Nature Galleries

African Wild Dogs : African wild dogs survive in only a few isolated populations. Northern Botswana has perhaps the greatest number of dogs of any country in Africa, with an estimated 1500 wild dogs still thought to occur there. All of the images in this gallery were taken in northern Botswana.

African Wild Dogs

African wild dogs survive in only a few isolated populations. Northern ...

Updated: Jan 13, 2010 2:05am PST

Amphibians and Reptiles : Colourful images of a variety of Southern African amphibians and reptiles.

Amphibians and Reptiles

Colourful images of a variety of Southern African amphibians and repti ...

Updated: Oct 17, 2009 4:58am PST

Arachnids and Insects : Many of the smaller creatures that share our wildlife areas are overlooked. If one takes the time to examine some of these fascinating creatures, it soon becomes apparent that there is a whole miniature world of interesting and colourful things to be seen.

Arachnids and Insects

Many of the smaller creatures that share our wildlife areas are overlo ...

Updated: Oct 27, 2009 2:44am PST

Badgers, Foxes and Jackals : There are a variety of smaller carnivores that are not always that easy to observe. Honey badgers, bat-eared foxes and side-striped and black-backed jackal are all fascinating creatures when one can find relaxed animals to spend time with. Over the years I have been fortunate to have had opportunity to photograph some of these fascinating animals. Some of those images are in this gallery.

Badgers, Foxes and Jackals

There are a variety of smaller carnivores that are not always that eas ...

Updated: Oct 29, 2009 5:49am PST

Birds of Botswana : Images of colourful and interesting birds that inhabit the waterways, woodlands and savannahs of Botswana.

Birds of Botswana

Images of colourful and interesting birds that inhabit the waterways, ...

Updated: Oct 14, 2009 2:16am PST

Cheetahs : Cheetahs are the most specialized of Africa's big cats, highly adapted for high speed hunting. They have also disappeared over much of their range in Africa due to human disturbance and persecution. Several of the private concession areas in northern Botswana still offer good opportunities to see cheetah though. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve in central Botswana still has good populations of cheetah. All images in this gallery were taken in those areas.

Cheetahs

Cheetahs are the most specialized of Africa's big cats, highly adapted ...

Updated: Oct 21, 2009 6:57am PST

Dolphins and Whales of the Wild Coast : Although southern Africa is well known for it's variety of imposing land mammals, the oceans that flank the subcontinent are also home to some spectacular marine mammals. Along the eastern shorelines of South Africa lies a stretch of particularly rugged and beautiful coastline known as the Wild Coast. In this area, the continental shelf is at it's narrowest, which means that the temperate waters of the Agulhas Current come close to shore, and this provides excellent opportunities to view a number of different dolphin and whale species. Bottlenose dolphins and common dolphins are found throughout the year, whilst each winter brings with it the return of humpback whales, travelling to this coastline to mate and give birth to calves in the sheltered bays. The numbers of humpback whales arriving here each year has been steadily increasing over the last decade, and these days it is not uncommon to see several groups in a day. The whales are present along the Wild Coast from late May onwards, departing again by late November.

Dolphins and Whales of the Wild Coast

Although southern Africa is well known for it's variety of imposing la ...

Updated: Jun 06, 2009 11:34am PST

Elephants : Northern Botswana is home to probably the largest population of elephants anywhere in Africa. This is largely due to effective protection provided by the government conservation agencies. It is much easier to see large numbers in the dry season, from June until October, when they gather near permanent water sources like the Linyanti, Chobe and Kwando Rivers. All the images in this gallery were taken in Botswana.

Elephants

Northern Botswana is home to probably the largest population of elepha ...

Updated: Oct 12, 2009 8:09am PST

Hyaenas and Aardwolves : There are two species of hyaena that occur in Botswana, spotted hyaena and brown hyaena. Both are scavengers with powerful jaws, while the spotted hyaena is an efficient hunter in it's own right. Both species are chiefly nocturnal, however they can be seen in the day, especially when there is a feeding opportunity. Aardwolf are closely related to the hyaenas. Aardwolf are insect-eating carnivores that are found in grassy habitats.

Hyaenas and Aardwolves

There are two species of hyaena that occur in Botswana, spotted hyaena ...

