African Safari

I visited Kenya hoping to get good images of the usual safari mammals but to my pleasant surprise, what I hadn’t expected was the amount of beautiful bird-life to be seen from large birds of prey to small finches like the Red-cheeked Cordon Bleu, or the Little Bee-Eater; a fantastic trip.

All images taken with Sony A1ii.

Warthog, Pumbaa, ngiri, with green grass background, Kenya.
Male lion watching a hot air balloon in early morning light at Masai Mara, Kenya.
Little Bee-Eater (Merops pusillus) in profile sitting on a branch with blurry green background, Amboselli, Kenya.
Great Egret (Ardea alba), standing by water, Amboseli, Kenya.
Close up of Masai giraffe with long eyelashes, blurred bushy background. Masai Mara, Kenya.
Grey headed Kingfisher bird, (Halcyon leucocephala), Amboseli, Kenya.
Yellow Baboon walking on grass, Amboseli, Kenya.
Scarlet-chested Sunbird (Chalcomitra senegalensis) sitting on amongst branches of a shrub at Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
Speckled Mousebird (Colius striatus), Amboseli, Kenya.
Kori Bustard (Ardeotis kori), Amboseli, Kenya.
Long tailed Fiscal bird (Lanius cabanisi), Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
African Jacana bird (Actophilornis africanus), Amboseli, Kenya.
Lesser Kudu walking in scrubland at Amboselli, Kenya.
Large Hippo with mouth wide open, in the Mara River, Kenya. Another Hippo can be seen behind.
Buff-crested Bustard (Lophotis gindiana), Amboseli, Kenya.
Sacred Ibis bird (Threskiornis aethiopicus), Amboseli, Kenya.
Mount Kilimanjaro, from Amboseli wetlands, Kenya.
Male Variable Sunbird (Cinnyris venustus) on a branch of a shrub. Nairobi, Kenya.
Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum), Amboseli, Kenya.
Two African bush elephants locking tusks at play, Amboseli, Kenya.
Lilac-breasted roller bird (Coracias caudatus) standing on a spiky bush in Masai Mara, Kenya.
Grant's gazelle with fawn, Amboseli, Kenya.
Two elephants face to face, heads only in shot, Amboseli, Kenya.
Three elephants with Mount Kilimanjaro in background, Amboseli, Kenya.
Baby African bush elephant on their own, trunk curled, Amboseli, Kenya.
Male lion cools down by lying down in a pond of water in Masai Mara, Kenya.
Mother and baby African bush elephant, Amboseli, Kenya.
Close up of large tusked elephant facing the camera, and a cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) at it's feet, Amboseli, Kenya.
Profile view of handsome male lion with beautiful mane in shrubland, Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
Crowned crane (Balearica regulorum) stooping in grassland, Amboseli, Kenya.
Large tusked African bush elephant and cattle egret (Ardea ibis), Amboseli, Kenya.
Two Black Rhinos, one in full profile, woodland backdrop, with red billed Oxpeckers, (Buphagus erythrorynchus), Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
Inquisitive young Waterbuck, facing camera, woodland backdrop, Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
Handsome male lion with beautiful mane lies on a raised mound in the Masai Mara, Kenya. Some flies are on his face.
Two black rhino, Diceros bicornis, facing away from each other in sunshine.. Both covered in dried mud, Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
Handsome male lion with shrubland backdrop, Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
Grey-backed Fiscalbird (Lanius excubitoroides), in profile, on a shrub, Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
Two Olive Baboons sitting together, Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
Grey-backed Fiscal (Lanius excubitoroides), facing camera, on a shrub, Lake Nakuru, Kenya
Velvet monkey camouflaged by undergrowth picking leaves off a bush, Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
African buffalo and calf, in shrubland, Lake Nakuru, Kenya
Green Wood Hoopoe ( Phoeniculus purpureus) landing on grass, Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
African buffalo with red billed oxpeckers, (Buphagus erythrorynchus) on ear and horn, Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
Female Mariqua Sunbird (Cinnyris mariquensis) on a branch with yellow flowers, Nake Nakuru, Kenya.
