Namibia & Botswana in Focus

2005-12-15T13:14:00.000-08:00

A signpost on the Ngoma - Kasane road, through the Chobe National Park, Botswana.

2005-12-15T13:12:00.000-08:00

A Southern Yellow-Billed Hornbill in the Okavango Delta, Botswana.

2005-12-15T13:10:00.000-08:00

A Red Billed Hornbill - in the Okavango Delta, Botswana.

2005-12-15T13:07:00.000-08:00

Third Bridge - Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana. The bridge is often used by the local Lion prides, to save them from getting their paws wet!

2005-12-15T13:05:00.000-08:00

Sunset on the Okavango Delta, Botswana. No matter how hard I try - I can never capture the magic of an African sunset.

2005-12-15T13:00:00.000-08:00

An aerial view of the Okavango Delta, Botswana. I don't know why - but this is the only flight on which I have ever felt queasy in the air.

2005-12-15T12:58:00.000-08:00

A well in the Kalahari Desert, Botswana. The water was amazingly sweet!

2005-12-15T12:57:00.000-08:00

A cattle station in the Kalahari Desert - Botswana.

2005-12-15T12:53:00.000-08:00

A Baobab Tree on the edge of Kubu Island - Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana.

2005-12-15T12:50:00.000-08:00

Fully-equipped for the wilderness - Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana.

2005-12-15T12:47:00.000-08:00

On the road to Kubu Island - Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana.

2005-12-15T12:37:00.000-08:00

The dock of the Chobe Safari Lodge - a great place to start a day on the Chobe River.

2005-12-15T12:35:00.000-08:00

A close-up of the Kazangula Ferry - crossing from Zambia to Botswana, near Kasane, Botswana.

2005-12-15T12:31:00.000-08:00

En-route to the Savuti water-hole, Botswana.

2005-12-15T12:28:00.000-08:00

A "signpost" in the Chobe National Park, Botswana.

2005-12-15T12:27:00.000-08:00

A village in the southern Chobe National Park, Botswana.

2005-12-15T12:14:00.000-08:00

An African Darter catching lunch. Chobe National Park, Botswana.

2005-12-15T12:11:00.000-08:00

The national bird of Botswana - The Liliac Breasted Roller, Chobe National Park, Botswana.

2005-12-15T12:06:00.000-08:00

In a hurry to get to a water-hole in the dry season - Khadoum Game Reserve, Namibia.

2005-12-15T12:02:00.000-08:00

Elephants - jockeying for position at a water-hole in the height of the dry season in the Khadoum Game Reserve, Namibia.

2005-12-15T11:59:00.000-08:00

The most elusive and beautiful of the big cats. A Leopard - hunting in the Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana.

2005-12-15T11:56:00.000-08:00

A White-Backed Vulture, cleaning-up after a kill in Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana.

2005-12-15T11:54:00.000-08:00

My favorite predator, The African Hunting Dog, Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana.

2005-12-15T11:51:00.000-08:00

Never smile at a Croccodile! Chobe River Botswana.

2005-12-15T11:46:00.000-08:00

A large Croccodile, basking on the bank of the Chobe River, Botswana.

2005-12-15T10:58:00.000-08:00

A Ground Squirrel in The Etosha National Park, Namibia.

2005-12-15T10:53:00.000-08:00

A view from the Namibian side of the Okavango River at N'kwazi Lodge, near Rundu. The far river bank is in Angola.

2005-12-15T10:51:00.000-08:00

Another close-up of a White Pelican. Walvis Bay, Namibia.

2005-12-14T22:56:00.000-08:00

The Red Letchwe is well adapted to life in the Okavango Swamps, Botswana.

2005-12-14T22:54:00.000-08:00

AWattled Plover in the Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana.

2005-12-14T15:09:00.000-08:00

An Elephant taking a dust bath beside the Chobe River, Botswana.

2005-12-14T15:05:00.000-08:00

The Goliath Heron - at approximatley four feet in height - the largest Heron. Chobe National Park, Botswana.

2005-12-14T15:01:00.000-08:00

The African Fish-Eagle - with its haunting call and its stunning looks - a favorite of many, including me. Chobe River Botswana.

2005-12-14T14:54:00.000-08:00

The Squacco Heron - although found in many countries - this is not a common bird. Like other Herons, it moves into areas of grassland or woodland which have been flooded by heavy rainfall. The Chobe floodplain, Botswana.

2005-12-14T14:52:00.000-08:00

An African Darter on the banks of the Chobe River, Botswana.

