Our final destination in Botswana was Savuti, located in the north-east of Botswana, in Chobe National Park, surrounded by the Okavango, the Caprivi strip and Zimbabwe. As with the other camp sites the dry season was still on the go, although rain was in the air. Pitty, as with the rains and the wet season, the large herd migrations from the north can be witnessed. For the moment, until the rain arrives, animals are largely dependent on the many man-maintained waterholes for water, like here near the Savuti camp.
| Elephants at the waterhole |
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| This image was created using the flash with better beamer. Since the focal distance was so small, only the center of the image is lit by the flash |
Large herd migrations were perhaps out of scope for this time, we did arrive back at camp when a huge swarm of Redbilled Quelea’s gathered around the camps waterhole site for a drink.
| Redbilled Quelea’s |
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| In such large numbers, even small birds make so much noise that when taking off they sound like a passing truck convoy |
The first afternoon drive led us through one of the riverbeds, once running through the Chobe. Due to vulcanic and tectonic plate activity in the region, this part of the chobe lifted so much that some rivers fell dry and created a new habitat: savanah instead of swamp. This is where we met this Bateleur.
| Bateleur Eagle |
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| “Bateleur” is French for “tight-rope walker”. As visible in this image, a Bateleur eagle has almost no tail, at least not as much as most other eagles. Failing this tail, flight balance is mostly done using the wings. As the bateleur is doing this, it looks like he is walking a tight rope. |
That rain was in the air, was made clear to us by finding this Glossy Ibis. Normally these birds arrive when the rains have filled the pools, canals and rivers of the Chobe. Since it was still bone dry, this specimen must have been an early arrival, or the sign of late rain.
| Glossy Ibis |
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It really doesn’t matter where or when you can photograph bee-eaters, they never bore me. Their liquid calls, acrobatic flights and color are simply beautiful.
| Little Bee-eater |
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On one of our drives through the large flats of the chobe flood planes, we passed a large number of Black Korhaans, calling to announce a territory, as a start for the breeding season.
| Black Korhaan |
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Returning to camp we had a good view at a striped coucal, a bird that attracts many birders.
| Striped Coucal |
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The next morning we were treated to the first rainfall. And when it rains, it rains good and a vast amount of water is litterally dumped to earth.
| Bull Frog |
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| In these (sometimes brief) periods of water-filled pools, bullfrogs emerge from their underground hibernation places to mate, breed and submerge. This happens in one morning, amazing. And then you have to realise that bullfrog sometimes remain hidden for more than one year. |
The remainder of the afternoon left the weather to be overcast and this giraf presented itself nicely.
| Giraf |
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Usually, the afternoon hours just need to be used for a siesta, but I can’t. Being in the bush is not happening so often so if I am not too dreamy, I stay awake and try and find some action. This time, at the peak of the day, I wittnessed how a Yellowbilled Kite was hovering the waterhole at our camp, in front of our cabine. Some doves were drinking and for some reason, the dove in this image didn’t notice the kite in time and got a fright when he flew over. Normally, the doves are alert but don’t panic and normally the kite ignores the doves as they are much faster in the small space. Not this time, the panic reaction of the dove made the kite take the chase.
| Yellowbilled Kite hunting a Dove |
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The dove managed to do a few zick-zacks and the kite was not able to keep up, until the dove thought it was safe and started on a straight line towards the forrest edge.
| Yellowbilled Kite hunting a Dove |
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This is the wrong thing with these kites, as they can gain enormous speeds in just a few flaps. End sealed for the dove and this is the image that I saw in my viewfinder:
| The final approach |
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The dove made no chance and when it looked back it was too late. From my first image to the last (there a a few more after this one) took 5.5 seconds …. Well worth not being asleep for !
On our last game drive we didn’t see much, but did see this parrot at the gate.
| Meyer’s Parrot |
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And this hornbill at his nest.
| Bradfield’s Hornbill |
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Finally as the epilogue of this Botwana report, I want to finish with Botswana’s national bird, the Lilacbreasted Roller.
| Botswana’s National Bird |
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| Lilacbreasted Roller |
The last bird I photographed was on the runway, for our flight back to Maun. Dark clouds were coming in and the rainy season was now really knocking on the door. The winds were well resisted by this Crowned Lapwing standing in the wind as if it were a hurricane.
| Crowned Lapwing |
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See for additional images also: Sable Ranch & Botswana Gallery