Africa Imagery - Photographic Safaris in Botswana

Africa Imagery - Photographs of Africa, it's People and its Wildlife

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Photographic Safari to the Kalahari, Okavango and Linyanti in Botswana

with Roger and Pat de la Harpe

Male lion. Mapula Lodge. Okovango Delta. Botswana

Bushman family at Grasslands Lodge in the Kalahari

Perhaps the most iconic regions of Botswana’s diverse landscape are the vast vistas of the Kalahari sandveld, the seasonal floodplains and permanent lagoons of the world famous Okavango Delta and the marshes and spillways of the Linyanti swamps. Aside from their spectacular beauty and varied habitats, these areas play host to an incredible array of animals and birds, which in combination with the superb African light produce wonderful photographic opportunities.

But there is also a remarkable link with a distant past, found amongst the few remaining Bushman communities in the remote areas of the Kalahari. Southern Africa’s original inhabitants, the Bushmen or San, roamed the plains and sheltered in the caves and rocky overhangs for tens of thousands of years. These Stone Age people were traditionally hunter-gatherers, living in small nomadic bands in harmony with the natural world around them. They neither grew crops nor kept animals but lived off the land, their daily life revealed in the rock paintings and stone tools that they left behind. Their lifestyle remained unthreatened for thousands of years until the dawn of the Iron Age around 2000 years ago, when their gentle culture was all but exterminated by the aggression of others.

Don't miss this chance to visit these very special places at an even more special price.

Programme
The programme is fairly general and could change on the day. Nature does not operate on cue and we'll need to be able to respond to whatever is happening out there. If the idea is to photograph scenery and we hear about a leopard nearby then we will obviously change our plans accordingly.

Day 1. 12:00 After a short flight from Maun, arrive at Grasslands Lodge in the Central Kalahari near Ghanzi. After checking in, sit down to lunch in the open dining room, which overlooks the camp waterhole – scene of several of our photographic shoots over the next few days. Following Kalahari tradition, we’ll have a siesta until high tea at about 15:30 after which we will take a walk with a Bushman family, learning about the uses of many of the plants they use, while sampling some of the edible ones. This is a great opportunity to get great images of these fascinating people in their natural surroundings. We will experiment with using different focal lengths and fill flash. We’ll return to camp after sunset to download images before having refreshments overlooking the floodlit waterhole followed by dinner.

Day 2. 05:00. Wakeup call and we all meet in the dining room for coffee and cereals before heading out to photograph the lions and wild dogs in their research enclosures. While working with the lions we will most definitely be confined to the vehicles, more especially so when considering the size of the beautiful, black-maned Kalahari lion, but we will go into the wild dog enclosure on foot where we will be able to get some very low angle shots of these, the second most endangered predator in Africa.

We need to be back at the camp waterhole at about 08:00. in time to photograph the Sand Grouse arriving to drink and soak their breast feathers in water. (An interesting feature of these birds is their long flight to water sources in desert and semi-desert country where they not only drink, but during the breeding season wet their belly feathers to carry water to their chicks. The male's belly feathers are especially adapted to hold up to 15-20 ml of water. The nests can be over 30 kms away and it can take several trips for the adults to carry enough water back to their young so that they can survive.) We will have 2 opportunities to photograph these birds, so during this first session we will concentrate on using long lenses to do close-ups.

After the last wave of Sand Grouse have flown away we return to camp to download images, break for brunch and then head back to our computers to analyse our pictures. Each participant contributes 3 images and these are analysed by the group. Technical and aesthetic qualities are discussed in an open and constructive manner.

15:30. After a siesta and high tea, we head out on a game drive vehicle to a Bushman hunting camp. (The drive takes us through typical, flat Kalahari veld). At the camp we will learn about the games the Bushman play and be given a chance to experience their dancing. As day turns to night photographic opportunities improve and we will try different techniques to light the men as they dance around the fire – long exposures with flash and high ISO amongst others. Eventually, we’ll only be using the fire for light - and the moon if there is one…
We’ll stop on the way back to the lodge to take in the cool Kalahari night and perhaps have a belated sundowner.

Day 3. 06:00. A day to sleep in a bit. Breakfast is at 07:00, by which time everything except your camera gear should be packed and ready to go. After breakfast we’ll head down to the camp waterhole again and this time we will use wide angle lenses to photograph the Sand Grouse, either by using remotely triggered cameras or otherwise by lying down on a groundsheet to get as close to the action as possible. There are no crocodiles here so there is no need for concern.

12:00. Arrive by small plane at Mapula Lodge in the northern part of the Okavango Delta in time for lunch on the deck overlooking the surrounding floodplain. There is no time for a siesta today! We download images and go straight into an evaluation session. We analyse pictures and discuss techniques until high tea after which we head out in the game drive vehicles. The roads here are unique - rough tracks through the terrain is more apt - and so the progress is slow, giving us ample time to search for game to photograph. We’ll stop for sundowners before heading back to camp and dinner.

Day 4. 05:00. Wake up call. We meet on the deck for coffee and a very light breakfast before heading out on the mokoros. We’ll mostly be using wide angle lenses here but you may like to bring along a longer lens in a waterproof bag in case we get close to something interesting like an elephant drinking.

Brunch will be waiting for us on our return and afterwards we’ll work through our mokoro trip images.

