Okavango 2016
Selinda, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A male lion surveys the Selinda Spillway as the sun rises.
Selinda, Okavango Delta, Botswana. The early morning yawn of a male lion.
Selinda, Okavango Delta, Botswana. An elephant has died of natural causes in mopane woodland near the spillway; predators and scavengers are benefiting. Hyenas (the only predators with strong enough jaws) have opened the elephant's body and started work on the ribs. A frustrated lion knows there's much more meat in the untouched legs, but can't access it.
Selinda, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A hooded vulture waits for its turn to feed on an elephant carcass. Scavengers go last.
Selinda, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A female lion awaits her early morning turn at an elephant carcass.
Selinda, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A young male cheetah, after more than an hour of delay, finally summons the will to cross the spillway to the east. He is likely looking to distance himself from the threat of the multiple lions that inhabit the west side. Cheetahs do not like water; this one is complaining.
Selinda, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A young male cheetah emerges on the east bank of the spillway. Cheetahs are very unilikely to make such water crossings, so this is a rarely seen moment.
Selinda, Okavango Delta, Botswana. Soaked from the spillway, a young cheetah enjoys some solitary play time.
Selinda, Okavango Delta, Botswana. Soaked from the spillway, a young cheetah enjoys some solitary play time.
Selinda, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A male saddle-billed stork moves to a different location down the spillway.
Selinda, Okavango Delta, Botswana. An African wild dog is intrigued by a safari vehicle.
Selinda, Okavango Delta, Botswana. An intent African wild dog pup near its den in the mopane woodland.
Selinda, Okavango Delta, Botswana. An elephant breeding herd comes to the spillway for water.
Selinda, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A mother elephant gets water from the spillway and her calf takes the opportunity to nurse.
Selinda, Okavango Delta, Botswana. An African fish eagle takes flight above the spillway.
Selinda, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A ground hornbill on the spillway bank.
Selinda, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A hippo typically spends most daylight hours with its body submerged to protect its sensitive skin from the sun. This yawn shows the hippo's massive lower incisor and canine tusks, which are used for combat, not for feeding.
Selinda, Okavango Delta, Botswana. This pair of hippos is making an unusual daylight transit along the edge of the spillway to join a larger group, likely for increased safety.
Selinda, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A spillway sunset.
Chitabe, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A Verreaux's eagle owl. Also known as giant eagle owls, these are the largest owls in Africa.
Chitabe, Okavango Delta, Botswana. Playful lion cubs. The two on left are from one litter and the older cub on the right is from another.
Chitabe, Okavango Delta, Botswana. Playful lion cubs from distinct litters.
Chitabe, Okavango Delta, Botswana. An intently focused African wild dog. Note the visible left canine tooth.
Chitabe, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A very young African wild dog pup, plaintively crying. It is just starting to lose its original all-black coat.
Chitabe, Okavango Delta, Botswana. An African wild dog on the hunt as the sun sets.
Chitabe, Okavango Delta, Botswana. This young female was highly agitated, perhaps by separation from her herd and the presence of a safari vehicle.
Chitabe, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A white-backed vulture searches for scavenging opportunities.
Chitabe, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A calling crimson-breasted shrike.
Chitabe, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A leopard mother monitors her cub and scans for danger.
Chitabe, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A leopard mother and her cub.
Chitabe, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A leopard cub.
Chitabe, Okavango Delta, Botswana. This lioness has just rolled from one side to the other and her cubs are re-establishing their nursing positions.
Chitabe, Okavango Delta, Botswana. Lion cubs nursing.
Chitabe, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A peaceful lion cub nursing scene.
Chitabe, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A lion cub looks for a play partner among its sibliings.
Chitabe, Okavango Delta, Botswana. Two lion cubs finish nursing and get ready for play time.
Chitabe, Okavango Delta, Botswana. An alert lioness and her cubs in sunset light.
Chitabe, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A lion cub.
Chitabe, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A playful pair of lion cubs.
Chitabe, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A lioness takes a break from feeding on a kudu in nearby grass close to the Chitabe camp.
Chitabe, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A pair of Impala in the early morning sun.
Chitabe, Okavango Delta, Botswana. White-backed vultures gather to scavenge a recent kill.
Vumbura, Okavango Delta, Botswana. Papyrus are abundant in the permanent swamps along the fringes of larger delta channels.
Vumbura, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A malachite kingfisher parent (on the left) has brought a fish to a juvenile. The juvenile may be larger than the parent because it is being fed by both parents.
Vumbura, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A Chacma baboon juvenile is teased (maybe harrassed?) by others in its troop.
Vumbura, Okavango Delta, Botswana. The iconic call of the African fish eagle is flung to skies.
Vumbura, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A perched leopard scans for prey.
Vumbura, Okavango Delta, Botswana. A leopard scans for prey from its leadwood tree perch.