McNairn.INFO Phototechno Reflections Blog
<< Previous | Home | Next >>

PhotoTechno Reflections - To the bridge at Khwai

The road to Khwai took a few interesting turns, and there was more water than expected in general.  I'd been silently wondering where all these herds of Elephant were that Botswana was legendary for, seeing that they follow a regime that doesn't include culling.  Thus the population grows until the environment can no longer support it, declines, crashes and regrows.  The sort of management policy you can only consider when you have the vast tracts of land that allow some degree of migration ...... veterinary fences not withstanding.
Image:To the bridge at Khwai

When at last we got close to our first elephant (Loxodonta africana).  These magnificent creatures can reach up to 4.5meters tall in their 70 year life span, and this fellow was probably about 30 years old.  This was with the short end of the 100-400 mm lens so you can see he was quite close enough thank you.

Image:To the bridge at Khwai

Much later we came across our best chance of seeing a predator, possibly a lion, when we found these Impala frozen solid at the roadside.  They paid absolutely no attention to us and kept their eyes riveted on something in the deep bush that we could not discern.  We heard at camp later that night that there had been a 'kill' by some lion in this area late in the afternoon.

Image:To the bridge at Khwai

In the campsite the arrival party of Vervets (Cercopithecus aethiops), baboons and ground squirrels awaited, and we awaited the arrival of the 3rd family in our party, who, due to last minute business obligations, were only able to join us for the last part of the safari.

Image:To the bridge at Khwai

While waiting we enjoyed another marvellous sunset, but not before posing for our only family group portrait.  FLTR - Casey, Terry, myself, Ross, Julie, Jenni, Claire and Roger.  Then we settled down with the requisite sundown beverages (getting very low in supply by now) and waited for the sun to sink.

Image:To the bridge at Khwai

The cormorants made their timely arrival to settle down just as the last rays warmed their feathers.

Image:To the bridge at Khwai

Tomorrow we leave Moremi behind and cross the ominous Sand Ridge, headed for Savuti and more herds of Elephant.

Image:To the bridge at Khwai

[Complete Safari and wildlife photo index]
<< Previous | Home | Next >>

Permalink | Posted by: Ian at Tuesday, September 14th, 2004 21:45:00 | Location: Khwai, Botswana | Category:  Botswana Safari  AddThis Social Bookmark Button
Search

Comments


[1] ~the 3rd to last shot is killer
Created 15/9/04 1:33:25 by btezra
(http://www.whatthehellhappenedlastnight.com/photos/)

~the 3rd to last shot is killer for content & DOF, maybe a bit lacking in contrast or a bit of play w/the curves in PShop...jump on the unsharp mask for a bit more detail IMHO...the image of the elephant looks as if it is coming right at me...whoa, talk about visual impact~



TURINGtest.jpg
Add Comment
 
In order to avoid spamming, I have set a delay on publishing comments until I have screened them, so please don't be concerned if your comment doesn't appear immediately AND I have added this validation test. Please could you type the symbols that you see in this image as the first word in your subject. I can then pick out real comments from the spam much more easily.
 
Subject:
   
Name:
E-mail:
Web Site:
 
Comment:  (No HTML - Links will be converted if prefixed http://)
 
Remember Me?