Camera: Nikon Z9

Lens: Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 +2x TC

Aperture: f/6.3

Shutter speed: 1/1000

ISO: 500

Description: Hippo enjoying the cool waters of the Talek

Story from behind the lens: In the Maasai Mara Reserve in Kenya, there is a place where the Talek and Olare Orok rivers converge. Surrounding it is a dense forest, where in the early morning, you can hear the calls of leopards. Herds of impalas graze in the grasslands, and the timid dik-dik antelopes keep a watchful eye on any movement, avoiding staying in one place for too long. Right there, a little after the two rivers merge into one, there is a huge whirlpool filled with hippos. The banks on both sides of the river are marked by trails used by animals for grazing. In the lower part of the whirlpool, when the water is low enough, the rocky bottom of the river is exposed. And there, if you are bold enough and the presence of the large animals doesn't concern you, you can lie on the rocks by the water and enjoy the fountains of the river horse.