South Africa – Page 26 – Jennifer Sawicky Photography

March 11, 2019

2019-03-11: Monochrome Monday

Some leopards to start the week! Leopards are definitely my favourite cats to watch (well, at least of the cats I have seen so far… once I have the chance to see tigers and jaguars, I’ll have to revisit this statement!)

The first image was taken in Botswana in the Okavango Delta, in a sighting filled will drama (for the humans involved). Several vehicles from another camp were following this leopard, who was doing what leopards do best, being elusive and sticking to the cover of the bush. There had been a lot of flooding in the area, and a vehicle got stuck while following this cat, and then a second got stuck, trying to help the first. Our awesome ranger saved the day and got the vehicles mobile again, but both stuck vehicles missed out on the few photo opportunities that were available, like this one.

20170505-DSC_2194 — Seeing this image brings back fun memories of a great (and rather muddy) game drive. This can be a typical leopard sighting; lots of cover, grasses and bushes, but that’s also why I like it, because it is realistic.

This second image was also from the delta, and I have posted of this sighting many times before so I won’t go on and on. I think though, this shot is how people dream of seeing leopards, but the one above is a far more realistic scenario.

20170507-DSC_3243 — A gorgeous leopard who spent a late afternoon, through sunset, perched in tree, with only us there to watch.

This final image was taken in South Africa; our guide took us to a sighting of a mama leopard and her two cubs in ravine, and we had a brilliant time watching the cubs playing on the fallen trees, scampering through the swamp, and wrestling with each other. The cub pictured here was just about to pounce on its sibling, who was a few feet below on the ground. This was one of those sightings where, as we drove back to camp, our guide told us “we probably should keep this quiet while there are other guests around”.

20170516-DSC_7580 — A playful leopard cub descending a fallen tree.

Just so you know, you can find lots of images like these over in my gallery page!

February 24, 2019

2019-02-24: Topic of the Month – Warm

When I woke up this morning, it was -28C; decidedly not warm here. But the sun is shining, and bundled up, Spencer and I managed a couple of nice walks today. It still doesn’t feel like spring is around the corner; but hopefully that will change soon.

Last week, I flagged several landscape images from my travels for editing throughout the week, and while working on them, I realized that not only do they all fit into the theme of being taken in warm places, but they were all taken on the fly. If I asked guides to stop every time I saw something interesting, we certainly wouldn’t get very far, so I have become rather comfortable with snapping away out of a moving vehicle. Sometimes it works, and sometimes, not so much.

I hope you enjoy my selection of images this week.

20170425-1020444 — The Hoanib riverbed off in the distance. The shear drop off is the bank of the river, showing just how much water has been through the area at times. When we were visiting, there were only a few small pools, and it had been an exceptionally generous wet season. Namibia, April 2017.

20170425-P1020486 — As the day heats up, the wind in the desert picks up, causing sand storms to whip through. Hoanbia Camp, Namibia. April 017.

20170426-P1020762 — One of the beautiful desert vistas near Hoanib Camp.

20170501-P1020953 — Palm trees are a symbol of a warm climate to me. I love the shape of the leaves, and how they stand out against the sky. This was just before sunset while heading back to Leroo La Tau camp on the Boteti Rover. Botswana, May 2017.

20170503-P1030068 — The Baines Baobabs standing tall in the midday heat. Nxai Pans National park, Botswana.

20170513-DSC_5272-Edit — A beautiful sunrise in the Sabi Sands. The chill of the early morning burnt off in short order once the sun was up. South Africa, May 2017.

February 20, 2019

2019-02-20: Wordless Wednesday

February 17, 2019

2019-02-17: Topic of the Month – Warm

Last week I decided that my Sunday posts for the rest of the month would focus on the topic Warm. It seemed fitting, given how cold it has been and how much I wish it would warm up.

Today, I decided to share images that make my heart feel warm and happy. It should be no surprise to any frequent visitor that this means elephants. Lots and lots of elephants!

I hope you enjoy my selections, and wishing you a wonderful week ahead.

20170425-DSC_0705 — A group of desert adapted elephants surround a calf that was having a brief nap at the edge of the riverbed. Hoanib Camp, Namibia.

20170505-DSC_2259 copy-Edit — An elephant calf imitates its mother, bring the trunk up to sniff the air and decide if our presence was a threat or not. Since Mom wasn’t worried, the calf wasn’t either. Machaba Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana.

20170505-DSC_2274-Edit — The tiniest elephant calf I have seen; probably no more than a couple of days old. A very relaxed family though, that was not at all concerned by the vehicle, the clicks of the cameras or the numerous times people in the vehicle said “Awwww, the baby is so tiny and cute!”. Machaba Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana.

20170505-DSC_2341 — We saw numerous baby elephants while staying on the Okavango Delta; this one stuck close to Mom’s side while she dug for minerals in the dirt.

20170516-DSC_7199 copy-Edit — A precocious elephant calf that spent lots of time investigating me; here it is snuggled close to Mom and trying to get a drink from an irrigation pipe. Londolozi, South Africa.

February 10, 2019

2019-02-10: Topic of the Month – Warm

This topic came to me as it is the exact opposite of how I feel right now! We’ve been in a deep freeze for some time now, and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight yet. So, my Sunday posts for February are going to focus on warm places, warm interactions; anything that makes me feel a bit warmer!

Today, I have some landscape images to share from my travels. All places where I haven’t spent time shivering!

Wishing everyone a fantastic week ahead.