This month has been focussed a lot around the launch of our Botswana travel packages and it is for this reason that I have opted to share two of my favourite images taken on the trip to the delta last month (you can view part one and part two of the travel diary by clicking on these links). Also, dont forget to check out our SPECIAL DEALS for South African Residents!

I hope you’ll enjoy these images as much as I do!

{filelink=17} the full sized image here

This first image was taken from the deck in front of my room at the Jao Camp in the Jao Concession (Western region of the Okavango Delta). Our group had just returned from and awesome afternoon boat cruise along the delta and was treated to this breathtaking sunset to the west of the lodge. The tree on the left hand side spoils the image a bit for me but i still think it makes for a great desktop background – what do you think?

{filelink=18} the full sized image here

The second image was also taken in the Jao concession, infact this was the same afternoon we were treated to the spectacular sunset. The reflections of the clouds and trees in the water are what stood out in this image for me but again, I think it would look a lot better if it were cropped a bit tighter from the top to make it even more of a wide landscape image. What are your thoughts?

As always, the desktop backgrounds for December are in two size formats:

• 1280 x 800 (click on the image to open it in a new window, then right click on the full image and save)
• 2560 x 1600 (simply click on the ‘Download’ link)

The first image for this month was taken whilst on a day trip to the Pilanesberg National Park earlier in November. Witnessing this storm approach and hit the centre of the reserve was the highlight of a day filled with sightings of lion, white rhino, serval, elephant and loads of general game.

We witnessed a number of these incredible strikes as the storm approached, and were even fortunate enough to have seen one strike and set a wild-olive tree alight! The wind fuelled the fire and it quickly started to spread up the side of an adjacent hill. Luckily, the driving rain and hail soon stopped the fire from spreading any further. Bare in mind that this was all around 14:00 in the daytime!

{filelink=16} the large format file here.

The second image was taken whilst guiding a group in the Madikwe Game Reserve. Madikwe is renowned for its wild dog sightings ( hence our planned photographic safari focussing on wild dogs in 2011) and our group was very lucky to be able to sit with this pack of 13 individuals for well over half an hour as they played around in the late afternoon sun.

{filelink=15} the large format file here.

The scientific name Lycaon pictus is derived from the Greek for “wolf” and the Latin for “painted”. It is the only canid species to lack dewclaws on the forelimbs.The African Wild Dog hunts in packs. Like most members of the dog family, it is a cursorial hunter, meaning that it pursues its prey in a long, open chase. Nearly 80% of all wild dog hunts end in a kill; for comparison, the success rate of lions, often viewed as ultimate predators, is only 30%.

There were once approximately 500,000 African Wild Dogs in 39 countries, and packs of 100 or more were not uncommon. Now there are only about 3,000-5,500 in fewer than 25 countries,or perhaps only 14 countries. They are primarily found in eastern and southern Africa, mostly in the two remaining large populations associated with the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania and the population centered in northern Botswana and eastern Namibia. Smaller but apparently secure populations of several hundred individuals are found in Zimbabwe, South Africa (Kruger National Park), and in the Ruaha/Rungwa/Kisigo complex of Tanzania. Isolated populations persist in Zambia, Kenya, and Mozambique.

I look forward to bringing you more fantastic free wildlife desktop backgrounds from around Africa in the new year as there are a number of trips on the cards to Botswana, the Masai Mara and the Kgalagadi Transfronteir Park to name but a few!

All the best until 2011!

The desktop backgrounds for November are in two size formats:

• 1280 x 800 (click on the image to open it in a new window, then right click on the full image and save)
• 2560 x 1600 (simply click on the ‘Download’ link)

This first image is of a stunning dragonfly take from the Mankwe Dame hide where we usually have our breakfast stop. This particular morning was quite windy which meant that there wasn’t much in the way of activity from the usual abundance of kingfisher species in the area. Despite this, the water monitors, marsh terrapins, dragonflies, hippos and some larger water bird species kept the group entertained and provided some excellent photographic opportunities. I am not certain of the species identification so perhaps some of the dragonfly fundi’s out there can assist me?

{filelink=13} the large file here.

The second image is of the all too familiar Egyptian goose (Alpochen aegyptiaca). The genus name of Alpochen means “fox goose” and refers to the browny colour of the feathers. Locally, there are three species of goose. namely the spur-winged goose, african pygmy goose, and the egyptian goose. Geese differ from ducks by having well developed hind toes and claws on all toes which allow for perching and climbing in trees.All three of these species are probably nomadic in response to local environmental conditions.

