Botswana
July 2013 - Chobe National Park
July 2013 - Chobe National Park
Sable antelope grow horns to over 5 feet long. You can tell
their age by counting the rings in the horns - one for each year
Sable antelope grow horns to over 5 feet long. You can tell
their age by counting the rings in the horns - one for each year
The wallpaper that has been on my Mac for many years is a shot of 2 of these
Lilac Breasted Rollers. I finally took my own picture!
The wallpaper that has been on my Mac for many years is a shot of 2 of these
Lilac Breasted Rollers. I finally took my own picture!
Crocodiles loose excess heat by lying with their mouths open on hot days
Crocodiles loose excess heat by lying with their mouths open on hot days
Baobab tree - live up to 2,000 years and store large volumes of water in their trunks - which is why elephants and other animals chew the bark during the dry season
Baobab tree - live up to 2,000 years and store large volumes of water in their trunks - which is why elephants and other animals chew the bark during the dry season
Hooded Vultures are smaller than other vultures, so they can rise on
thermals more quickly and often are the first to spot a carcass.
Hooded Vultures are smaller than other vultures, so they can rise on
thermals more quickly and often are the first to spot a carcass.
Birds eating bugs off of a giraffe's neck
Birds eating bugs off of a giraffe's neck
Baboons at sunset - No filters or Photoshop manipulation
Baboons at sunset - No filters or Photoshop manipulation
Early morning game drive with insulated ponchos. "It won't be cold in Africa" said Tony. Oops - fortunately they prepared hot water bottles every morning to take along and put inside the ponchos. We really roughed it, eh what?
Early morning game drive with insulated ponchos. "It won't be cold in Africa" said Tony. Oops - fortunately they prepared hot water bottles every morning to take along and put inside the ponchos. We really roughed it, eh what?
Cape Buffalo, also know as "Black Death". It has killed more big game hunters than any other animal. Stories are told of a wounded buffalo hiding in the dense bush, then circling around to ambush the hunters who are tracking it
Cape Buffalo, also know as "Black Death". It has killed more big game hunters than any other animal. Stories are told of a wounded buffalo hiding in the dense bush, then circling around to ambush the hunters who are tracking it
Fish Eagles also eat ducks, terrapins, crocodiles, small waterfowl
Fish Eagles also eat ducks, terrapins, crocodiles, small waterfowl
Chacma baboons huddling at sunrise to keep warm.
The name Hippopotamus comes from the Ancient Greek 'river horse'
The name Hippopotamus comes from the Ancient Greek 'river horse'
An unbelievable cruise on the Chobe river revealed the following wildlife
An unbelievable cruise on the Chobe river revealed the following wildlife
3 foot long Monitor lizard on an island
3 foot long Monitor lizard on an island
African jacana - they are polyandrous - one female mates with
multiple males and the male alone cares for the chicks
African jacana - they are polyandrous - one female mates with
multiple males and the male alone cares for the chicks
Elepants mulling about before crossing the Chobe river
Elepants mulling about before crossing the Chobe river
"Ok, follow me!" says the matriarch
"Ok, follow me!" says the matriarch
We saw dozens of elephants cross the river to graze on the Namibian side of the river
We saw dozens of elephants cross the river to graze on the Namibian side of the river
Their trunks have over 40,000 muscles and can suck up 8 liters of water at a time before squirting in their mouth to drink.
Their trunks have over 40,000 muscles and can suck up 8 liters of water at a time before squirting in their mouth to drink.
