Photographing my travels: December 2017

At Tau Pan our guides were Matt and Scouper. After a rest in another beautifully large lodge (they were all larger than my flat at home) we were off on a game drive. Down to the watering hole to see the lion we could see from the main lodge.

Spot the lion

Tau Pan camp from the watering hole

The lion we spotted from the lodge

We were then joined by the rest of the pride with 3 cubs

Monarch butterfly

Giraffe bending down to eat one of the melons which littered the ground

Secretary bird

Oryx

Springbok

The next morning the other guests said they had heard the lions roaring through the night. I slept through it all. Apparently 2 strange lions had come into the territory.

early morning at the lodge

One of the pride lions coming towards us and passing right by the jeep

Framed by doves

Lots of roaring and marking to establish territory

Red billed Quelea

My first sight of bat eared foxes

A ground squirrel

Mating flight of the helicopter bird or Northern Black Korhaan

Spider community

Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk taking off

Giraffe spagetti

Secretary bird taking off

Saw more birds in the Kalahari but I didn't manage to get any good photos of them. Off on Saturday afternoon on another game drive.

Kori bustard

Click on this to see the cutest face on the bat eared fox

The brightest bird I saw but only managed this at a very high ISO. Crimson breasted shrike

Whitebrowed sparrow weaver with seed in its mouth

A sundowner spot

Hare

Giraffe at the watering hole on our way back

The rains had finally come that afternoon and into the night which cooled things down

As we were finishing dinner there was a shout of "lion" from the doorway. The whole pride had come up to the main lodge. The lioness and her cubs were at the steps into the dining space. By the time I got there they had gone but I spotted one of the lions walking past number 8. So glad we were escorted back to the lodges during the dark. The lions stayed at the lodge making a lot of noise near the staff quarters. As usual, I didn't hear a thing.

We had a walking safari in the morning with Scouber and his wife telling us about the ways of the bushmen in the Kalahari.

Amanda, Tom, a tour operator from South Africa, Matt listening to Scouber

A hint of the rain

Scouber demonstrating his oryx tools

Lighting the fire

Stephen setting off one of the traps

Springbok taking over the runway

Flowers starting to come out now the rains had started

Still didn't manage to sleep during the siesta so took a few snaps on the way back to the main lodge and the afternoon game drive.

Jackal print outside the lodges

This bird was nesting outside my lodge

Grasshopper

We had been joined by a couple who were on a mobile camping safari and they were now having a bit of luxury and staying with Kwando safaris.

Spot the other one

Bat eared fox cubs

Sunset at the lodge

Our last game drive on Monday and still a chance to spot the honey badger.

Scorpion at the lodge

Springbox fight

Oryx twins

The honey badger who was joined by a black backed jackal.

Another black backed jackal eating his prey which may be a ground squirrel

Yellow mongoose

Had to add this pic of two oryx

Then it was back to Maun in a small plane. We were met by a rep from Kwando Safaris. She had rang by accommodation and there was a car to meet me. I had booked Jump Street Chalets with Booking.com. It was out of Maun. It was clean and comfortable but I didn't see any other guests. Luckily I wasn't too hungry as the menu at their restaurant was basic. I had to pay for a taxi to get back to the airport the next morning. I walked around Maun near the airport before catching my flight back. Arrived back in UK to find I had lost my coat which was packed in my bag and a travel wallet which had nothing of value. That is why my cabin bag weighs so much as it contains everything I don't want to lose.