BOTSWANA EXPLORER June 2017 Trip Report
We have just ended the first of two Botswana Explorer photographic safaris that are taking place this year. This photo tour is a 10 day trip that takes you to the very best that Botswana has to offer from a wildlife photography point of view and this adventure has been filled with opportunities that our guests have enjoyed and captured with heir cameras.
To be more specific . . . we have covered the best sections of the Khwai Private Concession, Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe National Park. Our base in the delta was Sable Alley Camp and in Chobe we chose the Chobe Princess.
As far as photography goes we had amazing opportunities with Wild Dogs, Lions, Red Lechwe, Elephants and Fish Eagles to point out a few and all this despite the fact that the recent unusual rains have filled up waterholes causing game to be slightly disperse which always complicates finding animals as water was available and did not force them to the usual water sources used during this time of the year in the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park. I will be featuring the photographic highlights of each day which does not been mean it was all we saw . . .
All images by Mario Moreno Photography
Day 1 - To spend some time with these amazing creatures is truly humbling. It would not be the only time we bumped into them.
Day 2 - The afternoon session presented some fantastic low level photography from a boat. The resident hippos were quite cooperative.
Day 3 - Three Dagga Boys in the morning drive. They were curious to see what we were about. The mopani trees in this area gave us a nice colorful background.
Day 3 - A pack of 14 dogs returning home after a successful afternoon hunt. This was special to witness . . .
Day 4 - On our photographic safaris we pay a lot of attention to the smaller and more common species. In this case a Lilac Breasted Roller catching a frog. Today was a full day out to explore the Moremi Game Reserve.
Day 4 - The Red Lechwe is a semi aquatic antelope only found in this African region. It was great to see them relaxed and in their natural habitat.
Day 4 - You cannot let an opportunity like this pass. A Baboon in fabulous light really "relaxed" and posing for the camera.
Day 5 - The icing on the cake was to find the 3 resident male lions on the last game drive in Khwai. We had seem them the previous day at a dead elephant carcass but the photo opportunities did not present themselves as well as they did this morning.
Day 5 - Our afternoon game cruise on the specialized photographic boat was off to a good start . . . lots of elephants and birds but this full frame shot of a Pied Kingfisher with a 300mm focal length tells how close you can get tp these feathered creatures.
Day 6 - Today was definitely "Elephant Day" as you would expect in Chobe. This guy was having the time of his life while enjoying his mud bath.
Day 6 - Chobe in the golden hour is unique and in this frame I captured amazing silhouettes as we positioned the boat to shoot into the light.
Day 7 - This is the one sighting you would not expect when on the boat in Chobe National Park as they do not often come down to the river. This was A M A Z I N G . . . Three male Lions patrolling the river and roaring as loud as they possibly could. what a moment !
Day 8 - This image was captured standing up on the front of the boat using a 16-35mm f2.8L . . . Do we get close to elephants or what ?? Chobe always produces stunning hard to beat elephant photography.
Day 8 - Seeing an African Fish Eagle in action blows your mind. Captured from the specialized photographic boat.
Day 9 - Capturing birds in flight is easy in Chobe as there are hundreds of opportunities
The luxury tent we used during our time in the Okavango Delta.
