or seven months. Male lions reach maturity at about three years of age and at four to five years are capable of challenging and displacing adult males associated with another pride.

 

Captured on a photography safari on a late evening game drive in the Rekero area of Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.

Elephant´s leg

 

Chobe NP, Botswana

 

All rights reserved. © Thomas Retterath 2018

Una pareja de leones en lo alto de una colina contempla la savana desde la altura

One of the few remaining male desert lions of the Kaokoveld in northern Namibia.

Mütter Tanten, Schwestern und der Nachwuchs geben sich ein Stelldichein.

 

Kenia - Amboseli

  

Amboseli's elephants

Mothers, aunts, sisters and the offspring get together.

 

Kenya - Amboseli

  

All rights reserved. © Uli Assmann

Junger Löwe in der Masai Mara

 

Young lion in Masai Mara

 

Masai Mara - Kenia

 

All rights reserved. © Uli Assmann

We watched these amazing creatures for some time, waaaaaay off in the distance. They also had a juvenile with them, close by. So sad to know they are but a few left of their kind in the entire world.

 

These animals are cruelly hunted and slaughtered for their horns. Conservation Status: critically endangered (CR) (IUCN Red List

 

This is a look back at our 2018 safari. More photos from this amazing trip can be seen in my Safari Album www.flickr.com/photos/25171569@N02/albums/72157669809103977

 

iNaturalist link www.inaturalist.org/photos/111015669

  

Jenny Pansing Photos

 

Lion cubs in the South Luangwa NP, Zambia

Featured on Flickr Explore #50 on 2022-03-31

 

The leopard is the most elusive of all the big predators. They are well camouflaged making the sight of them even more rewarding.

Females give birth in a cave, crevice among boulders, hollow tree, or thicket to make a den. Cubs are born with closed eyes, which open four to nine days after birth. The fur of the young tends to be longer and thicker than that of adults. Their pelage is also more gray in colour with less defined spots. Around three months of age, the young begin to follow the mother on hunts. At one year of age, leopard young can probably fend for themselves, but remain with the mother for 18 - 24 months.

 

The beautiful Luluka, female Leopard, gave birth to Baby Jilime 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 holding her cub in her jaws and moving dens nearly 3 kms away. Photo captured during a photography safari on an early morning game drive in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.

Pride lionesses (Panthera leo) often synchronise their reproductive cycles and communal rearing and suckling of the young, which suckle indiscriminately from any or all of the nursing females in the pride. The synchronisation of births is advantageous because the cubs grow to being roughly the same size and have an equal chance of survival, and sucklings are not dominated by older cubs. Weaning occurs after six or seven months. Male lions reach maturity at about three years of age and at four to five years are capable of challenging and displacing adult males associated with another pride.

 

The Queen of Rekero was resting in the grass nearby as her three very cute cubs were busy playing with each other. Photographed on a late evening game drive in the Rekero area of Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.

Featured on Flickr EXPLORE #38 2021/06/03

 

Some lions are "nomads" that range widely and move around sporadically, either in pairs or alone. Pairs are more frequent among related males who have been excluded from their birth pride. A lion may switch lifestyles; nomads can become residents and vice versa. Interactions between prides and nomads tend to be hostile, although pride females in estrus allow nomadic males to approach them. Males spend years in a nomadic phase before gaining residence in a pride. A study undertaken in the Serengeti National Park revealed that nomadic coalitions gain residency at between 3.5 and 7.3 years of age.

 

Half Tail, a well known nomad from Maasai Mara, has quite the reputation with the females of the region as he was seen mating with all three lionesses of the Rhino Ridge Pride whose resident males were away patrolling their territory.

Captured during a Photography Safari on a late evening game drive in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.

Male Leopard : Okonjima Namibia Sep 2019

Welcoming among neighbors

  

Die Begrüßung zwischen einzelnen Elefantenfamilien verläuft immer wieder wahnsinnig herzlich und innig. Treffpunkt solcher Begegnungen sind meistens die wenigen Wasserlöcher.

Eng umschlungen mit ihren Rüsseln begrüßen sich diese zwei jungen Elefantendamen - der Jüngste der Truppe möchte schon mitmachen.

 

Kenia - Amboseli

 

The greeting between individual elephant families is always insanely warm and intimate. Meeting point of such encounters are mostly the few water holes.

Closely embraced with their trunks, these two young elephant ladies greet each other - the youngest of the troop already wants to join in.

 

Kenya - Amboseli

  

All rights reserved. © Uli Assmann

Mud packs don’t work for everyone

Elephant in the Amboseli NP, Kenya

 

All rights reserved. © Thomas retterath 2018

Featured on Flickr Explore #103 on 2022-12-03

 

The lion (Panthera leo) is a species in the family Felidae.

