Sometimes you get lucky and capture a great picture without even trying. This happened to me during a stay at Kamboyo. I went for a walk after an early dinner, and the clouds parted dramatically, revealing the last rays of the setting sun. In the background you can see Chyulu Hills.
Returning from a long game drive, the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in deepening hues of twilight. As our vehicle slowly ascended the hill towards Kamboyo house, our stay for the night, a breathtaking scene unfolded. A family of elephants, bathed in the blue light of the rising moon, loitered around the waterhole, their bodies casting long shadows in the dusk. The long exposure lends a slight blur to the image, but it perfectly captures the serene atmosphere of that moment.
Under dark skies, elephants gather at the Kilaguni water hole, their silhouettes stark against the dry landscape. Tsavo West, known for its arid conditions, forces animals to embark on long journeys to reach these precious water sources. Dawn, dusk, and the cool night hours bring a broad selection of wildlife to these oases.
The Maasai people have a rich tradition of constructing their homesteads, known as enkangs, using readily available natural materials. These distinctive dwellings are built from a framework of branches and saplings, plastered with a mixture of mud and cow dung, which acts as a natural sealant and insulator. The enkang’s circular design, topped with a conical roof, reflects a deep connection to their environment. The roof’s open apex serves a practical purpose, allowing smoke from cooking fires to vent freely. Within the enkang, the earthen floor provides a cool surface underfoot, while minimal furnishings emphasize the communal nature of Maasai life.
Protecting the Maasai’s valuable livestock, a sturdy kraal encircles the enkang. Constructed from thorny acacia branches, this living fence effectively deters predators, safeguarding the cattle during the night.
Under the relentless sun of a drought-stricken Tsavo West, a resilient buffalo emerges from the shimmering heat haze. Driven by thirst, it has likely journeyed for hours to reach this precious watering hole. In a final burst of energy, the buffalo charges the last hundred meters, hooves pounding the parched earth. A cloud of red dust billows in its wake, a dramatic testament to survival in this arid landscape.
“This image captures a magnificent Black-backed jackal in its prime. With its distinctive black saddle and alert expression, it embodies the cunning and efficiency this species is known for. Black-backed jackals are renowned for their speed and incredible stamina, allowing them to chase down prey over long distances.”
Tsavo West National Park in Kenya offers breathtaking views, capturing the essence of the African savanna. Small mountains rise across the landscape, creating a truly magical atmosphere. The image showcases a sweeping vista with dry savanna in the foreground, giving way to mid-sized hills and mountains shaped by ancient volcanic activity. Tsavo West is also renowned as the home of the maneless lions, made famous by the book “The Man-Eaters of Tsavo.”
On a gorgeous afternoon in Tsavo West National Park, two hippos glide peacefully over the crystal-clear waters of Mzima Springs. A soft breeze dances across the surface, generating mesmerising ripple patterns that glisten in the golden light of the setting sun. The image is nothing short of stunning, demonstrating the sheer beauty of the African savanna.
The Lilac-Breasted Roller, scientifically known as Coracias caudatus, is one of the most vibrant and colorful birds found across the Sub-Saharan Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula. This avian species is most well-known for its breathtaking plumage, showcasing a dazzling array of colors. It has a lilac-colored breast, as its name suggests, along with a turquoise belly and wings that display hues of blue, green, and brown. The long tail feathers, often with black, blue and white tips, add an extra dash of elegance to its appearance. The Lilac-Breasted Roller feeds on a diet of insects, small birds, rodents, and occasionally reptiles. Despite its stunning appearance, it’s a fierce defender of its territory, and is known to be unafraid of diving towards larger predators when threatened. These birds also exhibit a unique flying pattern during their mating rituals, involving fast, shallow dives from considerable heights, which gave them their ‘roller’ moniker. The Lilac-Breasted Roller, with its striking beauty and distinct behaviours, is indeed a spectacle of the African wilderness.
The sun was setting and the sky was a beautiful orange hue. The elephants were walking through the bush, and the light was shining on them in a dramatic way. There was a thunderstorm in the distance, and the clouds were very dark. The lightening flashed, and it was an amazing sight. The elephants were silhouetted against the sky, and they looked so powerful and majestic.
The Shetani lava flows, located approximately four kilometers west of Tsavo West National Park’s Chyulu Gate on the road to Amboseli, are a dramatic testament to the Earth’s raw power. “Shetani,” meaning “devil” in Swahili, reflects the locals’ belief that these flows, formed just a few hundred years ago, were the work of the devil himself emerging from the depths. This vast expanse of folded black lava, stretching over 50 square kilometers, creates a stark and otherworldly landscape of black rock and volcanic glass. The flows are a mesmerizing spectacle and an unforgettable highlight of any visit to Tsavo West National Park.
Flying back from Ukunda airstrip at the coast and we suddenly have a clear view of Kilimanjaro to the left. The ice fields are clearly visible and reminds me of the climbing experience on the mountain itself. The small Cessna Caravan airplane ascends steadily through the clouds, revealing a view of Mount Kilimanjaro. As the airplane gains altitude, the snow-capped mountain comes into view, its peak piercing the sky. The vast landscape stretches out below, with forests, rivers, and plains visible in every direction. The flight to Nairobi is a scenic one, offering passengers a glimpse of some of Africa’s most beautiful landscapes.
A handful of sick and starving hippos in a nearly dried out water hole. Sometimes Tsavo West can be a tough place to survive, it is already a semi desert area and when the drought hits there is little to eat for grazing animals like the Hippo.
With horns that looks like a trunk of very old tree and characterful face this old Buffalo turned its head and looked straight into the lens.
In beautiful morning light a group of vulturine guineafowl on the road in Tsavo West. Quite a stunning bird with a hooded head and vivid blue body with vertical stripes.
Beautiful sight, close to seven a clock and a group of elephants in Tsavo West by the water hole. In the distance the Chyulu range
