From the plane we could see the environment of Khwai River, water, green and many animals.
(Sony A7R3 24-240mm at 240mm, ISO 1250, f/8, 1/2000)
Ocean our guide picked us up from the airstrip and we drove to the Khwai River Lodge. We left our bags in a beautiful cabin and met the other guests at the main lobby and soon we drove off to our first game drive.
(Sony RX1R 35mm, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/500)
A big elephant greeted from not too far
(Sony RX1R 35mm, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/640)
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 320mm, ISO 250, f/6.3, 1/1000)
We headed to a place where often elephants cross a river. On the way we saw this beautiful yellow-billed hornbill, …
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 420mm, ISO 125, f/6.3, 1/1000)
… a few Kudus …
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 270mm, ISO 450, f/6.3, 1/1000)
… Impalas and …
(Sony A7R3, 24-240mm at 240mm, ISO 800, f/8, 1/500)
… and more birds.
Red-billed spurfowl
Wattled crane (Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 390mm, ISO 1400, f/6.3, 1/1000)
When we reached the planned location we saw an elephant standing close to the water and feeding.
(Sony A7R3 24-240mm at 32mm, ISO 400, f/8, 1/500)
But this time the elephant had no intention to cross the river. He stayed happily on his side, feeding and sometimes starring at us. Then he turned around and walked back into the forest.
From other guides we heard that there has been a sighting of a male lion not far from our location, so we drove off and checked on that lion.
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 310mm, ISO 2800, f/6.3, 1/1000)
The lion was moving slowly towards a larger water pond. On the way he stopped several times and posed perfectly for us photographers.
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 500mm, ISO 5000, f/6.3, 1/1000)
For a moment the lion laid down on the ground
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 500mm, ISO 9000, f/6.3, 1/1000)
He got up again and moved a little closer to our position
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 310mm, ISO 9000, f/6.3, 1/1000)
On a perfect small elevation the lion stopped for another rest. Light was really getting low, so ISO jumped high, but the images turned out still very much acceptable.
Happy, smiling lion (Sony A7R3 24-240mm at 178mm, ISO 16000, f/8, 1/500)
He made a big show specially for us.
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 500mm, ISO 16000, f/6.3, 1/800)
He then got up and walked further, such that we could not follow him. Anyhow light conditions became so difficult, that it would have been impossible to photograph a moving animal.
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 500mm, ISO 16000, f/6.3, 1/1000)
The next morning we were greeted by a magnificent sunrise.
View from our breakfast table (Sony RX1R, 35mm, ISO 100, f/8, 1/125)
Shortly after breakfast we started our first game drive of the day
Sun rising (Sony RX1R, 35mm, ISO 100, f/8, 1/1250)
First we saw an impressive male Kudu …
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 370mm, ISO 2500, f/5.6, 1/1000)
… and a few impalas.
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 260mm, ISO 640, f/5.6, 1/1000)
As per Ocean we should soon be able to see a leopard. An effectively …
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 500mm, ISO 1250, f/5.6, 1/1000)
… soon we saw this young female leopard up on a tree.
She did not stay for long on that tree. Back on the ground we followed her.
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 500mm, ISO 2000, f/5.6, 1/1000)
She killed a young bird and moved on …
… up on the next tree.
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 270mm, ISO 1250, f/5.6, 1/1000)
She climbed higher on the tree, until she was literally almost exactly above my position.
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 200mm, ISO 560, f/5.6, 1/1000)
She made her way down to a much more comfortable position, somehow a little hidden behind some branches. We could not move into a better position, we had to stay with the view we had. Nevertheless it was great to observe this majestic animal for some time.
(Sony A7R3 24-240mm at 122mm, ISO 640, f/8, 1/500)
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 500mm, ISO 500, f/5.6, 1/1000)
Finally she came down from the tree, checked briefly the area and walked off where we could not follow her.
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 200mm, ISO 1600, f/5.6, 1/1000)
We continued our game drive an saw Kudus …
… a group of elephants with a small baby …
… various birds …
Red-billed Spurfowl, Ibis, Bateleur, Spur-winged goose, Fork-tailed Drongo
… another elephant, …
(Sony A7R3 24-240mm at 69mm, ISO 250, f/8, 1/500)
… zebras, a giraffe, impalas …
… and last but not least an impressive crocodile.
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 500mm, ISO 250, f/5.6, 1/1000)
We returned to the camp for lunch and a break til mid of the afternoon. One does not has to go far to see animals in this region. The following images have been taken directly from the terrace of our cabin. Situated close to the river, we saw often animals on the other side, but sometimes they crossed the river and came really close. Squirrels, lizards, butterflies and many different birds are visible almost all the time very closely.
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 500mm, ISO 160, f/5.6, 1/1000)
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 500mm, ISO 3200, f/5.6, 1/1000)
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 500mm, ISO 160, f/5.6, 1/1000)
Goliath Heron, African Fish-Eagle
First event during our afternoon game drive was an elephant having fun with some mud.
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 200mm, ISO 900, f/5.6, 1/1000)
Then a hippo swimming in the river …
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 280mm, ISO 320, f/5.6, 1/1000)
… and many beautiful birds.
Little Bee Eater, Brown Snake-Eagle, Pied Kingfisher, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Kori Bustard, Red-billed Spurfowl
(Sony RX1R, 35mm, ISO 100, f/8, 1/200)
On the way to our spot for the sun downer we saw a giraffe family in the woods. The baby was still pretty young and laid down on the ground.
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 500mm, ISO 1000, f/6.3, 1/1000)
(Nikon D500, 200-500mm at 200mm, ISO 1000, f/6.3, 1/1000)
We enjoyed a magnificent sunset before diving back to the camp.
(Sony RX1R, 35mm, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/800)
Silhouettes of two elephants
(Sony RX1R, 35mm, ISO 640, f/2.0, 1/60)
For some time we followed on the way back a leopard walking on our road.
Visit the website of Khwai River Camp
Back to the overview of our trip Botswana and Zimbabwe 2018
Back to the overview of all trips on desktop-images.com
