Cape Buffalo

[baturn]

Another favorite. Thoughts?

 

[tirediron]

Crazy wig on that dude!



Again a tighter crop I think, but very cool!

 

[Designer]

Just o n e more step....o n e more...

 

[baturn]

This one wasn't terribly aggressive, but we did have one challenge the truck for right of way. Our excellent guide and driver backed up a hundred meters or so and let the beast pass. Unless you've seen one up close you can not believe how incredibly huge they are.
Agree about the crop ,John but I think this is a pretty aggressive one already. To put it in perspective, I always seemed to have the wrong lens attached.

 

[BillM]

He looks like he is trying to hide behind the bush lol

 

[baturn]

Siesta time and we disturbed him. Most of the game drives were in the middle of the day and the critters were napping. Of course a cape buffalo naps wherever he pleases.

 

[Tony S]

Is that a single Cape or is there another behind it making it look really long?

 

[WesternGuy]

Siesta time and we disturbed him. Most of the game drives were in the middle of the day and the critters were napping. Of course a cape buffalo naps wherever he pleases.

...middle of the day..., then I have to wonder if you got your money's worth - where were you. I don't mean to sound harsh, but I have been to Africa 3 times now and every time, our game drives started very early in the morning before sunrise, went to mid morning, broke for lunch and then started again around mid afternoon until sunset. As you have indicated, the animals nap during the mid-day sun (too hot for anything else) and then are active again later in the day and into the night. We often heard the lions roaring during the night and the hippos thrashing around in the bush as well. I am curious why your game drives were limited to the middle of the day. We never had a Cape Buffalo challenge any of our vehicles, but we did have a young elephant do a false charge at us in Botswana - isn't it amazing how fast those vehicles can go in reverse? :mrgreen:

Looking forward to seeing more of your images.

WesternGuy

 

[baturn]

WG, Yeah, we only had one early morning game drive and one evening one. We started at mount Kenya and worked around in a kind of counter clockwise circle Ending in the Masai Mara for two full days We stayed in two other lodges/ parks whose names I don't recall at the moment. I was more than satisfied with the amount of game we saw but there wasn't much action. I was pretty thrilled the first time I awoke to the roaring of lions. Nothing quite like it.
I noticed after I posted that I had said middle of the day. I meant by that 0800until noonish and 1500 'til 1830ish

 

[WesternGuy]

WG, Yeah, we only had one early morning game drive and one evening one. We started at mount Kenya and worked around in a kind of counter clockwise circle Ending in the Masai Mara for two full days We stayed in two other lodges/ parks whose names I don't recall at the moment. I was more than satisfied with the amount of game we saw but there wasn't much action. I was pretty thrilled the first time I awoke to the roaring of lions. Nothing quite like it.
I noticed after I posted that I had said middle of the day. I meant by that 0800until noonish and 1500 'til 1830ish

Thanks for clarifying your game drive situation - sounds like you got the standard treatment, more or less. You are right - nothing like being awakened to the roaring of lions in the night.

WesternGuy

 

[baturn]

Yup, I'd gladly go back and do the same trip with the same people, but have some other things on the bucket list that need taking care of.

 

[DLeeT]

Neat Shot. It is always interesting to see photos of animals that are not native to your home. Lee

 

[bronzeo]

I have made a crop that I would use if I were painting this scene.... It makes the Buff look as if he is standing in deep grass and behind a taller bush. It also lends to a more balanced scene, at least to me. The egret would need to be PSd out for a photo to assure that image, or in my case omitted, when I would paint it. The Cape is one of my favorite subjects, and this is a pretty nice specimen. I would also throw some higher contrast in it.

 

[baturn]

I never even considered going portrait. I like it. but for me the egret stays. Thanks for the comments and ideas.

 

[bronzeo]

Yes, I like the egret too, but he would have to have stork legs for the buff to look standing.