Dyker are one of the smallest antelope found in Africa and they usually are quite skittish.

But not this male. He seemed to have an eye infection and found it safer to hide under the hive.

No predators will sneak up from behind.

I parked Zimba in the ‘shade’ not far from the hive. I just saw my first elephant parade at the other hive and wanted to explore the northern region of the Majete Shire. It’s significantly dryer here, as more baobab line the scrubs.

I noticed this lone elephant bull picking fresh twigs from nearby bushes.

He just had a mud shower and his skin markings revealed on his thick skin.

He wasn’t bothered that I hid behind the baobab tree with my camera in hand.

It was still partly cloudy and dimmed by the harsh midday sunlight.

What the elephant is in the animal world is the baobab in the plant world.

I find both fascinating and taking a photo of them together is always an aim. With my telelens on, I had to move backward to capture them together.

Only to find this owl in the trees above. The monkeys returned for some more monkey business as usual.

Two baboons were drinking while the guard looked out for danger. Safety in numbers.

I headed further north along the river for a different view over the river and found a pair of eagles high above. They had just captured a small mammal for afternoon tea.

It appeared that the cooler temperatures kept most animals away from the Shire River, which is the biggest and most constant flowing water supply in Malawi.

Where there is water there are humans.

A small herd of zebras just came from the river’s edge and fled into the thicket. The herds are in smaller numbers and more careful here at Majete Wildlife Reserve.

A hippo mother had a sentimental moment with her young one, keeping a good eye out for me. Animal mothers will do almost anything to save their offspring. And if you weigh a ton, then there is not much holding you back. I never experienced a bad-tempered hippo, thank dog, but heard enough stories about rampant hippos.

I followed the loop road away from the river and just as I turned around the corner, I surprised an elephant herd, which surprised me just as well.

A trumpet call warned me and the other elephants. ‘Don’t trust this zebra!’ it sounded like.

I turned the engine off and watched the elephants around me at this intersection. The matriarch showed her young one, which is the juiciest part of this particular scrub.

It all looks a bit dry to me but what do I know?

The wee one was happy as he crossed right in front of me.

To save time and energy (just a guess) elephants poo and wee at the same time? I just love watching elephants herding around.

The interactions with one another, always touching and feeling each other. Moving quietly and gracefully from bush to tree.

They won’t have anyone to fear here at Majete Wildlife Reserve. Now that the elephant drought has been broken, they appear in front of my lens left, right, and center.

So did this giraffe, which is the first for this time as well. Shining brightly in the afternoon sun, this young bull still needs to grow to mix with the tall boys.

A large Kudu bull froze in front often of my lens in perfect lighting on my way back to camp.

It’s been an elephantastic day today, hooray. Tomorrow, I will explore the inland trax and see what I can gather.

A few more campers arrived this afternoon at the camp, it’s a lively crowd this evening.