A Botswanan Adventure.

[drron]

So the last sunset photos from mrsdrron-

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Then she saw these trying to hide on our drive back to camp-

Now for my last shots.First the second camp boat coming back-

The fellow on my side of the car didn't bother hiding-

And the last vestiges of the sunset from the camp,just magic-

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[drron]

It was then back to the room and a long soak in a warm bath to soak in and then in room wifi.Back to civilisation.then our regular routine-a pre dinner drink,dinner and a glass or 3 of Amarula which we got to really like.At dinner I once again went vegetarian with a mushroom risotto and mrsdrron had the kingclip on mash.Both were very good.
Friday and breakfast-not as good as Cheifs.Then we went to the Chobe National Park.Compared to the camps we had been to this was boring.We did sight lions but they were 1-200 metres off in the grass with at least 5-6 other cars all looking at the same little spot.but there were some interesting sightings.
First guinea fowl-

Next a dead buffalo with vultures in attendance-

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Waiting nearby was a large water monitor-

And an army of ants-

Some of the impala here were happy to remain close-

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Next came this friendly fellow-

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[drron]

We went back to the river bank.Namibia is not far away-

Then we spotted a large herd of Buffalo on an island in the river-

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Then they swam back to the Botswanan bank-

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[drron]

Now for the birds of the day.there was mother duck and her nearly full size duckling-

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Unfortunately a crocodile was nearby and the next morning the duckling had disappeared.Then there was a 3 in 1 shot-

And my favourite the roller-

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And at last a roller in flight-

And the last two-

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[drron]

Certainly the elephant,giraffe and buffalo were prevalent here and quite a few were up close-

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And the world's largest bustard,the kori bustard.They are a favourite meat and Botswana is one of the last strongholds.

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Next some elephants-

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I hope you noticed the difference to all the previous elephant shots.Many in this herd had no tusks.It is thought that because of poachers targetting those animals with long tusks relatively more of those with short or no tusks are being seen.Many of the elephants in Chobe have come from the north to the safety of Botswana.

 

[drron]

And now mrsdrron's photos of the morning starting with the tuskless elephants.

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And her birds-

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Finally the giraffes-

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[drron]

Mrsdrron loves elephants so here are a few more that we saw that morning-

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[drron]

So back to my photos.these buffalo were not for moving-

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Those fellows were where our guide had planned to have our morning tea.So we had to stop by the river.a few shots from there-

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[drron]

Then another tower of giraffe-

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These young males were practising fighting moves.they whacked their neck into the other-

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[Stoopidsteve]

I hope you noticed the difference to all the previous elephant shots.Many in this herd had no tusks.It is thought that because of poachers targetting those animals with long tusks relatively more of those with short or no tusks are being seen.Many of the elephants in Chobe have come from the north to the safety of Botswana.

I see selective pressure in action! Like hedgehogs that don't curl up in a ball at approaching traffic, but run like hell

(thanks for the great pics and TRs to you Dr and MrsDrron)

 

[drron]

And a few photos to end the day-

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.https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-wvMPZ1pR_wY/UY2KMRKtbzI/AAAAAAABG0c/uDxx_dZgfho/s400/africa%25205532.JPG.

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And another chance to use a bloat of hippos-

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And I only have 3 photos of sunset-

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[drron]

Of course mrsdrron had a few more of the sunset-

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But there was a reason why I didn't take more shots of the sunset.mrsdrron had seen an animal in the grounds that she did not recognise so I went on the hunt.The other side of the camp had interesting trees-

I caught a movement so followed and came across the swimming pool-

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But what was there?Stay tuned.

 

[jukebox333]

More excellent imagery drron.

What was your & mrsdrron's jpeg tally for the trip? I thank my lucky stars Mrs Jukebox was not around in the age of film cameras, the rate she generates files... (but they are usually very good, I must say!)

 

[drron]

It turned out to be a pair of bushbuck.Spectacular.The one with less stripes was fairly skittish but the one with more definite stripes had no fear ending up walking right by me.Magic feeling-

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Then I went back to our room where mrsdrron had totally different feelings on her close encounter with a large spotted animal-

And no I didn't kill it but introduced it to the Great Outdoors.

 

[drron]

Friday night and we had dinner with a couple of ladies from Melbourne who had just come off the QM2.Mrsdrron had the beef for dinner and I the pork.Both good.As usual the next morning it was up early for breakfast and off on a game drive.We soon came across baboons,kudu and impala.As usual for the baboons there was a frustrated male-

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there were a couple of kudu youngsters-

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But this newborn baboon was the star-

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A magnificent sea eagle-

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And another new species the puku.Slighly smaller than the impala without the markings and different antlers-

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And a hammer hawk crossing the road-

 

[drron]

We had told our guide,Jonathon,that he had to find us a leopard and a sable so we went off into a local teak forest.It was completely different to all that we had seen in Botswana before.Even some autumn colour-

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Unfortunately no leopards or sable.Just some monkeys including a meditating monkey-

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Then these little fellows-

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Yes the famous dung beatle.

 

[drron]

So back to the river we went-

Then a buffalo who had booked a spa session-

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Then some giraffes up close-

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[drron]

Now assorted animals.Giraffe,elephant and a waterbuck.

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[pagingjoan]

Drron:
Just read the entire thread in a sitting. Brought back great memories of our African travels.
Your encounters were magical - perhaps with the exception of the one group of unamused Americans.
Thanks for the entertainment!

 

[drron]

So the last couple of posts of the animals of the Chobe National Park-

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And my last chance to use a bloatof....