Amazing pictures: Photographer captures a hoof's-eye view of the moment a lioness attacks a herd of zebra

Ground-breaking wildlife photographer Anup Shah has captured a hoof's-eye view of the moment a lioness attacks a herd of zebra.
The Briton spent three months following the herd on the plains of the Masai Mara, in Kenya, Africa.
A camera disguised as a rock perfectly catches the minutes a quiet drink at the watering hole is shattered by the approaching big cat.
Panic quickly spreads as she launches her attack.

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The zebras were disturbed by the opportunistic at a water hole in the Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya

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Ready to attack: The lioness approaches the unsuspecting heard of zebra

Then with hooves flying just inches over the lens of Anup's camera the mayhem and chaos of the fleeing herd is unleashed.
When peace is restored one unlucky zebra lies dead as the lioness sits with her kill.
Anup said tracking the herd on the Masai Mara National Park reserve sometimes meant days of travelling hundreds of miles but the results were well worth it.
He said: 'It is fascinating to see how the large herds move and coordinate as one, when one is relaxed they are all relaxed, when one is panics they all run.
'What I have got is a remote camera disguised and placed in the path of the herd where you think it is going to go.
'I could see what was happening through the lens from a safe distance, you wouldn't want to be in the path of a herd of stampeding 6,00lb zebra.

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On the run: The amazing images were captured by a camera camouflaged to look like a rock

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One of the zebras kicks out at another - this is the equivalent of saying don't get too close

'The herds are formed by groups of females in harems, dominated by a single stallion. When the large herds come together like this there are hundreds of harems all together.
'When the lions attack the whole herd moves as one but to kill a zebra it is still very difficult for the lions who look three times smaller than their prey.
'Luckily for the foals the herds form a very protective unit with the youngster kept close to its mother and inside the group away from the lions.
'In one picture you can see that a lioness has made a kill of an adult zebra, probably an older or injured animal.'  Away from the drama of thundering hooves and hungry claws and teeth life remains no less eventful among the zebra.
Anup said: 'The stallions will fight each other when an interloper tries to steal another's female, they will kick and bite each other in fearsome contests.

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Stars and stripes: The zebra don't hang about when the lioness closes in for the kill

'If the interloper beats the stallion then he takes control of the harem, but sometimes males will just run away with a lone female.
'In another of my pictures you can see one of the zebras kicking out at another, this is the equivalent of saying don't get too close, this is my space.
'It's sort of like a big group of people really except instead of elbows flying you have a kick which can fracture a man's skull.'
Anup and his brother Manoj Shah's incredible images of the life of African herds can be found in the book 'African Odyssey' by Anup Shah and Manoj Shah.

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In for the kill: The hungry lioness lies beside the zebra she has just hunted down

Leap of faith: Migrating wildebeest make desperate journey across Kenyan river

In a thunderous display these migrating wildebeest spray water and plumes of dust behind them as they desperately leap across a river in one of the planet's greatest mass migrations.  
In a spectacle that might be described as nature's biggest 'leap of faith' the animals - part of a gradual migration of more than a million wildebeest - tried to cross the river Mara in Kenya.
Nervous at the prospect of stumbling into crocodiles hidden under the surface and big cats stalking them from bank-side bushes, the herd produces an awesome explosion of noise and power as it plunges into the unfamiliar watery environment and dashes for the opposite side to safety.

Migrating wildebeest run down the riverbank into the Mara River in The Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya

The thunderous herd run through the river, spraying water and plumes of dust behind them

The amazing event was caught on camera by Czech wildlife photographer Vaclav Silha, 46, who visited the Masai Mara reserve in the hope of getting a once-in-a-lifetime close up of the spectacle.

He said: 'The river is approximately 20 meters wide, but the width itself is not as dramatic as the steep banks of the river, from where the animals jump and injure themselves before reaching the ground in their desperation.

'The huge herds flood into the area very quickly and begin to bottleneck at the areas where they can get to the river.

'It's like a huge mass of adrenaline-fuelled bodies that is always changing. 

'The numbers keep fluctuating and herds relocating along the river and taking their leap of faith at different points.

'The individual herds can contain as many as 10,000 animals and many herds can converge on the river at the same point.

'The whole process is very stressful. It's like the most chaotic traffic jam you have ever seen.

'Even crocodiles back away as the main body of the herd is passing, through fear they will be trampled to death.  

More than a million wildebeest take part in the mass migration

'The crocs wait for the beginning or the end for lonely, injured or young and vulnerable animals.' 

The animals live in a continual cycle of following fresh grass with their movements dictated by the weather.

In January and February the females give birth to as many as 40,000 calves within three weeks.

Immediately able to follow their parents on foot, the youngsters join the endless cycle moving between Tanzania and Kenya - crossing rivers in their path with a safety in numbers approach.