Lions live in large groups called prides. A pride consists of multiple related females and their dependent offspring along with two or three unrelated males. A typical pride has about 15 members, although some prides as large as 40 members have been observed.

Lions spend much of their time resting; they are inactive for about 20 hours per day. Although lions can be active at any time, their activity generally peaks after dusk with a period of socialising, grooming and defecating. Intermittent bursts of activity continue until dawn, when hunting most often takes place.

Female lions, sisters, live together for life. Their female cubs also stay with the pride, even after they’re grown, but male cubs must venture out on their own once they reach maturity.

 

This beautiful Lionesses of the Enkoyanai Pride were on hunting mission and was captured during a photography safari on an early morning game drive in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.

Featured on Flickr Explore #45 on 17/12/2021

 

The lion (Panthera leo) is a species in the family Felidae.

Lions live in large groups called prides. A pride consists of multiple related females and their dependent offspring along with two or three unrelated males. A typical pride has about 15 members, although some prides as large as 40 members have been observed.

Lions spend much of their time resting; they are inactive for about 20 hours per day. Although lions can be active at any time, their activity generally peaks after dusk with a period of socialising, grooming and defecating. Intermittent bursts of activity continue until dawn, when hunting most often takes place.

Female lions, sisters, live together for life. Their female cubs also stay with the pride, even after they’re grown, but male cubs must venture out on their own once they reach maturity.

 

This beautiful Lionesses of the Enkoyanai Pride were on hunting mission and was captured during a photography safari on an early morning game drive in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.

Featured on Flickr EXPLORE #36 2021-12-01

 

African leopards (Panthera pardus pardus) are one of the two big cats, along with the lion and included in the big five of Africa, that inhabit the continent of Africa.

 

Queen Lorian, a very famous and senior female leopard, was found dead yesterday morning, mauled to death by either Lions or another Leopard. She has left behind a 14 month old son, Roho who shall to fend for himself in the wild.

This was my latest sighting of her during a photography Safari on an early morning game drive in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.

Lion, second of two brothers heading for water. Etosha, Namibia.

A heartwarming capture of a family of elephants in the Namibian wilderness. The protective matriarch leads her young through the dry landscape, their bond a testament to the deep social connections of these gentle giants.

A striking image of a white rhino standing at a watering hole in Namibia, captured in the golden glow of the late afternoon sun. This powerful yet peaceful moment showcases the raw beauty of African wildlife.

Old lion in the Central Kalahari, Botswana

 

All rights reserved.

© Thomas Retterath 2016

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.

Here is a photo of the her when she was just 3 months old and Luluka her mother was moving dens holding her in her mouth

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.

I have been remiss in posting wildlife photos of late. I have been dedicating more time to my pottery passion and less availability to travel has also been a hindrance. I have also been going through my archives and noticing shots that I hadn't taken note of in the past. This group of lion cubs presented wonderful opportunities that I will always remember.

Female Leopard resting up a tree after feeding on an Impala.

Kwando concession, Botswana

 

All rights reserved.

© Thomas Retterath 2012

During my recent trip to the Maasai Mara, we sighted King Olobor of the Black Rock Pride early in the morning. He had had a very successful night as he was still busy feeding on the Wildebeest he had brought down under the cover of darkness.

 

King Olobor was captured before sunrise, during a photography safari on an early morning game drive in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.

Elephants in Namibias desert.

 

All rights reserved, © Thomas Retterath 2015

Pride lionesses (Panthera leo) often synchronise their reproductive cycles and communal rearing and suckling of the young, which suckle indiscriminately from any or all of the nursing females in the pride. The synchronisation of births is advantageous because the cubs grow to being roughly the same size and have an equal chance of survival, and sucklings are not dominated by older cubs. Weaning occurs after six or seven months. Male lions reach maturity at about three years of age and at four to five years are capable of challenging and displacing adult males associated with another pride.

 

The Queen of Rekero was resting in the grass nearby as her three very cute cubs were busy playing with each other. Photographed on a late evening game drive in the Rekero area of Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.

I think I'm on a cat kick, inspired by my two little house kitty tabbies.

 

The leopard was up on a bluff. It was not happy with a couple of hyenas below as it had a recent kill it had pulled up in a nearby tree. She did take a couple of drinks from the pool of water in the rocks.

Young male lion in the Masai Mara, Kenya

 

All rights reeserved. © Thomas Retterath 2018

A large bull elephant approaches our safari vehicle.

In the late afternoon, after the rain, the lions become active and look for prey.

The zebras don't seem to mind.

 

Maasai Mara - Kenya

 

Immer schön locker bleiben!

 

Am späten Nachmittag, nach dem Regen werden die Löwen aktiv und schauen nach Beute.

Den Zebras scheint das nicht zu stören.

 

Maasai Mara - Kenia

 

All rights reserved. © Uli Assmann

Anthill, Okonjima Namibia Sep 2019

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