The wildlife of the Okavango

Growing up in South Africa, there has always been an innate passion for its wildlife. Kruger National Park, established in 1926, in Northeastern South Africa, is one of Africa’s largest game reserves.  Spoiled with the abundance of animals and large herds of deer crossing the roads. There was no shortage in spotting the Big Five.

Today, throughout Africa the numbers are dwindling but more so in Kenya, who have been hit particularly hard with a declining Lion population. The cause of the continent-wide decline has mainly been to lack of funding patrolling the parks and the encroachment of humans on animal habitats. Climate change, war and the growing bushmeat trade is said to have also decimated populations. My journey has taken me to the west, to the top of Botswana, the Okavango Delta and Namibia.

The area has been hit with the worst drought in recorded history and the game sparse, seeking better feeding grounds and water elsewhere. I have managed to capture some the animals throughout the three-week journey.

Huddled together in a small and intimate pond I found this group of Hippos with their expression asking to ‘whats up?”  What was up was the aroma of a septic tank in the heat of the African sun.

The African wild dog  Lycaon pictus is on the list of the world's most endangered carnivores. The number of the wild dogs have dwindled over the last thirty years and estimating that there are between 300 to 600 living in this area. The wild dogs hunt in formidable cooperative packs of 6 - 20 and sometimes more. In the past, the groups were larger and with their mottled black, brown and cream coats blended with their environment. They also tackle much larger prey such as wildebeest and the targeted prey rarely escapes the pack. They can run up to speeds of 35 mph and without slowing down will take out chunks of their prey; tearing at the flesh until it falls from blood loss and shock.

 Kigali Africana the sausage tree is easily recognisable by the large sausage-shaped fruits hanging from its branches. Its dark red flowers only open at night and are pollinated by bats and hawkmoths.  With the flowers unpleasant aroma, it is believed that that is what attracts the bats instead of the colour.  The sausage-shaped fruits are 30 to 90 cm (11 to 35 in) long and 7.5 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in) in diameter.

In more populated tourist areas, there are warning signs posted not to park your vehicle in their shade, or under its branches. Dropped from a height the hard shell of the sausage, with its pointed end, can cause damage to the vehicle.

The environment slowly changes, as we move on to a much more arid scenery, with African huts dotting the landscape and we have become aware that we are entering the area of the San Bushman.