Lovely pictures. Fun trying to get all the birds, there are a couple of raptors I'll need the book for I think.

Johan

very nice pictures.
Who was your guide at Kwara?
Did you see the Skimmers at Kwara or Lebala?
I will be back to Kwara and Lebala/Lagoon next year in January and your pictures
just reminded me how much I want to goback!

Michael

Michael,

My guides were the following: Joe at Kwara and Steve at Lebala. Both were outstanding (general knowledge, tracking, positioning the vehicule and great sense of humour). Kwando safaris is well managed and deserves to my account its excellent reputation. I'll be back there in May this year and probably in September also.

The skimmers seen on one of the pictures were found at Kwara. But I also saw three of them at Lebala. If you are interested in birds, December is just a lovely month to go.

Thanks for your comments on my pictures.

Greetings, Johan

Well, for my next trip you'll have to tell me your secret for coaxing the animals to pose for you (ok, ok, or I need a class in photographic composition!) Gorgeous shots, love the two jackals together, and so many more... Thanks for sharing.

Johan

I have had Steve as a private guide twice and he is just fantastic. I also had Joe as a guide in 2004. You were certainly in good hands.
Unfortunately I do not have any safaris planned for 2006 but will be going twice in 2007. The January trip to the Kwando properties (with Steve as private guide) will be my first wet season trip and I am really looking forward to see the summer colours and the birds.

Michael

Michael

GREAT pics! thanks for sharing! how was the weather? I'm thinking of Kwando camps next December.
Thanks again!

To Matnikstym

I was lucky with the weather, it only rained two times when I was there. (One hour during the second afternoon and once from seven in the evening till four in the morning). The day I left (actually on Christmas) we had a serious thunderstorm and we had to sit for almost an hour in the plane (Caravan) before we could manage to take off.

In terms of photography it's definitely a rewarding time to go because light conditions were just brilliant due to the clouds.

Thanks for your comments on my pics.

To Michael: I know right now that I was in good hands - I will also request for those guys to be my private guides during my trips in 2006. What I like about a guide is it's extensive knowledge about the area they are guiding in and like you know these men are working for a long time at those properties. By the way which other safari are you doing in 2007?

Johan

Johan,

Great pix. Some beautiful lion shots. My favorite is the pelicans and yellow billed storks. You had great variety with wild dog and cheetah. Will some of these make it into your book?

Did you gain any more information on Duba Plains?

WOW Johan - what an absolute pleasure looking through your photos has been! Wonderful! Am ever so jealous!

Atravelynn,

Due to that thunderstorm on Christmas I was stuck at Kwara and arrived very late at Maun airport. So actually I didn't had time to go to the Wilderness office because otherwise I would have missed my flight to CPT. But one of the ladies from Wilderness safaris at the airport gave me a business card with the person to whom I have to talk about it. I'll let you know next week.

I don't think one of the pictures you have seen on this album,will make it to the book. To be honest with you I am not publishing those ones on any website at the moment.

Thank you for your comments on my pics.

Greetings,

Johan

Johan,

Very nice pictures.

What do you think about going to kwara, lagoon or lebala in march?

If march is oké, should it be early or late march?

Greetings Steve

hi johan,
glad to see steve is still at lebala. he was our guide in lagoon/lebala in june 2000. great guy and fantastic eyesight for spotting game. he also had a knack for keeping up with the wild dogs as they moved out on their hunts.

im also very curious about duba plains comments as i'm scheduled for a couple night stay in late aug. thax in advance for any info u receive.

sorry johan, one more question. how have the rains been this year in northern botswana? and how about in the angolan highlands? just curious if they are predicting an avarage flood year or something different like in 04. thx

Johan

In January 2007 I will be doing 11 days at the Kwando properties.
In June I will be at Biyamiti Camp in Kruger ( a small selfcatered camp) for a Birthday party. We have not decided what to do after the party but Namibia is certainly a possibility.
At Kwara camp you could also consider Doctor or Mothusi as a private guide.
Mothusi is a very good photographer

Michael

Beautiful shots Johan. Love all the cat shots - paticularly the group family shot. Thanks for sharing.
Sherry

Bigcountry,

According to the manager of Lebala, rains have been very good in the beginning of the rainy season in northern Botswana (highest rainfall for many years at the start of the season). If I have a look at the weather forecast, they expect for Angola/Northern Botswana more than average rainfall. Wait and see I guess, because mother nature is quite unpredictable.

Michael, Mothusi is at the moment based at Lagoon. But it won't be a problem I guess to ask for him at Kwara.

Greetings, Johan

Hi Johan,

Maybe you missed my question. I was just wondering what you think of going to the kwando camps in march (early or late march), especially with the more than average rainfall.

