Botswana 2022 (Part 3): Pangolin Photo Safaris: Pangolin Chobe Hotel

Part 1 here

Part 2 here

After arriving at the hotel and settling into our rooms, Grant spent some time giving those of us who wanted some photo editing tips. I found this tremendously helpful and any editing mistakes you spot in my photos are purely due to my inexperience, certainly not his lack of teaching.

After tea, it was time for a game drive in Chobe National Park

Following the game drive, the group decided unanimously that we wanted to swop the next morning’s game drive for another photo boat excursion. The sightings from the boats seemed to be better and on the boats one could avoid the heat and dust encountered on the game drive vehicles.

A long time spent trying to photograph Carmine bee-eaters the next morning mainly taught me that I need a lot more practice with the small, fast moving birds.

Liana’s video gives an idea of the quick and unpredictable movements of the bee-eaters.

The afternoon brought elephants against a lovely sunset

The last morning at Pangolin for myself and Liana (we had to depart early the next morning and thus miss the last excursion), gave us more hippos, crocodiles, birds and a tigertail dragonfly. Thanks to Grant for showing me how to get rid of that irritating blade of grass over the croc’s mouth.

The elephants of Chobe never failed to keep us entertained and Liana had more than enough material for a few elephant videos (make sure you have sound on for the videos)

On our last afternoon we thought some elephants might join us in the photo boat,

spent some more time with the elephants, skimmers and an Openbill stork,

and watched another spectacular sunset with a bromance between two elephants, observed by us and some buffalo.

A spectacular end to a spectacular 6 days with Pangolin and Grant Atkinson. The next morning, while the rest of the group went on one last photo excusion, we departed for Francistown, on our way to Mashatu.

Part 4: Mashatu

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