Elephants, Lions, and the Start of a Botswana Safari
Chobe National Park
Elephants, Lions, and the Start of a Botswana Safari
Welcome to Chobe National Park — one of the most spectacular wildlife destinations on the planet. From elephants crossing the river to lions in the dappled light and a leopard sighting that made the whole trip, here's how the Botswana adventure truly began.
After a bit of a false start — I recorded an intro in slow motion, which is never a good look — we finally made it into Botswana. And wow. If the first day in Chobe National Park was anything to go by, we were in for something special.
The day started with a border crossing from Zimbabwe into Botswana — a process that somehow managed to be a good laugh. Everyone was in good spirits, and the excitement was building. We were heading to Kasane, and our first stop was a river cruise on the mighty Chobe River.
It was the perfect introduction to what Botswana had to offer.
The River Cruise
There's something magical about the Chobe River. It's the lifeblood of the park, and the wildlife knows it. Elephants are everywhere — families of them, babies in tow, wading through the water, crossing from one side to the other. They're in the water constantly, drinking, playing, moving.
It's a popular spot for elephants, and for good reason. The river draws them in, and they draw you in. You can't help but watch. We stayed on the boat — you don't want to get eaten by anything — but even from the water, the opportunities for photography were extraordinary.
Families of elephants — lots of babies, always a joy to see.
Crossing the river — mud and all sorts of fun on the other side.
There's a particular image I love from that afternoon — an elephant with leaves falling around it like fireflies. It was pulling leaves from the trees, and the light caught them in a way that was just magical. Those moments are what you live for as a wildlife photographer.
Leaves falling like fireflies — an image I absolutely adore.
Into the Bush
After the cruise, we packed into the safari trucks that would be our home for the coming days. Our driver, Sam, was quite possibly one of the most knowledgeable men I've ever met. He knew the park, the animals, the rhythms of the bush — and he had a way of explaining things that made it all come alive.
The roads were rough — loose sand, gravel, riverfront tracks — but Sam navigated them with ease. And he stopped for everything. A giraffe here, a herd of zebra there, a lion family in the shade. There was no rush, no pressure. Just the bush and whatever it decided to show us.
A lovely giraffe with birds on its back — they really enjoy that.
Loose sand, gravel, and the riverfront — just a beautiful, beautiful place.
The Birds
One of the things I've been really focused on expanding in my portfolio is birds. And Botswana has been exceptional for that. The variety is incredible, and the light here — soft, golden, constantly changing — makes every shot feel special.
Photographing birds, though, is a challenge. They're erratic. They take off in unpredictable directions. No amount of autofocus can keep up with them. Some of the guys on the trip had these incredible high-speed cameras with pre-capture and all sorts of clever features, and even they were struggling.
But that's part of the fun. The challenge of trying to capture them just as they land or just as they take off — it's frustrating in the moment, but when you nail it, the image is so much more alive.
Birds catching the light beautifully — colours really accentuated.
Just about to fly away — there's so much more animation in the frame.
Meandering along the riverfront — just as much fun to photograph.
The birds along the riverfront are just as rewarding. They catch the light in such wonderful ways, and their colours are extraordinary. I'm really happy with how these images turned out — it's been a great week for expanding the bird portfolio.
The Lions
I've seen a lot of lions over the years. But I've never seen anything like this. We saw so many lions — families, prides, individuals — that by the end I was joking with the group that I was over lions. It was incredible.
A family of lions bathing each other in the dappled light — just wonderful.
One of my favourite shots is a family of lions bathing each other in the dappled light. It's intimate, warm, and the light filtering through the brush is just perfect. There's another — a more intimate family shot — that I really love too. It's those quiet moments that make the best images.
That bit of light peeping through the brush — I really love this photograph.
A lovely intimate family shot that I really enjoy.
The Leopard
And then — the leopard.
Seeing a leopard in the wild is rare. It's one of those moments that wildlife photographers chase for years. And we got one on our very first day.
A gorgeous leopard — rare, magical, and absolutely stunning.
There were a few safari trucks at the spot, all scanning the open plain. It's amazing how well hidden these cats can be, even in wide-open spaces. But when we finally spotted it — "Oh man, there it is" — the energy shifted. Everyone locked in. We kept our distance, of course, but with telephoto lenses, you feel like you're right there with them.
It was magical. A moment I won't forget.
Just chilling — perfectly concealed even in the open.
Those eyes — scanning, watching, a master of its domain.
Looking Ahead
This blog was originally going to be one long one, but I took so many images that it would have been 45 miles long. So I've split it. Next, we'll continue the Chobe adventure.
But for this week — I'm thrilled with how everything turned out. Chobe is a gold mine. I love it.
Quick word on the Botswana workshop — it's happening. I've been working diligently with the local tour guides to create a wonderful itinerary, and we're nearly ready to open bookings. If you're interested, sign up to the newsletter or keep an eye on the website. Details are coming soon.
Anyways, enough of that. If you enjoyed this, please give the video a like. And if you want to follow along for more adventures like this one, hit that subscribe button. It costs nothing and it makes a huge difference to a small channel like mine.
But for now, I will see you all on the next one.
Take it easy, everybody. Cheers.
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