Thanks Steve

Steve,

I have never been to those camps that time of year.

Normally at the end of March the rainy season comes to an end. So big game will still be scattered around due to the many opportunities they have to drink. So if you mostly interested in predators, I wouldn't recommend to go that time of year to those camps. You can still see them of course but the guides have to work much harder to find them than in wintertime. Otherwise if you are interested in birds and have an open mind (=enjoy what you can see) it's still a great time to go because everything is also still lush and green.

It's difficult to tell if you should go at the beginning or at the end of March. Normally I should stay as late as possible in March although I experienced heavy thunderstorms in late March.

I like that month because some companies in Botswana offer still reasonable rates, birding is good and light conditions can be excellent. If I have to go in March, I would love to go to a camp that gives access to Borea, my favourite spot in Botswana.

Sorry for the fact I forgot to answer your question at first.

Greetings,

Johan

Thanks Johan!

I just got the following option for febr./march:
3n. lagoon
3n. lebala and
2n. kwara.
(would have liked to go longer to kwara but it was fully booked).

The secret season rates make it possible to go solo (no single supplement) to these camps.

However, being (indeed)a predator lover, I still have some hesitation saying YES to my tc. I don't mind the number of sightings though.

My other (and only) possibility to go on safari would be in april or may. Possibly sabi sand (elephant plains).
Probably better for leapards.
How about lions? kwando camps feb/march vs. elephant plains april/may.

Will the overall "africa-feeling" be the same?

Finally, in an earlier post you mentioned you always travel with a duth company called miles travel(correct me if I'm wrong). Do you know
other good companies (in holland).

Greetings and thanks,

Steve (from holland)




.

This will probably

sorry, strange last sentence

Steve,

Never mind about that last sentence.

The company I am working with is called "Talisman reizen", based in Dordrecht. They have an office in Gent too. Actually one of the main reasons that I am working with agents is the fact that I travel frequently with Wilderness safaris. And you can't book directly with them. Another company I know in Holland is "Thika Travel", although I have never booked a trip with them.

I have never been to Elephant plains so I can't tell you anything about it. There will be a factor of luck with it, but I would think that you have a higher chance of seeing predators at Elephant plains in April/May than you have at Kwando properties in February/March.

Greetings,

Johan

johan:

Those pictures are amazing. I love your use of b&w and sepia tones, and the colors in others are astonishing. And I agree with Schlegal1 - HOW do you get those animals to pose and gaze into your lens???

Thank you for sharing!

Cyn

Cyn,

Thank you for your lovely comments.

Taking pictures is about patience...

Greetings,

Johan

Johan, thanks again.

Johan, your pictures are truly beautiful. What equipment did you use? I still haven't decided what to take for my trip to Botswana and Zambia this June. Any help in how you got such outstanding pictures would be appreciated.

You've got some absolutely stunning pictures there! thanks for sharing them!

Raelond,

I use mainly the following equipment:

Nikon D70 and Nikon D2x
Nikon 300MM F 2.8 (1.4 teleconverter)
Nikon 80-200 MM F 2.8

Taking pictures is about patience. Sometimes you have to sit with an animal for hours just to take that one shot you wanted. So it's better not to rush from one sighting to another if you are serious in photography.

Like you know, best light conditions are the 2 hours before sunset and the first 2 hours after sunrise. Try to go out as early as possible. I've been drivin' for 90 minutes to places just to be there when the light conditions were at their best. I like the rainy season because everything is lush and green and light conditions (just before a thunderstorm) can be magnificent. Light conditions during wintertime can sometimes be a bit difficult because the skies can be hazy due to fires.

The quality of the guide (anticipation on animal movement/positioning of the car) is also very important.

And yes, you need sometimes a little bit of luck.

Greetings,

Johan

Johan -- The link to your photos doesn't seem to work any more?

Lisa,

I removed the album last sunday, I think.

Greetings,

Johan

Since we are considering Kwara and Lebala for this December-January I was hoping to show your lovely pics to my DH...

Lisa,

I'll post them tomorrow.

Greetings,

Johan

You're the best!

Can't find them.

They can be found by using the following link:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=12i44p2c.15kf4djg&x=0&y=-g7bf9g

Greetings,

Johan

Stunning! Thanks for sharing. J

Johan,

Another group of amazing photos. A great joy to look at.

Johan:

Amazing photos. Thanks for sharing them. Our family is taking our first trip to SA December 2006. We haven't decided as yet where to stay for the safari portion, but if we see half of what you photographed we will be thrilled.

Johan,

Are these photos still available to view? The links are not working for me.

Thanks.