Wildlife in Africa is fantastic. During my stay in Botswana we went on two game drives each day, one in the early morning, and one in the late afternoon. In the Khwai region we extended the afternoon game drive into a night drive. Here are pictures of the animals that I saw.
Pictures of birds in Botswana and other nature pages are separate:
Fruit stands of African Basil (Ocimum gratissimum, french: Faux basilic) at the left, and wild sage, green leaves on the right. (1498k) Water lily. (650k) Tangled dead tree. (920k) There are lots of dead trees in the Okavango Delta, they died in a flood a few years ago. Much of the green that you see is mistletoe in dead trees. (974k) Fever Berry (Croton sylvaticus). According to my guide, it was used to incapacitate fish so they can be harvested. (1.6M) Mopane (Colophospermum mopane, german: Mopane, french: Mopane) Trees stunted by browsing elephants. (1116k) Camel Thorn (Vachellia erioloba, german: Kameldorn, french: Acacia à girafe). (943k) Leadwood (Combretum imberbe, german: Langfäden) Tree. (1229k) African Baobab (Adansonia digitata, german: Afrikanischer Affenbrotbaum, french: Baobab africain). (886k) African Baobab (Adansonia digitata, german: Afrikanischer Affenbrotbaum, french: Baobab africain). (1086k)
Wildlife in Botswana
Wood spider nest. (1294k) Termite mound. (1.6M) Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus, german: Nilwaran, french: Varan du Nil). (1.7M) Smith's Bush Squirrel (Paraxerus cepapi, german: Smith-Buschhörnchen). (857k) Scrub Hare (Lepus saxatilis, german: Buschhase, french: Lièvre des buissons). It is endemic to Southern Africa. (733k) Common Dwarf Mongooses (Helogale parvula, german: Südliche Zwergmanguste, french: Mangouste naine du Sud). (1081k) Slender Mongoose (Herpestes sanguineus, german: Schlankmanguste, french: Mangouste rouge). (1192k) Banded Mongooses (Mungos mungo, german: Zebramanguste, french: Mangouste rayée). (1323k) Banded Mongooses (Mungos mungo, german: Zebramanguste, french: Mangouste rayée). (1453k) Banded Mongoose (Mungos mungo, german: Zebramanguste, french: Mangouste rayée). (992k) Southern Vervet Monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus pygerythrus, german: Südliche Grünmeerkatze, french: Vervet bleu). (998k) Grayfoot Chacma Baboon (Papio ursinus griseipes, german: Bärenpavian, french: Chacma). (831k) Cape Fox (Vulpes chama, german: Kapfuchs, french: Renard du Cap). (895k) Southern African Wildcat (Felis lybica cafra, german: Afrikanische Wildkatze, french: Chat sauvage d'Afrique subsaharienne). (963k) Southern African Black-backed Jackal (Lupulella mesomelas mesomelas, german: Schabrackenschakal, french: Chacal à chabraque). (914k) Group of Southern Warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus sundevallii, german: Warzenschwein, french: Phacochère). (976k) Southern Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus sundevallii, german: Warzenschwein, french: Phacochère). (891k) Grazing Southern Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus sundevallii, german: Warzenschwein, french: Phacochère). Since their necks are short, they go down on their knees when grazing. (1020k) Southern Steenbuck (Raphicerus campestris campestris, german: Steinböckchen, french: Steenbok). (848k) Southern Steenbuck (Raphicerus campestris campestris, german: Steinböckchen, french: Steenbok). (1142k) Common Impalas (Aepyceros melampus melampus, german: Schwarzfersenantilope, french: Impala) harem, the male on the left. (1157k) Male and female Common Impalas (Aepyceros melampus melampus, german: Schwarzfersenantilope, french: Impala). (933k) Young male Common Impalas (Aepyceros melampus melampus, german: Schwarzfersenantilope, french: Impala). (666k) Male Common Impala (Aepyceros melampus melampus, german: Schwarzfersenantilope, french: Impala). (897k) Female Common Reedbuck (Redunca arundinum arundinum, german: Großriedbock, french: Grand cobe des roseaux). (840k) Male Common Reedbuck (Redunca arundinum arundinum, german: Großriedbock, french: Grand cobe des roseaux). (745k) Red Lechwes (Kobus leche