Our wildlife photographs of mammals

We concentrate on Africa (up till now we have visited parks in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, & Tanzania). They have all offered wonderful experiences with each park having its own flavour, offering various advantages e.g. type and quantity of game, and disadvantages e.g. distance to travel from our base in Johannesburg, prices for entry and camping, and density of the bush surrounding the animals

We fell in love with Serengeti and Ruaha National Parks during short single visit. We wish we could spend more time there. But adding up the pros and cons and our favourites are Etosha and Kgalagadi (SA and Botswana camps & areas).
Most of our wildlife photographs are taken from inside our Landcruiser 76 SW thru the drivers window ( camera supported on a Kirk window mount and Wimberley gimbal II) and the rear passenger seat (Ergorest window mount). Bean bags are used in rapid response situations and with smaller lenses

In the photographic captions I will add in interesting biology notes I may find on internet & from super books "Beat about the Bush: Mammals" by Trevor Carnaby, Jacana Media 2006.), "Game ranger in your backpack" by Megan Emmet & Sean Pattrick, Briza Publications 2012, & "The Safari Companion" by Richard D Estes, Russell Friedmann Books 1993

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OldAgeAdventurers > A blackbacked jackal (Canis mesomelas) attempts to catch a cape turtle dove (Streptopelia capicola).(Chudop waterhole, Etosha National Park, South Africa.)

OldAgeAdventurers > Gemsbok (Oryx gazella) herd drinking at Sammenvloeing waterhole, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park,South Africa.
Biology note:- Adapted to desert conditions, it can survive on water from tsamma melons, roots, & bulbs. Endures extreme heat by letting body temperature rise to 45 degrees centigrade!
It also has a "carotid rete", a complex network of arteries & veins which allows venous blood cooled in the nasal passges to cool arterial blood going onto the brain

OldAgeAdventurers > This Yellow Mongoose (Cynictis penicillata) was very inquistive about what I was doing, as we had a lunch break in Nossob camp. I had just a moment to shoot before he went his busy way. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park,, South Africa.

Biology Note:- mongoose are resistant to paralysing snake neurotoxin. Normally nerve acetylcholine binds to a muscle receptor, like a key fits a lock, to activate the muscle. Snake neurotoxin also fits the lock, thus competing for the binding site and thus producing paralysis. This toxic binding does not occur in mongoose (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89, 7717;1992)

Note the horizontal slit pupil. This is also seen in other mammals e.g. goats. It is associated with multifocal lenses. i.e. concentric rings of different focal lengths. A round pupil would negate any advantage of such a lens when it constricted. Whereas the slit pupil will decrease the amount of light when it constricts and yet retain the full multifocal focussing properties

OldAgeAdventurers > Young solitary elephant bull (Loxodonta africana) drinking at sunset at Okakuejo waterhole, Etosha National Park, Namibia,

OldAgeAdventurers > Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), herd drink warily in the lamplight at Okakuejo waterhole, Etosha National Park, Namibia,

OldAgeAdventurers > Blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), make a stark sillhouete as sun rises near Okakuejo,Etosha National Park, Namibia.

OldAgeAdventurers > Elephant bull(Loxodonta africana), grazes on the reeds in the middle of Nuamses waterhole, Etosha National Park, Namibia,

OldAgeAdventurers > Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) gallop,across the edge of Fischer's pan,Etosha National Park, Namibia. The camera was panned with their run at 1/15 sec.

OldAgeAdventurers > This spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) cub confidently left the confines of his den to sniff out these late evening visitors at Klein Namutoni, Etosha National Park, Namibia.

OldAgeAdventurers > Springbok ram(Antidorcas marsupialis) chases his rival away from his herd at Chudop Waterhole, Etosha National Park, Namibia,

OldAgeAdventurers > A herd of elephant (Loxodonta africana), are reflected by the mirror like surface of the waterhole as they rapidly approached to drink, in the Savuti National Park, Botswana.

OldAgeAdventurers > After sleeping in the open veld near Third Bridge, this lion (Panthera leo) awoke with a gaping yawn, and impressed all with the healthy state of his dental armament. Moremi National Park, Botswana.

OldAgeAdventurers > A Chacma baboon (Papio cynocaphalus ursinus),is a patient subject for this thoughtful portrait. Kruger National Park, South Africa

OldAgeAdventurers > Red-billed Oxpecker searching for ticks on a Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer) in the Kruger National Park

A blackbacked jackal (Canis mesomelas) attempts to catch a cape turtle dove (Streptopelia capicola).(Chudop waterhole, Etosha National Park, South Africa.)