On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
Every day in Botswana we saw hundreds of horned animals, most of which were within the antelope family. We saw them as we drove around, hiked, or sat in camp. Mostly they seemed a bit shy, turning away from us as we’d approach. But we were certain that they heard us long before we saw them, by focusing their enormous ears in our direction.
They were rarely alone. We would see a pair, maybe a small family group, everything up to hundreds of springbok. On occasion we would notice that despite our presence they would be looking elsewhere. That was our clue that something more troublesome than us was near.
On our first game drive we saw several kudus. Males could be identified by the spiral horns. Females lacked the horns but shared the vertical white side stripes and small hump. It also seemed that the kudus would mix with large numbers of its relatives: in the middle of a group of impalas there would often be a female kudu or two, finding safety in the group.
We only saw puku once, this group of females waiting in the shade. Our guide was delighted as he had not seen any for almost two years.
In the Central Kalahari the springbok were everywhere. In the mornings they would be leaping around in play (pronking) before spending the day grazing and keeping watch.
The gemsbok dominate the grasslands of the Central Kalahari. From the distinct facial markings to their white stockinged feet, they make a dramatic sight. It seemed that they were somewhat shy as they would usually turn away when we neared. This one was not.
These are blue wildebeests at dusk. The coats almost shine. They are unnaturally graceful.
The wildebeests of Botswana are far fewer than they once were, a result of wildlife mismanagement. Efforts to stem the spread of hoof and mouth disease into cattle areas resulted in the construction of a fence north of the Central Kalahari. When the wild wildebeests migrated north during the dry season, the fence trapped tens of thousands without water. The disaster caused the government to change course but immense damage was already done.
Enormous numbers of impala are found throughout northern Botswana. Herds of varying size were around, sometimes moving past our camp at night.
The sable was the last large antelope we would see. This male was grazing near the roadside, remaining only long enough for me to take one shot. We later saw a small herd, the male standing between us and the rest of the group as they swiftly disappeared into the brush.
Sightings of cape buffalo were infrequent until we reached the Chobe (River) National Park along the river that forms the boundary with Namibia.
Many crossed between small marshy islands and the bank…..
And carried a deli along with them. Those are red-billed oxpeckers and a cattle egret.
Open Thread: NFLTG Beto
Baud
All those beautiful beasts in one area. Amazing.
The wildebeest story is so tragic. I hope their population returns.
raven
Awesome. . . again !
Benw
Wow, gorgeous pics!
delphinium
Wonderful photos!
Van Buren
The gemsbok are cool. The buffalo remind me of bewigged British judges.
sab
I have problems, but at least I don’t have to live my life dragging those huge horns on my forehead
ETA The kudus and the impala
Baud
@sab:
I wish I could say the same.
germy shoemangler
Egrets, I’ve had a few
But then again too few to mention
OzarkHillbilly
It must’ve been a great trip. A serious case of envy over here. I hope it’s not fatal.
OzarkHillbilly
@Baud: Yours are just there to hold up your halo.
Betty
Beautiful array of animals. What an amazing trip.
Elizabelle
Beautiful animals. Thank you, Kabecoo.
eclare
Beautiful photos! Thank you.
MelissaM
Wow, nice photos. Some of those horns look intricate. And I started wondering, do they lose them annually like our deer?
Steve in the ATL
Amazing! Thank you for these photos
@Van Buren:
I was thinking woman in housecoat with curlers in her hair, but I prefer your more cultured take!
Anyway
What variety! Lovely pics.
Chat Noir
Nice!
JustRuss
Love the Kudu With Attitude pic.
YY_Sima Qian
Love the kudus & gemboks!
Kabecoo
@MelissaM: my understanding is that a kudu does not shed its horns.
when I was 10 or 11, my cousin Ricky told me that only animals with antlers shed them, animals with horns do not. Now, Ricky did not go so far as to tell me the difference between antlers and horns, but he was older, way cooler, and I believed every thing he said.
glad folks are enjoying the photos!
BigJimSlade
Wonderful shots!
Dirk Reinecke
@MelissaM: South African antelope have fixed horns. It is actually one of the biggest differences between deer and antelope. The other is that deer antlers have branches while antelope don’t.
The antelope are also very inconsistent which have horns and which don’t. Impala and Kudu only have male horns, where Springbuck and Roan both males and females have horns. The female Sable has a brown coat while the male has a black coat, so they can look.
Another name for wildebeest is Gnu. This is similiar to the sound that they make.
A woman from anywhere (formerly Mohagan)
I have taken a safari to Tanzania which was wonderful, but I am now consumed with Botswana envy. Thank you for the great photos (love the Kudu!!) and the whole series.