Favorites: The Animal Edition

In honor of the conclusion of my time in Africa, I've compiled a few of my favorite photographs over the past several years.
Here are my favorite animal photos!

For my favorite photographs of Zimbabwe: go here!!

For my favorite photographs of Senegal: go here!!

A lilac breasted roller in Chobe National Park, Botswana - Hope is a Thing with Feathers

A baby elephant of the Presidential Herd, Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe - The Ivory Lodge

A crocodile sleeps on the banks of the Chobe River in Botswana - Snapshots from the River: The Chobe Crocodile

A giraffe in Chobe National Park, Botswana - The Chobe smorgasbord of animals!!

I originally captioned this photo of a donkey in Palmarin, Senegal:
"Hello, donkey, the rains must feel like a wonderful break from the heat." - Hello, donkey! Hello, pelicans! Hello, white flamingo?!

A lion at Antelope Park in Gweru, Zimbabwe - ...and then the lions charged!

Elephants along the Chobe River, Botswana - An ode to elephants

A penguin in Boulders, South Africa, on the Cape of Good Hope - Penguins...in Africa! Woohoo!!

A bird searching for food on Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe - The Lake Kariba smorgasbord

Two lions cubs in Hwange, Zimbabwe - I was not the lion, but it fell to me to give the lion's roar.

A herd of bison in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States - Yellowstone: Animals Part II

A mama giraffe in the Save Valley Conservancy, Zimbabwe - Giraffes!! (An Ode to ALDB)

Traffic in Rufisque, Senegal, the only real road off the Cap-Vert peninsula where Dakar is located - Passing Through Rufisque

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The Lake Kariba Smorgasbord

While visiting the lovely Lake Kariba, we came upon this stunning bird.

He would hover like this before dive bombing for food. He was amazing to watch.

An African Fish Eagle --- also Zimbabwe's national bird.

Isn't he just beautiful?

A baby hippo and its pod.

Lake Kariba was just awash with birds.

This guy was on the hunt for food.

Success!

Check out how incredibly graceful he was:

And what is an animal posting without my beloved elephants?

Hello, hippo!

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Hope is a thing with feathers

This lilac breasted roller may possibly be one of my favorite photos taken in southern Africa.

I'm a little shocked about it. I don't really like photographing birds, even bird watching bores me.

But there's something about this photo that I just love.

Also while in Chobe National Park in lovely Botswana on safari, we came across this stunning sable.

Hello, bird!

This stork was hanging out on the banks of the Chobe River.

A bird in flight. . . maybe if I paid more attention, I'd remember birds' names. Maybe.

He made me think of a soldier standing at attention!

 Inspiration for the post's title:

Hope is a Thing with Feathers

Emily Dickinson

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

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A Love Affair with Elephants Continues

After a stunning visit to Victoria Falls, we visited Chobe National Park.

Where Botswana reminded me instantly of how much I love elephants.

Isn't this guy just adorable?!

Chobe overs the chance for land and river safaris and my love affair with elephants to grow.

A mama and her baby.

I love the mutual relationships you find in nature, especially the tiny bird and elephant relationship.

A mama elephant helping her baby through a mud bath.

Oh!  What this old elephant has seen in Africa.

A breeding herd drinking at the Chobe River.

I was just floored by the size of the hippos in Chobe.  This elephant was huge.  Look at the size of those hippos next to him!

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