Africa meets the Bedfordshire countryside

[Ann1e]

We had a surprise visit this weekend from our son and grandchildren who stayed while our daughter in law was called in to work. We were fortunate that the weather between hefty April showers remained sunny for the whole of this morning and as we live just nine miles from Whipsnade Zoo (ZSL), that is where we spent some of our time.

Here is a selection of pix of some of the 'inmates' -

No visit is complete without catching sight of the king!

1.



2.



OK, they are not good images - they were taken through glass but I do like the effect of the lion standing proudly on the hilltop surrounded by landscape we know well.

Another must - the chimpanzees -

3.



We have been visiting the zoo for many years, first with our own children and now our grandchildren but in all our visits, we have never seen the brown bears in the open, they have always been hidden from view -

4.



Did these two really think we had come to see them?

5.



The penguins seemed happy enough - probably enjoying the recent rains!

6.



Conversely, these cheetahs seem to be enjoying a morning in the sun!

7.



Finally, a mara - there were a large number of these animals wandering around - they are larger relatives of the guinea pig -

8.



I normally like to photograph animals in their natural environment but it would have taken a lot longer than a morning to get this lot in the bag, so apologies for taking the easy option!

All taken with the E-30 (now back home, I'm glad to say) and 70-300mm lens.

Regards,
Ann1e

[LMGruchy]

Re: Africa meets the Bedfordshire countryside

How on earth did you get that perspective? I thoght you were supposed to stay in the vehicle with the windows done up?

The only time I've been to Woburn was when I was a child (so very long ago). The baboons jumpoed on the car and peed on the windscreen which we kids thought was hysterically funny

[Guest]

Re: Africa meets the Bedfordshire countryside

Hi Annie, I know what you mean when you say that you like photographing wild;life in their natural habitats ... I felt the same when visiting a zoo in Taz, where shooting big cats through glass was the only option unless you want to do interior shots !

[Zuiko]

Re: Africa meets the Bedfordshire countryside

Nice set, Ann1e, despite the constraints of shooting through glass.

[Barr1e]

Re: Africa meets the Bedfordshire countryside

Your granddaughter loves lions, I think the stage version and now the film has set her heart on wildlife.
She now wants to follow her dad with a camera, not bad for a young lady of six. If it's an Olympus you could get her to sign up as a member, after all she knows more about computers than me.

Back to your set - #'s 1, 6 and 7 for me with the remainder very close behind.

Regards. Barr1e

[Ann1e]

Re: Africa meets the Bedfordshire countryside

How on earth did you get that perspective? I thoght you were supposed to stay in the vehicle with the windows done up?

The only time I've been to Woburn was when I was a child (so very long ago). The baboons jumpoed on the car and peed on the windscreen which we kids thought was hysterically funny

Hello Linda - thanks for looking in.

This was Whipsnade, rather than Woburn, although the two are quite close. You're right, at Woburn, you drive through open areas where the lions roam and you certainly stay in your car and generally have to keep moving. At Whipsnade, the lions, although they have a good area in which to roam, are well segregated from the pedestrian spectators and, as I mentioned, I took this through a glass viewing area!

Regards.
Ann1e

[Ann1e]

Re: Africa meets the Bedfordshire countryside

Thank you Mark, John and Barr1e for looking in and for your comments.

Regards,
Ann1e

[LMGruchy]

Re: Africa meets the Bedfordshire countryside

Gosh, I didn't read your post properly, sorry Ann1e.

[Cathrine Stephansen]

Re: Africa meets the Bedfordshire countryside

How on earth did you get that perspective? I thoght you were supposed to stay in the vehicle with the windows done up?

The only time I've been to Woburn was when I was a child (so very long ago). The baboons jumpoed on the car and peed on the windscreen which we kids thought was hysterically funny

I remember that! We went to Windsor safari park when I was a kid and the car was literally attacked by the baboons. After the compulsory peeing down the windscreen and into the air-inlet for the fans () they finished off by bending a window wiper...

Or at least I think it was Windsor???

[Ann1e]

Re: Africa meets the Bedfordshire countryside

Gosh, I didn't read your post properly, sorry Ann1e.

Not to worry Linda - it's confusing with all the 'Ws' - Whipsnade, Woburn and Windsor!

Regards,
Ann1e

[Ann1e]

Re: Africa meets the Bedfordshire countryside

I remember that! We went to Windsor safari park when I was a kid and the car was literally attacked by the baboons. After the compulsory peeing down the windscreen and into the air-inlet for the fans () they finished off by bending a window wiper...

Or at least I think it was Windsor???

It probably was Windsor - the Safari Park was opened in 1969 and continued until it went into receivership in 1992. It was bought by Lego but the 'safari' part of the organisation was not continued although the Legoland complex flourishes.

Regards,
Ann1e

[Wee man]

Re: Africa meets the Bedfordshire countryside

Great shots could have been in the wild I really like to two exotic ones in No. 5!

[Chevvyf1]

Re: Africa meets the Bedfordshire countryside

Ann1e, FAB set of shots the two Lion King shots I LURVE they are the BEST !