TR Botswana, my birthday with elephants, part four
Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 9:33 am
OUR PICTURES
In one of my reports I was asked, if we have used a telephoto lens on the safari, and I said, yes.
Afterwards I wasn't quit sure, if my answer was correct. My husband has now returned from his business journey
(a little tired, has been in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana during a week - with flight delay and missing suit case), and he says that a telephoto lens is not quit the same as a zoom (which I was thinking of, when I said yes). The camera we used on this trip was our Olympus C 750 with Ultra Zoom (10 x optical zoom). None extra lens.
I also have to say that I know that many of our pics technically cannot compete with the fantastic photos I have seen on this forum. But you have to be very fast, if you want to take photos of animals in movement. And sometimes you want to have a video too. Not so much time to think of the details.
SOME MORE GAME DRIVE IN SAVUTI
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 1778"><img src="http://lh3.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm1kONVr ... 4.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 0834"><img src="http://lh4.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm2TeNVr ... 8.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 8898"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/R0GUMn3-m ... 8.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 3330"><img src="http://lh5.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm5FuNVr ... 9.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/040 ... 4050"><img src="http://lh3.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm4BONVr ... 2.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/040 ... 8098"><img src="http://lh4.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm4FeNVr ... 3.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 4882"><img src="http://lh5.google.dk/benthe44/Rzms9uNVq ... 3.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/040 ... 4146"><img src="http://lh3.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm3cONVr ... 9.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 1810"><img src="http://lh4.google.dk/benthe44/R0FyiH3-l ... 5.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 9282"><img src="http://lh5.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm6guNVr ... 6.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 5378"><img src="http://lh4.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm2meNVr ... 4.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 3410"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/Rzwze33-l ... 4.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 1682"><img src="http://lh3.google.dk/benthe44/RzxB1H3-l ... 0.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 5506"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm4_-NVr ... 3.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 0242"><img src="http://lh4.google.dk/benthe44/R0FxOH3-l ... 8.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/200 ... 5490"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/Ru-w6PnWT ... 9.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 6738"><img src="http://lh5.google.dk/benthe44/R0FxPX3-l ... 0.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/040 ... 8754"><img src="http://lh4.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm3TeNVr ... 7.JPG"></a>
MY BIRTHDAY
I don't think there are many who have celebrated their sixty years birthday without having a bath. . But I did, have only a quick wash in the face with cold water. No make up at all. Took a look in my very small hand mirror, which was the only I had, thinking, OK, I'm definitely looking as a woman in her sixties, nothing to do about that!
The day was both very strenuous and very exiting. It started about six o'clock in the morning. For the first time I haven't slept so well in the night. Was thinking of the fact that I now was turning sixty- couldn't really understand it - and was also in a way missing my family at home. The birthday song waked me. It was the guys, who filled new water in the "tank", who was singing. After the wash of my face and the brush of my teeth there was breakfast. But we were run out of bread, so not much to choose among, you could have different sorts of corn flakes, Nescafe or tea. And as usual the weather was very cold. We have brought a bottle of "Old Danish" with us from Denmark. It's a spicy liquor, 38% alcohol, and on special occasions you drink it in the morning. And we thought, it was a special occasion this morning. We have also brought a little flag; it's a common Danish birthday habit to have a flag on the table. But none of the others dared to taste the liquor, and they also seemed a little surprised over the flag, don't comment it. So hubby and I have to say "SKAAL" only to each other. The safari was my birthday present, but hubby has also bought a special African necklace for me, which he gave me in the morning (later I lost it, I'm still very, very sorry about that).
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/040 ... 4562"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm4P-NVr ... 3.JPG"></a>
After breakfast we had to pack our bed and bedclothes together, because we had to move that day.
(we did never help with the tents or anything else, the only duty was to pack our beds and bring them out to the car, when we moved). Then in the jeep. The next 5-6 hours wasn't so pleasant.
It was still a little cold, and we were in an open jeep. The roads were filled with holes, and there were not much to see. Luckily it got better about lunchtime. We lunched very close to the river, and it was very beautiful there - and warmer.
