Black and White African Wildlife Photography Art - Mark Fernle

A Gelada Baboon sits on the sid of the Simien Mountain ciff showing a vast and impressive view of the simien mountain range in the northern ethiopia, taken by Mark Fernley.

GELADA MONKEYS - SIMIEN MOUNTAINS

Journey into the dramatic highlands of Ethiopia through the gelada baboon photography of Mark A. Fernley. Set against the rugged cliffs, sweeping escarpments, and golden mountain light of the Simien Mountains, this portfolio captures one of Africa’s most charismatic and fascinating primates in its wild and ancient landscape.

Each photograph reveals a different side of gelada life, from expressive portraits and quiet family moments to playful interactions and powerful scenes on the cliff edges. Mark’s lens goes beyond simple documentation, highlighting the character, social bonds, and striking beauty of these remarkable primates.

Explore this immersive collection and experience the wild spirit of the Simien Mountains. This is gelada photography up close, atmospheric, expressive, and unforgettable.

Female and male Gelada Monkeys sit on the edge of a tall mountain in the Simien Mountains, with a high view of a misty blue view of the mountains.

Read More About the Gelada's of the Simien Mountains!

READ NOW

Gelaa Baboon sits high on a mountain and looks back at the mountain range below.

One of the most memorable things about photographing geladas in the Simien Mountains is how naturally the experience unfolds. Unlike many primates that disappear into thick forest or move quickly through the trees, geladas spend much of their day grazing across open mountain slopes. This gave my wife and me the chance to slow down, sit quietly, and photograph them at eye level as they fed, groomed, and moved through the grass. The dramatic escarpments, soft mountain light, and calm behavior of the geladas made the experience feel incredibly intimate.

A group of Gelada Baboons sit high on a mountain side, grooming each other as the sun begins to set behind the harsh cloud here in the Simien Mountains, taken by Mark Fernley.

View Mark A Fernley in the Field

IN THE FIELD

Male Gelada Monkey stands poudly overlooking the Simien Mountain range in Ethiopia, photographed by Mark Fernley.

Photographing geladas in the Simien Mountains was not just about the animals themselves. It was about the entire landscape around them. My wife and I found that every photograph was shaped by the cliffs, valleys, changing weather, and high-altitude light. At times, the geladas were surrounded by mist and cool mountain air. At other times, they were lit by warm golden light against vast Ethiopian views. This gave the portfolio a strong sense of place, showing the geladas not just as fascinating primates, but as part of one of Africa’s most spectacular mountain environments.

A male Gelada looks into the camera and stands up next to the valley of the Simien Mountains, taken by wildlife photographer Mark Fernley.

Join Mark In the Ugandan Mountains and Learn How to Photograph Primates Like a Pro

PHOTO SAFARIS

Gelada Baboon sits on the edge of the mountain side and looks over his shoulder to look into the valley, photographed by Mark A Fernley.

What stood out most to my wife and me was how expressive geladas are. Their social lives are constantly unfolding in front of you, from young geladas playing in the grass to adults grooming, calling, feeding, and watching over their family groups. As photographers, these moments gave us so much to work with. We were not just looking for clean portraits, but for character, emotion, and connection. The Simien Mountains gave us the setting, but the geladas gave us the story, with every glance, gesture, and interaction revealing something different.