Updated: Oct 14, 2009 6:37am PST

Indian Mammals : Images taken on a three week visit to two of India's national parks, Kaziranga in the north-east, and Bandhavgahr in cental India.

Indian Mammals

Images taken on a three week visit to two of India's national parks, K ...

Updated: Apr 26, 2009 12:04am PST

Leopards : Leopards are among the most beautiful of the big cats. They occur in good numbers in most of northern Botswana's wildlife areas. Active in the night and the day, leopards are stealthy and wary by nature. In protected areas they become very tolerant and relaxed in the presence of game viewing vehicles, and all these images were taken in such areas. Whilst leopards use trees for resting as well as refuge from threats, they are just as likely to be found on the ground where they hunt, socialize and patrol their ranges.

Leopards

Leopards are among the most beautiful of the big cats. They occur in g ...

Updated: Feb 05, 2010 1:16am PST

Lions : In Botswana lions enjoy total legal protection from all forms of hunting. In many parts of Africa lion numbers are declining but Botswana is still fortunate to be home to healthy populations of lions. Lions need large protected areas and Botswana's array of parks and reserves including Chobe, Moremi, and the Central Kalahari are all vital to the survival of the lions. All the images in this gallery were taken in Botswana.

Lions

In Botswana lions enjoy total legal protection from all forms of hunti ...

Updated: Oct 17, 2009 4:57am PST

Meerkats and Mongooses : Mongooses and meerkats are all part of the same family. Meerkats, also known as suricates, are adapted to living in very arid areas, and are a type of mongoose. All are carnivores, and all feed on a variety of smaller prey items. In Botswana there are four species of mongoose that are typically active during the day, and two of these are social and live in groups. There are several more larger species that are nocturnal.

Meerkats and Mongooses

Mongooses and meerkats are all part of the same family. Meerkats, als ...

Updated: Oct 31, 2009 6:41am PST

Raptors of Southern Africa : Southern Africa is home to a spectacular array of birds of prey and more than 80 species can be seen in the region.  They make fascinating subjects for photography, although some species can be hard to find and even harder to get close to.  For that reason, I have chosen to include in this gallery some images that were taken of captive birds.  These birds were all either injured, or unfit to be released into the wild.  I photographed them at a raptor rehabilitation centre in South Africa where the birds were extremely well cared for.  The opportunity to get close to some of these captive birds gave me a chance to try and capture with my photographs some of the imposing power and presence that these powerful birds project.  There are still other images of raptors in the photo gallery that were taken of wild raptors, flying free.

Raptors of Southern Africa

Southern Africa is home to a spectacular array of birds of prey and mo ...

Updated: Mar 09, 2010 8:03am PST

Wild Landscapes : The southern part of Africa is characterized by an extreme variety of habitats. The western half of the subcontinent is much drier, whilst toward the east there is a distinct increase in rainfall. Mountain ranges, deserts and thirstlands, savannah, grassland and woodland are all to be found. More variety results from the influence of the warm Indian Ocean on the east coast, and the cold Atlantic along the west coast. All these factors create a great and diverse variety of spectacular landscapes.

Wild Landscapes

The southern part of Africa is characterized by an extreme variety of ...

Updated: Jan 30, 2010 9:17pm PST

Wildlife of Cape Town : Cape Town has a wealth of wildlife in close proximity to the city. Just some of the marine creatures that can be seen include great white sharks, fur seals, penguins, dolphins and southern right whales. There are also excellent birding opportunities both coastal and inland due to the rich variety of habitats which are found there.

Wildlife of Cape Town

Cape Town has a wealth of wildlife in close proximity to the city. Jus ...

Updated: Jun 10, 2009 2:11pm PST

Classic Images of African Wildlife : A collection of sepia images, that have an older 'feel' to them. The subjects I chose for this gallery are lions, wild dogs, elephants and giraffe, all of which are iconic species for Botswana's wild places.

Classic Images of African Wildlife

A collection of sepia images, that have an older 'feel' to them. The ...

Updated: Dec 02, 2009 12:44am PST

Favourites : A collection of images of wildlife and wild places from Botswana, South Africa and the Galapagos, Ecuador.

Favourites

A collection of images of wildlife and wild places from Botswana, Sout ...

Updated: Oct 17, 2009 5:11am PST


Grant Atkinson Photography & Safaris
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