But on the game drive in the afternoon I was rewarded and really got my birthday present. Elephants, lots of elephants!! Bathing elephants, drinking elephants, fighting elephants and cute elephant babies.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 3554"><img src="http://lh5.google.dk/benthe44/R0FyEX3-l ... 8.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 5154"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/R0FyLn3-l ... 9.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 7682"><img src="http://lh3.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm46ONVr ... 0.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 4050"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm7I-NVs ... 0.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 5106"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm7T-NVs ... 6.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/040 ... 2898"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/RxSu2Jqtl ... 7.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/040 ... 7730"><img src="http://lh3.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm2_ONVr ... 4.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 2450"><img src="http://lh4.google.dk/benthe44/R0Fw_H3-l ... 5.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 9154"><img src="http://lh5.google.dk/benthe44/R0FxMX3-l ... 6.JPG"></a>
Our dinner was very late this evening, but the food was just delicious. You couldn't have had it better in a top restaurant. Grilled fish, grilled meat, cauliflower with a cheese dressing, squash prepared in a pan with some special spice, baby potatoes and a wonderful sauce. Uhmm! But I was a little disappointed because it seemed as if there were no dessert. But suddenly Philemon and old John came with a birthday cake with light in and besides there was a bottle of champagne. It was a homemade cake, made only using fire. And they were singing for me together with Mompati. I was so surprised and touched, and of course I couldn't help crying a little.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 0146"><img src="http://lh5.google.dk/benthe44/R0FytX3-l ... 1.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 0194"><img src="http://lh4.google.dk/benthe44/R0GOVH3-l ... 9.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 7042"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm5i-NVr ... 6.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 0226"><img src="http://lh4.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm5xeNVr ... 9.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 5122"><img src="http://lh3.google.dk/benthe44/R0GOF33-l ... 3.JPG"></a>
So after all it was a very good birthday and a very special one.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 5074"><img src="http://lh4.google.dk/benthe44/R0GTaH3-m ... 2.JPG"></a>
But very cold in the evening.
THE LAST SAFARI DAY
The next day was our last day on safari, and we were on a wonderful sailtrip on the river.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 5442"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm66-NVs ... 6.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 6466"><img src="http://lh3.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm7PONVs ... 3.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 9746"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm7B-NVs ... 9.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 9522"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/R0GO0n3-m ... 4.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 8130"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/R0GPCn3-m ... 7.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 9810"><img src="http://lh4.google.dk/benthe44/R0GOuH3-m ... 1.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 1426"><img src="http://lh3.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm5OONVr ... 3.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 0066"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm5S-NVr ... 4.JPG"></a>
All of us agreed that it has been such a god trip, no complaint at all. Every day Mompati succeded in finding an animal, which we haven't met before. I wrote in a diary how many special animals we have seen and the amount was nearly thirty. Not to forget the birds. A lot of birds but I don't know the names of all of them. We didn't see what's named the "big five" (elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah and rhino), only the big four. We knew from the beginning that there was none rhinos in this part of the country, so we were not disappointed. Only glad that we succeded seeing four of them.
The only animals I have hoped to see, but didn't were wild dogs.
So here the last smile from the group.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 6242"><img src="http://lh3.google.dk/benthe44/RzmtCONVq ... 5.JPG"></a>
The next day we drove to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. We spent some more days alone there, and in the last part I will tell about our stay there, and how it is to have a butler.
In one of my reports I was asked, if we have used a telephoto lens on the safari, and I said, yes.
Afterwards I wasn't quit sure, if my answer was correct. My husband has now returned from his business journey
(a little tired, has been in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana during a week - with flight delay and missing suit case), and he says that a telephoto lens is not quit the same as a zoom (which I was thinking of, when I said yes). The camera we used on this trip was our Olympus C 750 with Ultra Zoom (10 x optical zoom). None extra lens.
I also have to say that I know that many of our pics technically cannot compete with the fantastic photos I have seen on this forum. But you have to be very fast, if you want to take photos of animals in movement. And sometimes you want to have a video too. Not so much time to think of the details.
SOME MORE GAME DRIVE IN SAVUTI
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 1778"><img src="http://lh3.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm1kONVr ... 4.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 0834"><img src="http://lh4.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm2TeNVr ... 8.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 8898"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/R0GUMn3-m ... 8.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 3330"><img src="http://lh5.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm5FuNVr ... 9.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/040 ... 4050"><img src="http://lh3.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm4BONVr ... 2.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/040 ... 8098"><img src="http://lh4.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm4FeNVr ... 3.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 4882"><img src="http://lh5.google.dk/benthe44/Rzms9uNVq ... 3.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/040 ... 4146"><img src="http://lh3.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm3cONVr ... 9.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 1810"><img src="http://lh4.google.dk/benthe44/R0FyiH3-l ... 5.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 9282"><img src="http://lh5.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm6guNVr ... 6.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 5378"><img src="http://lh4.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm2meNVr ... 4.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 3410"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/Rzwze33-l ... 4.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 1682"><img src="http://lh3.google.dk/benthe44/RzxB1H3-l ... 0.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 5506"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm4_-NVr ... 3.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 0242"><img src="http://lh4.google.dk/benthe44/R0FxOH3-l ... 8.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/200 ... 5490"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/Ru-w6PnWT ... 9.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 6738"><img src="http://lh5.google.dk/benthe44/R0FxPX3-l ... 0.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/040 ... 8754"><img src="http://lh4.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm3TeNVr ... 7.JPG"></a>
MY BIRTHDAY
I don't think there are many who have celebrated their sixty years birthday without having a bath. . But I did, have only a quick wash in the face with cold water. No make up at all. Took a look in my very small hand mirror, which was the only I had, thinking, OK, I'm definitely looking as a woman in her sixties, nothing to do about that!
