Tag: Sunsets

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Chobe 2024, Day 6

On our last full day, we once again had an early start, leaving the hotel at 5:30. We entered the park by a different route to the previous times. First stopping by a group of zebra for a few photos, we continued on to a watering hole, where we saw a Kori bustard, browsing in the tall grass, with beautiful golden light from the rising sun.

A long, sandy road followed, where the main attraction was a couple of squirrels in a tree stump, who kept us entertained for a while

We had heard the previous day that there were lions around a giraffe kill and went in search. Most of the lions had clearly already eaten their fill and departed. From the smell, it was clear that this was no fresh kill, but a lioness and her cubs were still hanging around, while all around, vultures were patiently waiting in the trees

After a coffee stop, I got to practice some more lilac-breasted roller shots. One day I will get the perfect one…

A chameleon showed unexpected speed and we just managed to grab a few quick shots before it disappeared into the vegetation

The afternoon session on the river started with a search for Jacanas. Along the way we also found another Malachite kingfisher

I can never get enough of the African fish eagles, such impressive birds

A Woodland kingfisher was a pleasant surprise

Red-billed oxpeckers were playing on the buffaloes

Once again, the Chobe sunset delivered, with elephants, crocodiles and hippos all playing their part

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Chobe February 2024 Day 2

Day 2 saw us making a very early start, awake at 4:15 in the morning, editing some photos and video from Day 1, coffee and a light breakfast at 5:00 and a 5:30 departure to Chobe National Park gate in the game drive vehicle.

Our first sighting of the day, was a group of Southern ground hornbills. It was still quite dark, but we did manage to get a shot or two

Next up, was a pretty grumpy looking lion, who wasn’t overly impressed with the vehicles filled with humans, crowding him and soon disappeared into the bush

We saw numerous Marabou storks, not the prettiest birds, probably best looked at in black & white

Various bee-eaters, lilac-breasted rollers and a few baboons made up the rest of the morning

In the afternoon, we were back to the river. Once again a rainstorm came through, delaying our departure. This time, though, we were also caught by a second rainstorm which caught us on the river, just as we were about to start. We quickly had to cover all our camera gear and ourselves with rainproof covers and ponchos (thanks Sabine for the photo). 

A malachite kingfisher was also taking shelter from the rain under a tree. 

Once the rainstorm passed, we proceeded with the afternoon’s photography activities on the river, again seeing an abundance of bird life, including bee-eaters, African darter, egrets and fish eagles

Baboons, as always, contributed to the afternoon’s entertainment

Crocodiles, dragonflies and hippo’s were not to be ignored

The afternoon ended with a spectacular sunset

Back at the hotel, Robson did not let us down and we had an excellent supper, before getting back to work, downloading, culling, selecting and editing our photos of the day.

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Kruger National Park Day 9

Follow the link to Day 8 and from there, links to the previous days.

Our last full day in the Park turned out to be a scorching hot day, the temperature reaching 41 degrees Celsius. The animals seemed to have gone into hiding in these conditions.

Fortunately the birds were still out and about. We encountered a Gray Go-away bird, Red-billed Hornbill, Brown-headed Parrot, Hoopoe Cardinal Woodpecker and a Southern Ground Hornbill, bearing gifts for his girlfriend, amongst others.

Stopping on a bridge, we saw multiple birds enjoying the small pools of water in the river bed and sitting around in the trees next to the water. A Fish Eagle came sweeping in a few times.

Eventually the Saddle-billed Stork decided to take flight

Further along, we saw a Tree agama and a Water monitor. Clearly the reptiles didn’t mind the heat.

A fight between two impala rams, to add to the elephant and kudu fight scenes of Day 7

After our morning drive, it was time to pack up and head out from Berg-en-Dal, back to Skukuza, completing our round trip of the southern part of the Park. Along the way we stopped at Afsaal for their famous roosterkoek, which we thoroughly enjoyed.

After checking in at Skukuza and resting a bit to recover from the heat of the day, it was time for an afternoon drive. We encountered a lone hyena, lazing about next to the road, a pair of Purple Rollers who properly frustrated my attempts at taking photos of them in flight, but at least gave me opportunity to photograph them sharing an insect and European Bee-eaters, who were once again too fast and unpredictable for me to photograph in flight.

An elephant came strolling along, first spraying itself with water at a water hole close to the road and then casually strolling up to a tree and pushing it over.

Video by Liana

Once more we had a magnificent sunset.

