Okavango
The wetland heart of africa.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Okavango Delta in Botswana is a haven for wildlife. As one of the few delta complexes that does not flow into the ocean, it is a unique location. Created by the Okavango River floodwaters, this area of the Kalahari is transformed into a lush oasis that plays home to one of the African continent’s greatest concentrations of wildlife.
Arriving by air into the delta provides a fantastic overview of the environment; the maze of waterways creating a truly breathtaking landscape, and one that only an aerial perspective can give you an impression of the vast scale of.
Whilst working in Botswana, one of my key themes was to work with panoramic imaging to showcase wildlife within the landscape, opting to stitch multiple telephoto frames together to form wide views that complimented the aerial landscapes I shot from small planes (with the help of some fantastic and obliging local pilots!) on the way into and out of the delta.
The work was created during 2019, when I headed down to Botswana on a three week trip with the team from Pangolin Safaris to explore the Chobe River and the Okavango Delta.
During my stay I spent an extended number of hours on boat and game drives at the Pangolin safari lodge, and time on the river boat, before transferring to see the Okavango by air.
The African wild dog image below (a panoramic, created of two stitched images) was created on my first night on the delta. We were extremely fortunate to be located close to an active den, and with the puppies being young and lively, found ourselves treated to some incredible views. The image was selected for the prestigious “Remembering Wildlife” series, and featured across a double-page spread in the wild dog book, helping to raise funds for conservation projects working to protect the species.