After siesta we’ll meet up for high tea before climbing on board the game drive vehicles for more game viewing. We’ll probably do a different route to the previous drive, perhaps concentrating on the fringes of the wetlands. We’ll stop for sundowners before heading back to camp.

Day 5. 05:00. Wake up call and we meet on the deck for coffee before going on a short game drive. We need to be packed and ready to leave after brunch.

12:00. Arrive at Selinda Lodge, built on a shady island overlooking the waters of the dramatic Selinda Spillway, a waterway that links Botswana's Okavango Delta to the Linyanti and Kwando marshes, rivers and floodplains. ‘Snack packs’ will be available during the 1 hour transfer from the airstrip to the lodge and after checking in there will be time to relax before high tea at 15:30. We’ll then head out on a game drive on the 300 000 acre concession, looking for wild dogs, elephants, red lechwe and other game to photograph. Somewhere in the vast and quiet wilderness we’ll stop for sundowners and discuss the afternoon’s shoot, dealing with technical and compositional issues. Back at camp, dinner is followed by coffee and liqueurs.

Day 6. 05:00. Wake up call, with coffee and fruit around the camp fire before a game drive. We’ll stick to the wetland fringes looking for birds and animals that have come down to drink. We may very well get the opportunity to photograph pelicans, storks and black egrets showing off their unique feeding techniques. A coffee stop at a waterhole will give us the chance to catch up on photographic issues.

After brunch, we’ll get involved in image analysis which will take us through to siesta time. High tea is served on the deck and then the group will split, some heading out on a game drive vehicle while others take to the waters surrounding Selinda in a small boat. With luck those in the boat will get different views and angles of elephants crossing open water, as well as other animals, plants, birds and scenery. After sundowners we’ll slowly make our way back to camp, shooting pictures while experimenting with long exposures and movement. We need to be off the water before dark, to avoid the hippos that come out to graze when evening comes.

Day 7. Largely a repeat of Day 5 with those that were on the game drive doing the boat experience and vice versa.

Day 8. 05:00. Wake up call. Prior to leaving on our last game drive, coffee and fruit will be served around the camp fire, by which time you will need to be packed and ready to leave. The drive will be a long one and we’ll end up at the airstrip to meet our plane for our flight back to Maun.

Equipment required is as follows: (Please feel free to Contact Us to discuss your Photographic Equipment needs)

A Digital SLR Camera (we will be using a Nikon D3s and a D300) with removable lenses (a fixed lens camera will work but will limit what you can do to a certain degree).
Zoom lenses - the selection is broad but at least 2 zoom lenses are recommended, one wide angle and one medium to long telephoto, which should preferably have some form of image stabilization. At least 300mm or preferably 400mm (Nikon do a really useful 80 to 400mm lens and Canon a 100 to 400mm) would be recommended. (We will be using: A Nikon 200 - 400 f4, a Nikon 70 - 200 f2.8, a 24 - 70 f2.8 and a 14 - 24 f2.8 for the D3x and a 20 - 300 and a 18 - 105 on the D300)
A flashgun.
A tripod.
We will have our special, refillable, Africa Imagery bean-bags for sale at R65-00. These work well in the vehicles.
A laptop computer with either Photoshop or Photoshop Elements loaded on to it. This is essential. We will be in Photoshop Elements 6 and CS4 during our discussions. It is recommended that you have some form of backup medium - DVD's or a portable hard drive. We use 2 X 250gig USB drives. We will have trial copies of Photoshop 6 at the workshop and also free versions of various other programs available to load onto your computer.
A memory card reader or computer cables to connect your camera to your laptop.
The charger for your camera/s.
Memory Card/s.
The manual(s) for your camera(s).
A hat to keep off that hot African sun. (You'll be getting a free Africa Imagery Photo Safari cap at registration.)

Safari Dates: 3 to 10 May 2010.

Safari Cost: R37 500-00 per person sharing and R31 550-00 for non-participating partners sharing. (Prices may change and are subject to Rand/Dollar exchange rate fluctuations. Payment secures). Costs include the following:

One Way Charter from Maun to Grasslands Bushman Lodge.
2 nights accommodation at Grasslands Bushman Lodge, inclusive of all meals, tea, coffee and snacks, all alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks, laundry, all game activities, Government taxes and levies, Park fees.
One Way charter from Grasslands to Mapula Lodge
2 nights accommodation at Mapula Lodge. inclusive of all meals, tea, coffee and snacks, all alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks, laundry, all game activities, Government taxes and levies, Park fees.
One Way Charter from Mapula Lodge to Selinda Camp
3 nights accommodation at Selinda Camp, inclusive of all meals, tea, coffee and snacks, all alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks, laundry, all game activities, Government taxes and levies, Park fees.
One Way Charter from Selinda Camp to Maun.
Course notes and a certificate of completion of the safari.

Prices exclude:

Scheduled flights. Departure on the safari is from Maun in Botswana. Flights to Maun are NOT included.
Travel and Medical Insurance
Visa costs if applicable
Items of a personal Nature
Premium brand drinks.

It is a condition of booking with Africa Imagery that each and every guest be adequately covered by comprehensive travel and medical insurance.

Delta Air will carry a total luggage of 20 kg per person - this includes hand luggage - SOFT BAGS ONLY.

Contact us to book your place on this exciting and informative safari.

Sandgrouse in flight at Grasslands Lodge

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