Just being close to these magnificent creatures makes you feel
Just being close to these magnificent creatures makes you feel
This little Wire-tailed Swallow hitched a ride on the bow of our boat
This little Wire-tailed Swallow hitched a ride on the bow of our boat
Lots of nile crocs sunning themselves on the banks of the Chobe River
Lots of nile crocs sunning themselves on the banks of the Chobe River
2 adolescent elephants fighting while others cross
2 adolescent elephants fighting while others cross
We saw hundreds of elephants in a single day - really
We saw hundreds of elephants in a single day - really
The Great Egret is the symbol for the National Audubon Society
The Great Egret is the symbol for the National Audubon Society
Warthogs like to wallow in mud to keep cool
Warthogs like to wallow in mud to keep cool
This elephant died about 4 months earlier
This elephant died about 4 months earlier
Red Faced Vulture (probly snacked on the elephant on previous slide)
Red Faced Vulture (probly snacked on the elephant on previous slide)
Headin' back to the lodge after an amazing day along the Chobe River
Headin' back to the lodge after an amazing day along the Chobe River
We stayed in the one on the left
We stayed in the one on the left
Which looked like this on the inside
Which looked like this on the inside
Nice place to lounge around after a day in the bush
Nice place to lounge around after a day in the bush
Nice place for a nightcap of Amarula - a South African
cream liqueur made from the Marula fruit
Nice place for a nightcap of Amarula - a South African
cream liqueur made from the Marula fruit
July 2013 - Where the hell are you dragging me to NOW?
July 2013 - Where the hell are you dragging me to NOW?
An elephant on the flight into the Okavango Delta
An elephant on the flight into the Okavango Delta
Notice the animal trails leading to the waterhole
Notice the animal trails leading to the waterhole
Our plane taking off after dropping us off at Shinde Lodge, deep in the Okavango Delta
Our plane taking off after dropping us off at Shinde Lodge, deep in the Okavango Delta
Warthogs sleep underground in burrows that they steal from aardvarks and other animals
Warthogs sleep underground in burrows that they steal from aardvarks and other animals
It was nice to be driven around after all the self driving in Namibia
It was nice to be driven around after all the self driving in Namibia
This hippo made a beeline for the water right after this picture was taken
This hippo made a beeline for the water right after this picture was taken
Mama with baby in tow
Mama with baby in tow
Walking safari with British birders
Walking safari with British birders
You know this termite mound has been abandoned cause they
would immediately patch up any holes for protection
You know this termite mound has been abandoned cause they
would immediately patch up any holes for protection
Are you SURE there are no lions lurking in this grass? Well, anyway, you go first
Are you SURE there are no lions lurking in this grass? Well, anyway, you go first
Sausage tree - the fruit can grow up to 2 feet long and weigh 15 lbs.
Sausage tree - the fruit can grow up to 2 feet long and weigh 15 lbs.
Sable antelopes can run up to 35 mph
Sable antelopes can run up to 35 mph
4 nights on Shinde Island. The whole surrounding area floods in the wet season
4 nights on Shinde Island. The whole surrounding area floods in the wet season
Lookin' classy on a late afternoon boat ride
Lookin' classy on a late afternoon boat ride
Sunset on Shinde lagoon
Sunset on Shinde lagoon
Bloody Mary time
Bloody Mary time
Main entrance to Shinde camp
Main entrance to Shinde camp
Deck with fire pit
Deck with fire pit
The lodge consisted of a series of raised decks and platforms - keeping guests safe from crocs, hippos, and anything else lurking in the rising flood waters
The lodge consisted of a series of raised decks and platforms - keeping guests safe from crocs, hippos, and anything else lurking in the rising flood waters
It felt like we were living the Swiss Family Robinson life with nicer amenities
It felt like we were living the Swiss Family Robinson life with nicer amenities
To the dining room
To the dining room
Dining was communal style so we had to muster up some small talk at times
Dining was communal style so we had to muster up some small talk at times
This swamp is the view from our private deck
This swamp is the view from our private deck
Inside before we had them fix the beds for us honeymooners;)
Inside before we had them fix the beds for us honeymooners;)
Everyday she takes a morning bath, wets her hair, wraps a towel round her as she's
heading for the bedroom chair. It's just another day...in the swamp
Everyday she takes a morning bath, wets her hair, wraps a towel round her as she's
heading for the bedroom chair. It's just another day...in the swamp
Exploring the delta by makoro. Traditionally dugout canoes, fiberglass ones
are now used by ecotourist resorts to minimize the deforestation in the delta
Exploring the delta by makoro. Traditionally dugout canoes, fiberglass ones
are now used by ecotourist resorts to minimize the deforestation in the delta
A British couple we were on the walking safari with. He is an
extreme birder and she is extremely tolerant
A British couple we were on the walking safari with. He is an
extreme birder and she is extremely tolerant
Malakite Kingfisher
Malakite Kingfisher
The water was never more than a few feet deep
The water was never more than a few feet deep
Approaching Elephant Island
Approaching Elephant Island
Selfie, Okavango style
Selfie, Okavango style
This was the last pic I took before we almost ran into a huge bull elephant grazing on the reeds. We turned a corner,
and because I was in the front, only I saw him, maybe 10 feet away. I silently motioned for the boatman to stop. The
elephant and I made eye contact. I had the camera pointed and my finger half way down on the shutter, focused and
ready to shoot. It was dead quiet. I was afraid that the click of the camera would set him off, so I didn't take it. We slowly
backed off. If he had charged there was no way to escape. Best shot I never got. Am I growing up or what?
