Between Mt Kenya and the Aberdares Mountain resides a conservation success story. The Solio Game Reserve is home to hundreds of Southern White Rhinos and Black Rhinos. The 45,000-acre privately-owned land is Keyna's oldest rhino sanctuary. Internationally recognized as one of the most successful private rhino breeding sanctuaries in East Africa. Once on the brink of extinction, conservancies, such as Solio have changed the trajectory of these animals to near threatened. During my visit to the conservancy, I was able to photograph and observe these docile beasts grazing using their large flat lips. I was able to get low and lay down in the grasses to create a beautifully blurred foreground in this picture. Together with the foreground, lighting, and heavy cloud cover, I was able to get this pastel-painted look to this picture.Did you know that the Southern White Rhinos may play an important part in bringing back the Northern White Rhino from extinction as surrogates?
While visiting Samburu National Park, our driver saw this beautiful young African Elephant giving itself a dust bath. He was able to pull in right next to it without disturbing the behavior. I was so close that I had to lean far back in my seat to get the majority of the magnificent animal in my shot. After promptly taking a few pictures, the vehicle and I were quickly enveloped in the red mud she was dusting herself with. It was fascinating to watch her kick the mud with her front feet, push the loosened mud towards her trunk, and then suck it up and then quickly expel it all over herself. I was thrilled that I could capture the exact moment the mud left her truck, giving the picture a sense of motion while retaining the beautiful detail of her skin. Elephants dust themselves to help keep their skin clean of parasites, and the mud helps provide a layer of sunscreen also. I was also able to get a quick video showing this behavior. I'm happy to share that if wanted as well.There are two species of African Elephants, Savannah and Forest. This beauty is an African Savannah Elephant. The population of African Savannah Elephants has declined by 60% over the past 50 years. My hope in sharing this picture and experience is that it will bring awareness to the amazing efforts being taken to help protect these gentle giants.
While visiting the Maasai Mara, we came across two leopards out in the open close to sunset. Most of the vehicles were concentrated on the closer of the two; we decided to go to the less crowded side of the stream and see this beautiful young leopard. She was initially laying in the grass doing what big cats do best, resting. My hope is that she would get up so we could get a few profile shots. The sun was setting, and we were losing light fast. Just when I almost gave up hope, she stood and then sat, turning her head so that the sun spotlighted her beautiful face. Wow! As a photographer, you often take chances hoping for the shot you envisioned; when it actually happens, the smile and experience can be felt for eternity. Ths stunning leopard, I have been told is known locally "Nzuri," which is Swahili for pretty.