leche, german: Letschwe, french: Cobe de Lechwe). (971k) Female Red Lechwe (Kobus leche leche, german: Letschwe, french: Cobe de Lechwe). (987k) Young male Red Lechwe (Kobus leche leche, german: Letschwe, french: Cobe de Lechwe). (1061k) Male Red Lechwe (Kobus leche leche, german: Letschwe, french: Cobe de Lechwe). (1.8M) Male Red Lechwe (Kobus leche leche, german: Letschwe, french: Cobe de Lechwe). (1014k) Common Tsessebe (Damaliscus lunatus lunatus, german: Tsessebe, french: Sassabi). (1176k) Female Ringed Waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus ellipsiprymnus, german: Ellipsen-Wasserbock, french: Cobe à croissant). (1124k) Male Ringed Waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus ellipsiprymnus, german: Ellipsen-Wasserbock, french: Cobe à croissant). You can clearly see the iconic "toilet seat" white ring around the tail. (876k) Male Ringed Waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus ellipsiprymnus, german: Ellipsen-Wasserbock, french: Cobe à croissant). (1006k) Close-up of a male Ringed Waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus ellipsiprymnus, german: Ellipsen-Wasserbock, french: Cobe à croissant). (673k) Female Southern Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros strepsiceros, german: Strepsiceros, french: Grand koudou). (1368k) Male Southern Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros strepsiceros, german: Strepsiceros, french: Grand koudou) with giraffe in the background. (1055k) Male Southern Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros strepsiceros, german: Strepsiceros, french: Grand koudou). (1005k) Close-up of male Southern Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros strepsiceros, german: Strepsiceros, french: Grand koudou) with Yellow-billed Oxpecker (Buphagus africanus, german: Gelbschnabel-Madenhacker, french: Piquebœuf à bec jaune). (693k) Southern Sable Antelopes (Hippotragus niger niger, german: Rappenantilope, french: Hippotrague noir). (685k) Chapman's Zebras (Equus quagga chapmani, german: Steppenzebra, french: Zèbre de Chapman). (1313k) Chapman's Zebra (Equus quagga chapmani, german: Steppenzebra, french: Zèbre de Chapman). (957k) Baby Zebra. (835k) Close-up of Chapman's Zebra (Equus quagga chapmani, german: Steppenzebra, french: Zèbre de Chapman). (842k) A herd of Blue Wildebeests (Connochaetes taurinus taurinus, german: Streifengnu, french: Gnou bleu). (1228k) Blue Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus taurinus, german: Streifengnu, french: Gnou bleu). (841k) Angolan Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis, french: Girafe d'Angola). (733k) Angolan Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis, french: Girafe d'Angola) standing in the shade. (803k) Resting Angolan Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis, french: Girafe d'Angola). (1112k) Angolan Giraffe with baby. (872k) Buffaloes and Giraffe in the African savanna. (524k) Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer, german: Kaffernbüffel, french: Buffle d'Afrique). (1152k) Hippo pool. (1212k) Hippos in the water. It is quite crowded there. (901k) Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius, german: Flusspferd, french: Hippopotame amphibie) with Red-billed Oxpeckers (Buphagus erythrorynchus, german: Rotschnabel-Madenhacker, french: Piquebœuf à bec rouge). (1358k) Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius, german: Flusspferd, french: Hippopotame amphibie) with baby hippo and African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus, german: Blaustirn-Blatthühnchen, french: Jacana à poitrine dorée). (701k) Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius, german: Flusspferd, french: Hippopotame amphibie) and Southern African Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus cowiei, german: Nilkrokodil, french: Crocodile du Nil). (982k) Hippo skull. (981k) African Bush Elephants (Loxodonta africana, german: Afrikanischer Elefant, french: Éléphant de savane d'Afrique) at sunset. (674k) African Bush Elephants (Loxodonta africana, german: