With
the first light of morning a small group of zebras approaches a
waterhole in the Etosha national park. Together they will quench their
thirst to prepare themselves for the rising temperatures of the day.
Although they are drinking peacefully, they are alert, ears pricked,
listening to the sounds around them, ready to run from any
threat. |
In
their search for food, the elephants have moved back and forth across
the bed of the Sands River in the Kruger National Park. On one of these
crossings, two members of different troupes meet on the riverbank. The
caressing welcome they share emphasizes the empathy between animals of
different herds. |
With
the rising sun the hunt is over for the pride. For the rest of the day
the lions will spend their time in the shadows of the bush, and sleep.
However, if for a couple of days the nightly hunt was unsuccessful,
their empty stomachs will force them to hunt during the day. A big
pride has a greater likelihood of a kill. |
A
few minutes ago the seal cub had still been in the silent warmth of its
mother΄s womb. But now, exposed to the cool wind of the Atlantic Ocean,
it finds itself in the roaring noisiness of the seal colony at Cape
Cross, Namibia. Slowly it starts to recover from the exertion of its
birth. Anxiously, but with open ears and eyes, it begins to notice its
surroundings. In this moment the consoling nearness creates a link
between the mother and cub. |
Although
having the greatest of views from the head of the giraffe, the ox
peckers show no interest, for they are concentrated on the parasites
found on the giraffe΄s skin. Pecking them out of the fur make those
birds one of the giraffe΄s best friends. |
The
young leopard has porcupine΄s spines stuck in its coat indicating that
the previous night΄s hunt was not successful. With the rising sun he
tucked himself into the hollow of an Acacia tree. There he observes a
herd of Impalas in the distance. But the wind betrays him. The Impalas
have pick up his scent and so he will stay hungry. |
The
grass is still wet from the morning dew as the white rhinos approaches
from the bush. As long as the sun is low in the horizon they will
remain in the open savannah to graze. But as the temperature rises they
return to the bush and search for a shady spot to escape the heat of
the day. |
The
midday sun shines persistently on the landscape of the Kruger national
park and makes the air above the waterhole flicker. The hippos remain
in the cool water and wait for the sunset. Only then will they leave
the water in their search for food. But even in the cool water their
tempers rise under the sun, erupting in a great roar. |
It
is already late in the afternoon when the Kudu buck lowers his head to
quench his thirst at the waterhole. On his search for food he has
wandered the whole day through the savannah tree areas of the Etosha
national park. With the sunset the Kudu will search for a safe place to
spend the night from where he will continue his wanderings with the
first light of the following morning. |
Apparently
bored, the African buffalo stares towards us. Nothing indicates that
deeply hidden behind its stoic look lays an aggressive and
unpredictable character. From one moment to the next its mood can change and the gawping fool becomes an aggressive mountain of muscle that will attack and trample down anything that stands in its way. Nothing will then stop him. |
Reluctantly
the crocodile is leaving its warm spot on the bank of the lake, but the
herd of elephants that has approached to drink is not willing to accept
the reptile in their presence. But things will change. The long shadows
of the setting sun announce nightfall. The crocodile can then start the
hunt again. |
No
other antelope has adapted so perfectly to life in the desert as has
the Oryx. The absence of water for many days and permanent temperatures
above 40°C cannot harm him. His long and straight horns in combination
with his striking colour markings on head and body make this
survivalist one of the most elegant of antelopes. |
<Back> |