Em Gatland was recently nominated as one of the top female wildlife photographers, and her portfolio of images certainly displays a clear passion for the great outdoors. Not only does she have the ability to capture emotion in her subject, but her unique angles of wildlife evoke a sense of curiosity with the viewer. Whether it’s her minimalist, stark white images or bold and daring landscape images that assault your eyes with their contrasting colours, she certainly knows how to captivate her audience. At Sun Safaris, we’re always waiting with bated breath for the next batch of images to be released.
While Em was an assignment in the Okavango Delta she stayed at Xobega Island Camp as part of an educational. Guests explored remote areas of Botswana, including the Selinda Spillway, the Kwatale Conservancy, the Savuti region in Chobe National Park, and an isolated island in the Okavango Delta.
The route from the Kwatale to the boat station in the Moremi National Park that transports you to Xobega Island Camp is quite an adventure. It’s a 6-hour route that is more like a game drive than a transfer. Cruising through the Moremi you’ll spot abundant predators, waders and other unexpected pockets of wildlife. Another part of the journey to Xobega Island Camp is the motorboat cruise to the island, which takes roughly 40 minutes. As you motor through the water, you will notice plenty of activity from hippo, crocs and water-dwelling birds of prey. These species provide perfect subjects against mesmerising backdrops – a photographer’s dream!
The focus at Xobega is the water safari. Evenings are spent cruising across the open waters and exploring the narrow papyrus-lined channels of the Okavango, catching the sunset as it slips into the horizon. Before your journey begins you might be lucky enough to enjoy a mokoro safari, which is a safari in a traditional dugout canoe.
On safari in the Okavango Delta means you are always presented with plenty of opportunities to photograph an array of sightings. Here are Em’s latest sunset images straight from the Okavango Delta.