2005-12-14T14:36:00.000-08:00

A Great White Eagret (White Heron) flying over the Chobe River, Botswana.

2005-12-14T14:34:00.000-08:00

An Open-Billed Stork on the banks of the Chobe River, Botswana.

2005-12-14T14:30:00.000-08:00

The same Hippo, now more threatening than watchfull!

2005-12-14T14:28:00.000-08:00

A watchfull Hippo on the Okavango River, Namibia.

2005-12-14T14:25:00.000-08:00

Dramatic cloud colour and formations over the Okavango River, Namibia.

2005-12-14T14:23:00.000-08:00

Popa Falls on the Okavango River, Namibia.

2005-12-14T14:21:00.000-08:00

A traditional Mokoro (dug-out canoe) on the banks of The Okavango River, Namibia.

2005-12-14T14:19:00.000-08:00

A Banded Mongoose on the flood plain of the Chobe River. Chobe National Park, Botswana.

2005-12-14T14:16:00.000-08:00

A Yellow-Billed Stork in the Chobe River. Chobe National Park, Botswana.

2005-12-14T14:14:00.000-08:00

A Water Monitor Lizzard on the banks of the Chobe River. Chobe National Park, Botswana.

2005-12-14T14:11:00.000-08:00

A female Painted Snipe. Unusually, the female is more brightly coloured than the male and is responsible for territory defence.

2005-12-14T14:07:00.000-08:00

The increasingly rare Saddle Billed Stork. Chobe National Park, Botswana.

2005-12-13T17:28:00.000-08:00

The youngest member of the herd. Chobe National Park, Botswana.

2005-12-13T17:25:00.000-08:00

I always find it fascinating to watch the dexterity with which Elephants use their trunks. Kasane-Ngoma road, Chobe National Park, Botswana.

2005-12-13T17:19:00.000-08:00

The colourful Egyptian Goose - Chobe National Park, Namibia.

2005-12-13T17:17:00.000-08:00

Impala mother and baby. Chobe National Park, Botswana.

2005-12-13T17:13:00.000-08:00

The Kori Bustard - Africa's heaviest flying bird. Etosha National Park, Namibia.

2005-12-13T17:11:00.000-08:00

The Marabou Stork - not a pretty bird! Etosha National Park, Namibia.

2005-12-13T17:08:00.000-08:00

A Dark Chanting Goshawk - Etosha National Park, Namibia.

2005-12-13T17:05:00.000-08:00

A fine specimen of a male Lion - Etosha National Park, Namibia.

2005-12-13T17:01:00.000-08:00

The impressive Secretary Bird - Etosha National Park, Namibia.

2005-12-13T16:58:00.000-08:00

A male Black Korhaan - Etosha National Park, Namibia.

2005-12-13T16:55:00.000-08:00

The female Black Korhaan - Etosha National Park, Namibia.

2005-12-13T16:47:00.000-08:00

The Spotted Hyena - a successful hunter - but better known as a scavenger. Etosha National Park, Namibia.

2005-12-13T16:36:00.000-08:00

The Hoopoe - one of the most widely-spread birds in Southern Africa. Etosha National Park, Namibia.

2005-12-13T16:29:00.000-08:00

The Pale Chanting Goshawk - Namibia's most common bird of prey - Etosha National Park.

2005-12-13T16:22:00.000-08:00

The Blue Crane - The National Bird of South Africa - Etosha National Park, Namibia.

2005-12-13T16:17:00.000-08:00

The beautiful Lyre-shaped horns of the Springbok - Etosha National Park, Namibia.

2005-12-13T16:12:00.000-08:00

The relatively rare Black-Faced Impala - Etosha National Park, Namibia.

2005-12-13T16:06:00.000-08:00

The Greater Kestrel - somehow managing to perch among some very long thorns. Etosha National Park, Namibia.

2005-12-13T15:57:00.000-08:00

The Oryx (Gemsbok) an antelope which is well adapted to life in arid conditions. Etosha National Park, Namibia.

2005-12-13T15:51:00.000-08:00

A Giraffe drinking at a water-hole in the Etosha National Park. They always appear to be very apprehensive before adopting this drinking position - as it places them in a very vulnerable position - should any Lions be lurking in the vacinity.

2005-12-13T15:47:00.000-08:00

An example of the communal nest of the Sociable Weaver Bird. Okaukuejo Rest Camp, Etosha National Park, Namibia.

2005-12-13T15:41:00.000-08:00

These two Lionesses are part of a Pride which has made its home in an large concrete drainage pipe, under a road in the Etosha National Park - an ideal place to hide from the extreme heat of the Namibian sun.

