PHOTO FRIDAY: GIRAFFES CAN RUN

Observing animals in the wild, you get to see animals doing odd things. 

Until now, we never remember seeing a photo or video of a giraffe running at full gallop before. It's as uncoordinated-looking a thing as you've ever seen. But once they get their neck and flopping legs into it, they can really fly, as we observed when the adult male above sprinted across the road in front of our Landrover. 

Crazy. Wanna see some more crazy? Here's a photo Friday bonus:

Hippos use their short little tails to mark their territories by showering their fresh feces all over the place. Even when swimming with close friends. And no one seems to care. 

Elephants drink water late at night. And from the same source as people camping nearby do. 

Lions are just big, hairy cats. And they like to roll around and stretch like their domesticated cousins.

Cape buffalo skulls are huge. Camping is dangerous. Kip needs a haircut. Seriously.

LUNCHTIME FOR A LEOPARD

What's on the menu today? For this mother leopard in the Serengeti, it's one unlucky warthog.

The leopard, who has to feed herself and two recently-born cubs, skillfully chased down the adolescent warthog before carrying it up a tree only a few feet from where our guide Yosef had parked. 

Smiling proudly, Yosef told us we were lucky to be in the right spot to see such a rare occurrence so close to our vehicle. We couldn't have agreed more. 

But then, there sure were a lot of other fortunate folks that day who got lucky, too. Such is life on safari in the Serengeti.

 

By the way, in case you noticed, we're a little behind time-wise and still reporting on our travels through Africa, though we actually just passed through DC. After a few more safari pics, and a visit through Rwanda, Uganda, and Egypt, we'll be almost up to date...and our next destination...

PHOTO FRIDAY: SERENGETI SUNSET

An old Landrover, an acacia tree and the sun setting over the Serengeti. Sometimes life brings good things together. 

After spending hours taking photos from the back seat while listening to our guide tell us about all the things that could kill us if we left the vehicle (lions, leopards, snakes, hippos, rhinos, etc), Josef finally let us out to snap a quick shot at the scenic overview above. One of the best days and most beautiful sunsets of the trip.

PHOTO FRIDAY: CHAMELEON ROAD CROSSING

Why did the Flap Necked Chameleon cross the road? 

We have no idea, but it sure made for a cool photo, especially when he looked right at us with one of his beady little eyes. 

To learn more about these color-changing animals, check out this site. 

BABY TIME IN THE SERENGETI

Following his mother up an acacia tree, a one-yr-old leopard stares at a Land Rover of photo-happy tourists.

Our priorities may have changed when it came to hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro. But nothing was keeping us from a multi-day safari in the world famous Serengeti. 

Budgets be damned, we would be riding in the back of a well-aged Land Rover, camera in hand, tacky tourist hat on head, gawking for hours at lions and leopards and sunsets that could fry a memory card.

While we came for the wildebeest migration (photos later), we got an unexpected surprise by seeing so many babies. It seems spring had sprung, the rainy season was on the way and lots of brand new little animals were taking their first steps. The squeals (from us) and cuteness (from the animals) was pretty overwhelming.

Enjoy the photos!

Awwww! A baby zebra peers over her mom's shoulder.

The vigilant parents of a baby water buffalo stand guard. Buffalo are the third most deadly animal in Africa when it comes to killing humans. 

A mud-covered baby elephant calls for his mother. This little guy put on a show wallowing in a water hole.

Baby giraffe with mom.