Green Season Botswana Part 1 - Return home to Kwando Lagoon; Wild dogs running wild, the magic of Muvumbi Valley and lots lots more....

[Alexander33]

So many great dog photos -- but the image that is most emblematic of a dog to me is the shot of the one cooling off in the puddle of water, with one ear down (blissful repose) and one ear up (never letting its guard down for a single second). Lovely all around.

[madaboutcheetah]

One more section to re-hash the beauty of Muvumbi Valley - I was super impressed with the buffalo herd we found.

[Tom Kellie]

~ @@madaboutcheetah

 

Am I imagining it, or are those buffalo exceptionally healthy?

Carefully looking at the images in the series they seem like exceptionally vigorous buffalo.

Or, are they simply clean after a recent river dip.

Thank you for posting the images.

Tom K.

[madaboutcheetah]

Bits and pieces from the super green Kwando concession .......

[madaboutcheetah]

Final batch of photos ..... The "Beasts from Namibia" ....... These were the only photographic opportunities of them - although, they were always in the Lagoon area not far from camp; they were mostly flat cats as you can imagine ........ What happened to all those challengers from the dry season????? Battle won, I hope ........

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks a lot @@TonyQ @@Alexander33 and @@Tom Kellie

 

Buffalo? just healthy with the fresh grass I suppose?

[madaboutcheetah]

In Summary, a super time as always with my amazing guides Spencer and Mr.Moe who are like family to us after all these years ..............

No Cheetah and No Leopard this time ....... So, a little slow simply because the bar is set so high in the concession. That said, we didn't really have the time to go around looking for Leopard ....... No cheetah only for the second time for me in the concession (previously in 2007).

 

As the saying goes, that's what next time is for .......

 

Thanks for your interest in this report. Many Thanks for taking your time to read it and all the kind and generous comments!!!

[Kitsafari]

gorgeous green set off by the number of grazers there. Love that pic in post 7 of the four buffaloes looking at you. one of them doesn't seem to have any horns. but amazingly, your photo struck me that buffaloes don't look alike, they have their own individual faces. funny thing to mention here, but it did, thanks to your picture!

 

ohhh love those doggies, playing, eating, resting, cooling off. and just like the others, what a crisp clear surprising photo of the warthog in the hole.

 

sorry those visa issues are such a pain. hope they get them sorted out somehow.

[Big_Dog]

Awesome dogs...unlucky warthoglet.
The very grumpy buffalo face is hilarious also.
And love the little bat eared fox.

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks @@Kitsafari and @@Big_Dog

[Marks]

Thanks @@Tom Kellie and @@Marks

 

The Botswana visa - oh! I can easily write a book about my experiences from over the years ........ some very easy and straight forward experiences; some absolutely TRAUMATIC - for example., it might have been 2012 when I had to re-route via Nairobi/Gaborone as I didn't have enough time to get the passport sent for the dreadful SA transit visa. Luckily, this time around - SA scrapped that requirement just in the nick of time.

 

Why is Jan/Feb bad you ask? ....... The Director of immigration has to personally sign every application and I suppose he's off for Christmas and things get backed up when he's back!

 

If I was to go on safari in Jan/Feb - i would def look for other options in East Africa. No second thoughts!!!

 

Wow, that certainly does sound like a hassle. It makes your love for the country all the clearer, though, to keep you coming back!

Startlingly beautiful kudu images on the last page, by the way.

The sneering buffalo is also a nice capture, very funny as @@Big_Dog has already noted.

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks @@Marks - One day, perhaps one day ..... things will get easier with the process!!! I am a patient man!

[pault]

Found it now.

[Julian]

Really falntastic photos of the wild dogs and many more great photos - a wonderful safari experience.

[twaffle]

You are right, a simply beautiful area. Lovely photos. Thanks for sharing.

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks @@pault @@Julian and @@twaffle .....

 

And that's a very quiet trip report by Kwando standards

[Caracal]

More great photos.

 

You say quiet by Kwando standards @madaboutcheetah but still great wilddog action and interaction and plenty of interesting sightings against that lovely green backdrop.

 

Was that warthog in the middle of some excavation or home renovation ? - he has a lot of earth on him.

 

Great to see the wattled crane grouping no doubt enjoying the benefits of the season.

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks @@Caracal - I think the dogs were trying to fish him out of there - We had to swing around some mopane so wasn't able to get those photographs .........

[Caracal]

Ah! - warthog had been undertaking defensive rearguard action by the looks of things!

[CaroleE]

@@madaboutcheetah

 

Your patience definitely paid off with the bee-eaters enjoying the termite meal. Fantastic shots! The rest are just as good but I wanted to mention the birds in flight shots in particular as I know how difficult they are to capture!

 

Tremendous dog photos. A stand out for me is one in post #16 of the one dog looking out with a plane in the distance.

 

Very beautiful lions as well. Pity about no leopard or cheetah but as you say, that is for next time......

Edited February 28, 2016 by CaroleE

[madaboutcheetah]

Thanks @@CaroleE - glad you liked the Swallows along with the random Carmines ......... It wasn't easy, because they were so tiny, quick and in flight and all over the place!

[CaroleE]

Thanks @@CaroleE - glad you liked the Swallows along with the random Carmines ......... It wasn't easy, because they were so tiny, quick and in flight and all over the place!

 

I've spent an hour or so trying to photograph Carmines so I know exactly what you mean! But in the end you got some great shots.

[madaboutcheetah]

Yes, Carmines were tough - Swallows are a nightmare, because they are smaller, quicker and a rather dull colour.

[Neeners815]

Just through Part I. Again, really love the pics. I especially loved the sunset shots Thanks for sharing!!

[Safaridude]

@@madaboutcheetah

 

Just caught up with this typically brilliant report. A particularly gruesome/beautiful wild dog kill sequence. And I love the warthog shot in post #20.