March 29, 2011
Elephants Face To Face in Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa

On our last morning in Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa, we photographed two male and two female lions chase a female greater kudu. The lions were at the far edge of the clearing around the Hapoor waterhole when we arrived — too far to photograph them — so we concentrated on the elephants at the waterhole. After a while, the lions started making their way closer and towards some greater kudu, so we moved over to get ready to capture the action. The lead male was too eager to have some breakfast and started his sprint before the other lions could support him. The female kudu escaped and the lion looked disappointed when he stopped. We sure were disappointed because they would have been in a great location at a great distance for the takedown. My favorite image of the day is of two male elephants face to face. They had been posturing off and on all morning, and must have finally come to an understanding.

On our way out of the park, I spotted a caracal crossing the road about 50 yds (45m) ahead of us — my fourth caracal this year! It had disappeared into the brush by the time we got the car turned around so our cameras would be on the correct side, but we located it again in a nearby clearing and Jan got some shots. Then we found it again as it was walking away through an old road clearing, but the heat haze and bad orientation (south end of a north-bound cat) wasn't good for photography.