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Kruger National Park Day 8

Follow the links to Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6 and Day 7

We made another early start, leaving the camp at 5:30. A few kilometers into the day, we had a magnificent sighting of two lionesses with six cubs, lying next to the road.

After a while, they decided to cross the road. It was amazing to see the two mothers escort the little ones across the road, one leading and one at the back, ensuring that all were safe before proceeding into the grass on the other side. Once across, they lay down again for a while, allowing some family portraits, before disappearing into the bush.

After a quick coffee stop, we proceeded to explore the southwestern part of the park. This turned out to be a day of families and birds. We soon saw a troupe of baboons, who gave us another opportunity to take a family portrait.

We saw a number of birds, including a Hamerkop, Diederick cuckoo, a Crested Barbet, several Hornbills and many others.

Some rhino’s kept us entertained. It is just so sad to see these magnificent animals all dehorned in order to protect them from poachers.

A Dwarf Mongoose waved at us from his rocky perch.

After a few hours rest back at camp, we left for a late afternoon drive. We soon saw a Wahlberg’s Eagle taking off from a low tree next to the road.

We were surprised by a swarm of European Bee-eaters. Despite multiple attempts, I was unable to photograph one of these birds in flight, they are just too small and fast, with unpredictable flight patterns. Thus, I had to be satisfied with a shot of one sitting on a thorn tree branch.

The day ended with a magnificent sunset.

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Kruger National Park – Day 3

Day 1 is here

Day 2 is here

Day 3 was an early start, queuing at the camp gate at 5:30 to be on the road at sunrise, exploring the area north of Satara, towards Olifants camp.

This turned out to be the day on which we found Wild dogs, after a long search, despite having been informed of their exact location. We eventually found them late morning, resting in deep shade among the trees, very hard to spot. As a result this was not an ideal photographic opportunity, but managed to take a few pics, just to document that we had seen them.

Much of the morning and later also the late afternoon was spent trying to photograph birds in flight, with limited success.

First, a pair of Fish Eagles at the viewing site at Olifants rest camp

Several attempts at Lilac Breasted Rollers (Troupant)

White-browed Coucal (Vleiloerie)

Southern Ground Hornbill

During the course of the day, we also saw quit a few elephants, a hyena, Kori Bustard, Red crested korhaan, Waterbuck, kudu

and a bit frustratingly, given my dislike of baboons, probably my best photo of the day, a troupe of baboons in a tree at Olifants bridge.

We also managed to get a family portrait of some lions in the grass,

saw some elephants crossing the Olifants river

and played around with some landscape and sunset/sunburst photos.

We ended the day with some venison sausage and chicken kebabs on the braai.

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Stormy afternoon in Gqeberha (16-09-2023)

On a weekend of storms along the South African coast, coinciding with spring tide, much damage was suffered along the coast, but there was also spectacular beauty to be found.

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Botswana 2022 (Part 4): Mashatu

Part 1: Nata and Maun

Part 2: Pangolin Voyager Houseboat

Part 3: Pangolin Chobe Hotel

After a refreshing overnight stop at Cresta Marang Gardens Francistown, we had an early morning departure for Mashatu. Parking at Limpopo Valley airfield, we were fetched by our friendly guide for the duration, Lovemore (Lovies), who took us to our accomodation at Tuli Safari Lodge Mashatu

After settling into our very comfortable tented room, we went for high tea, followed by a game drive with Lovies and our tracker, Pontsho, seeing some very lazy lionesses with their young,

followed by another spectacular sunset, this time spent with some giraffe.

We were treated to a bush dinner with Tuli Safari Lodge’s “moving tables”.

The next morning was another early morning start with a full day of morning and afternoon game drives, including the leopard sighting I had been hoping for

For our last morning at Mashatu, we had booked a session in the photographic hide, where we had the most amazing experience, with two hyenas coming to play in the water hole. They eventually came right up to the hide and seemed quite curious about our camera equipment.

Be sure to watch Liana’s video in full size on YouTube by clicking the “Watch on YouTube” button

Some more photos from the hide

On our way back from the hide to the lodge, another surprise awaited us

By now we were utterly exhausted and chose to forego the last evening’s game drive in favour of some rest, before tackling the long road home the next day.

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Kgalagadi and Mokala May 2022

Xaus

Kalahari sunsets

Birds

Martial Eagles building a home

Birds in flight

Small things

Cats

Giraffe eating a tsamma melon

Interesting interaction

Seeing stars

And some more animals

On to Mokala with another stunning sunset and more stars

Animal sightings in Mokala