Lower Zambezi : River & Forests

[Bush dog]

@Towlersonsafari

 

Well, I tried to do my best.  Anyway, thanks a lot for your kind words.

[Bush dog]

Some pictures of animals on the banks of the Zambezi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lions at the beach.  After beating the two youngsters, the three big boys from Jeki Stayed a couple of days in the area.

 

 

 

 

For its part, the female that was mating with those two youngsters does not seem to enjoy the beach and adopts an attitude of distrust towards a vehicle different from those of the camps, in the occurrence a dark blue 4x4 sport utility vehicle. 

 

[gatoratlarge]

such gorgeous photos -- so often we zero in with the zoom but I like it especially when the animal is shown in their element which you do (both) so well---thanks for sharing!

[Bush dog]

@gatoratlarge

 

Thanks a lot for you kind comments!

[Bush dog]

Pictures taken around the pools.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TonyQ]

Your photos of animals in their environment are beautiful

[Bush dog]

Some more animals in their environment.  Always elephants!  This time along the canals (not yet dried up) stretching inland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rock & roll party

 

[Bush dog]

 

@TonyQ

 

Thank you, very happy that you appreciate my animals in their environment especially since it is not really my specialty.  It is true that it is very difficult to miss the beauty of this place.

[marg]

@Bush dog...your reports and photos are always great!  Thanks!!!!

[madaboutcheetah]

@Bush dog - Hi Mike, what lovely images!!! LZNP looks amazing! 

[Bush dog]

@marg And your words and comments are always kind!  Thanks a lot!

[Bush dog]

@madaboutcheetah

 

Hi Hari, thanks!  Lower Zambezi is indeed mesmerizing.  I might go back next year in May and see it when it's greener.

[Bush dog]

Last batch of birds

 

African jacanas

 

 

 

Crested guineafowl

 

 

Ground hornbill face and profile

 

 

 

Crowned hornbill

 

 

Grey heron

 

 

Egyptian goose

 

 

Striped kingfisher

 

[Bush dog]

I've forgotten one.

 

African fish eagle

 

 

 

[Hads]

Cracking set of photo's thanks @Bush dog, That hippo on the bank has a few battle scars.

[Zubbie15]

Lovely pictures of a place I hope to get to sometime soon @Bush dog! 

[Bush dog]

@Hads

 

Thanks, the diving one at #19 has also quite a number of scars.

[Bush dog]

@Zubbie15

 

Thanks a lot!

 

[Bush dog]

Portraits of dagga boys

 

 

 

 

Dwarf mongooses

 

 

 

Greater kudus

 

 

 

Elephant in the water along the bank

 

 

 

Bushbuck ram

 

 

One of the two young lions and the other female, members of the small pride I mentioned in the beginning of this report

 

[offshorebirder]

I am just catching up on this trip report @Bush dog.    Great photos as always Mike.  Too many good ones to praise individually, but very nice work on the  Ground Hornbills, Crested  Guineafowl and Crowned Hornbills.  Those can often be be tricky to photograph well.

 

I just returned from Zambia - a few days ago @inyathi and I were adjacent to the area you mentioned (as close as the Chongwe River where Chiawa GMA borders LZNP).    I  was also captivated by the wildlife and the Zambezi River - we are already plotting  our return!

 

 

Edited December 8, 2019 by offshorebirder

[Bush dog]

I kept, to close this report, what I consider to be the best photos of this trip.  This is a series of five images of the same elephant taking pleasure in taking a large bath of dust.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you to all those who have done me the honor to follow this report or more simply all those who have shown interest in it.  Merry Christmas and happy new year 2020 (among others rewarding safaris) to you all.

[Bush dog]

@offshorebirder

 

Thanks, Nathan.  I saw only three species of hornbills, those two and the trumpeter.  Crowned hornbills were everywhere and so there were enough opportunities to at least have a couple of decent shots.  On the other hand, the trumpeter is extremely difficult to photograph.  I did not manage to get a single shot of it. 

How was your trip?  I guess you will soon, at least when possible, post a report together with @inyathi.

[offshorebirder]

8 minutes ago, Bush dog said:

How was your trip?  I guess you will soon, at least when possible, post a report together with @inyathi.

 

Our trip was fantastic  @Bush dog, thanks for asking.  Yes, the idea we have in mind is to do an "alternating perspectives" style trip report in the near future.  I enjoy that style when others use it so I hope it turns out OK.

 

Edited December 8, 2019 by offshorebirder

[AKR1]

Mike, I also just caught up with this lovely report- thanks for sharing these magnificent images and taking us along on your trip through your trip report. 
Amongst your many memorable photographs the diving hippo sequence, several shots of the Jeki area and individual portraits of animals stood out for me. But overall, the images of animals, particularly the elephants in the beautiful  natural environment of the lower Zambezi with Zambezi River in many of the backdrops that captures the essence  of the place. 
 

I hope you have fully recovered from your ankle mishap. Fortunately it occurred towards the end of your stay. 

Edited December 8, 2019 by AKR1
Additional sentence

[Bush dog]

@AKR1

 

Thank you so much for your nice comments!  

In most places in Africa, at least where I've been and I did not go in a lot of places (I tend to go back to those I like), you find mopane woodlands with savannas, grass or shrubs which are not particularly mesmerizing.  So you mainly focus on living creatures.  But in a place like Lower Zambezi, it's impossible to ignore the scenery.  I've seen some similar places in South Luangwa (the black ebony forests) and in Ruaha, in the Jongomero area and I guess it must similar in Mana Pools.