Learning about Lions Across the dimly lit tent stands Dr. Philip “Flip” Stander, the world’s foremost expert on Namibia’s famed desert-adapted lions, looking every bit the grizzled, stereotypical scientist who’s spent most of his life alone in the field––sun-baked skin, hair askew, a scraggly beard, and a lanky frame all elbows and knees. He stands […]
01
Jun
Jun
In photography, professionals will always tell you to “look for the light,” but sometimes it’s more fun to focus on the dark, to embrace the beauty of a silhouette. A good silhouette adds drama, mood, and depth to an image. It serves up a fresh narrative and gives another reason for a viewer’s eye to linger. There […]
04
May
May
The teenager stood 10 feet in front of our vehicle, a large branch hanging like a giant frown from his mouth. His ears were spread wide and his trunk, held long and low, tipped up at the end to smell us. He looked and he waited, shifting slightly from one foot to the other. It was […]
13
Apr
Apr
It’s funny what the mind latches on to. All I could think when our tiny Cessna touched down on the faded airstrip in the middle of Damaraland, was, I’d never seen so many rocks in my life. How many were there? A billion? 10 billion? I was tired and hot. Perhaps I was just hallucinating. […]
06
Apr
Apr
It’s my second day in Palmwag, Namibia, a reserve along the Skeleton Coast. As Bons, my guide, three rangers and I walk across an endless plain of rocks I replayed the rules for tracking black rhinos in my head: 1. Be very quiet. 2. If something goes awry, do whatever the rangers tell me. It […]
26
Feb
Feb
Welcome to African Cams Live Updated March 2020 It’s drizzling in north-eastern South Africa. I can see the droplets hit the edge of the watering hole, sending tiny ripples across the surface. Suddenly I hear the loud call of an exotic bird and it jars me. Reflexively, I jump in my seat. Nearby a large […]
19
Dec
Dec
I was so disappointed. I was basking in the glow of a wonderful wildlife moment and in she ruined it. Not on purpose mind you, I know that, but without warning my subject, a big, beautiful Canadian goose who was stretching and preening like a supermodel for my camera, abandoned me, leaving me bewildered and annoyed. […]
12
Nov
Nov
My Magic Combo: Systane & Zaditor My eyes are often a nightmare when I travel. They turn into dry, stinging orbs exacerbated by hot, windy, dry, or dusty locations—Africa being a particularly difficult nemesis. It’s frustrating. Add in long plane rides, time spent in front of my computer, and lack of sleep, and I want […]
03
Oct
Oct
When I was on my first safari, I wondered, what do cheetahs eat? They’re big cats, but not half as big as a lion or a leopard. What’s large enough to keep one fed but small enough to be manageable during a hunt? My curiosity in cheetah cuisine was soon answered: gazelle. Sure they eat […]
15
Sep
Sep
I was checking in at the Ole Sereni hotel in Nairobi when I heard the familiar sound of a South African accent behind me. I turned to find Andrew Beck grinning from ear to ear, his hand outstretched to shake mine. It was the first time I’d met Andrew in person though I’d known him […]