Zimbabwe Archives - Ferrara Wildlife Photography

African Elephant – How Silently It Treads

How Silently It Treads A giant ambles the quiet recesses of the wild It’s uncanny how silently it treads Vacant is the view one moment, then magically and mysteriously the behemoth materializes Through the course of its passage there’s not a whisper from the broom In the blink of an eye there’s a hushed departure —- It is incredibly stunning how the largest living land mammal is so adept at moving noiselessly through the environment. ~ Anecdote and African Elephant capture, How Silently It Treads © Jerry L. Ferrara

Vicious Lies His orbs seem kindbut I’ll remindSuch feline eyestell vicious liesThose well-set jawsshould give one pauseHis lips conceala treach’rous dealBecause beneathare rending teethAnd when eyes flareteeth rip and tearSo bewarethat gentle stareFor if you erryou might not fare ~ Poem and African Lion capture, Vicious Lies © Jerry L. Ferrara, Zimbabwe, Africa

The River Horse Oft it’s called the ‘river horse’…misnomers do aboundThe Hippopotamus is, of course,sometimes in rivers foundBut naming it a horse in factis but a fallacyFor the hippos’ genetic trackis not equine, you seeIts closest kin does seem to hailfrom the briny seaAnd thus it is the mighty whaleits nearest lineage be ~ Poem and Hippopotamus capture, The River Horse © Jerry L. Ferrara from the Zambezi River, Zimbabwe

Sunsets – Transitory Views

Transitory Views Three transitory sunset views of our closest star. © Jerry L. Ferrara

Allogroom You are a member of my prideAnd so in you I will confideTo stay in ‘touch’ and allogroomA strategy that seems a boonIt keeps us close and healthy, tooPromotes less stress, good vibes ensueAnd with this comes cohesivenessSo for the moment, there’s less stress ~ Poem and African Lions capture, Allogroom © Jerry L. Ferrara

The Bounding Bovid Excelling at the art of leaping, an Impala buck gracefully bolts skyward. In my copy of Richard D. Estes’ The Safari Companion, the author tells of how the elegant antelope is capable of vaulting heights ten feet high and up to thirty-six feet in length. The Impala’s athletic prowess is a definite asset in the bounding bovids’ “survival kit” for eluding predators. ~ Anecdote and Impala capture, The Bounding Bovid © Jerry L. Ferrara

The Tension was Taut During our recent trip to Africa, we found ourselves on a morning ‘walking safari’, trekking through a Zimbabwean woodland. As our path approached an open space in the sylvan landscape, a lioness resting in the forest’s cooling shade suddenly stood up and began moving almost parallel to our course. That, needless to say, was exciting even though she gave us no heed! When the she-cat inadvertently ambled into and surprised a small band of Impala, it looked as though ‘all hell’ was about to break loose. The tension was taut but ephemeral. Instead of creating mayhem, the lioness simply sauntered by the wary antelope. ~ Anecdote and African Lion, Impala capture, The Tension was Taut © Jerry L. Ferrara

Eventide When the day’s end is doneit’s farewell to the sunAnd the brief eventidewill cast light far aside ~ Poem and African Elephant capture, Eventide © Jerry L. Ferrara, from the remote Zambezi River, Zimbabwe, Africa

Furtively, a Nile Crocodile rises to the water’s surface: A Nile Crocodile A Nile Crocodilewaits in covert styleThe purpose of its dressmight lead to some distressSo those who’re unawareshould practice to bewareFor in the serene statea deadly force awaits ~ Poem and Nile Crocodile capture, A Nile Crocodile © Jerry L. Ferrara

Painted Wolves – Painted Wolves

Like ghosts they drift across the ‘scapewithout apparent formBut from them telltale signs remainthe purpose to informAt latrines is where the choreof messaging is framedFor in the waste are missives sentassertions are proclaimed ~ Poem and Painted Wolf captures, Painted Wolves © Jerry L. Ferrara from Zimbabwe, Africa

Zimbabwe

African Elephant – How Silently It Treads

African Lion – Vicious Lies

Hippopotamus – The River Horse

Sunsets – Transitory Views

African Lions – Allogroom

Impala – The Bounding Bovid

African Lion, Impala – The Tension was Taut

African Elephant – Eventide

Nile Crocodile – A Nile Crocodile

Painted Wolves – Painted Wolves

Ferrara Wildlife Photography