We’re on the Pangolin photo boat on the Chobe River, and I am in a bird-photographer’s heaven. We are up in a narrow, winding side channel, almost plugged with aquatic vegetation, which is where I have seen a wide variety of birds, both now and in the past.
We’ve been trying to get our long lenses on a tiny Malachite kingfisher, to some degree of success, until it flies off beyond our reach. Then, the boat driver backs the skiff away from the riverbank and turns to travel farther into the narrowing channel.
Ahead of the boat, a great egret stands in some grass on a small island, and while there are plenty of egrets to photograph, this one is in a particularly nice setting. Its pure white feathers are set off by the rich green grass.
I turn my heavy camera that is attached to a gimbal mount that allows it to turn in any direction, even in a complete circle, and start shooting.
Suddenly, the world explodes. I have a brief moment of fright before all the pieces come together, and I look to make sure my hunch is correct.
A huge, adult hippo exploded from the water when it sensed our approach.
The egret flies off but returns immediately to land on the hippo’s back.
The boat driver stops, and we watch a comical sight as the egret, not moving a muscle, seems to float on the top of the water toward land.
A little laughter to calm the nerves is a good thing. You can’t take photos if your hands are shaking, gimbal mount or no. Some of us know how dangerous that situation could have turned in an instant. You don’t mess with hippos. Ever.
You don’t sneak up on hippos when they are sleeping—or awake for that matter. They are one of the most dangerous animals in Africa, rumored to kill about 500 people annually. They attack and overturn boats, or crunch down on them with their deadly incisors.
Yet, unwittingly, we had approached without warning and startled the hippo.
It climbs onshore and walks closer to our boats, where it proceeds to show us how dangerous it is by opening its mouth to expose its weapons. A hippo can open its jaws almost 180 degrees.
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| Crunch and munch, and you aren't getting outta that mouth alive. |
That warning accomplished, it proceeds to start grazing on the lush grass, and we work our way farther into the channel.
On our return, the hippo isn’t in sight, but a Malachite kingfisher is, so it becomes the object of our cameras.
Once again, we move slowly through some floating vegetation toward shore, only to flush a crocodile sleeping in shallow water.
Another explosion of water!
The croc goes deep. We stay and photograph the kingfisher.
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| Long-toed lapwing |
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| Juvenile African Jacana |
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| The magnificent Purple heron |
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| Openbill stork |
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| Swamphen |
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