October 2, 2016
Hippo Sparring, Four Male Lions, and a Verreaux's Eagle Owl Chick in Kruger National Park, South Africa

I've finished up my visit to Kruger National Park, South Africa, with three nights at Berg-En-Dal, and it was a very productive time. The southwestern part of the park has been good for African Wild Dogs, and I had a great time on my first evening with the largest pack of them that I've ever seen. There were at least 20! I also spent some time with a small baby White Rhinocerous. The main reason I like to stay at Berg-En-Dal is that the Biyamity Dam is not too far away. It's one of my favorite locations for photography in the park because the dam is low and there's a causeway immediately downstream so that the water level above the dam is less than a foot below a car's windowsill. I went by there on my way to Berg-En-Dal from Lower Sabie to check conditions to see if I should return first thing the next morning. I was excited to find this Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) sparring with an intruder in his pool. Another favorite image is of these four male Lion (Panthera leo) watching a small group of Cape Buffalo approach. I've never seen a group of four adult males before, and there was a fifth just across the road in the early stages of mating with a female. I was surprised to see these males resting atop a rhino midden pile, but I suppose it was cushy and probably warm on that cool morning from the decaying organic matter. Shortly before I left the lions, a guide who had seen me photographing birds the previous morning at Biyamity Dam, asked if I was interested in birds. I indicated that I wasn't a birder but liked photographing them when they're in a good location. Then he told me about a Verreaux's Eagle Owl or Giant Eagle Owl (Bubo lacteus) nest with an adult and chick and said I'd be able to get some nice shots with my gear. He gave me great directions and the nest was easy to find. The chick wasn't doing anything exciting when I first got to the nest, so I came back later in the day and they were both sitting up nicely.