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“Pic of the Week”, July 27, 2017: Saddle-bill Stork, Botswana
Among many wonderful memories of being on safari in Botswana are those of its many magnificent birds. These include our featured subject, the saddle-bill stork, which lives in sub-Saharan Africa.
These are huge long-legged birds, attaining a height of almost 5 ft (150 cm) and weighing up to 17 lbs (8 kg). The birds have a wingspan of up to 9 ft (2.7m), so they are easy to spot at a distance. They are tallest and most vividly colored of Africa’s storks. The tend to live on at the edge of forests, where they have access to tall trees (on which they build their nests) and marshes (wherein they feed). Their diet includes fish, beetles, frogs, reptiles and small mammals.
The bird’s …
Jul 28, 2017
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.All Trips / Africa / Botswana
“Pic of the Week”, July 28, 2016: African Elephants
Elephants have fascinated me since I was a child. You can enjoy them at the circus, in documentaries and zoos, but to really appreciate elephants you need to observe them in the wild. They are majestic and entertaining, and will capture your full attention. Their cute little ones will steal your heart.
African elephants are the largest land animals currently living on our planet. They have massive ears shaped like the continent on which they live (and which are larger than the auricular appendages of their Asian cousins). Because of their size, they consume a lot of food, about 300 pounds (136 kilograms) a day. They are social creatures, with females and the young roaming in herds, but bulls tending to …
“Pic of the Week”, May 1, 2015: Paw-prints in the sand, Botswana
There’s something about the presence of a lion that tickles the primitive warning centers of our brain. I guess it’s the old “prey” warning in us, because the hair began to rise on the back of my neck when I saw these paw-prints in the sand.
We were up for an early morning game drive and not far from our cabin I encountered these paw-prints. They were huge — the diameter of a small grapefruit! They clearly had been made by a big cat, likely a lion (possibly a leopard, I suppose). No one had seen or heard the animal during the night and we had no idea where it was, although I imagine it was well on its way by …
“Pic of the Week”, November 21, 2014. Scarlet-Breasted Bee-Eater, Chobe National Park, Botswana
One of the most beautiful birds I’ve seen in years is the scarlet-breasted bee-eater. These birds were quite common in Botswana, especially in Chobe National Park, and they’d often flash by us pursuing insects (they really are bee eaters).
This particular bird was a poser. He sat in a branch near our vehicle while on a game-drive and let us take as many pictures of him as we wanted. Then, in a flash of color, he was gone, although I got a decent photo of him on his way out.
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge, right arrow to advance)
Nov 20, 2014
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“Pic of the Week”, August 8, 2014: African Buffalo, Sandibe concession, Botswana
One of the most memorable half hours I’ve ever spent on safari was watching this herd of buffalo cross the Okavango Delta. It was just before sunset and the light was soft and magical, what John Steinbeck liked to call, “the hour of the pearl”. We approached the buffalo herd downwind so they couldn’t pick up our scent, but they were aware of our presence. The larger, stronger animals came to the front of the herd and made a living wall between us and the smaller and weaker buffalo. There they stood, trying to see us (they have bad vision) and smell us, and we sat back taking it all in, enjoying this magnificent spectacle of nature!
(Click on thumbnails to …
Aug 7, 2014
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“Pic of the Week”. May 9, 2014. Baobob Trees, Botswana
One of the iconic symbols of Africa is the baobob tree (although a species of it also grows in Australia). Shaped somewhat like a bottle, with a broad trunk and sharply narrowed top, the trees can reach up to 30 meters (100′) in height and can hold lots of water — a distinctive advantage in the dry season. They are said to be long-lived, perhaps even thousands of years old if left undisturbed (although they are not that well studied and rarely survive to old age in continental Africa). Baobob trees have a short leaf season and most often you’ll see the trees without any leaves.
It’s a bit of a thrill to see these trees, not unlike seeing a …
May 8, 2014
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“Pic of the Week”. March 7, 2014: Impala, Okavango Delta, Botswana
One of the pleasures of going on safari is being out in the field when the sun rises. The soft light is magical and, of course, at this time of day there’s lots of game about.
That’s when this photo was taken. A beautiful young impala buck in the soft light of dawn! A perfect African moment.
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge, right arrow to advance)
Mar 6, 2014
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“Pic of the Week”. April 26, 2013. Giraffes, Okavango Delta, Botswana
Giraffes are almost as entertaining as elephants. Seemly awkward with their thin spindly legs, halting gait and l-o-n-g necks, they have a gentle nature that I find appealing. A few interesting facts about giraffes:
– They are the tallest terrestrial mammal, standing 5-6 m. (16-20′), with males weighing up to 1500 kg (3500 pounds). Baby giraffes are born almost 2 meters (6′) tall!
– They have long purple tongues — long enough with which to touch their ears. Scientists think their tongue is colored to help protect it from sunburn. Giraffes eat 35 kg of vegetation a day, virtually all torn off by their purplish tongues.
– They sleep only 30 minutes a day! If they were lawyers, that would leave them almost 24 hours …
