A Green Season Safari Review
A few months ago, I went on my first green season safari. My feedback is somewhat delayed but I can blame this only on the myriad of photographic opportunities the trip offered and the photo processing that ensued.
Some other green season advantages were that there were so few people. One virtually never saw another vehicle and I sometimes had the camp to myself - but with full service staff of course. What a luxury that was! Since I am mostly interested in photographing birds, the green season offered many opportunities. I lost count of the many new species I saw due to the presence of migrants and the numerous ponds and wetlands which usually contained many aviary treasures.
The three camps where I stayed were all wonderful and different in character. Similarly the locales of the three camps were distinct and offered different wildlife and scenery. I don’t think the choices could have been any better. I liked Tau Pan for its simpler, more old style of hospitality with family meals and especially enjoyed the call to dinner which was done by song every evening. This was my first visit to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and I was impressed with the unexpectedly rich plant life. Sable Alley, in the Khwai Private Reserve along the northeastern edges of the Okavango Delta, was a spacious, well-appointed camp that was a pleasure to experience. My three “highlight" wildlife encounters of the trip all took place there. A leopard with two near grown cubs hanging out and playing on a fallen tree and wild dogs that ran toward us in single line formation while we photographed them from ground level. The third highlight was a small pond near our breakfast bush stop. I asked to walk there and was delighted to find eight species of birds including a Whiskered Tern that delighted us as it fished for mollusks and small fish
Duke’s Camp was also another treat - sort of other worldly with its Persian tea house feel. I was there alone with only two other guests. The staff had been so well informed about me and knew that I needed to make contact home every day, that I was interested in photography and especially in birds. Thank you Angelica! The place had such a relaxed and personal feel about it. I should also add that the mokoro ride there was excellent and not to be missed and I am saying this as a person who has not liked mokoro rides in the past. It was a tranquil, beautiful way to end my safari, silently gliding through reeds opening into larger bodies of water laden with water lilies and, as a grand finale, some new bird species.
I was fortunate to have Angelica involved in the planning and logistics and, of course, very fortunate to have Shem accompany me as guide and friend. Thank you both for this wonderful experience which will remain a part of me forever.
Images and blog by:Ellen Mack
