Botswana Safari: Linyanti, Day 4

We boarded a bush flight to Linyanti Bush Camp after a fond farewell to the wonderful staff at Khwai Tented Camp. 

Bordering Chobe National Park, Linyanti is a rugged paradise. Our camp is situated right on the banks of the Linyanti River, in a private concession area, with woodlands and marshes that support impressive numbers of wildlife. 

Almost immediately after arriving to our camp, we watched large herds of elephant cross the Linyanti River on their way to settle in the uplands for the night. We had a serious photography session!

If you like elephants and water, this is the camp to visit – and this is the right time of year to do it. Mature males jockeyed for position while the mothers protected their young. With all of that activity, we had a smorgasbord of endless interesting interactions to observe and photograph.

Botswana Safari: Okavango Delta, Khwai - Day 3

We focused fully on leopards during our last day in Khwai. It paid off with a number of good sightings as well as interesting behavior observations. One of the highlights was witnessing a spotted hyena – boldly – take a fresh kill away from a leopard!

I played a lengthy session of cat and mouse with another leopard; she kept poking her head around the back of a tree, but never revealed her entire body.

Botswana Safari: Okavango Delta, Khwai - Day 2

We set out on our game drive ready to track leopards until our search was interrupted by those crazy African wild dogs! 

We watched the pack of dogs for several hours, as they were intent on crossing the river to return back into the national park area. Unfortunately, they decided to head deep into the brush, which concluded our viewing. For many of my clients, this sighting was their first experience photographing wild dogs – it was such a treat.

Botswana Safari: Okavango Delta, Khwai

I met my group in Johannesburg where we had a wonderful dinner at Tribes African Grill Steak House. The following morning we headed out to Maun, Botswana to begin our Muench workshop. After several airline delays, we finally made it to Khwai Tented Camp, and were able to catch the last bit of light at the nearby hippo streams. 

I have a very talented group of photographers who have named their vehicles the Botswana Boys, under the guide of Pilot, and the Cologne Connection, under the guide of Partner. 

Tomorrow, it is a very early rise (0500) as we start our search for African wild dogs and leopards.

Tanzania Safari: Day 9

When I’m in Arusha, I always make a point to visit Shanga House. Shanga is a remarkable organization that employs and trains disabled Tanzanians in the arts. They create and sell jewelry and glassware – it’s always a hit with my guests. During this visit, I had the opportunity to try my hand at glass blowing under the guidance of Bosley.

What a trip this has been: great photography, great wildlife, and most importantly, great friends! I hope our paths cross again as we explore the world through photography.

Tanzania Safari: Day 8

We said our farewells to the wonderful staff at the Thomson Ngorongoro Crater Nyumba who made our stay so special and headed out to Gibb’s Farm. 

Gibb’s is stunning. It’s an oasis perched in the highlands with endless gardens and a vast coffee plantation – beauty is everywhere you turn! They serve organic, farm-to-table meals; all of our dining experiences there were second to none! 

Leska, a Maasai medicine man, enlightened our group with a talk about his healing practices and the role he plays in his community. We learned a lot from him! 

I also gave a presentation where I reviewed a number a photographs shot from our trip and demonstrated various ways to process them in Lightroom. It was great fun to take a look back at our safari as a group – my guests took some great photos!

With the outdoor shower calling me, it was time to prepare for our final dinner before you knew it!

Tanzania Safari: Day 7

Early morning mist greeted us at our camp on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater (7,400’) as we made preparations for a dawn departure to the crater floor.

The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the “wonders of the world,” and is always a treat to visit. The descent to the floor, about 2,000’ below the rim, is a ride unlike anywhere else in Tanzania. 

We had a ton of photo opportunities today: from roaming wildebeests, to rolling hippos in the hippo pool, to majestic Black rhinos – we saw three of them. We also photographed numerous lions, too, but since our total lion count for the trip reached 65, we stopped counting!

We enjoyed lunch in the crater and a traditional Tanzanian dinner at the Thomson Ngorongoro Nyumba. We’re headed to Gibb’s Farm tomorrow, which is a wonderful place to conclude the safari. 

Tanzania Safari: Day 6

I always enjoy the dramatic shift of scenery when we move from the plains of the central Serengeti to the lush acacia forests on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. During our journey we saw several lions and a cheetah stalking a Grant's gazelle. In no time flat, though, the gazelle got wind of the cheetah, and no chase ensued.

Before arriving at the Thomson camp on the rim of the crater, we stopped at my favorite Maasai village where I did some environmental portrait lessons with my clients. Linda captured me hamming it up with one of the elder women before we started shooting. We had a blast! 

Tomorrow is our big day on the floor the Ngorongoro Crater, so it is off to bed early with a full moon gliding high above us.

Tanzania Safari: Day 5

Many of my clients went hot-air ballooning this morning; afterwards we were off to the heart of the central Serengeti in search of more cats. Our efforts really paid off with cats galore, including one of the largest male leopards I have ever seen. 

Another special treat was watching a mother cheetah and her three immature boys on a fresh a kill. After they finished their meal, they went for a drink in a nearby ditch, posing for us the whole way.

Total cat count thus far: 18 lions plus 10 cubs, 2 leopards, and 7 cheetahs.

Tanzania Safari: Day 4

Today we moved from the Northern Serengeti to the Central Serengeti, towards our new camp in Robanda. On the way, we explored the bustling village of Mugumu, which provided a wonderful introduction to a thriving bush market in the middle of… well, of nowhere! 

The Thomson Safaris Nyumba camp staff at Robanda had a wonderful hot lunch waiting for us when we arrived at our new digs, and even better, we had just enough time to put our feet up and relax on our tent verandahs. 

Afterwards, it was off to the to Retima Hippo Pool to photograph some hippo wonders, and wonders did we see! In addition to the hippos, we were treated to several Little bee-eaters–a small and vibrantly-colored bird–feeding nearby.