Photo Details: Puff adder (Bitis arietans) lying in the road, Kruger National Park, South Africa.
Camera: Olympus C2100 UZ; Shutter speed: 1/200; Aperture: f2.8; ISO: 100.

Additional Info: The puff adder is a venomous viper that is considered to be Africa's most dangerous snake, not only because it is so common and widespread throughout the continent (except for the Sahara and rain forest regions), but also because of its large size (average length about 1m) potent venom, and willingness to bite.

A sluggish species that relies on camouflage for protection, the puff adder moves primarily in a caterpillar fashion leaving a track in the sand (as in first photo above). However, when agitated it can resort to a typical serpentine movement and travel at surprising speed.

An angry puff adder is capable of striking in all directions at lightning speed, but fortunately it often gives warning of its intentions by hissing noisily. During a strike the force of the impact is so strong and the long fangs penetrate so deeply that small prey can be killed by the physical trauma alone.

Photo Details: Plains or Burchell's Zebra (Equus quagga) hesitates briefly on edge of waterhole, Mkuzi Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Camera: Canon EOS 50E (Elan IIE) film camera; Lens: Canon 80-200 F2.8 Zoom; Film: Fujichrome Provia 100F (RDP III)

Additional Info: This photograph was taken some years ago, before I switched to a digital SLR camera. For me the image works mainly because of the pose - it depicts that brief moment of tension as the zebra braces itself on the edge of the waterhole before bending forward to drink.

All animals are vulnerable when crouching to drink and in this case the zebra is even more so, because the level of water has dropped. Once the zebra has its head down, any potential danger will be out of sight and the animal appears to be hesitating as it weighs up the risks.

Although colors in the African bush can often be quite muted - even dull - here they work well, with the shades of brown, yellow and olive contrasting with the blue of the water, while also allowing the zebra to stand out clearly against the background.

Photo Details: Woodland Kingfisher (Halcyon senegalensis) perches on a branch while scanning the grass below for insects, Kruger National Park, South Africa.
Camera: Canon EOS 400D; Lens: Canon 100-400 IS Zoom; Focal Length: 390mm; Shutter speed: 1/125; Aperture: f5.6; ISO: 400.

Additional Info: These small, attractive birds with their bright blue, white, and black coloring and distinctive red-topped bills are found in drier bushveld and riverine woodland from October to April.

Photo Details: Red Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus) head and shoulder view, Spionkop Nature Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Camera: Canon EOS 400D; Lens: Canon 70-300 IS Zoom; Focal Length: 300mm; Shutter speed: 1/500; Aperture: f8; ISO: 200.

Additional Info: The red hartebeest is a large, hump shouldered antelope, with a shoulder height of about 130cm or 48". It's a rather awkward looking animal and lacks the elegance that one associates with most antelopes, yet is one of the fastest, reaching speeds of up to 60 kmh.

The long, narrow face is topped by heavily ridged horns that appear stubby and V-shaped when viewed straight-on (see picture right), but which actually curve forwards and then sharply back. Both males and females carry horns.

The coat is typically a glossy reddish-brown, while the rump is conspicuously lighter. Red hartebeest are principally grazers found in open grassland and were originally widely distributed before hunting and human habitation took their toll. They have been re-introduced in parts of KwaZulu-Natal, including Spionkop Nature Reserve.