Botswana November 2023
For nearly 3 weeks we stayed in lodges - all different and unique. The weather was extremely hot with daytime temperatures ranging from 39 - 43 Celsius.
Our first 5 days were in Mashatu Euphorbia staying in the luxury Euphorbia Villas. It was here that we saw our only family of Cheetahs and experienced wildlife from a hide. What an experience to see wildlife at eye level as they drank from the waterhole. Then onto Dukes Camp in the Northern Okavango Delta for 3 nights, Hyena Pan for 2 nights where we did an aerial photography shoot over the Okavango Delta in an helicopter. Our last camp was for 4 nights in Little Sable Camp. In this section you will find blocks of photos starting with Lions, followed by Elephants, Leopards, Giraffes, Cheetahs, Zebra’s, Other animals and Insects, Birds and finally sunsets and aerials.
Lions in Botswana were a delight to observe. From the majestic males to the playful cubs.
Alert while drinking
Checking what is around
Approaching
Battle Scars
Battered Teeth
At my level
Bushy Mane
Caught in Light
Coming towards me
Golden Light
Early Morning Light on Mane
Drink in Morning Light
Dripping Water after Drink
Eye contact
Glowing Mane
In Charge
Majestic
Male Lion in Botswana
Male Lion Resting
Marking his Territory
Old Male Lion
Orange Mane and Eyes
Reflecting in Water
Sitting in Dappled Light
So Close
Sleeping
Staring
Pride on the Prowl
The Stare
Sunset Glow
Very Close to Me
Walking in Golden Light
Stretched Out
Cub Resting
Beautiful eyes
A cute cub on a dead tree
Resting on Paw
Hiding in Tree
Play time
Sibling Love
Cubs watching from dead tree
Cubs with old bone
Keep Climbing
Licking the lips
Now my turn
One with old bone
Sharing a bone
Three cubs on dead tree
Trouble brewing
Two Together
Watching and Ready
The Elephants were plentiful and of all sizes and ages. Watching them with their calves, having a drink, enjoying a bath and then showering themselves with dirt was special. When we were in a hide, we were at water level and often had elephants within a few metres of our viewing area. With daytime temperatures ranging from 39 to 43 degrees the water holes were full of activity.
A very muddy face
Mum I can hear you
Bath Time
Big Flappy Ears
Calf Drinking in Botswana Wilderness
Dominant Male
Dwarfed by Mum
Ears Bigger than Head
Enjoying a drink
Is she smiling
Foot on Log
Having a muddy splash
In the Water
Lots of Splashes
Male Arriving
Move Little One
Mud on Me and Mum
Muddy Water Splashing
Mum and Tiny Calf
Plenty of dirt
Rushing to Water
Coming up the hill
Running by
That was good
Trunk and Legs
Trunks and Tasks
Shallow Water Hole
Shiny Skin
Trying hard to catch up
Tasks touching
Spreading Dirt
Squirting Muddy Water
Twisting Trunk
Very tiny calf
Caked with Mud
Climbing out of muddy water hole
Mud Bath
One Leg out
Raining mud
Bull Elephant Striding Forward
Evening visit to Waterhole
Panorama’s of the water holes using a wide angle lens
Legs and Trunks
Ten at waterhole
Elephant fun in Botswana
More coming
Baby Leading
Action at Waterhole
All enjoying a drink
Enjoying a drink at the waterhole
Is there room
Waterhole in Botswana
Elephant approaches
Moving as one
Seeing Leopards in the wild was an experience I’ll never forget. We saw them hunting, providing food for their cubs, mating and resting.
Panting as he watches
Mmm something tasty in sight
Looking to the left
Any Mongoose inside
By the Ant Hill
Resting in Shade
Mating Leopards
Female Snarling
After Mating Growl
Female Growling
Male Dominating
Fur Stuck in Mouth
Survival
Cub Eating
Lots of Pulling
Meal over
Close to Mum
Cleaning Cub
Love My Mum
Found a place to sleep
Great Bed
Face in Golden Light
Great Bed
Face in Golden Light
Balancing on branch
Leopard panting
Giraffes- majestic, tall and gangly when having drink.
