When it comes to the world’s most fascinating animals, our community has no shortage of talented photographers shooting heart-stopping wildlife moments on the ground where all the action is. But that’s not the only vantage point you can take to appreciate the wild beauty of these creatures. When it comes to capturing the scale of mass migrations, your best best is to take to skies where you can get a bird’s eye view of all the naturally-occurring shapes, sizes, patterns, and colors that animals herds can visually create for you. To show you just how breathtaking the results can turn out, we gathered a gallery of the best aerial photos of animal herds. From zebras galloping across the Okavango Delta of Botswana to dolphins swimming in the Maldives oceans to elephants marching across the Namibian desert—all these awe-inspiring photos were taken from above. Scroll down for a new way of exploring the animal kingdom.

Zebras from above. by Janet Kwan on 500px

Mayhem by Janet Kwan on 500px

Traffic by Janet Kwan on 500px

Large group of birds flying in sky by Janet Kwan on 500px

Flock of sheep by Janet Kwan on 500px

Follow the Herd by Janet Kwan on 500px

Counting Sheep :) by Janet Kwan on 500px

Spotted deer aerial. by Janet Kwan on 500px

Ready to Get Under Way by Janet Kwan on 500px

Flock of sheep by Janet Kwan on 500px

Dolphins by Janet Kwan on 500px

Zanskar idyll by Janet Kwan on 500px

The Majority Population in the Pahsimeroi Valley by Janet Kwan on 500px

Going nowhere by Janet Kwan on 500px

Migration by Janet Kwan on 500px

DESERT ELEPHANTS by Janet Kwan on 500px

Lovely sheeps by Janet Kwan on 500px

Browse more wonderful wildlife photos in our Animals category on Editors’ Choice!