Group of five Great White Pelicans (Pelecanus onocrotalus) in water with submerged dead trees, Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
African Fish eagle (Icthyophaga vocifer) sitting on a submerged tree trunk in Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
A group of four Great White Pelicans (Pelecanus onocrotalus) facing a White-Breasted Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo lucidus) in water with submerged dead trees, Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
Osprey (Pandion Haliaetus) sitting on a dead tree trunk with blue sky background at Lake Nakuru, Kenya
Two Pink-Backed Pelicans (Pelecanus rufescens) with heads facing opposite directions on a dead tree stump, Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
A goup of five Lesser Flamingos (Phoeniconaias minor) in flight with sky and mountains in a hazy background. Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
An African Darter bird (Anhinga rufa) standing in water at the base of a submerged dead tree trunk in Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
Two Pink-Backed Pelicans (Pelecanus rufescens) on top of tree stumps at Lake Nakuru, Kenya. One has beak wide open.
High-key image of a Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) landing on water at Lake Nakuru, Kenya, Pelican art.
African Fish Eagle (Icthyophaga vocifer) sitting on a broken dead tree, with green background. Lake Nakuru, Kenya
Grey heron (Ardea Cinerea) taking off in flight, shrubland background at Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
Great White Pelicans (Pelecanus onocrotalus) in flight with others on the ground, mainly lake background. Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) on a dead branch of tree with green background at Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
Red-cheeked Condon-bleu bird (Uraeginthus bengalus) sitting on a branch with leafy background. Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) preparing to land amongst other pelicans at Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
Group of three Thompson's Gazelles with two at play locking horns, Masai Mara, Kenya.
African Grey Hornbill (Lophoceros nasutus) sitting on a thorny shrub at Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
Handsome male lion with beautiful mane lies on a raised mound in the Masai Mara, Kenya, surveying his surroundings. Some flies are on his face and in the air around him.
A group of Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) with their heads down eating at lake Nakuru, Kenya.
Helmetted Guinea-fowl (Numida meleagris) on area of green grass in Masai Mara, Kenya.
Close up of a Cheetah with grass and shrub background in Masai Mara , Kenya.
Two hooded vultures (Necrosyrtes monachus), heads facing away from each other on grassland at Masai Mara, Kenya.
Two African White-backed vultures (Gyps africanus) on grassland at the Masai Mara, Kenya.
Close up of Cheetah appearing to laugh. Grassy background. Masai Mara, Kenya.
Cheetah on the prowl in grassland, Masai Mara, Kenya
Head and neck of a long-eyelashed Masai giraffe with green shrub background. Masai Mara, Kenya.
Grey headed Kingfisher bird, (Halcyon leucocephala), Masai Mara, Kenya.
Yellow-billed stork (Mycteria ibis) sitting on a tree with blue sky background in Masai Mara, Kenya.
Goliath Heron (Ardea goliath), standing on a rock in a pond with it's reflection in the foreground. Taken in the Masai Mara, Kenya.
Hamercop bird (Scopus umbretta) on the ground with a large beak-full of grass for it's nest, Masai Mara, Kenya.
Spotted Hyena on the prowl in grassland, Masai Mara, Kenya
Male lion walking towards camera in Masai Mara, Kenya.
Silver-backed jackal looking alert in Masai Mara, Kenya.
Lioness mid pounce on grassland in Masai Mara, Kenya.
Sunset in Masai Mara, Kenya.
Two lion cubs lying down playing. Masai Mara, Kenya.
Hyena chewing on a bone, Masai Mara, Kenya.
African Openbill bird (Anastomus lamelligerus) in grassland in the Masai Mara, Kenya.
Two White-backed Vultures (Gyps africanus), in their nest with blue sky background, in Masai Mara, Kenya.
Hooded vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) on a tree branch with blue sky background. Masai Mara, Kenya.