A three-headed creature? No, just a well-taken picture of a trio of giraffes grazing together on Kenya's savannah plains

At first glance this may look like a bizarre mythological creature - but in fact this is in fact an amazing picture of three giraffes stood together.
Photographer Tony Murtagh captured the trio together as they were grazing in the savannah plains of Kenya's Samburu National Reserve.
The long-necked animals, which are about five to six metres tall, popped their heads up in an astonishing symmetrical fashion.

Three heads? Remarkable image of three giraffes grazing together on the the savannah plains of Kenya's Samburu National Reserve which was caught on camera by Brit Tony Murtagh who was on safari

Tony, 63, from Maidenhead, Berkshire, was visiting the African nature reserve during a safari holiday.
He said: 'When I saw the giraffes grouped like that I knew it would prove to be a great shot.
'I wasn't too surprised, because that was how I shot it but I was pleased the image had come out so well.

Just like mum! Cheetah cubs pictured climbing trees at Masai Mara safari camp

Still covered in their baby fluff and balancing on legs that seem too long for their bodies, these young cubs look to be a long way from joining the ranks of adult cheetahs.
But that doesn't stop them wanting to be just like mum.
Spotted outside the Kicheche Camp in Kenya's Masai Mara, the six balls of fledgling fur attempt to follow their mother up an acacia tree as she looks out over the plains.

Keeping up with mum: The baby cheetahs try to follow their mother up the acacia tree

And she has every reason to be watchful. While the cheetah is the fastest mammal on the planet, the initial months of the average cub's existence are fraught with danger. The animal relies on its speed for survival as well as sustenance - and the first few weeks of life, when cubs lack the power that will make them lethal predators once they reach adulthood, are extremely difficult.
Around 90 per cent of cheetahs are killed during this time, their size and diminutive stature leaving them vulnerable to attack from larger African predators, including lions, hyenas and leopards.

Long way up: The more timid cubs attempt to join their siblings at the top of the tree

The species is deemed to be endangered. Estimates suggest some 12,500 cheetahs are alive in the wild, spread across 25 African countries. Namibia has the densest population - the southern African state is believed to be home to around 2500 of the cats.

Still, this sibling sextet does not seem to be doing too badly, as these exclusive photos show - even if the feline art of climbing a tree seems to come easier to some than it does to others.

The view's great from up here: Once balanced in among the branches, the young cheetahs look quite at home

While one youngster makes it halfway up the trunk, finds a crook in a branch - and refuses to give up his hard-won spot - another cuts his losses and springs back to the ground.
Meanwhile, what appears to be the smallest club waits contentedly below the tree, showing no concern about trying to keep up with his adventurous siblings, preferring the view from ground level.

Leap of faith: Lower down the tree, the other cubs are struggling to cling on

Another, meanwhile, makes it all the way to the top of the tree, finding the position furthest removed from potential threat - but also risks the wrath of mum by placing himself right under her feet as she continues her lonely sentry role.
Although the cubs look ungainly here, cheetahs are among the most agile creatures on earth, able to reach speeds of up to 75 miles per hour - faster than the UK speed limit, and any other land animal.
In peak condition, they can accelerate from a standing start to 60 miles per hour in three seconds.

That's enough of that: One of the cubs bails out

Family affair: Is there room for a little one up top?

They are also among the most elusive of the wild big cats - and can be particularly tricky to spot when they are protecting their young. Moreover, they are rarely seen climbing trees.
But lucky guests at the luxury tented Kicheche Camp, on the borders of the Masai Mara Reserve, were treated to this rare display earlier this month, as the cubs took advantage of their mum's rare foray into the branches to have a go at scampering up and down the acacia themselves.

Trunk call: One of the cheetah cubs finds a lofty viewpoint, and digs in

"Cheetahs seldom climb trees, leaving clambering to leopards with their sharper claws," explains Kicheche's Paul Goldstein, who took the images.
"But for youngsters of three months, acacia trees are leisure centres, and these six lost little time in frolicking up and down its trunk.

We preferred it up there, mum: The cubs return to solid ground - but seem to prefer the safety of the branches

"But the mother has a worrying time ahead of her. Bringing up a brood of cheetah cubs is one of the toughest tasks on the plains. And seldom successful.
"This mother had her brood in Tanzania, but as soon as I had a report that she had left the Serengeti and come across the border into the Mara, I immediately headed down there.
"For several days we found them early, and the guests I was guiding were astonished by their antics. As was I. We saw them crossing rivers and clambering over termite mounds - but this was the high point, literally.
"Mother would never normally climb an acacia, but she was very hungry - her concave belly shows that - and she needed an elevated 'view to a kill.'
"Sadly, I think the mum will have to abandon them early, as there are just too many mouths to feed.
"That said - although one should not get attached to animals, it is hard not to. And last week I learned that they were all still alive. Which is frankly astonishing."

