Savuti, in these times of drought

[Bush dog]

After so many years, it seems difficult to actually make a report, so many details having disappeared from my memory since. So, it will mainly be pictures (scans of slides) with a few comments.

 

Let’s start with pictures taken in September 2001.

 

I do not remember how many they were, on and alongside the road but let us say something between twenty five and thirty.

 

 

In those days, Savute was an extremely dry area. The marsh was no more, and not yet again, a marsh. As at Hwange, drilling had been carried out but most of the pumps were down and maintenance services were not very efficient. As a result, some camps had carried out their own drilling in front of their facilities. In a sense, they had few other alternatives to prevent lions but mainly elephants from coming daily to drink the pool water. That was the case with Savuti Safari Lodge, where I was. A pride of lions had settled on the outskirts of the lodge. We could hear them roaring every night. At any time, returning to or leaving a room was like playing hide-and-seek with them.

 

They were not the only ones looking for the few water sources, the birds also like this Meyer’s parrot.

 

[Bush dog]

Some more pictures of September 2001.

 

 

The exuberant pallet of colors of the lilac-breasted roller.

 

 

More lions, they were everywhere.

 

 

A bird for the cat, this tawny eagle had a broken wing.

 

 

This leopard was one of the two I saw during my three trips to Savuti. In those days, leopards were extremely difficult to spot.

 

[offshorebirder]

Very nice photos Mike - as usual. The detail on the young male lion is very nice.

 

Thanks for sharing the walk down memory lane.

[pault]

"Interesting" safari vehicle in ojne picture. Must have been a bit warm in bright sunshine next to the glass! Were they from a camp or doing an overland?

 

Good stuff - even if you can't remember everything, just tell what you can. The water situation is already an interesting detail. S

[Bush dog]

@@offshorebirder

 

Thank you to accompany me down this lane.

[Bush dog]

@@pault

 

Thanks!

 

If I remember quite well, that kind of vehicle was not from a camp. That type is used by groups on mobile safaris and can have a longer chassis to increase the number of seats.

[Geoff]

Nice owl pic.

[Bush dog]

Surprisingly, in July 2000, Savuti was still very green. In July 2004, it was drier. Why? At the end of February 2000, the cyclone Eline struck South Africa and its neighboring countries, accompanied by heavy rains that did not stop falling during the following months, causing heavy flooding and the deaths of dozens of people.

 

Pictures taken in July 2000.

 

 

The marsh.

 

 

Lions, of course.

 

[Big_Dog]

Superb. Awesome, vintage photos from a legendary place. Love the little cheeky parrot!
What camera / lens were you using then also, may I ask?

[Bush dog]

@@Big_Dog

 

Thanks a lot!

 

The Savuti of those days, a legendary place indeed and still one of my favorite places. I sometimes wonder why I did not go back since 2004. Perhaps I was and still am afraid that it might have changed so much, with the return of the water, and be disappointed. I'm surprised that it is not in favour with most of the members of this forum.

 

You may, of course, ask what material I was using at that time. It was for sure Canon and if I remember quite well, the lenses were a 600 F4 and a 70-200 F 2,8 and the camera a EOS 1V HS.

[xelas]

@@Bush dog

 

Great memories, and great examples that good photography did not start with 5o+ megapixel sensors!!

 

As we have about 17 years of travels on slides, I am interested to learn what did you use to scan yours? Any tip re. hardware and software to be used? I am becoming increasingly worried that I will be too late and all good hardware will vanish.

[Game Warden]

@@Bush dog There's a quality about the scans which reminds me of the wildlife images in older National Geographics. You mention the camera body and lens combo, what was the slide film and which lens filters did you use back in the day, if any?

 

Thanks, Matt.

[Bush dog]

@@xelas

 

To scan my old slides, I use EPSON Perfection V600 Photo.

[Bush dog]

@@Game Warden

 

I do not and never used any lens filters. Though in a few occasions, I was also using Ektachrome, the slide films were, most of the time, Fuji Sensia and Provia and sometimes Astia.

[Bush dog]

July 2000, some more lions

 

 

And birds & a lizzard (try to find it)

 

[Big_Dog]

Little lizard poking out to the right of the broken branch on the left?

More excellent pics. Savuti is indeed legend, some of my favourite docus from Dereck and Beverly Joubert come from there. It has always sounded like an incredible place. @@Game Warden also hits the nail on the head, with these older pics looking like classic wildlife photography with a warm, vintage appeal that is hard to put into words.

[Bush dog]

@@Big_Dog

 

Well done and thank you for your comments. It was an incredible place. Now, I do not know how it's looking like but I guess it must still be a pla

[Bush dog]

@@Big_Dog

 

Hoops! I pushed on a wrong key. Let's finish the sentence of #17

 

............be a place to visit.

[Bush dog]

Some last pictures from July 2000.

 

 

And to close the thread, a few pictures of July 2004.