Well, the middle of the afternoon is not usually the best time for photos, but if that's when your safari is scheduled, that's what you have to deal with! ; Fortunately, clouds and off-and-on rain that day had kept the sun from being at its harshest. ; The heat was still there though!
On this safari, the rains seem to have awakened many of the animals that often hide or lay down behind trees...many were active, and some like the secretive bongo and other antelope in the shadowy jungle areas near the beginning of the safari were making themselves available to photograph for the first time for me. ; All in all, a successful safari! ; Here's some of this trip's captures:
Here are the elusive bongos...even on a bright afternoon, this forest section requires ISO800 at the least to catch these guys from the moving truck:
The crocs were chilling, as usual. ; The open mouth is to help control excessive body heat:
Sable antelope...the symbol of Animal Kingdom:
An eland...really close:
Ankole cattle...I'd be laying down too if I had those on my head in that heat!:
A cute little 'Tommy' close-up:
Elephant:
Even the lion was up and pacing around!:
Had to use 350mm of zoom and shoot fast from the moving truck to try to get a closeup of that face:
Even ISO400 wasn't enough, as 1/400 couldn't stop the truck motion entirely. ; Next time, ISO800 and 1/800 at least!:
Warthog:
Scimitar-horned Oryx:
White Rhino:
Pulling back in after the safari, we parked for a bit next to the safari ride office, tucked off in the forest:
And of course the Warden's post on the way back to Harambe:
The Warden doesn't park very well:
That was my Safari for June 09!
On this safari, the rains seem to have awakened many of the animals that often hide or lay down behind trees...many were active, and some like the secretive bongo and other antelope in the shadowy jungle areas near the beginning of the safari were making themselves available to photograph for the first time for me. ; All in all, a successful safari! ; Here's some of this trip's captures:
Here are the elusive bongos...even on a bright afternoon, this forest section requires ISO800 at the least to catch these guys from the moving truck:

The crocs were chilling, as usual. ; The open mouth is to help control excessive body heat:

Sable antelope...the symbol of Animal Kingdom:

An eland...really close:

Ankole cattle...I'd be laying down too if I had those on my head in that heat!:

A cute little 'Tommy' close-up:

Elephant:

Even the lion was up and pacing around!:

Had to use 350mm of zoom and shoot fast from the moving truck to try to get a closeup of that face:


Even ISO400 wasn't enough, as 1/400 couldn't stop the truck motion entirely. ; Next time, ISO800 and 1/800 at least!:

Warthog:

Scimitar-horned Oryx:

White Rhino:

Pulling back in after the safari, we parked for a bit next to the safari ride office, tucked off in the forest:

And of course the Warden's post on the way back to Harambe:

The Warden doesn't park very well:

That was my Safari for June 09!