This was the last pic I took before we almost ran into a huge bull elephant grazing on the reeds. We turned a corner, and because I was in the front, only I saw him, maybe 10 feet away. I silently motioned for the boatman to stop. The elephant and I made eye contact. I had the camera pointed and my finger half way down on the shutter, focused and
ready to shoot. It was dead quiet. I was afraid that the click of the camera would set him off, so I didn't take it. We slowly backed off. If he had charged there was no way to escape. Best shot I never got. Am I growing up or what?
Taking a break from the makoro on a little island
Taking a break from the makoro on a little island
Checking for tracks
Lion paw print. These tracks were as close as we came to seeing them in the wild
Lion paw print. These tracks were as close as we came to seeing them in the wild
Shinde's resident lion pride had left the area the week before we
arrived due to the fire, which still had hot spots burning
Shinde's resident lion pride had left the area the week before we
arrived due to the fire, which still had hot spots burning
You can see where the fire burned on the left, but didn't jump the road to the right
You can see where the fire burned on the left, but didn't jump the road to the right
The raised air intake snorkel is critical here in the delta
The raised air intake snorkel is critical here in the delta
Looks like we're in a boat, eh what?
Looks like we're in a boat, eh what?
Difficult driving conditions with lots of deep sand and water - our putzy Daihatsu would have gotten us stuck here for sure
Difficult driving conditions with lots of deep sand and water - our putzy
Daihatsu would have gotten us stuck here for sure
Red lechwe have powerful hind legs and long, splayed hooves which
help them gain traction and move quickly through marshy areas
Red lechwe have powerful hind legs and long, splayed hooves which
help them gain traction and move quickly through marshy areas
Side-striped jackals are nocturnal omnivores and eat hares, fruit, eggs, birds, and seeds
Side-striped jackals are nocturnal omnivores and eat hares, fruit, eggs, birds, and seeds
Female Kudu - predators are leopards, wild dogs, spotted hyenas, and humans
Female Kudu - predators are leopards, wild dogs, spotted hyenas, and humans
Okavango crocs have a vast network of tunnels under the papyrus beds that
enable the animals to navigate and stay hidden for extended lengths of time
Okavango crocs have a vast network of tunnels under the papyrus beds that
enable the animals to navigate and stay hidden for extended lengths of time
Back on our porch for an apres safari drink
Back on our porch for an apres safari drink
Lilac-breasted Roller or ABR - That's what the British birder said sarcastically
each time he saw one. (Another Bloody Roller, cause there were lots of em)
Lilac-breasted Roller or ABR - That's what the British birder said sarcastically
each time he saw one. (Another Bloody Roller, cause there were lots of em)
It was nice having our own private vehicle and driver
It was nice having our own private vehicle and driver
He escaped an attack by a predator but our guide said that
due to the location of the injury, it probably wouldn't heal
He escaped an attack by a predator but our guide said that
due to the location of the injury, it probably wouldn't heal
On safari with me lady
On safari with me lady
Our Safari Air plane about to touch down at Shinde's airstrip
Our Safari Air plane about to touch down at Shinde's airstrip
The flight back to Kasane turned out to be private too:)
The flight back to Kasane turned out to be private too:)
Note elephant in top left corner
Note elephant in top left corner
Happy to be headed to Victoria Falls
Happy to be headed to Victoria Falls
Sayonara Okavango Delta
Sayonara Okavango Delta