Wildlife Images, Art, and Stories

08/06/2024

I am so thrilled to be able to go back to Mashatu in a few weeks and share this remarkable place with my guests. It's an experience like no other that they will never forget. Only two places left for my November Photography Tour to Mashatu and Chobe in Botswana. https://dianaandersen.com.au/project/botswana-photography-safari-2024/

30/05/2024

So pleased to have this experience added to my November photo tour! Only two places left!

30/05/2024

One of the smallest and most beautiful of Africa's antelopes. This is a male Steenbok in the Kalahari. Only males have horns and while pairs often share a territory, you rarely see them together.

My favourite little antelope, the Steenbok. One of the smallest antelopes, there is something a little mystical about them. This was taken in the Kalahari at sunset.

28/04/2024

One of the world's most invasive species, in fact, the Indian Myna is listed as among the top 100 of the world’s worst invasive species. Just as this one is about to do, this aggressively territorial species evicts native species from their nesting hollows. In their countries of origin, however, they are considered valuable for pest control in cropping areas as their diet is largely insects.

23/03/2024

If you have ever dreamed of a trip to Botswana, the Mashatu Game Reserve won't disappoint! Great wildlife, including leopards, lions, elephants and also wonderful birds, particularly as the wet season approaches in November, bringing large numbers of migratory birds. You can read more about visiting Mashatu, for wildlife photography in November in my blog post. https://wildanimalinfo.com/botswana-safari-mashatu-lodge/

17/02/2024

It always looks like such an effort for Giraffes to take a drink. They are browsers which means they eat from trees so they don't have to reach the ground often Drinking is a necessity though, so they need to make the effort. At least they do it with style! :)

09/02/2024

Helmeted guineafowl are widely domesticated in Australia, the US, and others, but rarely in their country of origin, Africa. It was lovely to see them running about in the wild. Did you know that the term for a group or flock is a 'confusion of guineafowl'? It's a great term and really apt when you see them rushing around looking confused and alarmed. Of course, they are on the menu for many species so it pays to be active and light on your feet!.

04/02/2024

We always think of lions as being powerful, but the reality is that life can be very hard for them, particularly the males who have been ejected from pride and have always relied on their pride and their mothers to provide food. We came across these two brothers travelling together in the Okavango Delta that were doing it tough. With the calving season approaching, hopefully, they will make it, but many die from starvation.

30/01/2024

Another kingfisher, this time the pied kingfisher, which has the remarkable ability to hover in one spot over the water, looking for prey before turning itself into an arrow plunging straight down vertically bill-first to capture fish. It is widely distributed in Africa and Asia and just amazing to watch.

29/01/2024

The dates for my November trip to Botswana have been released! If you've been enjoying my photos and are keen to treat yourself to the trip of a lifetime and learn to take better wildlife photos, take a look at the itinerary. 🙂 https://dianaandersen.com.au/.../botswana-photography.../

26/01/2024

On Australia Day, g'day, who are you? Greetings from a true Aussie. :)

20/01/2024

If you have ever dreamed of a trip to Botswana, the Chobe River area won't disappoint! Great wildlife, including wonderful birds, particularly as the wet season approaches November, bringing large numbers of migratory birds. Of course, hippos, buffalo, elephants and the big cats are also in the area. You can read more about visiting Chobe for wildlife photography in November in my blog post. https://wildanimalinfo.com/chobe-river-in-november-with-pangolin-photo-safaris/

19/01/2024

Our next kingfisher is the woodland kingfisher, again from Africa. They are migratory and are found south of the Sahara and north of Pretoria. As the name suggests, they prefer woodland areas and can be a long way from water, so their diet, as you can see by my photo, is more often insects, small mammals like mice and other invertebrates. In Botswana, you can hear their beautiful call everywhere, but seeing them is not so easy. My guide in Shinde Camp in the Okavango Delta worked hard to find me this one.

17/01/2024

I thought we might look at some kingfishers this week. It's a huge family of birds numbering 116 species, the largest of which is the giant kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima) found in large areas of Africa. They can be seen along the riverbanks where they dive for fish and dig nest tunnels into the riverbanks using their feet and bills.

11/01/2024

Birds are so remarkable. If you travel from Australia to Africa or somewhere like Canada, the mammals are vastly different. However, many of the birds are very similar, the same family, just a different subspecies. It says something about their resilience and ability to adapt. This is an Australian Darter on the left and an African Darter on the right. You would have to agree; they are very similar and generally share the same habits, behaviour and habitat.

10/01/2024

I am on a roll this week with another article published. If you would like to read about visiting the Chobe River in Botswana with Pangolin Photo Safaris. Some amazing opportunities to photograph birds and other wildlife on the river. Photos of course are included so if you are enjoying my images, take a look. :)

Chobe River in November with Pangolin Photo Safaris can be hot and potentially stormy in Botswana but rewarding for wildlife and birds.

07/01/2024

If you have ever wanted to see and photograph wild animals from inside a hide in Africa, you can read about the experience at the Matebole Hide in Mashatu, Botswana. Being at eye level and so close to animals in their natural environment is amazing. I thoroughly recommend it! https://wildanimalinfo.com/matebole-hide-wildlife-photography/