Pierre's October 2017 Safari
October is a warm time in southern Africa and, being at the very end of the dry season, can produce outstanding game-viewing – animals are stressed by the heat and lack of water, causing them to concentrate at the few remaining drinking sources, where predators lie in wait.
I was fortunate enough to visit three of the region’s most prolific wildlife destinations – South Africa's Kruger Park, and the Chobe Park and Okavango Delta in Botswana. As expected, the wildlife experience was exquisite, and I had excellent photographic encounters with all the high profile species, including rarities like cheetah, wild dogs, and black rhinos.
Two major conservation victories that caught my attention during the course of my travels were the success of Botswana’s rhino reintroduction program, and the growing wild dog population in South Africa and Botswana. With all the bad news about rhino poaching in South Africa, it was great to encounter some conservation bright spots and infectious optimism among the guides.
EQUIPMENT LIST
Camera bodies:
Canon 1Dx
Canon 5dMkIII
Lenses:
500mm (f/4.0) USM
24-105mm (f/4.0) USM
Accessories
Lowepro Vertex 300AW camera bag
Two batteries per camera
Filters
Tiffen Circular Polarizer
Singh-Ray Vari-ND