{filelink=14} the large file here.

Whilst undergoing their annual flightless moult over a few weeks each winter, these geese will congregate in large numbers for safetly. This pair took to the safety of the open water with their 8 chicks when approached by a water monitor on the banks of the lake.

As always, I would grealty appreciate any feedback and comments on these images.

I have some great excursions planned for the next month and look forward to bringing you more spectacular images in the December edition of our monthly desktop backgrounds!

For this months desktop backgrounds I thought I would move away from the usual wildlife shots and try something different for a change.

The desktop backgrounds for October are in two size formats:

• 1280 x 800 (click on the image to open it in a new window, then right click on the full image and save)
• 2560 x 1600 (simply click on the ‘Download’ link)

The first image is clearly of the moon and was taken a while back on a clear night in the middle of the Madikwe Game Reserve.The Moon is Earth’s only natural satellite and is the fifth largest satellite in the Solar System. It is the largest natural satellite in the Solar System relative to the size of its planet, a quarter the diameter of Earth and 1/81 its mass. It is in synchronous rotation with Earth, always showing the same face; the near side is marked with dark volcanic maria among the bright ancient crustal highlands and prominent impact craters.

It is the brightest object in the sky after the Sun, although its surface is actually very dark, with a similar reflectance to coal. Its prominence in the sky and its regular cycle of phases have since ancient times made the Moon an important cultural influence on language, the calendar, art and mythology.  This particular image appeals to me beacause of the detail in the in the impact craters on the top right of the moons surface.

{filelink=11} the large format of this background here…

The second image is of the magnificaent Olifants River in the Kruger National Park. The Olifants River originates near Bethal in the Highveld of Mpumalanga and initially flows northwards before curving in an easterly direction through the Kruger National Park and into Mozambique where it joins the Limpopo River before finally discharging into the Indian Ocean. The Olifants area plays host to most of the Kruger National Park’s classic larger game. As the name of suggests, elephant are common in the area.

{filelink=12} the large format of this background here…

As always, I would love to hear your feedback and comments on the images. Which do you prefer?

Not more than a couple of weeks down the road the screensaver is ready for download here. The screensaver features images from a number of photographers including Gerry van der Walt and Kerry de Bruyn. Overall, this is an awesome set of images and a feature I am happy to be a part of. Feel free to leave your comments and thoughts below!

The desktop backgrounds for September are in two size formats:

• 1280 x 800 (click on the image to open it in a new window, then right click on the full image and save)
• 2560 x  1600 (simply click on the ‘Download” link)

The first image is of an African Darter (Anhinga rufa ), sometimes called the Snakebird. This common name describes the darter’s habit of swimming with its body submerged and only the snakelike head and long, curved neck exposed.  They nest in small colonies with ibises and herons, building bulky nests lined with leaves. The helpless young are fed by regurgitation. The male of the species is mainly glossy black with white streaking, but females and immature birds are browner. This image was taken on a still morning  during a day trip to the Pilanesberg National Park.

{filelink=8}the large file here

The second image was also taken in Pialesnebrg National Park and is of a lone Elephant (Loxodonta africana) bull walking through the tall grass of an open field. I opted to crop the original image to place the Elephant off centre and create a sense os space to the right of the image. I also toyed with converting into Black and White  and really couldnt decide which image I preffered, so , I have added both the colour and black and white version. I would be very keen to hear which one you prefer!

{filelink=9}the large file here

{filelink=10}the large file here

I hope you enjoy this months images and, as usual, I welcome any feedback or comments you might have!

This months’ desktop backgrounds are in two size formats:

• 1280 x 800 (click on the image to open it in a new window, then right click on the full image and save)
• 2560 x  1600 (simply click on the ‘Download” link)

The first of our free desktop backgrounds is of an Impala lily (Adenium multiflorum )  which is native to southeastern Africa ranging from Zambia to Mozambique and northern South Africa. During the summer months, it has large deep green leaves which fall off when the soils dry up during the winter months. Initially, for the first couple of months of the dry season the plant rests and resembles a small baobab before  bursting into masses of frilly flowers at the tips of bare branches. What makes this plant and its flowers so striking is the fact that the rest of the bushveld is bare and dry at the time of flowering.

The shiny grey to brown succelent stems of this magnificent plant rise up from a large underground rootstock and produce a poisonous watery latex.

