UNEXPECTED ZEBRAS

The pounding hooves of this herd of zebras could be heard from a long distance as we enjoyed the sunset in Namibia.

As they raced past us, we looked for predators. None were visible but the zebra were in a tearing hurry, anyway. What were they running from? I've no idea. Where were they headed? I haven't a clue.

It was a magnificent sight as they thundered past at full throttle. The vibration from the ground travelled up my body, and the clouds of dust played havoc with my nice clean lens fronts. But it was one of those unexpected moments that will stay with me forever.

You get a lot of them in Africa.

ZEBRAS FIGHTING

I can never make up my mind about zebras. On the one hand they are the brightly striped horses of the plains, beloved of small children and effortlessly iconic in their barcode livery. On the other, they're stubborn, bad tempered beasts with a vicious bite, an iron hoofed kick and an antisocial tendency to break wind whenever they feel threatened.  Which is often. Either way, as soon as you see a zebra, you know you're in Africa. And that, on balance, is usually a good thing.

MIGRATION

Every year in the Maasai Mara in Kenya, one of nature's most famous migrations takes place. Thousands of tourists make the arduous journey to the Mara river to watch a lot wildebeest crossing, in the hope that they might see one being eaten by the Nile crocodiles that gather in anticipation.

The crocs (and the tourists) hang around looking for stragglers and animals isolated by the strength of the fast flowing river. The zebra shown below escaped his attacker, turned in the water and reached the safety of the bank, but suffered a large chunk chewed from its rump.

It is unlikely to have survived the night, though. Even if the wound and attendant flies did not prove fatal (and zebra are remarkably quick to heal) it would probably be too weak to cross the river, and the scent of blood would attract all manner of predators.