The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is the heart of the old city of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The cathedral was built between 1869 and 1886 on the site of an older adobe church built from 1714-1717. Unlike most of the surrounding buildings, the cathedral was built in the Romanesque style.
This female leopard was relaxing in a tree in Kenya, most likely after a night of hunting and before heading off to bed. They seem to enjoy this position of being draped over a large tree limb. We first spotted this female leopard walking on the ground. A couple of other groups left when she appeared to disappear into the rocks. But our guide saw her in the tree. We waited a few minutes to make sure everyone else was gone, so we got to spend several minutes alone with her before she headed off to sleep.
Meet Daisy, an endangered Rothschild giraffe at the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. She is one of the resident giraffes that will gently use her long, sticky tongue to take a giraffe pellet from the lips of anybody willing to 'kiss' a giraffe. (Don't worry, giraffe saliva is antiseptic).
I have visited the center three times, and it's always a thrill. If you're ever in Nairobi, check it out, and say hello to Daisy for me.
This handsome male lion was part of a large pride in the Borana region of Kenya. There were three adult male lions in the group, along with several females. We followed them at a safe distance for close to an hour, until it was too dark. The males walked within a few feet of our vehicle, paying us no attention aside from once brief sideways glance from one of the males.
These animals, both male and female, exude such power and confidence. It is magical to be in their presence.
