The Okavango Delta

Our journey into the fabled Okavango delta started at the very comfortable Lawdon’s Lodge at the top of the Okavango Pan-handle, a hotel complete with fabulous, massive cabins on stilts and a swiming pool which electrocuted swimmers....

The following dawn our first Wattled Cranes flew by whilst we tried staking out the shy Sitatunga (and failing to see it this time).

However, our boat transfer down river later on not only gave us incredibly close colonies of Southern Carmine Bee-eaters but also our number one bird target.

The big ginger teddy-bear, Pel’s Fishing Owl had eluded us on several occasions in Uganda so we were particularly keen to find it here. Much celebration was indulged in, or as much as you can in a crowded boat…..

The absolutely gorgeous !Xaro Lodge had everything: sundowners by the open fire at the water’s edge, gorgeous, comfortable tented rooms with incredible views, a knowledgeable and friendly host,  excellent food (including a birthday cake for Duncan), great birding in the grounds and even our own Hippos in the grounds at night.

Birding highlights here were the boat trips, with numerous point-blank White-fronted Bee-eaters, Giant, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers, Goliath Heron, Hamerkop, Little Bittern, African Skimmers, Lesser Jacana (our last member of the family worldwide), Water Thick-knee and to the boys’ delight, lots of Nile Crocodiles, Hippos and Monitor Lizards. We even had a brief glimpse of a Spot-necked Otter and were lucky enough to find (finally) a Sitatunga.

The African Fish Eagles played nicely for the photographers, swooping down to pick up fish from the water, and even grappling talons for us. Brilliant!

Birds in the Lodge grounds were also good, including Brown Firefinch, the deeply exciting Chirping Cisticola, Southern Black Tit, Hartlaub’s Babbler, Greater Swamp Warbler, African Wood-owl, Barred Owlet and Retz’s Helmet Shrike, amongst many others. It was really difficult to leave this magical place after only three days.

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