Chendur Photography

Chendur Photography Wildlife and travel photographer exploring stories from nature, with a focus on birds and life around rivers and forests. Living in Hyderabad now.

Sharing moments from Africa, India, and beyond.

At first, the crater looked quiet. Then the flamingos started putting on a show.We reached Ngorongoro Crater early in th...
06/06/2026

At first, the crater looked quiet. Then the flamingos started putting on a show.

We reached Ngorongoro Crater early in the morning and came across a group of Greater Flamingos in the shallow water. We decided to sit there for a while and just observe them.

They were constantly active. Some had their heads deep in the water, filtering for food. Some were walking slowly through the shallows. A few suddenly took off, showing those long pink legs and wings against the crater backdrop.

Flamingos feed by filtering tiny organisms, algae, and small crustaceans from the water using their specially shaped bills. Ngorongoro’s soda lakes are a good place to see them, especially when the water levels and food conditions are right.

Sometimes the best safari moments are not about big cats or dramatic chases. It is just about sitting still and watching life unfold in front of you.

A big male lion can look completely different in every second.Early morning in Ngorongoro Crater, we found this large ma...
05/06/2026

A big male lion can look completely different in every second.

Early morning in Ngorongoro Crater, we found this large male lion walking across the open grassland. A couple of lionesses were following him, and he kept stopping, looking around, yawning, and changing expressions as he moved.

At times he looked alert. At times he looked tired. Sometimes he looked like he was simply not bothered by anything around him.

Ngorongoro Crater is one of the best places in Tanzania to see lions. It was formed when a huge volcano collapsed millions of years ago. Today, the crater floor has grasslands, water, forests, and plenty of prey, which makes it a strong habitat for predators like lions.

Male lions usually spend a lot of energy protecting territory and staying close to females in the pride. That is why even a simple walk can feel interesting to watch. Every look says something.

This early morning sighting was all about his expressions.

The first clue came during the night. From our lodge in the Greater Kruger area, we could hear hyenas calling in the dar...
03/06/2026

The first clue came during the night. From our lodge in the Greater Kruger area, we could hear hyenas calling in the darkness. Their whoops echoed across the bush, making us wonder how close they really were.

The next morning, only a few minutes into our safari drive, we found the answer. A hyena family resting near the lodge, with a male, a female, and several cubs. The cubs were feeding from their mother and seemed far more curious about our vehicle than concerned by it. They watched us closely, occasionally moving around their mother, while both adults remained alert. The male was particularly cautious, and the pair kept a careful eye on us throughout the encounter.

Spotted hyenas are often portrayed as scavengers, but they are highly intelligent predators with complex social structures. Seeing the cubs nursing and the adults quietly protecting them offered a very different perspective on these remarkable animals.

One of those special safari moments where the story began with sounds in the night and ended with a family gathering in the morning light.

When people think of lions, they imagine nonstop action. But on safari, you quickly learn a different reality.We found a...
27/05/2026

When people think of lions, they imagine nonstop action. But on safari, you quickly learn a different reality.

We found a group of lions relaxing in the grassy plains of Sabi Sands, completely at ease. Lions can spend up to 20 hours a day resting, conserving energy for when it matters most. No drama, no movement, just a pride enjoying a quiet moment in the African bush.

Sometimes the peaceful sightings stay with you as much as the action.

At first glance, it looked like a simple birds-in-flight moment in Sabi Sands. A split second later, it became clear tha...
22/05/2026

At first glance, it looked like a simple birds-in-flight moment in Sabi Sands. A split second later, it became clear that this was pure drama unfolding in front of us.

These Egyptian Geese exploded into action with wings spread wide and tempers clearly running high. Despite their name, they are actually more closely related to shelducks than true geese, and they have a reputation for being among the most territorial water birds in Africa. During breeding season they aggressively defend mates, nesting areas, and even chase much larger animals away.

What surprised me most was the speed of it all. One second the grassland was quiet, and the next there was movement everywhere. Wildlife photography often comes down to moments like this. You wait for hours, and then nature gives you a fraction of a second to react.

Sabi Sands is famous for leopards and big mammals, but sometimes the smaller stories turn out to be just as memorable.

Look closely and it almost feels like nature lined this shot up on purpose.This waterbuck sighting in Sabi Sands created...
20/05/2026

Look closely and it almost feels like nature lined this shot up on purpose.

This waterbuck sighting in Sabi Sands created one of those unexpected photography moments. With another animal perfectly framed in the background, the curved horns almost seem to merge into a single scene. Sometimes wildlife photography is less about action and more about patience, timing, and a bit of luck.

Waterbucks are among Africa’s largest antelope species and are usually found close to water sources. Males are easy to identify by their impressive ringed horns that can grow over 90 cm long. Despite their size, they often stay surprisingly calm and simply observe the world around them.

Moments like these are easy to miss on safari, but they often become favorite memories later.

Sometimes a black and white photo changes the entire mood of a wildlife sighting.This was the same leopard we had seen e...
09/05/2026

Sometimes a black and white photo changes the entire mood of a wildlife sighting.

This was the same leopard we had seen earlier in color, but in monochrome the scene felt completely different. The leopard was walking through the bush in Sabi Sands with that calm, deliberate movement that big cats are known for. Without the colors of the African bush, the focus shifted entirely to the texture, muscles, shadows, and those unmistakable rosette patterns.

Sabi Sands continues to be one of the few places where you can spend meaningful time simply observing natural leopard behavior in the wild. We were staying at Nkorho Bush Lodge, and sightings like this are a reminder of how special this part of the Greater Kruger ecosystem is. Leopards here are comfortable around safari vehicles, which allows for incredible opportunities to simply observe their natural behavior.

There is a different kind of excitement in Sabi Sands when the light starts fading!It was during the later part of our e...
06/05/2026

There is a different kind of excitement in Sabi Sands when the light starts fading!

It was during the later part of our evening safari when I noticed something move high up in the trees. I immediately pointed it out to our guide, and within seconds we realized what it was. A large leopard, sitting calmly on a tree branch, completely still and just observing everything around it.

That is what makes leopards so fascinating. Even a big male can disappear into the landscape within seconds, and many sightings begin with just the smallest movement catching your eye.

For a few minutes, the leopard simply watched the bush below from its elevated position before melting back into the darkness of Sabi Sands.

A little later, the lioness came out from the bushes with her cubs in Sabi Sands after the rain. She stayed cautious and...
02/05/2026

A little later, the lioness came out from the bushes with her cubs in Sabi Sands after the rain. She stayed cautious and alert, while the cubs quickly switched to playing around her.

It was a nice follow-up to the earlier sighting because now the full picture was clear. She had likely just fed the cubs and was carefully bringing them out through the cover of the bushes. The cubs looked relaxed and playful, but the lioness remained watchful the whole time.

That contrast is always interesting to see. The cubs were full of energy and curiosity, while the mother was focused on safety and aware of everything around her.

After some rain, we were driving through Sabi Sands when we noticed a lioness moving cautiously in the dense bushes. She...
01/05/2026

After some rain, we were driving through Sabi Sands when we noticed a lioness moving cautiously in the dense bushes. She was alert and clearly focused on something, which made us stop and watch carefully.A few moments later, the reason became clear. Her cubs started coming out from the bushes one by one.

It was a special sighting because at first all you could see was the lioness, calm but watchful, and then suddenly the whole scene changed. The cubs brought a completely different energy, curious and full of life, while the lioness stayed protective and aware of everything around her.

Sightings like this are a good reminder that in the bush, patience matters. What looks like a quiet moment can change very quickly.

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Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Bushbuckridge

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