2 days in Chobe : februeary 2020

[Bush dog]

I arrived in Victoria Falls by Ethiopian Airlines flight.  A driver was waiting for me in the arrival hall to take me to Kasane.  After the usual emigration and immigration formalities, coronavirus requires, I was subjected, upon entry to Botswana, to temperature control and had to fill in a form containing a few questions such as “do you have headache?” or “ do you have breathing problems?” and so on.

I had decided, before going to my main destination, the Khwai private reserve, out by pure curiosity, to spend 2 nights in Kasane at Pangolin Hotel owned by Pangolin Photo Safaris.  They are specialized in photographic safaris.  I will not go into detail on what they offer.  All this is much better explained on their website (https://www.pangolinphoto.com/).  I can however say that with them you feel very quickly at home, the photo hosts are very competent (they even gave me some tips) and the food is excellent. The photo below shows the central photography gallery with pictures from their resident photographic guides and other photographers who are, with their guests, regular visitors to the hotel.  It is an interesting place for any photographer whether he is confirmed or just a beginner.

 

 

Chobe is fairly quiet in the green season, only a few boats on the river and vehicles in the park. The sky remained overcast during these two days with a few drops of rain. I made one game drive and two boat trips.

 

I took the opportunity to try to see some old acquaintances living in Kasane. Thus, the last morning, I spent ninety minutes with Grant Nel, one of the former directors of Linyanti Explorations, which managed the Selinda concession, before its acquisition by Great Plains.  Around a cup of coffee, we, like two veterans, talked about the past and the time when Selinda was, when the spillway was still dry, one of the most beautiful safari destinations.

 

First boat trip

 

Hippos

 

 

 

Long-toed lapwing

 

 

African darters

 

 

 

 

 

African jacana

 

 

Pied kingfishers

 

 

 

 

African pied wagtail

 

 

Nile crocodile

 

 

African fish eagles

 

 

 

[madaboutcheetah]

Look forward to your report, Mike - what a great start!!!  How is Grant doing?  I had the pleasure of meeting him at the Old Zibalianja - I think perhaps 2006 or 2007! 

Edited March 4, 2020 by madaboutcheetah

[Wild Dogger]

Stayed there in 2018, the photo boats are really nice.

[NancyS]

I spent 3 days there last March and I loved it! The photo boat safaris were great.

[Kitsafari]

Not that you needed any photography tips, but it looks like a brilliant photo gallery at a lodge. 

 

were all the photos taken from the boat rides?

[Bush dog]

@madaboutcheetah

 

Thanks Hari!

Grant is doing well.  He told me that Kanawe is still guiding in Kasane, a waste of competence he said.

[Bush dog]

@NancyS @Wild Dogger

 

I see that the photo boats achieve unanimity.

[Bush dog]

@Kitsafari

 

It is a brilliant gallery, indeed.

 

I guess you talk about my photos.  All the pictures on #1 were taken from the boat but the next post will show images taken in the park from a car.

[Bush dog]

Game drive

 

We left the hotel early in the morning and it was still dark when we reached the entrance of the park.  I was not expecting great sightings at this time of the year, the grass being tall an the animals scattered, but it was better than I thought.

 

I certainly did not expect to see wild dogs.  A pack of four individuals, one of whom was limping and another was wearing a collar. They were advancing along the river and were obviously hunting.  They then changed direction to head towards the dense vegetation of the park. We were able to follow them for a while and then lose them.

 

 

 

 

 

These young impalas seem to practice jumping and pronking.  All it takes is a fairly large open space on which they dash back and forth and so on.

 

 

 

 

 

Red-necked falcon

 

 

Black-backed jackal

 

 

I also saw a lot of giraffes and even lions, sleeping under a bush and in the tall grass.

[BRACQUENE]

@Bush dog

 

It is another proof that you don't always have have to go in september or october to see a lot and wild dogs on top of that ; gracious photos of the impala ! Thanks for sharing .

[Bush dog]

@BRACQUENE

 

And this will be all the more evident in the report to come relating to my stay in the Khwai private reserve

[Amylovescritters]

Awesome TR thus far . We will arrive in Botswana the 15th. Now I am hearing that Zimbabwe may require coronavirus certificates from travelers coming from affected areas... Which will include the US I’m sure. We were going to go to VF at the end of our trip but now I am considering altering it to spend all of our time in Botswana. Suffice to say the response to this seems a bit more concerning to healthy folks than the virus. At any rate looking forward to your TR.

[michael-ibk]

Hi Mike, top pictures - like always. Love the Chobe boat trips, and how cool you saw the Dogs! Looking Forward to see much more.

[madaboutcheetah]

19 hours ago, Bush dog said:

@madaboutcheetah

 

Thanks Hari!

Grant is doing well.  He told me that Kanawe is still guiding in Kasane, a waste of competence he said.

 

Oh ! In chobe? I haven't seen him since maybe 2012.... last saw him at lebala

[Bush dog]

@Amylovescritters

 

Thanks a lot for your comments.  All the best for your trip to Botswana and I hope Zimbabwe.  

It would seem once again that in Zimbabwe everything is done despite common sense.  They have struggled to restart their tourism industry and there with such decisions they are jeopardizing it again.

[Bush dog]

@michael-ibk

 

Thanks, Michael.  You will have much more and dogs again in my next report.

[Bush dog]

@madaboutcheetah

 

Last time I saw him was also at Lebala in October 2011.

[Bush dog]

Some more pictures made during the game drive

 

Chacma baboons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impala

 

 

With red-billed oxpecker

 

 

Little bee-eater

 

 

Go-away birds

 

[Caracal]

Great photos as always @Bush dog - I'm  particularly attracted to that leaping impala at full stretch.

Lloyd and Sue Camp were managing Zib when I stayed there in 1998 and I'm wondering if they were mentioned in your conversations with Grant?

I kept in touch with them for a while then lost contact.

[BRACQUENE]

@Bush dog

 

 And I can't get enough of the bokeh effect on the red-billed oxpecker ( with impala ) !

[Bush dog]

@Caracal

 

Thank you so much for your comments.

They were not mentioned in our conversations just because I never met them.  I was well at Selinda in 1998 but at main camp.  We talked about someone you might have known, Mompati Aaron who is now working for a mobile company. 

[Hads]

Love the red billed-oxpecker pic @Bush dog - what a ripping shot.

[Caracal]

@Bush dog - Yes I remember Mompati - had memorable game drives with Lloyd and Mompati with many great sightings.

[Bush dog]

@Hads

 

Thanks!

[Bush dog]

Second boat trip

 

Unhappy hippo

 

 

 

 

 

 

And more darters