2005-12-13T15:33:00.000-08:00

A head-on view of the endangered Black Rhino. Etosha National Park, Namibia.

2005-12-13T15:14:00.000-08:00

A fine specimen of The Sociable Weaver Bird. The life of these birds centres around the building and maintenance of their communal nests, which range from relatively small nests which house a small number of birds, to massive structures which can accomodate up to approximately 200 birds. Some of these nests are known to be in the region of one hundred years old - occupied by successive generations of Weavers - each with a life-span of up to five years. Okaukuejo Rest Camp, Etosha National Park, Namibia.

2005-12-12T22:56:00.000-08:00

This piece of wood (Pine) was washed down in the waters of a retreating glacier some 260 million years ago. It has since turned to stone - but you can still clearly make out the remaining pieces of bark and where a branch had once been attached. The Petrified Forest, Namibia.

2005-12-12T16:03:00.000-08:00

The wonderful 6,000 year-old Bushman rock engravings at Twyfelfontein.

2005-12-12T16:00:00.000-08:00

A small section of "The Organ Pipes" an interesting rock formation - Twyfelfontein, Namibia.

2005-12-12T15:56:00.000-08:00

A section of the Salt Road from Henties Bay to Cape Cross. This was my first experience of driving on a salt road. In my opinion almost as good as tar.

2005-12-12T15:47:00.000-08:00

These photographs do not even begin to adequately convey the size of this incredible colony of Cape Fur Seals. Nor can they give any indication of the continual noise and the awful smell which eminates from it!. Cape Cross, The Skeleton Coast, Namibia.

2005-12-12T15:42:00.000-08:00

The lack of predators and a plentiful food supply has resulted in a hugh population of Cape Fur Seals along the Namibian coastline - not least here, at Cape Cross.

2005-12-12T15:37:00.000-08:00

Due to the density of the population, fights and squabbles continually break-out.

2005-12-12T15:31:00.000-08:00

Cape Fur Seals - for as far as the eye can see! The huge seal colony at Cape Cross on the Skeleton Coast, Namibia. The number of Seals is estimated at 100,000. It looked a lot more than that to me!

2005-12-12T15:24:00.000-08:00

The Swakopmund Lighthouse. The town is much-loved and much-visited by Namibians, due to the cooler coastal temperature in the otherwise unbearable summer heat of Namibia.

2005-12-12T15:22:00.000-08:00

Off-road driving takes its toll on our tyres!

2005-12-12T15:18:00.000-08:00

The road from Walvis Bay to Swakopmund - on the left, The Atlantic Ocean and its cold Benguela Current.

2005-12-12T15:08:00.000-08:00

The Tractrac Chat - This true denizon of the Namib Desert is not dependant on water and in the heat of the day, when most other creatures have sought shade, seeks its insect prey on bare gravel ground.

2005-12-12T14:57:00.000-08:00

A small specimen of the Welwitschia Mirabalis. Each amazing plant can survive for centuries in this most inhospitable environment. The Namib Desert, Namibia.

2005-12-12T14:53:00.000-08:00

The incredible desert plant - Welwitschia Mirabalis - found only in parts of southern Angola and the Namib Desert. This specimen is thought to be approximately 1500 years old!

2005-12-12T14:48:00.000-08:00

Moonscape - on the Welwitschia Trail. The Namib Desert, Nmibia.

2005-12-12T14:43:00.000-08:00

Getting to know a fairly heavy Cape Fur Seal. Walvis Bay, Namibia.

2005-12-12T14:30:00.000-08:00

What a sight! A male White Pelican flying alonside our boat. Walvis Bay, Namibia.

2005-12-12T14:23:00.000-08:00

The Kokerboom or Quiver Tree - so named because the Bushmen made the quivers to hold their poison-tipped hunting arrows from the bark of this tree.

2005-12-12T14:15:00.000-08:00

A rather tricky section of the Namib-Naukluft National Park 4x4 Trail.

2005-12-12T14:12:00.000-08:00

Inside the Sesriem Canyon - Namib Desert, Namibia.

2005-12-12T13:55:00.000-08:00

Inside the Sesriem Canyon near Sossusvlei. The canyon was created over the millennia by the flow of the Tsauchab River. Namib Desert, Namibia.

2005-12-12T12:16:00.000-08:00

Nearing sunset the contrast in colour due to the extremes of light and shade makes Sossusvlei a photographer's paradise.

2005-12-12T12:09:00.000-08:00

A male Ostrich climbs a huge sand-dune at Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert, Namibia.