Botswana - a name that has always brought to mind the romance of wild Africa. This great trip certainly lived up to the Africa of old, in so many ways.
We were met at the Xakanaxa Airstrip in the Moremi Game Reserve by our guide Nkosi and expertly driven to our first expedition style tented camp amidst huge rain trees in the Xini Lagoon Region. The privileged sightings from this camp included 2 lovely male cheetahs, a collection of ten different waterbird species fishing together at a small vanishing waterhole and a fantastic full moon rising/sunset scenario featuring a baobab tree.
After Xini we moved on to the Khwai area which is community owned. Off-road driving is permitted in Khwai, which added to the excitement. We had wonderful experiences with leopard here - one included a three month old cub at a kill with her mother, which was very special. Three baby hyaena entertained us when the early morning sun had lured them from their den and we were also lucky enough to encounter Cape Hunting Dogs up close which we managed to follow on a hunt until the vegetation and their speed defeated us. The camp here was delightful - situated next to the Khwai River under magnificent leadwood trees.
The Savuti area of the Chobe Game Reserve was our next stop - a wonderland of marsh, forest, grassland and sandveld. This time our camp was situated in a grove of Kalahari Apple Leaf trees and had a character all of its own. It was here that we encountered the marsh lion pride - all beautiful specimens with two sets of young cubs.
I would like to thank the Letaka team for all their hard work and great organisation. Our guide Nkosi was outstanding. His knowledge of all facets of the environment in which he works was amazing, as were his driving skills. His ability as a photographer helped so much in understanding our needs. Pula, the chef and chief camp organiser was truly phenomenal - the food he produced in camping conditions was incredible. He was ably assisted by Banda and Frans.
From Savuti we flew to the Chobe River Front for the final stage of our trip. Here we did early morning and late afternoon boat trips in a specially designed photo boat which had been cleverly adapted for photographers. Thanks to the ability of our boat captain - Shar, we got great shots of white fronted bee-eaters and yellow billed storks at their nests, fish eagles, hippos yawning and elephants playing and drinking in the river, to name a few. Many thanks to "Guts" of Pangolin Safaris for all his help and assistance in making this so special.
The "Best of Botswana" Photo safari is different to all our others in so many ways - this is the real Africa, massive remote areas away from crowds of people. The light is amazing and the smells are unique.
We will be offering a second departure in 2015 as the first departure is already sold out, please email us if you are interested in a space on the 2015 departure.
Regards to all
Stu
Our camp in the Xini Lagoon area of Moremi Game Reserve
The Dining tent
Expedition style tent - en-suite (bucket shower) and battery powered light
Our stay in Moremi was made more special by the rising of a full moon on our third night
Cape Buffalo herd in Moremi
Ostriches running through water in Moremi
Giraffe and moon - Moremi
Dwarf Mongooses - Moremi
Male Saddle Billed Stork with small fish - Moremi
Zebras fighting - Moremi
A lucky escape from a Lion attack - Moremi
Cape Hunting Dog - Moremi
Red Lechwe - Moremi
Yellow Billed Stork and Hammerkops at the small pond - Moremi
A pair of Saddle Billed Storks arrive at the pond - Moremi
Moon rise and Baobab tree - Moremi
Our safari vehicle at Sunset - Moremi
Baobab tree at sunset - Moremi
Male Impala in early morning light - Moremi
Thinking about the new day ahead - Chacma baboon - Moremi
One of the male Cheetahs in Moremi
The male leopard we photographed on our first afternoon in Khwai
Female Impala leaping - Khwai
Young Leopard cub in Khwai
Warthog - Khwai
The female Leopard returning to her kill - Khwai
Leopard and her cub - Khwai
Leopard cub - Khwai
Leopard Cub - Khwai
A fork tailed Drongo dive bombing a Verreaux's Eagle Owl - Khwai
Hyaena cub at the den in Khwai
Female Leopard with her cub - Khwai
White Faced Whistling ducks - Khwai
Leopard - Khwai
Cape Hunting Dog greeting behaviour - Khwai
Submissive behaviour towards the Alpha Male - Khwai
Cape Hunting Dog - Khwai
Reedbuck - Khwai
Male Greater Kudu - Khwai
Cape Hunting Dog - Khwai
Open Billed Stork - Khwai
Lilac Breasted Roller - Khwai
Bull Elephant in the Khwai River
Little Bee eater - Khwai
Giraffe Drinking - Mababe Depression
Steenbok - en route to Savuti
Sunrise at Savuti
Impala - Savuti
Black backed Jackal - Savuti
Blue Wildebeest at sunset - Savuti
Fish Eagle take off - Savuti
Cape Buffalo running - Savuti
Lilac Breasted Rollers - Savuti
Lion cub chewing stick - Savuti
Lioness on the move watched by Impala - Savuti
Male Sable Antelope - Chobe River front taken from the photo boat
Coppery Tailed Coucal - Chobe River front - taken from the photo boat
Elephant underwater - - Chobe River front - taken from the photo boat
Tree Squirrels - Chobe River front
White Fronted Bee eater departing its nest - Chobe River front - taken from the photo boat
Elephants playing in the Chobe River - Chobe River front - taken from the photo boat
Hippo Yawn - Chobe River front - taken from the photo boat
The special Pangolin Photo Boat - Chobe River front
Spurwing Goose - Chobe River front - taken from the photo boat
Cape Buffalo - Chobe River front - taken from the photo boat
A male African Jacana with its two chicks underwing - Chobe River front - taken from the photo boat
Elephants Drinking - Chobe River front - taken from the photo boat
Elephants playing - Chobe River front - taken from the photo boat
Elephants playing - Chobe River front - taken from the photo boat
Elephant - Chobe River front - taken from the photo boat
Hippo Yawning - Chobe River front - taken from the photo boat
Yellow Billed stork landing - Chobe River front - taken from the photo boat
White Breasted Cormorant - Chobe River front - taken from the photo boat
African Fish Eagle - Chobe River front - taken from the photo boat
African Darter - Chobe River front - taken from the photo boat
African Fish Eagle take off - Chobe River front - taken from the photo boat
