Waterways and a dancing elephant...............

Another morning game drive out of Duma Tau had Lazi driving us to the Linyanti River fed by the Savuti Channel, a waterway which had been dry for 30 years but now flows again, a life giving water source for wildlife.

A nearby pond area was a playground for a troop of baboons.  Adults and babies were enjoying a hearty breakfast of the bright green plants, looking a lot like watercress, massed along the pond edge.

Several Egyptian Geese were also drifting about on this pond and along the banks.

Egyptian Goose in a stylish take-off.

Introducing Lazi Junior, a young boy headed for stardom in the bush!  We named him after our guide who agreed he'd never seen a young elephant so set on entertaining the guests.  Lazi Jr. didn't follow mom into the mopani bushes when she moved on, instead he stayed behind..........

......first getting some energy by chewing on a few branches........

.........then performing quite a dance, turning to the right and raising his leg........

.........then to the left and back again, several times.........

........then he waved his trunk................and I'm sure you'll agree that twinkle in his eye showed he was having as much fun dancing as we were watching from about 30 yards away.

After several minutes of 'dancing' Lazi walked off to look for mom....and you have to agree he was SMILING!!!

This was a memorable 'bush moment' for certain.

Another watery Botswana moment.......Hamerkop hitching a ride on a hippo.

Next lovely sighting that morning was this handsome male Kudu at another waterhole.  The red-billed Oxpecker birds are unmistakable, always clinging to game in search of parasites such as ticks.

Greater Kudu - Tragelaphus strepsiceros

A woodland antelope found throughout eastern and southern Africa.  Sparsely populated due to a declining habitat, deforestation and hunting. They venture only on to open plains with lots of bushes.  Males much larger (weigh up to 595 lbs.) than females, with large horns with two and a half twists - starting at age 6-12 months, twisting once at around 2 years of age and not reaching the full two and half twist until they are 6 years old. Males also have large manes running along their throats.

This fine specimen of kudu must be at least 6 years old with his completed twisting horns.

Next day it was time to say goodbye to the friendly people at Duma Tau in Botswana and move on to another country.  Coming next, the flight to Zambia over one of the seven natural wonders of the world.....awesome!

Okavango Delta, Botswana