On our first day in Botswana (Chobe National Park), we were amazed by a glorious setting sun.

A protective mother lion gently restrains her ever curious cubs (Botsana -Savuti region).

The message this big male expressed was an easy read: move along.

A young baboon is held safely by its mother in Zambia, not far from Victoria Falls.

In the Moremi region of Botswana, two young male giraffes are "necking."

The variety of fauna in Costa Rica is renown especially in Tortuguero National Park where this Spider Monkey and Vine Snake were photographed. 

Warthogs in the Savuti region of Botswana battle for dominance.

This dominant male elephants emphatic arrival at the waterhole sends a clear message to the pride: times up.

A male Emerald Basilisk Lizard in Tortuguero National Park. 

A Galapagos Tortoise seems to enjoy the mud next to a pond at El Chato Tortoise Reserve, Santa Cruz Island. This area provides views of the famous tortoises in their natural habitat.

This young Galapagos Sea Lion strikes a pose in the surf of Gardner Bay (Espanola Island).

A mother and calf aren't far behind the other elephants of their group in one of the drier areas of the Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana.

A trio of Plains or Common Zebras graze in a drier area of the Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana. 

In the dry season, sources of water such as this permanent water hole are perfect for viewing all sorts of animals, including this lion. 

The Canari people were one of several indigenous tribes who inhabited the territory of the modern country of Ecuador for several centuries before the arrival of the Inca Empire and the Spanish colonial forces.

A Canari Indian woman flashes a warm smile while wearing a traditional plain felt hat.

A Canari schoolgirl enjoys the gift of a Polaroid photo.

Two male elephants gently tussle at a Savuti waterhole.

A calf is restrained by its mother along the Chobe waterfront.

One of a trio of brothers we spotted on our last day in the Moremi Wildlife Reserve.

A beautiful Common Zebra grazes in the Moremi Game Reserve.

Early in the morning, Savuti lions were still gorging on a young elephant killed during the night.

Five generations of the Ortega family have been dedicated to making straw hats, especially the Panama Hat. At the factory in Cuenca, Ecuador, visitors can see the process of hat manufacturing. 

The Basilica del Voto Nacional is a Roman Catholic church located in the historic center of Quito, Ecuador. It is the largest neo-Gothic basilica in the New World. Visible in the far distance is El Panecillo.

One of the male Savuti lions rests at dawn after killing a young elephant.

A Lilac-breasted Roller lands on a favorite perch after snatching an insect from the air (Chobe National Park, Botswana).

An African Fish Eagle suddenly emerges from the reeds along a water channel in the Okavango Delta.

Carmine Bee-eaters perched in the reeds in the Okavango Delta.

Two juvenile Galapagos Sea Lions playing (North Seymour Island).

A Nile Monitor lizard clings to reeds along a water channel in the Okavango Delta, Botswana.

A Green Basilisk lizard scrambles up a branch over a pond in Tortugeuro National Park, Costa Rica. This lizard is also known as the Jesus, or Jesus Christ lizard for its ability to run on the surface of water.

A calf is protected by its mother along the Chobe riverfront (Botswana).

On a night safari, this leopard was found by our guide and illuminated with a spotlight (Khwai region Moremi Wildlife Reserve, Botswana). A moment later, the cat slipped away into the darkness.

A Marine Iguana lifts its head momentarily near Puerto Egas on the island of Santiago.

Male (left) and female Blue-footed Boobies bonding on No. Seymour. These long-winged seabirds are found from the Gulf of California down along the western coasts of Central and South America but half of all breeding pairs nest on the Galapagos Islands.

A Great Frigatebird, in flight over No. Seymour Island (Galapagos Islands) displaying his inflated red gular sac. 

A shopkeeper in the daily market in Plaza Civica, Cuenca. Cuenca is the third largest city in Ecuador and was founded in 1557. 

A happy Canari school girl.

The canal on Egelantiersgracht in the Jordan District of Amsterdam.

Millions of tourists visit Germany to see Schloss Neuschwanstein in Hohenschwangau, Germany. This Romanesque palace was commissioned by the eccentric Ludwig II of Bavaria in 1869. 

A Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill forages on the ground in the Khwai area. And a second Hornbill takes a strategic perch.

Two views of the Romanesque Revival New Cathedral (Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepcion) located on the Parque Calderon in the historical center of Cuenca, Ecuador. The prominent domes (3) are considered a symbol of the city.