Photo animaux botswana, animal photo botswana, safari photo Botswana, photo Delta, photo Chobe, photo Kwai, photo Xakanaxa, photo Moremi, photo Semetsi, photo Kwando, photo Lagoon, photo Lebala, photo Lion, photo Elephant, photo Leopard
Botswana is primarily known as the country of Okavango, this river that can’t never reach the ocean and shapes a delta in the Kalahari desert. The yearly flood of waters coming from Angolan plateaus turns the desert sand into an oasis of life where all the African fauna congregates. The documentaries of Nicolas Hulot, entitled “Okavango”, made it more familiar to the French audience.
As other safari addicted people I started discovering the African wildlife with Kenya National Parks. I felt like a kid (although I was 32) when I met my first zebras, giraffes and impalas only ten minutes after leaving Nairobi airport on my way to Amboselli. I was really impressed by Kilimanjaro snowy summit, millions of flamingos over Nakuru’s lake and lion prides in Masai mara.
Then, with Tanzania, I discovered the endless landscapes of the Serengeti savannah, the staggering beauty of the Ngorongoro crater and its impressive wildlife.
At last came Botswana and there I found … something else. Not to say that I should rank Botswana higher than Tanzania or Kenya. I would say that they roughly get the same quantity and quality of wildlife and either landscapes are magnificent.
But with Botswana it seems like you are a step further in terms of authenticity.
You can experience there something close to the old days safaris of the early 1900’s with few tourists, small lodges (most of them can accommodate a maximum of 8 to 20 people) lighted by paraffin lamps. “Africa last Eden” as Frans Lanting entitled his famous book about the Okavango delta well deserves its name.
I hope those photos will give you a taste of it.
As other safari addicted people I started discovering the African wildlife with Kenya National Parks. I felt like a kid (although I was 32) when I met my first zebras, giraffes and impalas only ten minutes after leaving Nairobi airport on my way to Amboselli. I was really impressed by Kilimanjaro snowy summit, millions of flamingos over Nakuru’s lake and lion prides in Masai mara.
Then, with Tanzania, I discovered the endless landscapes of the Serengeti savannah, the staggering beauty of the Ngorongoro crater and its impressive wildlife.
At last came Botswana and there I found … something else. Not to say that I should rank Botswana higher than Tanzania or Kenya. I would say that they roughly get the same quantity and quality of wildlife and either landscapes are magnificent.
But with Botswana it seems like you are a step further in terms of authenticity.
You can experience there something close to the old days safaris of the early 1900’s with few tourists, small lodges (most of them can accommodate a maximum of 8 to 20 people) lighted by paraffin lamps. “Africa last Eden” as Frans Lanting entitled his famous book about the Okavango delta well deserves its name.
I hope those photos will give you a taste of it.
I will start with an emblematical mammal of the Okavango Delta : the Red Lechwe (Kobus leche). As many other antelope species Red Lechwe live in two groups. First group is the harem with females, cubs and the dominant male. A second group of bachelors males waiting to defeat the alpha male and overtake the females.
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In fact it is not so cool to be the king of the harem. Not only has he to regularly fight young males challenging him but it appears to be victim of a "spousenapping". On this photo the male Red Lechwe is trying to keep control on this female that is fleeing in the direction of an other male’s harem.
Eventually this female will succeed and will join the other group, 300 yards further. No battle between the two males. This one will stop his run when getting close to the other male territory leaving its female to his opponent.
Eventually this female will succeed and will join the other group, 300 yards further. No battle between the two males. This one will stop his run when getting close to the other male territory leaving its female to his opponent.
The end of the story is still more inglorious for that poor male. He will, one by one, lose all of his 12 females, in the same way : a female leaves the harem, begins a fast run with his male trying to get her back and finally the female joins the other male's territory. He will not keep any of his 12 females at the end of the afternoon.
You will notice a group of 3 Wattled Cranes (Grus caruncalatus) in the background. This is a declining species on the IUCN red list that you can still spot in the Delta.
You will notice a group of 3 Wattled Cranes (Grus caruncalatus) in the background. This is a declining species on the IUCN red list that you can still spot in the Delta.
Vervet monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops) is a gregarious and playful species. Games and interactions are a constant source of delight and photos opportunities to the observer. And you will generally spend more time than expected each time you will spot this common animal.
Joyful sequence in Moremi
Botswana is home of Elephants (Loxodonta africana). The estimated Botswana Elephant population is 120.000 for an overall African population of 500.000. That means that 25% of the total Elephant population is located in Botswana ! I was a little bit frustrated with my previous safaris in east Africa where Elephants spotting had been rare and only with small groups. But sure Botswana is the country of Elephants. The place were you can see them from close as on this picture of a lonely male in Moremi that doesn't seem to feel like changing its way to our car.
Elephant sighting is always a memorable event. They are both impressive and with interesting social behaviours. Wathever they do they fascinate me : their smooth and powerfull moves, the skillful way they use their trunk to drink, wave or grab, their playful water games, everything with them is...great.
One of those great moments took place in Savuti after a three hours drive from Maun. We had no special plan except relaxing in a comfortable lodge (Savuti Safari Lodge) until next morning. But before making it, we reached one of the most rewarding waterholes of the area.
One of those great moments took place in Savuti after a three hours drive from Maun. We had no special plan except relaxing in a comfortable lodge (Savuti Safari Lodge) until next morning. But before making it, we reached one of the most rewarding waterholes of the area.
And it was a really crowded place… A large group of elephants gathering around the hole, seriously occupied with their drinking and not paying much attention to us.
It was a quite calm group of adult males. Except when in musth (period of sexual excitement), males groups are much less nervous and dangerous than females groups with parents responsibilities can be. So we stayed speechless and silent while some elephants came really close to the car. That is the moment when you have to be really confident with your guide. We’ll never say enough how important it is to have a good guide during a safari. That was the case indeed with Heiko our Safari leader. A great time with great feelings, much adrenalin and splendid photos opportunities.
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