safari

Get in the Picture

We just received confirmation of our safari dates for next year! June 3-13, 2027 we will be back in Tanzania, camping the great parks including Ngorongoro and the Serengeti. Exact details and budget are still in the works, but should be ready soon.

If full-on adventure in the African backcountry is on your wish list, you’ll need to mark your calendars. Know that we rent Land Cruisers with limited seating in order to keep our footprint small and our experiences large.

We’ll be leaving in less than a month with this year’s crew. Track us here, on Facebook or YouTube, to get a sense of what awaits.

On Tippy Toes

Kirk’s dik-dik (Madoqua kirkii) is a tiny antelope of East Africa. It stands tip-toed, about 18 inches tall.

Toe walking is a feature of ungulates (animals with hooves). The structure of the foot is such that only the toe tips touch the ground; the “heel” is located further up the leg. A hard layer of keratin caps each toe, protecting and strengthening it.

Dik-diks have two weight-bearing digits on each foot (thus, they belong to the “even-toed” or Artiodactyla group).

This foot structure gives this animal speed and nimbleness (they can sprint up to 26 mph and turn on a dime).

Don’t worry if you spot one of these tiny antelope perched high on a rock or on a steep cliff face. They are built for it.

Wry Smile

The eland smiles. Does he know a secret?

The eland is the largest member of the antelope family. It is also the slowest. Because of its size and nature, it can be domesticated by humans (just remember, it is still an antelope, a fence jumping specialist!).

Under spiral horns are the eland's "liquid eyes." These are adorned with long lashes. Such observations flow into the whispered conversation as we sit in our jeep and watch these docile creatures munch Serengeti grasses.

(Note the oxpecker on his back.)

Our safari work continues to attract special travelers. Because of this we have scheduled another return to Tanzania. This one is scheduled for late February, 2027. Reserve your seats now. They too will disappear.

Lappet-faced

It’s almost noble.

When it comes to clothing, a lappet is a fancy fold. It's often seen as a drape in a scarf or head covering.

Check out the folds of skin on the head of this large scavenger. Now you know why it is called a Lappet-faced vulture (Torgos tracheliotos). Fancy-schmancy!

This is Africa's largest vulture. The wingspan of a fully-grown individual can reach 8 or 9 feet!

Unfortunately, this member of the clean up crew is also endangered. Habitat destruction, nest destruction, and pesticide ingestion are problematic. One estimate suggests only 6,500 of these (almost) noble birds survive today. That's a problem.

See a Lappet-faced vulture for yourself. Safari with us in 2026.

Sneaky Drongo

Kleptoparasite.

That's a word you don't hear everyday. It is used to describe a creature that steals food from another. It appropriately describes the behavior of the Fork-tailed drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis), an African bird that mimics the calls of predators. This false alarm is startling and makes it possible for the drongo to steal dropped food.

We used to do the same sort of thing in Junior High.

(See a sneaky drongo for yourself next year on an African safari!)

Red-faced

Have you ever wondered why some birds have featherless skin around their faces? This feature serves several purposes. First it is hygienic (and easier to keep clean). This is useful for carrion-eaters (like vultures) or wader-hunters like this yellow-billed stork (Mycteria ibis). Second, it communicates. When it is ready to breed, the facial skin of this stork turns deeper red, the color of the yellow bill intensifies, the legs turn bright pink, and even the feathers gain a pinkish tinge. Third, and finally, featherless skin helps dissipate heat. I'm not sure that's a big deal with stork faces (!), but it has been noted as a factor with their legs.

All in all, it's a brilliant design.

The yellow-billed stork is commonly found in East Africa. I photographed this one in Tanzania.

If you want to see a yellow-billed stork for yourself, join us next year on safari!

Nursing Mum

Nursing calf. Look at his curled little trunk! Is mama smiling?

You knew that elephants were mammals, right? Did you know that elephants have two breasts like humans, not udders like cows, or rows of teats like dogs? These glands are located in the elephant's chest, between its front legs. Elephant calves (and mothers) nurse while standing, not lying down.

Join us on an African safari. February 18-28, 2026

Sunbird

The call of the variable sunbird (Cinnyris venustus), tew-tew-tew-tew-tew, is a common sound in equatorial Africa. These flashy little avians perch in the highest branches of the trees and are not shy in announcing their presence.

The male, shown here, is brilliant. His blue-green "metallic" head and nape is contrasted by a yellow belly.

The needle-like curved beak of the sunbird is perfect for extracting nectar from flowers, as is its tubular tongue.

I spotted this one enjoying the sprinkler in the yard of our lodge, just outside Arusha, Tanzania.

Super Drumsticks

Did you know that an ostrich can sprint at speeds beyond 40 miles an hour and can kill a cheetah with just one kick. On the end of each foot are two toes, armed with sharp 4-inch claws.

I photographed this male in the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.

Our 2026 African safaris are full, but will be opening seats for 2027 soon. Stay tuned.

Let Sleeping Lions Lie

"Let sleeping lions lie" should be a proverb.

I posted a shot of a lioness and a cub on a kopje about a month ago. Here's another for your day.

Like islands in a vast sea, granite kopjes rise above the Serengeti grasslands of Tanzania and provide a special habitat for plants and animals. Just tip-toe when you are around one. You never know who might be sleeping.

Go wild with us on safari in 2025 or 2026.