{filelink=5} the large format file here

The second image is one that I took earlier in the year whilst guiding a trip in Madikwe Game Reserve. The pack of about 18 Wild Dogs (Lycoan pictus) had just finished off their morning kill of a young Kudu and had retreated to a waterhole nearby. The long green grass which hid the dogs body as it lay down offered  nice contrast to the pale browns and dark blacks of the coat.

{filelink=6} the large format file here

The scientific name Lycaon pictus is derived from the Greek for wolf and the Latin for painted, leading to one of their other common names, painted hunting dogs.

The African Wild Dog is endangered by a combination of factors which have resulted in habitat loss and persecution by farmers These animals make use of very large home ranges and so can persist only in the larger protected areas.  Like other carnivores, the African Wild Dog is sometimes affected by outbreaks of viral diseases such as rabies, distemper, and parvovirus. Although these diseases are not more pathogenic or virulent for wild dogs, the small size of most wild dog populations makes them vulnerable to local extinction due to diseases or other problems. Madikwe Game reserve is currently one of the best reserves to see these majestic creatures ( see more about accommodation in Madikwe here).

The third and final image for this month is of a group of zebras backlight in the late afternoon. Unfortunately, a fourth zebra was busy grazing in the foreground but I still felt that this would be a great image to have as a wallpaper or desktop background.

{filelink=7} the large format file here

I hope you enjoy this months selection. As always, please feel free to leave a comment and give me some feedback on what you think about these images, as well as what you would like to see in the future!

This first image was taken early one morning in the Madikwe Gamer Reserve. A photographer friend of mine and I headed out from the lodge at around 4am in order to get into an area where lions had been spotted the night before. Our goal was to move into the area, track them and hopefully photograph them at first light.

Luckily for us, as we approached the main dam in the area we spotted this beautiful female lying on top of the dam wall. An access road which runs at the bottom of the dam wall gave us the perfect vantage point for some interesting shooting angles!

The second desktop background for this month is of  a young elephant bull at Tlou dam in Madikwe Game Reserve. This dam is one of the largest dams in the reserve and becomes a hub of activity during the dry winter months. I can remember evenings where the big five have been spotted at this dam in a matter of hours!

This image was shot as the sun peered through a break in the clouds behind us, bathing the Elephant bull and the Leadwood Tree in light. The dark clouds in the background add a nice feel to the image

In a couple of days time the World Cup 2010 will be kicking of in South Africa and I will be very busy with a number of guided safaris and transport arrangements during this period. I hope to find a gap to get out into the bush and hopfully bring you some fresh images for download next month.

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This months images were taken during winter last year. As always, if you would like to download the file, simply click on the image and then select the “download” button when the image opens in the Box.net window.

Our group sat watching this adult Martial Eagle for a good twenty minutes before it took flight. I must have rattled off at least 3o shots, only two of which were worth keeping.

The second image is of two young lions. Female lions reach sexual maturity at around 4 years of age, a year before males (5 years). At around 3 years of age, young male offspring are forced to emigrate in part as a result of the intolerance of the adult territorial males. From this time right up until they mature and succeed in taking over a pride range, young males lead an unsettled existence, either as nomads or unwelcome lodgers which must avoid confrontation with resident prides.

This young male, along with any other young male offspring of similar age in the pride, would be on the brink of such an existence. The young female however, would more than likely remain within her natal pride. Adult females are normally all related, descending from females that have lived generation after generation in the same range.

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The first image was taken on a trip to the Pilanesberg National Park. Late one evening whilst out on a game drive we came across a pride of lions around the fringe of the Mankwe Dam. The light was poor so I opted for an ISO setting of 1600 in order to achieve a shutter speed which would not render a blurred image. The pride were clearly on the hunt and were perfectly concealed within the long grass as a herd of wildebeest approached the edge of the dam. You can see that this particular lioness was very focussed as she moved through the dense cover.

The contrast of the dark facial features against the grassy background and body made for a nice black and white conversion, giving the impression of the body disappearing into the grass in the background.

The second image is quite different and I thought long and hard about whether to use it at all. I pride myself in being a wildlife photographer that trys to capture wild animals in a way that conveys their spirit and essence of their being. I recently ran a trip with some friends to the Ukuthula Lion Park as a site visit of sorts (I will be doing a destination review on this soon). Here we were free to feed and interact with young cubs in a way that would not be possible in the wild for obvious reasons. This really did provide for some interesting photographic opportunities as this image shows.

I hope you enjoy these images and as always, i look forward to hearing your thoughts and constructive criticisms on my choices for this month.

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