The next day started with another highlight. Very close to our camp has a clan of African wild dogs (painted dogs) been seen.
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 500mm, ISO 640, f/6.3, 1/1000)
They had made a kill and where feeding and fighting around the carcass
Soon the wild dogs where attacked by two hyenas and while this fight was going on a Jackal sneaked in and took his part of the kill.
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 240mm, ISO 4000, f/6.3, 1/1000)
The two hyenas won the fight and each one got his portion of the kill. One moved her part to a place we could not see.
The other one started feeding pretty close to our location. One can see the reflection of our vehicle in the eyes of the hyena.
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 270mm, ISO 16000, f/6.3, 1/800)
We found the wild dogs a little later again. They had obviously accepted that for the moment that kill was lost. So they were just relaxing.
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 260mm, ISO 2800, f/6.3, 1/1000)
African painted dog
Close to the wild dogs we saw this Bateleur Eagle observing the environment from a branch of a dead tree
Bateleur
Bateleur taking off (Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 240mm, ISO 220, f/6.3, 1/1000)
Later we saw this group of zebras taking advantage of the shade as with the rising sun the temperatures began quickly to warm up.
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 500mm, ISO 360, f/6.3, 1/1000)
Beautiful landscape
(Sony RX1R, 35mm, ISO 100, f/8, 1/800)
(Sony RX1R, 35mm, ISO 100, f/8, 1/800)
Hartebeest
Impalas (Sony A7R3, 24-240mm at 240mm, ISO 320, f/6.3, 1/500)
Later that day we saw a group of common cranes
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 250mm, ISO 110, f/6.3, 1/1000)
From a good distance we heard this elephant feeding from a tree. The elephants don’t really care about the trees, they kill them.
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 320mm, ISO 1000, f/6.3, 1/1000)
A roller was greeting us on the way …
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 390mm, ISO 180, f/6.3, 1/1000)
… to a reported sighting of a cheetah
A male cheetah relaxing in the shade of a small tree (Sony A7R3, 24-240mm at 28mm, ISO 250, f/6.3, 1/500)
The cheetah was relaxed and did not move even when we drove a little closer to have a better view
Chilling cheetah
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 310mm, ISO 1250, f/6.3, 1/1000)
We then heard of another cheetah sighting pretty close to our location. As this male cheetah did obviously not have any idea to move, we decided to continue to the other sighting.
A female cheetah with her two about six months old cups (Sony A7R3, 24-240mm at 72mm, ISO 640, f/7.1, 1/500)
See the reflection of our vehicle in the eye of the cheetah ? (Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 500mm, ISO 4000, f/8, 1/1000)
Feeling sleepy (Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 500mm, ISO 3600, f/8, 1/1000)
Who's disturbing ? (Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 500mm, ISO 3600, f/8, 1/1000)
Anyone to play with me ? (Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 200mm, ISO 1250, f/8, 1/1000)
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 500mm, ISO 3200, f/8, 1/1000)
Something caught their attention and they got up quickly
False alarm, nothing happened, so they shared a short, magic moment of tenderness
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 250mm, ISO 2000, f/8, 1/1000)
They got up and for a short time the mother came out into the sun.
One last image and we left them enjoying the rest of the day.
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 500mm, ISO 1400, f/5.6, 1/1000)
After this phenomenal experience we continued our game drive until we reached the same water pond as yesterday evening for our sun downer.
On the way we saw this Jackal family.
Ostriches are always impressive to see
An Ibis was landing close to a couple of goose with their numerous chicks
We also saw a warthog family gazing
We reached the pond, enjoyed the beautiful environment and the presence of the hippo in the water. Only that the hippo did not show any special activity today. He knew us already.
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 450mm, ISO 320, f/5.6, 1/1000)
Last but not least the compulsory beautiful sunset
(Sony RX1R, 35mm, ISO 100, f/2, 1/100)
On the way back to the camp we had to stop twice because elephants were blocking the road and we had to wait until they gave way (not too clear to see on the video).
Day 3 of our stay at Little Kwara
Overview of our trip to Botswana and Zimbabwe 2018
Overview of all my trips covered here at desktop-images.com
