Animals – Page 66 – Jennifer Sawicky Photography

Given the sheer quantity of warthogs I saw while at Zimanga Game Reserve, I’m surprised it has taken me this long to post any photos of them. They were everywhere I looked, from dawn till dusk. In our yard, wandering down the road (and seeming to take great joy in holding up the vehicle progress) and I am pretty certain there was at least one (probably more) hanging around every time we stopped the vehicle to do our tracking.

They could be described as having a face only a mother could love, but honestly I found something kind of endearing about them. And if nothing else, I really, really needed to work on a blog post of a land dweller, or I’d have to change the tagline of my site to “Images of birds and more birds”.

Have a great evening!

A young warthog I caught snooping around the garden while I was outside photographing the birds. 1/500 sec, f7.1, ISO 100 — A young warthog I caught snooping around the garden while I was outside photographing the birds.
1/500 sec, f7.1, ISO 100

The second before "Oh no, they see me!" 1/640 sec, f9.0, ISO 400 — The second before “Oh no, they see me!”
1/640 sec, f9.0, ISO 400

Catching a nap in the mid afternoon heat, in the garden of the Wildlife ACT volunteer house. 1/500 sec, f5.6, ISO 250 — Catching a nap in the mid afternoon heat, in the garden of the Wildlife ACT volunteer house.
1/500 sec, f5.6, ISO 250

Big tusks on this one! 1/500 sec, f5.6, ISO 1100 — Big tusks on this one!
1/500 sec, f5.6, ISO 1100

A large female warthog popped by the Mkombe bird hide for a drink. 1/1250 sec, f8.0, ISO 1600 — A large female warthog popped by the Mkombe bird hide for a drink.
1/1250 sec, f8.0, ISO 1600

February 7, 2015

Giraffes Necking

We came across a journey of giraffe during a mid-afternoon photo drive on Zimanga Game Reserve. Several of the males had gathered together away from the rest and were busily beating on each other using head, neck and horns. It only seemed to be play fighting, rather than any real push to establish dominance as they seemed to far too young for that.

From Wikipedia:

“Adult giraffes do not have strong social bonds, though they do gather in loose aggregations if they happen to be moving in the same general direction. Males establish social hierarchies through “necking”, which are combat bouts where the neck is used as a weapon. Dominant males gain mating access to females, which bear the sole responsibility for raising the young.”

February 5, 2015

Giraffe Crossing

Why did the giraffe cross the road??? 1/500 sec, f9.0, ISO 250 — Why did the giraffe cross the road???
1/500 sec, f9.0, ISO 250

January 7, 2015

Zebra on the move

One of the skittish zebras on Zimanga Reserve, heading for the hills as the vehicle approached.

December 30, 2014

Vervet Monkeys

While at Zimanga Game Reserve with Wildlife Act, our group was fortunate enough to have two sessions in their fantastic bird hides. The first was an afternoon session in the Bhejane birdbath hide, and the second, where these photos were taken, were from a morning session at the Mkhombe birdbath hide. The morning session provided over 900 photos, and not just of birds; warthogs and the vervet monkeys came from a drink as well.

While the vervet monkeys can be incredibly cheeky around a lodge or camp, snatching food and wrecking havoc should they decide to go inside, I find them fascinating to watch and love seeing their antics. Around the birdbath, they were more concerned with each member getting a drink than getting into any mischief (although there was one snacking on the scattered birdseed). I especially loved to see the moms with the tiny babies clinging to their stomachs, and I believe there were either two or three babies in the troop.

Mom inspects the water while the baby peeks out between her arms. 1/1600sec, f7.1, ISO1600 — Mom inspects the water while the baby peeks out between her arms.
1/1600sec, f7.1, ISO1600

The little one on the right was close to falling into his drink! 1/1600sec, f9.0, ISO1600 — The little one on the right was close to falling into his drink!
1/1600sec, f9.0, ISO1600

Careful Mom! The baby's head is dangerously close to the rocks as she leans in to drink. 1/1600sec, f9.0, ISO1600 — Careful Mom! The baby’s head is dangerously close to the rocks as she leans in to drink.
1/1600sec, f9.0, ISO1600

Everyone likes to make silly faces at babies! 1/1600sec, f9.0, ISO1600 — Everyone likes to make silly faces at babies!
1/1600sec, f9.0, ISO1600

A vervet monkey leans in for a drink at the Mkhombe birdbath hide. 1/1600sec, f7.1, ISO1250 — A vervet monkey leans in for a drink at the Mkhombe birdbath hide.
1/1600sec, f7.1, ISO1250

It's always nice to have a drink with a friend. 1/1600sec, f7.1, ISO1250 — It’s always nice to have a drink with a friend.
1/1600sec, f7.1, ISO1250

Zimanga Game Reserve

Wildlife ACT

December 29, 2014

Mama and baby rhino

On one of my South African trips, I was lucky enough to see this white rhino cow and calf having an afternoon rest. Mama was providing a shady spot away from the afternoon heat for her baby, but they were very quickly startled by our presence and moved off just a moment after I pressed the shutter down.

A white rhino cow and calf resting in the afternoon heat, with a trio of oxpeckers accompanying them. 1/800sec, f5.6, ISO800 — A white rhino cow and calf resting in the afternoon heat, with a trio of oxpeckers accompanying them.
1/800sec, f5.6, ISO800

December 21, 2014

Reclining Giraffes

Heading back to the volunteer house one morning, we came across a group of giraffes reclining in the grass - within about 100m of the house. Even sitting down, the giraffes tower of the nearby impala. — Heading back to the volunteer house one morning, we came across a pair of giraffes reclining in the grass – within about 100m of the house. Even sitting down, the giraffes tower over the nearby impala.

November 16, 2014

Wild Dogs at play

My first trip to Africa, I was lucky enough to see a pack of wild dogs, and we spent a short amount of time with them while they lazed away a hot afternoon under the trees. This trip, I spent a great deal of time with the pack, as we tried to monitor them twice a day; first thing in the morning as they were settling in for their days rest, and then in the late afternoon as they set out on the move. This much time in close proximity of the dogs gave me ample opportunity to witness a variety of pack dynamics and behaviours. Watching them play was definitely one of my favourite moments with them.