Victoria Falls, Chobe NP, Moremi GR, Jao and Khwai Concessions

[michael-ibk]

Well, even without mammals, the scenery is just lovely and a big attracion in its own right. Two nights sound just about right for a (very) wet camp like this.

[madaboutcheetah]

My thoughts the same as Michael's ........ Do they have any access to Hunda Island from Pelo camp?

[FlyTraveler]

My thoughts the same as Michael's ........ Do they have any access to Hunda Island from Pelo camp?

 

 

No, they don't. As far, as I know, Tubu Tree Camp is located on Hunda Island. No access to game drive activities from Pelo Camp. We had a game drive around the airstrip in Jao Camp on the next day, before our flight to Khwai airstrip.

 

The guide said that in August-September, when the water level is lower, there are various antelopes and elephants around. It is not a place for predators, though.

Edited August 12, 2014 by FlyTraveler

[FlyTraveler]

Morning motorboat safari out of Pelo Camp (Jao Concession). May 31, 2014

 

 

The previous night we had a great dinner under the stars - the only four guests in camp plus the manager Ruen and the guide John. BBQ with good wine plus nice talk about various African adventures. Then we fell asleep under the pleasant sounds of the bell frogs.

 

On the next morning we had early tea / coffee / snacks and left camp on the motorboat before sunrise.

 

 

Sunrise in the delta:

 

 

 

Landscapes:

 

 

 

 

 

Papyrus:

 

 

 

African darter (is it?) in flight:

 

 

 

Vervet monkeys:

 

 

 

[xyz99]

Sunrise, sunset in the delta...they are both amazing, thanks for sharing.

[FlyTraveler]

Morning motorboat safari out of Pelo Camp (Jao Concession). May 31, 2014

 

 

The only time I've seen a pair of African fish eagles (up to this moment):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then one of them flew away:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hadeda Ibis couple (thanks for your help with the ID-ing @michael-ibk):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 13, 2014 by FlyTraveler

[michael-ibk]

Because of the white stripe I´m pretty sure that´s a Hadeda Ibis (Bostrychia hagedash).

[FlyTraveler]

Because of the white stripe I´m pretty sure that´s a Hadeda Ibis (Bostrychia hagedash).

 

 

Thank you@@michael-ibk! Your help is as always appreciated!

[Marks]

Wonderful colors; so much green and blue (and then gold at sunset). I like the two eagles with their heads turned to one another.

[Peter Connan]

lovely photos. I particularly love your palm-tree silhouttes!

[madaboutcheetah]

lovely photos. I particularly love your palm-tree silhouttes!

+1

[FlyTraveler]

Thank you @@Marks, @@Peter Connan and @@madaboutcheetah!

[FlyTraveler]

Morning motorboat safari out of Pelo Camp (Jao Concession). May 31, 2014

 

 

Little bee-eater:

 

 

 

Water lilies:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another African fish eagle:

 

 

 

 

The entrance of Pelo Camp:

 

 

The lounge tent exterior:

[FlyTraveler]

Pelo Camp (Jao Concession). May 31, 2014

 

 

Some more photos from Pelo Camp. Since it is a new camp (opened last year), I assume that it will be interesting for most of you to get an idea about it.

 

 

View of the camp with the lounge (common) tent:

 

 

 

Lounge (common) tent interior:

 

 

 

 

 

 

The pier and the boma:

 

 

 

The pier with mokoros and a motorboat:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The boma with the bar (before the table is set up for dinner):

 

 

 

Daytime view from the boma:

[FlyTraveler]

Pelo Camp (Jao Concession). May 31, 2014

 

 

There was a resident Pel's fishing owl living in Pelo Camp:

 

 

 

 

 

In the afternoon Mrs. FlyTraveler took a mokoro trip in the delta while I stayed in camp to sort and back up the latest images plus I wanted to take sunset photos from the boma, where we were about to have dinner:

 

 

 

 

The table for dinner already set with candles and a million dollars view towards the sunset in the delta:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although the scenery and the atmosphere at the camp were amazing, we started missing seeing mammals ( we had not seen any for two days, except hippos). Our guide John said that August was the best time to visit camp - lower water levels and antelopes, elephants and migratory birds around, no such luck at the end of May, though. I managed to arrange with the manager Ruen to leave early in the morning for the Jao airstrip on the next day and to have two and a half hours game drive in the concession before our flight to Khwai airstrip.

