 |
| We have just returned from our second highly successful Bush Skills Safari - this time set in the vast and rugged Tuli Wilderness region of south eastern Botswana. With the Limpopo River as its southern boundary the area stretches over colourful mopane veld, riverine forests and beautiful rock formations. It is, at times, a harsh but stunning landscape and the perfect location for this bush experience. We were joined by an enthusiastic group - thirsty for knowledge! We looked at the tracks and signs so abundant in the dusty Tuli, learnt to appreciate the natural sounds around us, studied rock art and human history, discovered the key to tree identification, looked at the night skies, learnt new birds, met local Botswana school children and teachers and were serenaded by a street musician in the village! The photo essay below captures the highlights of the adventure - but other special moments were - a pair soaring black eagles high above Eagle Rock; photographing the chick whilst leaning precariously over the very high ledge; a look at 3 brown hyena fleeing from beneath a mustard bush - in broad daylight; leaping eland; and many sundowners at Pel's Pools and in the Limpopo riverbed. |
 |
Wildebeest in the mopane |
 |
 |
Limpopo River |
Marabou Storks alone the Limpopo |
 |
 |
 |
Young Lion Tracks |
Baboon Tracks |
* Mozambique Spitting Cobra Track |
| * The snake was seen in camp the night before and was slipping in the loose sand on this slight slope making this interesting track. |
 |
 |
Regal Lion Brothers - found after a long search! |
Relaxed Elephant Herd |
 |
 |
 |
Zimbabwe Flat Lizard |
Rock Monitor |
Peter's Ground Agama |
 |
Looking for the Spotted Hyena Den |
 |
 |
Spotted Hyena |
Young Elephant browsing mopane |
 |
 |
 |
Rock Hyrax |
Kori Bustard |
Black-backed Jackal |
 |
Looking for Tracks |
 |
 |
 |
Learning Tracks |
Double-banded Sandgrouse |
Baboon Spider Home |
 |
 |
Skull Identification |
Rock Elephant Shrew |
 |
 |
 |
Wildebeest Hair |
Artefacts |
A Closer Look |
 |
 |
Steenbok Testing for Oestrus |
Steenbok Foreplay |
 |
 |
 |
Soaking the palm fibres |
Weaving the fibres |
The Finished Product |
 |
 |
Motlhabaneng School Children |
Grinding Maize for School Lunches |
 |
 |
 |
Full Moon Photography |
Male Ostrich Resting |
Street Musician with Unique Guitar! |
 |
Walking the Limpopo River Forest |