Family of Giraff
Crossed
Big, Bigger and Little
All coming for a drink
All needing a drink
Legs spread to drink
Dribble from Drink
Blowing Water
Water Falling
Oxpecker and Giraffe
Nine Oxpecker finding food
Giraffe Feeding
Giraffe
We only found one family of Cheetahs. This family were in Mashatu. Mashatu was our first location and we enjoyed 5 days in this stunning location staying at the luxury Mashatu Euphorbia Villas.
Adult Cheetahs on guard
Very Alert
Getting Ready with a Stretch
Back Lighting on Cheetah
Cheetah on the move
Watch and Wait
Close by Mum
Healthy, active Zebras were found throughout our various locations.
Lone Zebra
Impala stirring up dust
Drinking at dusty waterhole
Their turn to drink
Impala waiting
Zebra Drinking
Attack
African Zebra Playfight
Tangled
Enough Fighting
Golden Back Light on Baby Zebra
Four not Three
Mother and Calf
Nose to Nose
A snapshot of other animals and insects we saw on our trip
Common Eland
Looking
Impala Drinking
Jumpy
Kneeling to drink
Jackal with left overs
Many Mongoose
Droplets of Water
Monkey fight in Dust
Going No Where
On a Lilly pad
Food from Decaying Hippo
Pretty Dragon Fly
Wildebeest with Impala Waiting
One Oxpecker with Eland
Oxpecker Singing
Steenbok
Seven Thirsty African Wild Dogs
Light on Back
Ready for Action
Hyena
Hyena's having a fight
Fighting while one watches
Hyena fight in dirt
Legs in Air
Morning Sun on Red Lechwe Antelope
Golden Mane
Squirrel Descending
Tender Moment
Red Lechwe and calf
A good place to find food
African Wild Dogs
Alert
Been in a battle
Portrait of an African Wild Dog
Impala fighting
Kneeling to drink
Making a splash
Muddy legs
Off the ground
Running fast
Sable Antelope with Oxpecker
Three Sable Antelope
Steenbok
Two Buffalo
Two Waterbuck
Warthog
Wildebeest with calves
Just a few of the birds we saw on the trip
A visit from a Southern Red Billed Thornbill
African Fish Eagle in Flight
African Hoopee
African Openbill
Backlit Ducks
Blue Waxbill
Burchell Coucal
Carmine Bee Eater
Focused Hamerkop
Helmeted Guinea Fowl
Jacobin Cuckoo having a drink
Good Catch
Jacobin Cuckoo
Critically Endangered Wattle Crane
A big stretch
Kingfisher in a twirl
Kingfisher in slow motion
Kingfisher with reflection
Mara Bou Stork
Beak full of water
Lilac Breasted Roller in Flight
Little Bee Eater
Malachite Kingfisher
Male Kori Bustard
Pair of Saddle Billed Storks
Pearl Spotted Owlet
Striped Kingfisher
Swainson Spur Fowl on Mound
Two Bee Eaters
Verreaux Eagle Owl
Vulture Silhouette
Vulture with Carcass
Wattled Crane
Woodland Kingfisher
African Fish Eagle
Yellow Billed Kite
Brown Snake Eagle in Grass
Coming in land
Yellow Billed Storks
Digging for food
Long Claws
Together
Many at this wetland
Singing on top of mound
Camouflage
Sunsets and Sunrises
Bird Flying by
Just and edge of sun
Large golden sun
Sun Setting over African Plain
Sun Setting
Sunset
Morning Sky
Golden Clouds
Reflections at sunset
Sunset over Wetlands
Aerial photos taken over Okavango Delta
Animal Tracks
Dry Waterhole
Waterhole in dry season
Not much shade
Trying to keep cool
Eating at base of Ant Hill
Before the rain
Trees spring to life after rain
A great place to feed
Egret flying over water
Food along edge of water
Hippos
Lush grass in Delta
Many Colours
Many eyes watching
Narrow Streams of Water
Paths to water
Perfect place to live
Red Lechwe and birds
Water in Delta
Red Lechwe Okavango Delta
Tuffs of Grass