Amboseli in February: dust and elephants

February 4, 2024 · Amboseli National Park, Kenya · Hot and dusty, 85°F by 10 a.m., calm · Fujifilm X-T5, 150-600mm

Flew into Nairobi and took the small plane to Amboseli. The park is flat and mostly open, which makes the photography different from anywhere else I’ve been — you can see a long way and the backgrounds are clean. Kilimanjaro showed for about forty minutes at dawn on day one before disappearing into haze for the rest of the trip. Elephants were everywhere: herds crossing between swamps, one big bull by himself in dust.

I’m not a professional. But there are days when this hobby feels absurdly lucky.

Elephant herd crossing dry pan — Herd crossing the pan at 7:30. Still good light. African Elephant 400mm, 1/1600s, f/8, ISO 640

Lone bull elephant in dust — Big bull solo in the dust. Ears out. African Elephant, bull 500mm, 1/1600s, f/6.3, ISO 400

Yellow-billed stork in swamp — In the swamp at Enkongo Narok. Yellow-billed Stork 350mm, 1/1000s, f/6.3, ISO 800

Fish eagle on a dead tree — On the snag above the swamp. African Fish Eagle 400mm, 1/1600s, f/7.1, ISO 1000

Roller on a fence post — Obligatory roller shot. Never skip it. Lilac-breasted Roller 300mm, 1/1000s, f/5.6, ISO 400

Superb starling on ground — Around every picnic spot. Superb Starling 300mm, 1/1000s, f/7.1, ISO 400

Two grey crowned cranes — Pair in dry grass, fluffy crowns up. Grey Crowned Crane 300mm, 1/1000s, f/8, ISO 640

Giraffe against Kilimanjaro — Giraffe while Kili was still out. Maasai Giraffe 600mm, 1/2000s, f/6.3, ISO 640

Buffalo in grass — Herd on the edge of the swamp. African Buffalo 200mm, 1/1600s, f/7.1, ISO 2000

Hyena on road — Two hyenas padded past the car at dusk. Spotted Hyena 600mm, 1/1600s, f/6.3, ISO 400

Wide view of Amboseli with Kilimanjaro — Kilimanjaro for about forty minutes. Amboseli and Kilimanjaro 23mm, 1/500s, f/11, ISO 100