Roan Antelope Stares Back

The Animal Kingdom Lodge offers perhaps the best opportunity for great photos of Africa's amazing animals.  Give yourself some time and take plenty of shots, and you can have an absolute library of great photos.  This one is of the Roan Antelope found at the Jambo House a few years back.  

This antelope seemed to stare into my camera lens for what seemed like five minutes.  I like this show because the back light brings out the incredible horn structure.  Thanks pal!

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)

Siamang Action

While they may spend most of their time way up in the air, and far away from your camera, the troop of Siamangs make from some great photography.  You may not get the detail and the close-ups we always like, but you will get some great action shots.

It may cause a little bit of a stiff-neck, but it's worth it.  These guys are hilarious to watch and magnificently athletic.   Some of the moves they pull off at this altitude can be amazing.

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)

Jungle Jim's Animal Portraits: Giraffe in Heaven

If you are looking to take some animal photos at Disney's Animal Kingdom or the Animal Kingdom Lodge, you will notice there are a few species that just seem to love the camera.  The giraffes are certainly near the top of that list, and Jungle Jim has dozens and dozens of great portraits of these popular and lovable creatures.

Even someone who only takes photos occasionally, and uses a phone or cheap camera, can get some great shots of the giraffes, especially at Kidani Village.  Just be patient and wait for them to come closer.  The reward can be worth the wait.

Horns in the Woods

I, for one, love the addition of the Addax herd to the end of the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride.  They are strikingly beautiful animals and the fact that there is only a handful left in the wild makes for a great conservation story.  But, for reasons I can't quite understand, they are very hard for me to photograph!

There is something about the lighting in that area that makes it difficult.  Sunlight beams through the thick forest and reflects brightly off the animal's white fur and it drives my lens crazy!!  The movement of the trucks in this area doesn't help either.  Also, the addax seem to know exactly where in the habitat to stand to best avoid the cameras.  I promise, I will do better...

by Dave McBride (@RadiHarambe)

Because I'm Happy!

Flights of Wonder may top the list of the "under-appreciated attractions" at Disney's Animal Kingdom.  And one of those reasons for that is most people tend to ignore it, and end up missing seeing some incredible birds like this majestic Hyacinth macaw, who always seems to be happy and smiling for the cameras.

Hyacinth macaws are the biggest of the flying parrots.  (Yes, there are flightless parrots.)  Unfortunately, photographs tend not to properly portray the size but this bird was probably almost 3 feet from tail to beak.  Notice a handler isn't trying to hold him.

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)

Something of a Reluctant Arrangement

Jungle Jim spotted these two wildebeests during a trip to the Animal Kingdom.  As the story goes, the one on the left was enjoying a quiet, peaceful and solitary afternoon until the one on the right decided to join in.  The look on their faces says this may have been something of a reluctant arrangement.

Despite their somewhat less than adorable appearance, the wildebeest is one of the single most important species to the ecosystem of the african plains.  To learn more about them, check out Safari Mike's recent posting.

Photo by Jungle Jim

Just Resting Her Eyes

I really could make an entire blog of just tiger photographs I have taken over the years at the Maharajah Jungle Trek, I have that many photos in my archive.  And this is a favorite of mine from around 2007 or so.

I simply love the chilled out and relaxed expression this girl has.  My wife has this look a lot on a weekend afternoon and when I ask if she is taking a nap the response I get is "I'm just resting my eyes."  Life is good in Disney's Animal Kingdom I guess.

photo by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)

A Room With a View

How many time have you gone past the lion habitat on Kilimanjaro Safaris only to see a sleeping lump in the brush?  Well, on this trip we were able to see a sleeping lump in a much better position for photographing.

We all know from the narration the drivers give us that a lion pretty much sleeps a large portion of its life away.  Sounds good to me, and it also sounds a lot like my airedale's life ambition as well.

by Dave McBride

Open Up and Say "Ahhhh"!

Jungle Jim sent us this lovely photo of a hippopotamus from his trip along the Wild Africa Trek.  This hippo actually did open up and say "ahhhhh".

Now I wasn't with Jungle Jim when he did the Trek, but I have heard stories.  Apparently he had to be told several times he was holding up the group.  But we can't complain because he was busy taking wonderful photos like this one.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Here is a photo I took quite some time ago.  One of the great hidden gems of Disney's Animal Kingdom is the quiet and beautiful Discovery Island Trails, in the shadow of the Tree of Life.  Take a walk through them and you may come across this giant reptile.

The Galapagos Tortoise is the largest tortoise in the world, coming in at over five feet long and more than 800 pounds.  But I learned all that from Safari Mike so follow that blog and soon you too may learn all about the Galapagos Tortoise.

by Dave McBride

Never Stray Too Far From Mom

Today we salute all of the mothers across the world, including the mothers of Disney's Animal Kingdom.

In the animal world, it is a good idea to never stray too far from your mom.  And come to think of it, that's probably not a bad idea in the human world either.

Our mom's teach us everything, like making sure you look both ways when you cross the road, and that's no different at Kilimanjaro Safaris.

But some moms in the wild have to teach some things that might not be typical of the human world, like how to swing across a building on a rope.

Happy Mother's Day from all of us at Jambo Everyone!  Asante Sana Mama!

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)