This is our last game drive, so let’s chat about camera science. I have set my camera to only have a single auto-focus point. I find that helps when doing wildlife photography so grass nor branches get in the way. In this mode the camera automatically determines aperture and shutter speed, leaving me to set the ISO. If you want to learn more, read this.

The issue is during the early morning there is not enough light to properly take an image if the subject is moving. You want a low ISO to gather light, but you need a high ISO because the subject is moving. Low ISO is great for landscaping shots, but will get blurs on moving subjects. However, if it’s too dark it doesn’t matter how high you set the ISO. Below we found the same lion pride we’ve seen the previous two days. Here’s the male lion walking to us in the early morning “light.”

This is not a shaky camera, this is low ISO needing a long shutter speed, thus saving as a blur. Just a minute later the lion stood mostly still (and we have that little bit more light). However, you can see the tail is still blurry.

A few minutes later the entire family began to move. These two cub shots right after the other.

If I plan to do more early morning photography I need to do more research.

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Enough photo theory. Here’s the male lion leaving us behind. It’s my experience in safari vehicles where you have to stay on the established roads (most national parks) that you get a lot of backside shots as the animals turn away from you. We started joking about publishing an animal backside calendar.

Here the lion discovered some ground scent and decided to roll in it. Anyone that owns an outdoor pet will understand.

I like the visual contradiction of photographing zebra. I didn’t find many chances to isolate a single zebra from its herd this safari. You can see how these have both black and grey stripes.

This is the first time I’ve seen giraffe bend DOWN to eat. Kind of a waste of evolution?

while on top of a ridge we spotted rhinos across the valley. It took 20 minutes to get over there only for the grass to cover most of their lower.

We finished our morning drive with birds. I got my first good look at a raptor in the wild , the forest buzzard. PS: why did I think that “buzzard” was another word for vulture?

While crossing the river we saw, or heard, some ironic payback. A jackal was in the river crossing and the guinea fowl (also known as “bush chickens”) were screeching up a storm.

In the river we spotted an immature grey heron. I like the reflection shot, but I also like the close-in feather details. Eh, I can’t decide.

An Egyptian goose to finish us off. The teal color of it’s wings are a bit unsettling.

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Overall a fabulous safari. I didn’t get to see any leopards during either trip, but what can you do? We left the Manor after breakfast and checked into a decidedly mediocre hotel. Since Silversea had to find sudden accommodations for 50 cruise passengers (there were three other safari field trips out at the same time to different sites), I can’t really complain.

Cape Town is next!