The floods have arrived at camp and the sky is grey – By Mphoeng
Category: Botswana Elephants | Date: Mar 13 2009 | By: elephantsofbotswana
The annual floods have reached our camp a little earlier than last year. This year it is feasible that they will be more flood water, making it even harder for us to get around. It has been raining since the beginning of March and we had grey sky since then. In Botswana water is an important resource. When there is a good rain in a certain year in Botswana the year is referred to as a female year. Batswana are farmers mainly and good rains mean good harvest water for the livestock. The farming that they do is not commercial but it’s for subsistent purposes. Even though the country is a semi-desert they rely mainly on rain water for watering of their crops and livestock. In some years when rains are not enough the Tswana people loose a lot of their livestock.
The flood has brought a lot of life into the Delta with fish eagles being heard often with their typical vocalisation. We are seeing more of the lions as the floods have pushed them from flood pains into the islands. Kingfishers are seen hovering waiting to catch a meal for the day. It really is buzzing here in camp.
Okavango Delta is an oasis it brings live in the middle of Kalahari and is a delta of life.
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Hi, I am Kate Evans, or more commonly known as Elephant Kate. I am a zoologist whose great love is elephants. Since 2002 I have been living my dream by researching elephants in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. I decided I was going to be an elephant researcher when I was seven. I was living in Asia at the time and visited the elephant orphanage in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It was there that I made up my mind I was going to work for these majestic and intelligent animals. I made a promise to an elephant and we all know an elephant never forgets!!!! It took me 20 years to finally realise my dream and start my life as an elephant researcher. It was 20 years well spent and now I have to pinch myself most days to make sure it is true and I am living my dream.
I now head up a team who are researching the elephants and trying to work out the social and ecological needs of the largest remaining population of the African elephant. From time to time, other team members will add their thoughts and experiences. I love sharing my experiences - so I hope that this blog is a medium through which you will be able to join the elephants and I on our adventures in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. -
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6 Responses to “The floods have arrived at camp and the sky is grey – By Mphoeng”
Sally, on 14 Mar 2009
Hi, Would love to see some photos of life in the camp. Are fish eagles a large eagle? Where do they go in the dry season?
paula, on 15 Mar 2009
Hi Kate, nice posts great to read about the changing seasons in Okavango, I’d love to see pictures…are you having problems uploading photoos.
Kate, on 24 Mar 2009
Dear Sally,
We shall get some photos of the camp up at some point!!! Hope you enjoy the recent ones of the Delta.
Fish Eagles are quite large. They stay in the Delta, but will move to where there is permanent water for them to fish.
Aardvark, on 30 Mar 2009
Where in the Okavango is your camp?
elephantsofbotswana, on 17 Apr 2009
We are in the North west of the Delta - just east of Gumare and south of the Pan handle - I will get a map up on the blog
Stephanie, on 18 Jul 2009
I like the way you write! Nice blog.
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