africa – Roumazeilles.net

Black buffalos in the night

Yves Roumazeilles — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 17:59:24 +0000

I had recently the opportunity to shoot pictures from the Zimanga Reserve overnight hides. There I could meet (face to face, really!) some of the largest herbivores of the African savannah: Water buffalos.

I collected some of these in a portfolio at Wild Focus: Buffles noirs dans la nuit.

Wild dogs

Yves Roumazeilles — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 19:22:21 +0000

Is it a wild dog? Is it a painted dog? French-speaking people describe it as “a kind of wolf” (lycaon, from ancient Greek λυκάων (lukáōn)). But it should be mostly described as a social dog. They live in large groups, with a strong social hierarchy, but they always share food like nearly no other large social predator (like lion or wolf). Wild dogs will always eat together (and very fast), with no hierarchical “pecking order”, but a shared spirit, which drives them to even always bring back food to the group members left behind (young pups, old guys, wounded dogs).

They always hunt in a group, long-distance running, physically exhausting the targeted prey. The antelope they hunt has very, very little chance of getting a free pass. Their success rate is just plain spectacular.

Zambia, July 2017.

Vulturine guineafowl

Yves Roumazeilles — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 14:24:56 +0000

Sure! We do know the guineafowl of our European countries. Looking a bit weird, sounding a bit weird, but common. What about a wilder, weirder beast?

A few savannah elephants

Yves Roumazeilles — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 07:24:26 +0000

Africa’s symbol, the savannah elephant, is always impressive. Meeting it gives you a personal experience of power, calm, and being out of time.

But where is their future? Will we be able to protect them? They live as long as we do, they communicate in ways that we only start to recognize (not even understand yet,) and we are still to cull, kill and eradicate them, really?

Indigen – Animation short movie

Yves Roumazeilles — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 21:13:00 +0000

Man against Nature. Wildlife in Africa.

YouTube link

African Harrier Hawk (Gymnogene)

Yves Roumazeilles — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:52:29 +0000

This medium-sized eagle was a great discovery for me in Botswana. The African Harrier Hawk (Gymnogene) hunts for insects and small animals in dead trees and rocks. It’s very mobile and devilishly active.

Gymnogène d'Afrique - African Harrier-Hawk	Gymnogène d'Afrique - African Harrier-Hawk

Gymnogène d'Afrique - African Harrier-Hawk	Gymnogène d'Afrique - African Harrier-Hawk
Gymnogène d'Afrique - African Harrier-Hawk	Gymnogène d'Afrique - African Harrier-Hawk

African harrier Hawk (or Gymnogene) (Polyboroides typus), Gymnogène d’Afrique.
Moremi National Park, Botswana, May 2010.

Drunk in the jungle

Yves Roumazeilles — Fri, 28 May 2010 19:47:10 +0000

Did you know it? Marula is a kind of fig quite common in Sub-saharian Africa that is (too) much appreciated by elephants and many other animals. But when it get old and ripe, it starts fermenting quickly. Then, this worthless fruit should receive the warning label like “Drink responsibly” or “Don’t drink and drive”.

YouTube link

I love the sound of the commentary. This is so seventies.