Zebra's drink from Newbrownii waterhole

Zebra’s keep an eye open for danger as they drink from the Newbrownii Waterhole just outside the Okaukuejo Camp in Etosha National Park on Sept. 30, 2012.

Woke up early to be first out of the gate - grabbed food and waited for gate to open at sunrise. What a magnificent sunrise, not use to see sunrises living in the city.

Headed to the Odondeka Waterhole. Got there early, but there was no sign of lions. Backed up truck to take a look at something and got stuck off the side of the road on a drainage pipe. I managed to get out, by turning wheel and sticking the truck into 4-wheel drive.

Waited for hours at Odondeka, drove around to several other waterholes, Adamax, Leeubron and Natco. Nothing much there, mostly dried up. Headed back to Odondeka as the temperatures began to rise to 38 celsius (100.4 fahrenheit) by 1:00 PM. Suddenly out of no where, animals looked for relief.

Herds of antelope, wilderbeast, giraffes and zebras crossed from higher plains to the Odondeka waterhole. It looked like Noah's Ark may being loaded. Spent hours watching, lots of photos. Some people made it difficult by blocking animals in the paths from the bush across the road.

Despite just sitting in a car for hours just photographing, I was beat. Back to lodge for lunch and to cool off. After a few hours, headed back out to hit a few different waterholes.

Newbrownii was filled with activity. Antelopes, elephants, ostriches and zebras. Then headed to Olifantsbad. A long ass drive and there were three male lions.

We sat there for a few hours waiting as the drama builded up as antelope, warthogs and zebras attempted to get close to drink from hole. The three young lions who were on there own were not skilled hunters as of yet, never getting close enough to make a kill or a scratch.

We ran out of time and light and had to head back to Okaukuejo camp before we were locked out at sundown.

Etosha National Park

Waterholes visited on day two in Etosha National Park.

Photos taken Sept. 30, 2012 using a Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Digital SLR with a EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Standard Zoom Lens, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens, a Sigma Telephoto 500mm f/4.5 EX DG APO HSM Autofocus Lens for Canon EOS with/without a 1.4x DG EX APO Teleconverter.