Senyati & Kasane

The view from our chalet!

We drove to Kasane on 1st October & arrived at Senyati, (our accommodation for the night) mid afternoon. Both of us had stayed her previously & Delana had scouted out the best chalet which was the closest to the waterhole. It proved to be an inspired choice, as we were treated to herds of Elephants & several herds of Cape Buffalo coming down to drink at very close range.

Impala

Herd upon herd of Elephants came down to drink.

It really was a terrific location for our chalet.

All were small breeding herds of females & young.

Several herds of Cape Buffalo came down to drink, 

probably in excess of 200 animals.

Egyptian Goose

Ruff

Animals keep coming to drink throughout the night.

It was a wonderful, relaxing afternoon/evening.

We reluctantly left mid-morning on 2nd October. On our way out down a very sandy track, we came across people who were stuck in the sand. So we stopped to help & towed them to safety. All this took a little time, so we arrived at our next destination Kubu Lodge later than anticipated. The campsite was OK without being remarkable & there was very limited views of the Chobe River. We made camp & sat overlooking the river as the sun went down, without seeing anything too remarkable. The best being an early White winged Black Tern.

As we were having dinner, he came a calling!

He was too tame & made a nuisance of himself.

Drinking out of the washing up bowl!

It would have been Carol's
 birthday today. 
I think about her every day.

Computer work, even in the bush.

Trumpeter Hornbill

Brown hooded Kingfisher

Ashy Flycatcher

Female Bushbuck

Young male.

This species was at a high density here.

The next morning we birded the immediate vicinity of the camp, walking through dry woodland which backed on to riverine vegetation. Birding was good but without seeing anything exceptional.

The mighty Chobe River

Lodges line the left bank of the river.

This river trip was the reason we were in Kasane. it was my third such trip this year & each one has been superb. This time we went on a really small boat & it was a fantastic experience, travelling with a local family who were on holiday as well.

African Fish Eagle

Kudu

Kudus are common along the banks of the river.

Helmeted Guineafowl

Little Bee-eater

Water Monitor

Once it starts to open up 
waterbirds become common.

Goliath Heron

African Darter

Reed Cormorant

Sacred Ibis

Marabou Stork

Over 70 birds were sitting around
 late afternoon.

Yellow billed Stork

African Open billed Stork

White faced Whistling Duck

We came across this Fish Eagle with prey.

He allowed a very close approach.

But then we got too close!

African Jacana

White crowned Lapwing

Common along the banks of the river.

Blacksmith Plover

Long toed Plover

Red winged Pratincole

Common Sandpiper

This bees nest is very unusual in that
 it is out in the open.

Brown hooded Kingfisher

Pied Kingfisher

This frog is a large prey species for this bird.

It took a long time to subdue it.

Greater Blue eared Glossy Starling

Crocodiles are common here.

Some of them are huge!

Our boat was a small one!

Game is abundant on these islands of vegetation.

Waterbuck

Cape Buffalo

Red Lechwe

These Hippos were proving very popular
 with several species of birds.

Squacco Heron

African Skimmer

These birds had just returned to 
this small island to breed.

Unusually very few Elephants were seen
 on this boat trip

Sunset over the Chobe River.

Best birds:

Nothing special seen, but 116 species recorded in two days shows the great diversity of this area. 

Mammals:

Chacma Baboon 50+; Vervet Monkey 20; Warthog; Giraffe 6; Impala 300+; Common Duiker 1; Bushbuck 25; Hippo 20; Cape Buffalo 35; Waterbuck 45; Red Lechwe 70; Elephant 15.

This was a terrific few days birding & animal watching. The tiny boat we took on the river was great for getting up close, but of course one cannot cover a large area.