Right way up

Don't adjust your computer, this is the right way up! A lovely reflection of river reeds and grasses on an unbelievably still channel in the Okavango Delta.
Don’t adjust your computer, this is the right way up!
A lovely reflection of river reeds and grasses on an unbelievably still channel in the Okavango Delta.

Okavango Delta Highlights

The area of the delta where I stayed was one of permanent water, but day by day, changes in the landscape were apparent as the flood waters flowing in from the Angola highlands began to fill previously dry channels.  I think I had the best of both worlds as I was able to see the delta from both land and water – and as a special treat, by air on a helicopter tour.

I took over 1800 photos in 3 nights in the delta.  I hope you enjoy a few of the highlights.

A lone giraffe wanders through an area of new flood.
A lone giraffe wanders through an area of new flood.
A leopard peers down from a tree.
A leopard peers down from a tree.
A spectacular sunset over the delta, taken while on a sundowner boat trip.
A spectacular sunset over the delta, taken while on a sundowner boat trip.
A gorgeous female leopard using a fallen tree as a vantage point.  I had no expectation of seeing leopard at all in the delta, but I had told my guide the previous afternoon that my dream photo would be capturing a leopard on a tree branch.  In two days, I saw three leopards.  Talk about lucky!
A gorgeous female leopard using a fallen tree as a vantage point. I had no expectation of seeing leopard at all in the delta, but I had told my guide the previous afternoon that my dream photo would be capturing a leopard on a tree branch. In two days, I saw three leopards. Talk about lucky!
A pair of spotted hyena cubs rest outside of their den.
A pair of spotted hyena cubs rest outside of their den.
Stand-by passengers at the airstrip?
Stand-by passengers at the airstrip?
A fish eagle from above.
A fish eagle from above.
The delta by air.
The delta by air.
A herd of elephants from above.
A herd of elephants from above.
Water crossing!  One of the camp vehicles carrying luggage from the airstrip to the camp.
Water crossing! One of the camp vehicles carrying luggage from the airstrip to the camp.afr

Kalahari Plains

The Kalahari was far, far greener than I anticipated.  I had expected a dry and dusty, somewhat barren landscape.  But we arrived at the end of the rainy season, and the desert had received rain only a day before we arrived, so everything was quite lush and green.  As such, all the animals we saw were very well fed.

Here are a few images from my time at Kalahari Plains.

A pair of lion cubs peek at us from behind their mom.
A pair of lion cubs peek at us from behind their mom.
A Kori bustard searches the grass for his next meal.
A Kori bustard searches the grass for his next meal.
A black backed jackal gives us the eye as the daylight begins to fade.
A black backed jackal gives us the eye as the daylight begins to fade.

Wild Dogs

I recently had a request for some more wild dog photos, so I spent some time this evening going through the photos I took back in April 2013 when I was lucky enough to see them in Botswana.  I had dismissed many of the photos when I originally took them, as the light was rather difficult, but what a difference a year makes.  I have more skills in editing now, and am able to correct things that I wasn’t able to just a short time ago.    I didn’t have time to go through all the photos I flagged this evening, so if you are a betting person, you can put money on the fact that you’ll see more of this group later in the week 🙂

Torn ears and a face full of flies. 1/400sec, f5.3, ISO1600
Torn ears and a face full of flies.
1/400sec, f5.3, ISO1600
A group of wild dogs rests in the shade from the mid afternoon heat, at Chobe Game Reserve in Botswana. 1/500sec, f5.3, ISO1600
A group of wild dogs rests in the shade, away from the mid afternoon heat, at Chobe Game Reserve in Botswana.
1/500sec, f5.3, ISO1600
I have no idea what they might have saw, heard, or smelled, but it certainly captivated the attention of the group. 1/640sec, f4.8, ISO800
I have no idea what they might have saw, heard, or smelled, but it certainly captivated the attention of the group.
1/640sec, f4.8, ISO800
A wild dog heads away from the group. 1/1000sec, f4.5, ISO800
A wild dog heads away from the pack.
1/1000sec, f4.5, ISO800

African Pied Wagtail

This African Pied Wagtail most have gotten tired of flying, as it caught a ride on our boat during our river cruise along the Chobe. 1/1000sec, f4.8, ISO640
This African Pied Wagtail most have gotten tired of flying, as it caught a ride on our boat during our river cruise along the Chobe.
1/1000sec, f4.8, ISO640

Bee-Eaters

Beautiful Bee-eaters seen on a river cruise along the Chobe River. 1/200sec, f8.0, ISO360
Beautiful Bee-eaters seen on a river cruise along the Chobe River.
1/200sec, f8.0, ISO360

Wire-tailed Swallow

Along tag along on our river cruise!  This wire tailed swallow had built a nest somewhere on the boat itself. 1/1000sec, f4.8, ISO800
Along tag along on our river cruise! This wire tailed swallow had built a nest somewhere on the boat itself.
1/1000sec, f4.8, ISO800

African Pied Kingfisher

Decent photos of kingfishers elude me to this day!  This is as good as it gets, so far. An African Pied Kingfisher along the Chobe River. 1/400sec, f5.3, ISO100
Decent photos of kingfishers elude me to this day! This is as good as it gets, so far.
An African Pied Kingfisher along the Chobe River.
1/400sec, f5.3, ISO100

Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters

I couldn't have timed this better had I tried - I love the symmetry of their position and the shadows being cast by their beaks. 1/400sec, f5.6, ISO100
I couldn’t have timed this better had I tried – I love the symmetry of their position and the shadows being cast by their beaks.
1/400sec, f5.6, ISO100
error: Content is protected !!