Afrikanischer Elefant, french: Éléphant de savane d'Afrique) at a watering hole. (927k) African Bush Elephants (Loxodonta africana, german: Afrikanischer Elefant, french: Éléphant de savane d'Afrique) with baby. (906k) Drinking African Bush Elephant (Loxodonta africana, german: Afrikanischer Elefant, french: Éléphant de savane d'Afrique). (1064k) Feeding African Bush Elephant (Loxodonta africana, german: Afrikanischer Elefant, french: Éléphant de savane d'Afrique). (1034k) African Bush Elephant (Loxodonta africana, german: Afrikanischer Elefant, french: Éléphant de savane d'Afrique) throwing mud. (1376k) African Bush Elephants (Loxodonta africana, german: Afrikanischer Elefant, french: Éléphant de savane d'Afrique) throwing dust. (749k) African Bush Elephant (Loxodonta africana, german: Afrikanischer Elefant, french: Éléphant de savane d'Afrique) rolling in mud. (1200k) This elephant was agitated. He trumpeted, stomped, and waved his ears. Later he made a mock charge at us to intimidate us. (862k) Baby elephant. (773k) Elephant seeking shade. (693k) Elephant at sunset. (665k) Elephant skull. (929k) Elephant trail. (712k) Southern African Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus cowiei, german: Nilkrokodil, french: Crocodile du Nil). (2M) Close-up of a Southern African Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus cowiei, german: Nilkrokodil, french: Crocodile du Nil). (1296k) Pack of Cape Wild Dogs (Lycaon pictus pictus, german: Afrikanischer Wildhund, french: Chien sauvage d'Afrique). (1292k) Resting Cape Wild Dogs (Lycaon pictus pictus, german: Afrikanischer Wildhund, french: Chien sauvage d'Afrique). (1068k) Two Cape Wild Dogs watching. (1243k) Cape Wild Dog. (911k) Cape Wild Dog cub. (1142k) Close-up of Cape Wild Dog. (474k) Cape Wild Dogs walked right by the vehicles. (825k) Spotted Hyenas (Crocuta crocuta, german: Tüpfelhyäne, french: Hyène tachetée). (1251k) Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta, german: Tüpfelhyäne, french: Hyène tachetée). (957k) Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta, german: Tüpfelhyäne, french: Hyène tachetée). (1046k) African Leopard (Panthera pardus pardus, german: Leopard, french: Léopard d'Afrique). (1270k) African Leopard (Panthera pardus pardus, german: Leopard, french: Léopard d'Afrique). (1150k) African Leopard (Panthera pardus pardus, german: Leopard, french: Léopard d'Afrique). (1032k) The leopard is very well camouflaged. (1316k) Close-up of the leopard. (1018k) The leopard walked right by our vehicles. (1108k) Elephants and a male Southern Lion (Panthera leo melanochaita, german: Löwe, french: Lion). (863k) Southern Lions in the African savanna. (901k) Resting female Southern Lions (Panthera leo melanochaita, german: Löwe, french: Lion). (852k) Resting male Southern Lions (Panthera leo melanochaita, german: Löwe, french: Lion). (1254k) Grooming lions. (1077k) Female Southern Lion (Panthera leo melanochaita, german: Löwe, french: Lion). (874k) Male Southern Lion (Panthera leo melanochaita, german: Löwe, french: Lion). (973k) Baby Southern Lions (Panthera leo melanochaita, german: Löwe, french: Lion). (1139k) Close-up of a female lion. (808k) Close-up of a male lion. (850k) Female lion staring at something. (736k) Yawning Southern Lion (Panthera leo melanochaita, german: Löwe, french: Lion). (1017k) Baby lion cuddling with his mother. (708k) Baby lion playing with his mother. (1001k) Baby lion cuddling with a male lion. (842k) A bird got too close to one of the lions. The lion jumped on it, caught it and ate it. That was the only kill by a predator that I saw. (673k) It got crowded on the buffalo carcass, but there was so much to eat that there were no squabbles. (1071k) This lion crawled inside the carcass to feed. (886k) Baby lion resting on their food. (707k) The Southern African Black-backed Jackal (Lupulella mesomelas mesomelas, german: Schabrackenschakal, french: Chacal à chabraque) circled around the lion kill, hoping to snag a bite. (1124k) The lions got really close. (859k)
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