[Marks]

Love the camp photos; it helps me imagine actually being there. And then another superb sunset!

[FlyTraveler]

Thanks @@Marks! I tried to give you an idea about this newly opened (last year) camp in the delta.

 

 

Motorboat transfer from Pelo Camp to Jao Reserve. June 01, 2014

 

 

Early in the morning we left Pelo Camp for a motorboat transfer to the Jao airstrip where we would do a game drive until it was time for the flights.

 

 

The camp manager Ruen seeing us off:

 

 

 

Last glance of Pelo Camp:

 

 

 

On the way to Jao Reserve we passed Jacana Camp (also operated by Wilderness Safaris):

 

 

 

I was finally able to get a descent shot of an African jacana:

Edited August 16, 2014 by FlyTraveler

[FlyTraveler]

Game Drive in Jao Reserve. June 01, 2014

 

 

We did a game drive in the reserve until it was time for our flights (about two and a half hours, enough time to enjoy the scenery and several wildlife sightings).

 

 

The first sighting was of a steenbok:

 

 

 

First red lechwes for us (not counting the ones that we saw from the helicopter several days earlier):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reedbuck for a very first time:

 

 

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

I enjoyed the watercamp, but good to see mammals again. Love the second reedbuck pic.

[TonyQ]

@@FlyTraveler

Good to see pictures of the camp - great sunsets (as usual from you!)

The lechwe are beautiful animals - god to see them.

[Sangeeta]

A really enjoyable photo journey, @@FlyTraveler! Just did a whole run through so you will have many 'likes' clogging up your notifications box

[FlyTraveler]

Thanks for the good words, @@michael-ibk, @@TonyQ and @@Sangeeta! Just three more days and one camp to go on this trip, should be able to finish the TR in a week...

[FlyTraveler]

Mack Air flight over the delta from Jao Reserve to Khwai airstrip. June 01, 2014

 

 

About fifteen minutes before our flight we arrived at the airstrip and soon heard the sound of an aircraft engine. A small Mack Air Cessna 206 Stationair arrived and it turned out that we were the only passengers for the flight. I could not think of a better way to celebrate our wedding anniversary than motorboating in the delta in the morning, having a game drive in Jao Reserve afterwords, flying just two of us (+ the pilot) over the delta and having a game drive in Khwai Concession in the afternoon plus a few gin-tonics at Sango Camp in the evening.

 

 

 

 

Dusty from Zimbabwe was our pilot:

 

 

Taking off from Jao airstrip:

 

 

 

 

Once again some aerial views of the delta (can't get enough of it):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dusty during the flight:

 

 

[FlyTraveler]

Mack Air flight over the delta from Jao Reserve to Khwai airstrip. June 01, 2014

 

 

On with our flight to Khwai airstrip. It was quite obvious that we were flying towards the periphery of the delta - less water and more dry land were visible down there.

 

 

 

 

 

An airstrip on Chief's Island:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The bridge over the Khwai river (on the further side of the river is Moremi GR, on the closer side is the Khwai community concession):

 

 

 

 

An aerial view of Sango Camp and Khwai river (this is where we'll be staying for three nights, our last camp on this trip):

 

 

 

 

Dusty landing the plane at the Khwai airstrip:

 

 

 

 

Dusty taking off with new passengers:

Edited August 17, 2014 by FlyTraveler

[Atravelynn]

I just finished the Chobe River Cruise. It was nonstop activity in lovely light. All the animals came out, but the eles really put on a show.