Kongo got up close and personal with more than 10,000 butterflies at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park when he visited the Butterfly Jungle yesterday. They flit, flutter, float, flop, and fly about landing on everything including Kongo’s camera, his backpack, and even on his head! Above a Postman butterfly rests before looking for more nectar.
Above a group of Zebra Long Wings flit about a bit of Egyptian Starflower looking for a place to land.
Above is an Orange Julia.
More Postman butterflies look for nectar on Lantana and Egyptian Starflowers.
Another Zebra Longwing feasts on a carpet of Giant Snowflake flowers.
A Paper Kite butterfly.
A Mimic Eggfly goes after a Pincushion flower.
This is a Great Orange Tip butterfly.
Zebra Longwings.
The Butterfly Jungle is open until April 27. Between the hours of 10 AM and 2:45 you need a time ticket. But the tickets are free and it regulates the traffic in the Jungle so you can take the time to get your shots. You also have to get inspected twice before you are allowed to leave to make sure there aren’t any butterfly hitchhikers on you.
This is a very, very cool exhibit and fun for everyone. Kongo didn’t know that there were so many species of butterflies.
If you are in San Diego or plan to visit in the next week, you should add this to your list of things to see. Learn more about the Butterfly Jungle here.
Love your photos! Makes me wish I was near San Diego. Thanks for sharing them with us.
Thanks you!
wow! beautiful shots Kongo, especially that first one. I know from experience that photographing butterflies can be tricky. May I ask what type of lens you used for these wonderful shots? Your close-up detail is amazing!!!
Thanks, Steve. These were all shot with a Canon 70-200 f/4 lens at 200mm. Each shot was about 4-5 feet away from the butterfly.
They never stay that still when I’m hovering nearby 🙂 Incredibly lovely shots!
What, you’re not a butterfly whisperer? Actually, with 10,000 in a fairly small space you didn’t have long to wait before one touched down nearby. Thanks!
I took a picture of a butterfly but it was not nearly as beautiful as your pictures. Please follow our blog as we shoot our way through england 😉 < nature photography blog
Pretty amazing experience isn’t it!! Fabulous fotos and Happy Easter to you and your family~
I think you live closer to the park than I. It’s a San Diego treasure for sure.
Oh wow! 😀 These are all so beautiful. Wish we had something like that here. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks!
Beautiful macro shots… 🙂
You did a great job with these macro pictures! Love them 🙂
Thank you, Anja! Technically they’re not macros since I just used a long lens and got as close as I could and still keep them in focus but the effect is the same. So happy that you enjoyed. them.
Thanks for the details Kongo. What lens did you use?
I used a Canon 70-200mm f/4 ISM and maximum zoom.
I just have a 18-105mm lens so I better use the macro fuction of my camera. But thanks for sharing the technical details of your pic 😉
Well, the good news is that butterflies aren’t shy so you ought to be able to get up close with that lens.