Baby giraffe caught on camera: Astonishing safari photographs show the first moments of a new calf's life in Kenya's Masai Mara

Holidaymakers on safari breaks are increasingly used to seeing spectacular sights as expert tour guides take them deep into the heart of the animal kingdom.
But few tourists have been fortunate enough to witness the heart-warming nature show caught on camera in the Masai Mara last week – the first, nervous seconds of a newly born giraffe’s life.

Pleased to meet you: Mum sets about cleaning up her new charge as the baby giraffe looks a little confused at its change of surroundings

Tottering precariously on spindly legs, the baby giraffe was spotted just a few minutes after its birth – so soon that it was still coated in amniotic fluid.
Clearly perplexed by its change of circumstances, the calf struggled to drag itself upright as its mother watched it with anxious eyes. But shortly afterwards, it seemed to have mastered the difficult skill of standing, sheltering between its mum’s hind legs and taking stock of its surroundings.

Baby love: Mum gets to know her calf a little better as the baby still looks a little dazed

The startling images were captured by award-winning photographer Paul Goldstein, who was guiding a safari group for tour company Exodus when he stumbled upon this post-natal drama.
Despite working in the Masai Mara for 12 years, and leading some 3000 game drives in that period, this was the first time he had encountered such a scene.

Don't get up: Baby still isn't sure what to do

"I am lucky enough to guide here [the Masai Mara] a lot,” he explains. “But nothing prepared me for this hour, which left some clients in tears.”

The Masai Mara is Kenya’s best known wildlife zone, a 1530-square-kilometre expanse of grassland, savannah and scrub in the south-west of the east African country.

Hold on world, I'm coming: Baby starts to stumble upwards

It is a particularly fertile region for wildlife-spotting. Although viewed as an independent entity, the Masai Mara is also a continuation of a wider area.
Together with the Serengeti National Park, immediately over the border in neighbouring Tanzania, it is part of a vast expanse of some 25,000 square kilometres, where animals roam relatively undisturbed.

And down I go again: Those first faltering steps end in a crash landing

This plays out most notably in the Great Migration, a phenomenon that sees thousands of gazelle, zebra and wildebeest venture north from the Serengeti in search of fresh pasture every July and August, then make the return journey into Tanzania by the end of October.
However, the Masai Mara is also home to the full quota of the Big Five, the quintet of beasts – buffalo, rhinoceros, elephant, leopard and lion – most in demand with tourists.

I'm staying down here, it's safer: Baby pauses to reconsider this whole standing thing

And the presence of the latter in particular is bad news for baby giraffes. Although lions tend to concentrate on equine prey like the zebra, giraffes are also on their food list. And while adult giraffes, with their long limbs and potent kick, can often be a match for an overconfident big cat, young calves and juvenile giraffes are easier to pick off.
Hyenas are another threat, happy to tackle young giraffes with their agility and powerful jaws.

Very pleased to meet you: A relative pops by to greet the new arrival

In this context, the first weeks of a giraffe’s life are – unsurprisingly – the most precarious, as it battles to come to terms with the perils of existence in a dangerous environment.
Happily for Paul Goldstein and his group of enthusiasts, this particular baby giraffe passed its first tests.

Cracked it: The calf manages to master the standing issue but, wisely, doesn't stray too far from mum's protection

Half a week after this unlikely star said hello to the world in its impromptu photo shoot, the group saw it again – still finding its feet, still visibly unsure of itself, and still – wisely – staying as close to mum as possible. But very much alive.
"The story has a happy ending,” Goldstein countinues. “Three days later, the youngster was gambolling happily next to mum adjacent to the swollen Mara River.”
The ‘Classic Kenya Safari’ from Exodus starts from £1,699 for an 8-day trip including flights and most meals. Forthcoming departures include the 19th, 26th June and 3rd, 17th and 31st July 2010. For more details

I've heard of pink elephants, but this is ridiculous: Amazing images of rare pink hippopotamus captured in Masai Mara

Wading through the muddy waters this rare pink-o-pottamus stands out from the crowd.
British brothers and wildlife photographers Will and Matt Burrard-Lucas captured these images of the brightly coloured hippo in the Masai Mara, Kenya, last week.  
Visiting the African country on the hunt to photograph the legendary wildebeest migration the Londoners were in for a treat when rumours of a pink hippo surfaced.  