African White-backed vulture (Gyps africanus) on a tree-top surrounded by flies at the Masai Mara, Kenya.
Lilac-breasted roller bird (Coracias caudatus) sitting on a spiky bush with blurry green background. Masai Mara, Kenya.
Brown snake eagle (Circaetus cinereus) sitting on top of a tree with cloudy blue sky background. Masai Mara, Kenya.
Adult and young Banded Mongoose on grass with others in the background. Masai Mara, Kenya
Hamercop bird (Scopus umbretta) on the ground on rocks beside water in the Masai Mara, Kenya.
Large crocodile with mouth wide open on the banks of the Mara river, Kenya
Group of three young Impala facing the camera, Masai Mara, Kenya.
Male Impala standing in grassland with tongue out. Masai Mara, Kenya.
Close up of male Impala with tongue sticking out. taken in the Masai Mara, Kenya.
Great spotted cuckoo (Clamator glandarius) on grass in the Masai Mara, Kenya.
Close up of lioness and cub surrounded by grass in Masai Mara, Kenya.
Beautiful Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus) sitting on a shrub in the Masai Mara, Kenya.
Juvenile Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus) looking very indignant, on grassland in Masai Mara, Kenya.
Lioness and cub in grasland at Masai Mara, Kenya.
Lion cub emerging from longer grass at masai Mara, Kenya.
Close up of profile view of male lion with mouth wide open, mid yawn at Masai Mara, kenya.
Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum), Masai Mara, Kenya.
Hippopotamus , Hippo, standing in the Mara River surrounded by rocks.
Egyptian Goose (Alopochen Aegyptiaca) facing the camera with wings outstretched. Masai Mara, Kenya.
A colorful bird perched on a thin branch with a blurred green background.
Herd of Zebra near the banks of the Mara River, Kenya.
Close up of Hippo standing in water with rocks behind. Masai Mara, Kenya.
Old lone buffalo chewing grass in Masai Mara, Kenya.
Waterbuck in grassland at Masai Mara, Kenya.
Old male buffalo v2. chewing grass in Masai Mara, Kenya.
Auger Buzzard (Buteo augur) with a catch of a green snake wrapped around it's legs. Masai Mara, Kenya.
Two young male Impalas, one appearing to give the other a kiss. Masai Mara, Kenya.
Auger Buzzard (Buteo augur) on a tree branch in Masai Mara, Kenya, blue sky background..
Olive baboon carrying baby on back, green shrubs behind. Nairobi, Kenya.
Banded mongoose and baby, in scrubland. Masai Mara, Kenya.
Warthogs lying down on grass with Banded Mongooses climbing over them in Masai Mara , Kenya.
Marabou Stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer) with large gular sac, standing in water, Nairobi, Kenya.
Head and shoulders of two white rhinos at play, Nairobi, Kenya.
Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) on scrubland near waters edge, Nairobi, Kenya.
A pack of hyenas finishing the remains of a Hippopotamus carcass in the Masai Mara, Kenya.
Two White Rhinoceros, one laying down in a pool of mud, the other standing behind, in Nairobi, Kenya.
Close up of White Rhino eating grass, Nairobi, Kenya.
Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum) in grassland, Nairobi, Kenya.
Marabou stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer) with two others in the background, standing on grass near water in Nairobi, Kenya.
Indignant looking Black-Headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala) with wings outstretched, standing on a shrub with water, greenery and sky in the background. Nairobi, Kenya.
Close up of eyes and ears of Warthog, Pumbaa, green grass background, Nairobi, Kenya.
Black-Headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala) standing on a bush with water, vegetation and sky in background. Nairobi, Kenya.
Two Rothschild's (Nubian) Giraffes roam the bush-land. Nairobi, Kenya.
Abyssinian thrush (Turdus abyssinicus) stands proudly . Nairobi, Kenya.
Male and female Rothschild's (Nubian) Giraffes with necks crossed and vegetation behind. Nairobi, Kenya.