The day was both very strenuous and very exiting. It started about six o'clock in the morning. For the first time I haven't slept so well in the night. Was thinking of the fact that I now was turning sixty- couldn't really understand it - and was also in a way missing my family at home. The birthday song waked me. It was the guys, who filled new water in the "tank", who was singing. After the wash of my face and the brush of my teeth there was breakfast. But we were run out of bread, so not much to choose among, you could have different sorts of corn flakes, Nescafe or tea. And as usual the weather was very cold. We have brought a bottle of "Old Danish" with us from Denmark. It's a spicy liquor, 38% alcohol, and on special occasions you drink it in the morning. And we thought, it was a special occasion this morning. We have also brought a little flag; it's a common Danish birthday habit to have a flag on the table. But none of the others dared to taste the liquor, and they also seemed a little surprised over the flag, don't comment it. So hubby and I have to say "SKAAL" only to each other. The safari was my birthday present, but hubby has also bought a special African necklace for me, which he gave me in the morning (later I lost it, I'm still very, very sorry about that).
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/040 ... 4562"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm4P-NVr ... 3.JPG"></a>
After breakfast we had to pack our bed and bedclothes together, because we had to move that day.
(we did never help with the tents or anything else, the only duty was to pack our beds and bring them out to the car, when we moved). Then in the jeep. The next 5-6 hours wasn't so pleasant.
It was still a little cold, and we were in an open jeep. The roads were filled with holes, and there were not much to see. Luckily it got better about lunchtime. We lunched very close to the river, and it was very beautiful there - and warmer.
But on the game drive in the afternoon I was rewarded and really got my birthday present. Elephants, lots of elephants!! Bathing elephants, drinking elephants, fighting elephants and cute elephant babies.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 3554"><img src="http://lh5.google.dk/benthe44/R0FyEX3-l ... 8.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 5154"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/R0FyLn3-l ... 9.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 7682"><img src="http://lh3.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm46ONVr ... 0.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 4050"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm7I-NVs ... 0.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 5106"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm7T-NVs ... 6.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/040 ... 2898"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/RxSu2Jqtl ... 7.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/040 ... 7730"><img src="http://lh3.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm2_ONVr ... 4.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 2450"><img src="http://lh4.google.dk/benthe44/R0Fw_H3-l ... 5.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 9154"><img src="http://lh5.google.dk/benthe44/R0FxMX3-l ... 6.JPG"></a>
Our dinner was very late this evening, but the food was just delicious. You couldn't have had it better in a top restaurant. Grilled fish, grilled meat, cauliflower with a cheese dressing, squash prepared in a pan with some special spice, baby potatoes and a wonderful sauce. Uhmm! But I was a little disappointed because it seemed as if there were no dessert. But suddenly Philemon and old John came with a birthday cake with light in and besides there was a bottle of champagne. It was a homemade cake, made only using fire. And they were singing for me together with Mompati. I was so surprised and touched, and of course I couldn't help crying a little.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 0146"><img src="http://lh5.google.dk/benthe44/R0FytX3-l ... 1.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 0194"><img src="http://lh4.google.dk/benthe44/R0GOVH3-l ... 9.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 7042"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm5i-NVr ... 6.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 0226"><img src="http://lh4.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm5xeNVr ... 9.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 5122"><img src="http://lh3.google.dk/benthe44/R0GOF33-l ... 3.JPG"></a>
So after all it was a very good birthday and a very special one.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 5074"><img src="http://lh4.google.dk/benthe44/R0GTaH3-m ... 2.JPG"></a>
But very cold in the evening.
THE LAST SAFARI DAY
The next day was our last day on safari, and we were on a wonderful sailtrip on the river.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 5442"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm66-NVs ... 6.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 6466"><img src="http://lh3.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm7PONVs ... 3.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 9746"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm7B-NVs ... 9.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 9522"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/R0GO0n3-m ... 4.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 8130"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/R0GPCn3-m ... 7.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 9810"><img src="http://lh4.google.dk/benthe44/R0GOuH3-m ... 1.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 1426"><img src="http://lh3.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm5OONVr ... 3.JPG"></a>
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 0066"><img src="http://lh6.google.dk/benthe44/Rzm5S-NVr ... 4.JPG"></a>
All of us agreed that it has been such a god trip, no complaint at all. Every day Mompati succeded in finding an animal, which we haven't met before. I wrote in a diary how many special animals we have seen and the amount was nearly thirty. Not to forget the birds. A lot of birds but I don't know the names of all of them. We didn't see what's named the "big five" (elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah and rhino), only the big four. We knew from the beginning that there was none rhinos in this part of the country, so we were not disappointed. Only glad that we succeded seeing four of them.
The only animals I have hoped to see, but didn't were wild dogs.
So here the last smile from the group.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.dk/benthe44/Saf ... 6242"><img src="http://lh3.google.dk/benthe44/RzmtCONVq ... 5.JPG"></a>
The next day we drove to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. We spent some more days alone there, and in the last part I will tell about our stay there, and how it is to have a butler.