Pink to make the boys wink: The rare pink hippopotamus was spotted last week in the Masai Mara in Africa

'Our guide had mentioned that he had heard rumours of this rare hippo from a fellow guide, however, he was not told where it lived and he had never come across it before,' explains 26-year-old Will.
'After a rather uneventful morning, we stopped on the banks of the Mara River for a picnic breakfast.  
'After a while, to our great surprise, we spotted the pink hippo emerge on to the far bank of the river.  
'We dropped everything and reached for our cameras!'  
Racing up to a bank on the river, the brothers positioned themselves a few hundred yards from the young hippo, so not to disturb it.  
'It was a young one as it is much smaller than the other hippos and always stayed close to its mother,' said Will.  
'It was nice to see the other hippos treated it no differently to any other.  
'The pink hippo seemed perfectly happy as it bumbled around on the shore and other than its skin, was no different to any other hippo.
'It was out on the shore for 10 minutes or less. After that we spotted his pink head surface above the water every few minutes as he came up for air.
'It was also very shy and after spotting us it hid behind its mother before disappearing into the water.' 

Pretty in pink: Brothers Will and Matt Burrard-Lucas stumbled across this rare pink hippopotamus in Kenya

Rare: The pink hippo is 'leucistic' - a condition characterised by reduced pigmentation in animals and humans

Excited by their discovery the brothers returned to the UK this week, eager to find out more about the rare hippo.  
Will continued: 'On returning to the UK I have spent a morning researching the condition in order to find out how rare this creature really is and what caused the extraordinary coloration.
'I found just a handful of recorded instances of pink hippos in Uganda but never in the Mara.  
'It turns out the hippo is "leucistic" [a condition characterised by reduced pigmentation in animals and humans], and not an albino since it does have some pigmented spots and dark eyes.
'Usually leucistic and albino animals do not survive in the wild as they are very visible to predators and they get serious sunburn.  
'However, once hippos are large enough they are rarely attacked by predators, and uniquely, their sweat acts as a sunscreen which means a pink hippo can survive perfectly well in the wild!' 
For Will though, the encounter proved how wildlife can continue to surprise and amaze.  

Shy guy: As soon as the hippo notices the brothers snapping away on their cameras, he hides in the water behind his mother

Camera crew: The Burrard-Lucas brothers shown on the other side of the lens for once

'It was very exciting, particularly in Africa, where it seems that every animal has been photographed to death,' he added.
'As we were taking the pictures were not sure if anyone else had already photographed the animal or how rare a pink hippo really is, so it wasn't until we got back to the UK and did some research that we realised how special our pictures really were.
'This was obviously a unique encounter but it never ceases to amaze me how often wildlife surprises us... no matter how much time we spend photographing animals.
'When we are out in the field there is seldom a day that goes by where we don't observe some surprising aspect of behaviour or a unique individual that we have never come across before.  
'Ultimately this is one reason why we find watching and photographing wildlife so fulfilling.'

Sea of pink: Birds of a feather flock together for spectacular annual meeting at the lake dubbed 'Flamingo City

These birds of a feather really do flock together - and while they're at it create a stunning sea of bright pink as far as the eyes can see.
Every year the lakes of Kenya become packed with one of the largest populations of flamingo in the world - leading it to be dubbed 'Flamingo City' by visitors.
The area around the group of lakes turns a stunning shade of shocking pink as millions of flamingos fly in to breed - sparking one of the world's most spectacular displays.

Flamingo City: Every year the lakes of Kenya become packed with one of the largest populations of flamingo in the world

It's so popular with the birds because of the huge amounts of algae which grows due to the shallow depth of the water and the powerful sunlight beaming down upon it.
The breath-taking snaps were captured by keen photographer Steve Garvie, 52, who couldn't believe his eyes as he witnessed the awesome sight.

 

Mr Garvie, from Dunfermline, said: 'I was on a family holiday with my wife and daughter and we decided to revisit Lake Bogoria. We'd been before but wanted to see it in more detail.
'When we arrived it was a truly awesome and jaw-dropping scene. Bogoria was a vivid green soup, with an immense flock of pink-hued flamingos.

Spectacular: A group of lakes turns a stunning shade of shocking pink as millions of flamingos fly in to breed

In the pink: The area is popular for the birds because of the huge amounts of algae which grows due to the shallow depth of the water and the powerful sunlight beaming down upon it

The breath-taking snaps were captured by keen photographer Steve Garvie, 52

'The reserve staff told us that the flock was thought to number between 1.5 and two million as the condition of the lake water was perfect to withstand so many of them.
'The air was tainted with a faintly 'fishy' aroma - there are no fish in Bogoria - while in the background a cackling cacophony was mixed with raucous honking.

In a flap: The birds flying in to 'Flamingo City' where millions gather for a get-together

Touch down: A flamingo joins the flock on the lake by landing on the water nearby

Incredible sight: Flamingos walking on the shore to meet their friends

'But it was the vast expanse of pink on green that demanded our full attention. I have never seen anything like it before and we stood transfixed by such a wonderful sight.
'As I set up my tripod I suddenly realised we were completely alone with two million flamingos, witnessing one of the greatest natural splendours Africa has to offer.