Black-chested Snake-Eagle (Circaetus pectoralis) with lower half obscured by the tree it sits on. Masai Mara, Kenya.
Male Variable Sunbird (Cinnyris venustus) sits on a branch of a bush. Nairobi, Kenya.
Low down close up of a Warthog. Nairobi, kenya.
Close up of a Rothschild's (Nubian) Griraffe with trees in the background. Nairobi, Kenya.
Masai giraffe walking through the Masai Mara, Kenya, light blue sky behind.
Female Variable Sunbird (Cinnyris venustus) pecking at dead vegetation to make her nest. Nairobi, Kenya.
Male and female Rothschild's Giraffes standing amongst trees and shrubs early morning, Nairobi, Kenya.
Village Weaver bird (Ploceus cucullatus) perches on railings while collecting grasses for it's nest in Nairobi, Kenya.
Female Variable Sunbird (Cinnyris venustus) rests and observes during the making of her nest. Nairobi, Kenya.
Probably a Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) backlit with wings extended on a tent guide-rope - looks as if tight rope walking! Amboseli, Kenya
High key coloured image of Rothschild (Nubian) Giraffe head with tongue poking out. Giraffe Art. Nairobi, Kenya.
Secretary bird (Sagittarius serpentarius) strutting on patchy grassland at Amboseli, Kenya.
Immature Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus) sitting on a tree branch at Lake Nakuru, Kenya. Enhanced grey background.
Pink-Backed Pelican (Pelecanus rufescens) in early morning light with lovely reflections of submerged dead tree trunks at Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) on top of a tree in Masai Mara, Kenya with blue sky background.
Two Topi antelope facing opposite directions one behind the other on grassland as Masai Mara, Kenya.
Lilac-breasted roller bird (Coracias caudatus) taking off from a thorny bush with blurry green background in Masai Mara, Kenya.
Hadada Ibis (Bostrychia hagedash) nicely framed through a gap in the bushes in Nairobi, Kenya.
Lion cubs walking through grassland in Masai Mara, Kenya.
Close up of a lioness relaxing on the ground with her tongue licking her upper lip/nose in Masai Mara, Kenya.
White-Breasted (Great) Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo lucidus) taking off from the water with large splashes at Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
Four Masai giraffe walking in an oblique line in the Masai Mara, Kenya.
Great Egret (Ardea alba), on a tree top at Masai Mara, Kenya, mid blue sky background.
Yellow-billed kite (Milvus aegyptius) perched on a tree-top with head turned behind, greyp-blue sky background in Masai Mara, Kenya.
Two young olive baboons enjoy playtime climbing racks and swinging on a hanging tree root in Masai Mara, Kenya.
Two lionesses one standing behind in profile, the other lying in front face forwards in Masai Mara, Kenya.
White Rhino in the shade under a tree at Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
A Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) standing on top of dead tree branches at Lake Nakuru, Kenya. Light blue sky background.
A Speke's Weaver bird (Ploceus spekei) sitting on a tree branch at Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
View of Mount Kilimanjaro from Kibo Camp, Amboseli, Kenya with cloud cover receding.
View of Mount Kilimanjaro from Kibo Camp, Amboseli, Kenya with mild haze but no clouds.
Two young impala, one standing, one lying down, both facing the camera, Masai Mara, Kenya.
Coke's hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus cokei) standing in scrubland in Nairobi, Kenya.
Close up of Ostrich head and neck i profile with blurry shrub backgound, at Nairobi, Kenya.
Close up of Zebra munching the grass with head, one leg and part of body in the image, blurry grass background in Nairobi, Kenya.
Three Grant's gazelles, two in profile eating grass, the third at the front looking very alert, blurry grass and powder blue sky background, Masai Mara, Kenya.
A forward party of Zebra on rocks at the edge of the Mara River, Kenya, contemplating crossing.
High key, white background close up image of Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) on a dead tree branch at Lake Nakuru, Kenya.
A group of White Rhino relaxing in the shade beneath a fever tree (Vachellia) at Lake Nakuru, Kenya.