Best of Botswana

Timeless. The legendary San people who got immortalized by Africa's most eloquent writer, Sir Laurens van der Post.

I have just returned from a safari that allowed me to share the best of Botswana with a lovely family from the UK. Among their ranks was a Wildlife photographer, Travel-writer and a Musician! I cannot recall a dull moment while on trip and the wildlife, general experiences and all round energy of the safari was highly memorable.

Remarkably our very first photographic subject was the rate and seldom seen Aardwolf.

Our first stop was the Makgadigadi pans. Now this is probably not for first time visitors to Africa as the big cats can be hard to find (although we did find fresh tracks!). However, the big cats was not on our agenda as we wanted to experience the vast salt pans and the remarkable, rare and seldom seen animals that call this hostile place home. And nothing could raise our expectations more than a sighting of the very rare cousin of  Hyenas, the seldom photographed Aardwolf. In stunning afternoon light!!! Only to be followed by a stunning family and equally photogenic Bat-eared Foxes. I can carry on like this and include the in-your-face habituated Meerkats or the gentle San Bushman who showed us some of the deserts secrets. But in short, San Camp in the Makgadigadi Pans turned out to be an all round favorite for everyone.  

Next in line was an equally photogenic family of Bat-eared Foxes.

Then it was off to the Okavango Delta where we had our sights on the big cats. After an initially slow start to find these cats (They are designed not to be seen after all !), we did manage to locate during our stay a pride of lions and no less than five individual leopards. This all in the scenic Okavango - Slap bang in the middle of the largest sandpit in the world.

Just you and the vasy saltpan. Our sundowner stop after a quadbike adventure.

I can only hope that the images below will convey our experiences but know that it’s a very far cry from the true drama when you find yourself completely immersed in the ancient Kalahari and its anomalous oases called the Okavango Delta.

Sundowners

Close up of Meerkat lookouts.

A very photoshoot where the image of the trip was taken. Sadly (or fortunately) not by me :)

We also spend some time at a hyena den where this little cub provided endless opportunities.

Our very first Leopard encounter at Vumbura plains.

In total we saw five different leopards on safari like this one at very last light. 

Guest Book Comments.

August 17, 2013

Albie

This will wind up reading like a testimonial, although that is not my (sole) intention. Sfter two decades of traversing the South and East African bush, I can safely say that our experiences with you was exceptional, you belong with the best. Your unfailing good homour, indefatigable energy, great patience and remarkable skill behind the lens made you a terrific resource for us to have by our side. I hereby swear never to knowingly centre any photograph with front light! The joys of backlighting, giving animals space in the frame and most of all the joys of flash photography are all lifelong skills you’ve given me. I am sure our paths will cross again. May your Leopards all be in sausage trees with pink light behind, A – UK

For the first time in a myriad of Safaris, I filmed buffaloes lying on my tummy, used flash in bright sunshine and put my subject in a corner. Albie, we met you as our guide but we are parting as friends. Love to have you and your family in the Indian Jungles someday. GJ - UK

Africa premier Safari

End of June this year I hosted a fantastic trip all over Africa. An incredible safari jetting from one spectacular destination to the next. Victoria Falls, Chobe river boat cruizes, the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and lake Manyara National Park.  Seven flights, two boat trips, one Jetboat, one Hot air balloon trip, an elephant back safari, three countries, the big five and then the usual African cultural and biological diversity to add to the mix.  Here are a few images of our trip.

Our Safari started in the very smart Shongololo lounge waiting to board the flight to Livingstone

The first wildlife encounter on the Main road in Livingstone. 

Unique view of the worlds largest waterfall. the Victoria Falls from above the falls at Livingstone island.

Grumeti Elephant herd

After a long search me managed to find this Leopard at night, our second sighting of the most elusive of Africa's cats.

Doing wjhat lions do best. Relaxing!

View from our Hot Air Balloon. 

What the guests had to say.

June 2013

Dear Albie

Thank you so much for your generous hospitality. Your knowledge and love of Africa is simply amazing and has inspired us to come back again and again. Youyr kind gentle spirit serves you well as a tour guide and in life. You have truly made this once in a lifetime family vacation very special. You have been part of memories that will last a lifetime! Who will ever forget the Leopard and black Rhino adventures ??!  S&K T, Seattle Washington, USA.

The Creation of a Coalition

Two members of the young coalition on patrol. 

The wonder of working in nature is that you often get glimpses into an animals life. While I certainly do not dismiss the necessity of good photographic equipment I find wildlife hugely more exciting and interesting than even the most advanced camera systems or post processing tecniques. On this last trip to the Timbavati with Africa Photographic Travel I was once again reminded of that. Sightings were really fantastic both on a photographic level and we certainly had more than enough great subjects. Yet also lot of non-photographic excitement. No fewer than four individual leopards were seen including a female with cubs; two prides of lions and many more other interesting animals. Elephants came through our unfenced camp every single day and on my way back to my tent one night I was confronted with a female elephant only feet from my balcony (try slipping past that one ten o’clock at night!!). We also spent a very memorable morning with a buffalo herd probably a thousand strong as the came down to drink.  But the highlight of the weekend by far was finding what’s known as the Jacaranda lion pride as the sun came up one morning and witnessing one of natures’ subtle intricacies. Reading between the lines if you want?

Still to young to risk a loud roar that may attract large territorial males, the young males continuously uttered soft contact calls to one another as they moved through the bush

 My real amazement came when the character of the five young lions were revealed. To start with, a coalition of five lions is very impressive to start with and these associations become very quickly well known. Think of the Mapogos of the Sabi Sands or the legendary Notch and his sons that dominates the Mara at the moment.  But to get back to the Jacarande five. At one stage a lion call was heard in the distance and almost as one the pride got up and started towards the source of the sound. Although still relatively young the strength of the coalition and their determination to enforce their dominance was evident, almost as they already knew the strength lying in their numbers. At between three and four they are certainly not capable of overthrowing resident males but as time goes on they will certainly develop into a force to be reckoned with in this part of world. And a fascinating story to follow and document in years to come.

His youth still emphasized by his “Mowhawk” hairstyle a young lion strides purposefully toward the source of a possible intruder, utter determination evident in his stare.

The Matriarch of the pride also on the lookout for the distant intruder. 

Undoubtedly many dramas will unfold over the next few months and years, many of which under cover of darkness and out of sight of us humans. A few though will probably be witnessed during the very few serendipitous minutes guests and guides share natures’ stage with these iconic animals.