This week at Paula’s Thursday’s Special/Photo 101 the theme is ‘double’. I could have chosen several more striking close-ups of elephants and lions, but this shot is a double-take on double. I like that silhouette in the still pool. Also it is perhaps a more realistic view of how one most often sees wildlife on an East African safari: i.e. it’s usually too far away for a good photo, or else there’s a bush in the way. You can also drive round game parks for many hours and spot absolutely nothing – not even a bird.
This shot was taken from the terrace at the safari lodge in Kenya’s Tsavo East National Park, and such places can offer the best sightings, especially at dawn and sundown. Here you also get a good eyeful of Tsavo’s famously red earth. You can see, too, the web of game trails leading to the pool, and at the very top of the photo, part of the Yatta Plateau. This is a 180 mile long, single finger of lava that runs south east across Kenya from Thika near Nairobi.
Tsavo East is a vast game reserve (4,500 square miles), mostly thorn scrub and much of it closed to visitors due to incursions by Somali bandits and poachers. Its elephant herds, however, are famous, though frequently under threat. For some truly fantastic images of them, accompanied by expert commentary please fly over to wildlife filmmaker, Mark Deeble’s blog. You will not be disappointed.
Tish Farrell 
The elephant is my favourite wild animal (also said to bear good luck); while the donkey is my favourite domestic one. I couldn’t be happier with an other entry for the double challenge 🙂 Tish, this perfectly still reflection and reddish tone in endless breathtaking landscape (red earth) has made my Thursday on WordPress. Thank you so much.
I love this photograph….it’s a work of art. Thank you – I will check out Mark Deeble’s blog. Janet:)
That is such a big compliment, Janet. Thank you.
Excellent shot, most elephant shots are closeups I rea;;y like the waterhole it adds depth to the pic..:-)
Ho ho. Like your ‘depth’, Ed. Thanks, for your comment.
I agree with you Tish, sometimes the drive in the parks can be frustrating, not a sound except maybe the tour van.
Yes, it rather teaches one patience. On the other hand, it can be very hard on the spine and other parts, bumping over tracks. G once drove across Tsavo West, taking the late afternoon scenic route from some business destination along the Mombasa highway. He arrived home saying all he’d seen was a xxxxxxx tortoise.
That is a wonderful photo.
Thank you, Joan. I was a little bit doubtful about posting it, wondering if it would ‘work’ on line, there being so much emptiness. But then that’s the part that characterizes so much of Africa as you know – an awful lot of bush!
And big skies!
Oh yes!
A sense of peace and tranquillity pervades, Red from the elephants skin, the morning sun rising and laterite red soil bringing warmth. Stillness from the water and the reflection, green indicating fertility and the pleasing nowhere is the hand of man. (only a few metres anyway) Goreous
You captured the scene too, Tony 🙂
Spectacular image, Tish. Love the elephants in the foreground but also the long perspective into the valley.
It’s truly a double take on double! I love that one can see the trails leading to the water. And you’re right about how we often see wildlife, a little tail of a leopard moving behind a bush…in the distance.
A marvelous capture Tish! Love that you haven’t cropped out the great open plains beyond.
Tish, this is a photo that makes my heart full. I love the space you have and it all just works wonderfully together.
janet
That’s great to hear, Janet. Thank you. 🙂
Two boys and a watering hole, Tish. Who can want for more? 🙂
a very unusual, unforgettable composition, Tish!
Thanks, Frizz.