The Okavango Delta

Hippos at sunrise, Banoka, Botswana

After a few hot and dry days in the Kalahari Desert NP, we arrived in the Okavango wetland. The temperature was still high, but the fresh green and bodies of water made it a more pleasant experience. Being the largest inland delta of the world, Okavango provides you with the best game watching, and wildlife photography, in the whole of Africa. We stayed a couple of nights at Seba Camp in the western, wet part of the national park, and a couple in the brand new Banoka Bush Camp in the drier part to the east.

Dining area at the brand new Banoka Bush Camp

The combination of these two camps gave us a great variety of wildlife experiences. It usually is very rewarding, working with wildlife in water. Therefore we spent a lot of time near the flooded plains with Elephants, Hippos, different antelopes and reptiles – not to mention thousands of birds.

Flying Kudu, Okavango

Elephant running through the reed, Okavango

Getting in position for the good shot, Okavango

Are there any Crocs her? Yes...

My favorite African cat, the Leopard, Okavango

Lioness carrying a one day old cub, after been attacked by a herd of Buffalos, Okavango

We seemed to spend a lot of time on our stomach, getting the good angle and getting close to wildlife. This technique gave us some nice encounters with birds, Hippos and even Spotted Hyena. The guide was always on guard, and we felt safe throughout our stay. The only time the guide was a little stressed was when a 2,5 metre Black Mamba crossed in front of the vehicle.

Eye-level with a Spotted Hyena at sunrise, Okavango

All in all this was an amazing experience with only good memories, though I nearly was electrocuted as a lightning hit my tent while I was in it. The sound was sharp and loud, and the roof was splintered. I still have another 8 lives left, which means I will be able to go back soon.

A hole in the roof, after it was hit by lightning

If you would like to come with me on a similar trip next year, please send me an e-mail – I would like to know as I am planning a workshop October/November 2011 in Botswana.

Hippo Lagoon with lightning, Okavango

Fire in the Kalahari Desert NP

What can I say? Botswana was electric!

First of all I would like to say thanks to the people at Wilderness Safaris for providing us with such high quality lodges and guides. Also thanks to Safari AS in Norway for making all the arrangements for this trip. Thank you!

We travelled with South-African Airlines from Heathrow and I was pleasantly surprised by the high quality of this airline. Good service, and spacey seats – recommended. Botswana Airways’ Fokker was a bit more crampy, but the flight to Maun was rather short. From there we headed into the Central Kalahari Desert National Park and the adventure could begin.

Kalahari in the summer is hot – very hot. When the thunderstorms lit bushfires all around us it got even hotter. However it gave us some brilliant opportunities for night photography.

The bushfires were probably the most thrilling experience in the Kalahari, and the pictures came out pretty nicely to.

Dust-devil, made up of newly burnt grass just minutes after the bushfire past through the area, and the soot went through our car.

Lightning struck every night to light a new bushfire somewhere in the desert, often close to the camp

Kalahari is very different from most other national parks in Africa with mainly small game, but some extremely interesting species. We worked a lot with Honey Badgers, Aardwolf, Hornbills, Bustards, Bat-eared Fox and Stenbucks. We also found plenty of Oryx, Springbucks, some black maned Kalahari Lions and a couple of nice scorpions below the tent floor. Actually a couple of the lions also spent the hot hours of the day below the floor of the lodge cabins.

Honey Badger digging for scorpions at sunrise

The shy and seldom seen Aardwolf, a relative of the Hyena

A very poisonous Scorpion we found under the lodge floor

More on my journey to Okavango and Chobe later.

PS! Flying across the 40 degree Celcius Kalahari desert in a 5 seat Cessna was not my kind of journey...

Ole Jørgen Liodden trying to fit our gear in a rather small aircraft

On my way again

I know its been a while since my last blog, but the thing is that I have found it quit convenient to post short stories and single images on Facebook instead.

Since last I have been awarded Highly commended in BBC Wildlife Magazine and Natural History Museums Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2010, as well as GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

BBC 2010 - Animal Portrait - highly commened

GDT 2010 - Nature's studio - Highly commended

Funny enough both of these images were taken within 15 minutes from my home, and I am currently posting this from London Heathrow on my way to Botswana. Good pictures can be made close to home, but the adventure of nature photography is always present.

So please come back for a Botswana galley later.