Pelicans Camping At Sedia Hotel - Maun

The beginning of June has brought flocks of Pelicans to Sedia Riverside Hotel. Come the end of the day, they arrive in the hundreds and hundreds. First they enjoy the thermals and show their majesty and grace in the skies. Then the Pelicans circle lower and finally they land on the banks of the Thamalakane River - to rest for the night.

The final sunlight of the day makes the scenes spectacular to watch. Some Saddle-Backed Storks are also camping with the Pelicans. We hope they continue to camp with us for a long time. We enjoy Pelicans In Residence.

The Travel Net - Africa

The Sedia Riverside Hotel has recently been highlighted on The Travel Net a webside about world travel. Click on the above link and visit the site. What follows is an introduction taken from their article:

David blogs of Africa and in particular that beautiful unspolied parcel of wilderness – the Okavongo Delta. Tourists travel to the Okavongo Delta from all over the world for the amazing wildlife viewing opportunites. The elephants and hippo are especially plentiful.

The Sedia Riverside Hotel sits at the edge of the Thamalakane River and because of its location the hotel is considered a prime travel destination by travelers. In one of his posts David writes of the hippos that he saw just down river from the Sedia…
Continue reading ‘The Okavongo Delta is a Bird Lovers Paradise - Botswana’

'Stormy Weather', Sedia Style

The Calm Before The Storm


October is upon us and the rainy season is quickly approaching. The photo is shot from just beside the pool and Terrace Bar. We were fortunate to have 20mm of rain at the end of September. Anytime now the serious rain storms can start. If the storm is serious enough, power can be interrupted, but fear not - candles are always in good supply.





In a country where the currency is called Pula, which means rain, you have to enjoy the rain showers when they arrive. After all, we are situated on the edges of the Kalahari Desert. The good news is Thamalakane River is still at it's peak and many of us are hoping the rains will help keep the water levels high. There is more water in the river in October than there has been for 10 or 20 years.

Wildlife Extremes Sedia Style

Many of our guests go on safari during part of there stay. The majority want to see and shoot photos of the 'Big 5.' They are in search of Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Elephant and Rhino. In particular people seem to want to see the big cats. What about the 'Small 5?'

For people who like the contrarian view, humour or just something different - think about the Small 5 the next time you are on safari. Check with your guides, reference books and fellow guests. Make sure these Small 5 are not missed:

1. The Ant Lion is an insect wit four wings and looks like a dragon fly. They create funnel shaped traps to catch their ant prey.



2. The Leopard Tourtoise is the biggest land tortoise in Southern Africa at ever 20kg. We can see the shell pattern in the photo.



3. The Buffalo Weaver nests high in trees where the branch forks and makes it nest from twigs and course grasses.



4. The Rock Elephant Shrew can weigh in at over 50 grams and up to 250mm in length.



5. The Rhino Beetle has a horn in it's head, much like the Rhinoceros.

You will probably have to get closer to the Small 5 to get good pictures. Regardless, it provides good diverion during tea breaks, meals or around the campfire at night. If you get a good photo, I would be happy to show it here.

Beware - Hippopotamus Crossing

It's late on a Sunday morning and I'm watching these two hippos from across the Thamalakane River - about 300 metres down stream from the hotel. They have been eating the river grasses and wading along the far shore for the last half hour.

The 'far shore' is the best place to watch hippos. They can be very territorial. Males like to mark their territory so that other hippos are aware and act appropriately. It is said that they kill more humans than any two other animals, in Africa. When the ears start to flick quickly and the mild, deep grunts become loud snorts - its time to move away.

Although hippos look fat and seem to have a smile on their face, they are all muscle and very serious. Top sped on the open malapo can be over 30 kilometres per hour. Reaching lengths of up to four metres, hippos will at times attack a boat twice their length.

When you see a group of hippos sleeping together on a river bank, it is hard to believe they can be so reactionary. Field glasses give you the freedom to be at a safe distance and see closely inside their mouth's when they yawn.

Do you want to work up a hunger for lunch? Tha 'Old Bridge' is just about two kilomentres up stream and a picturesque walk. When you stand in the middle of the bridge and look downstream, you are looking at the Hippo Pool. If you are lucky a group of hippos will we lounging on the banks.

Bird Lovers Paradise

Mid-June and the Quelas' are flying in their dynamic formations over the Thamalakane River - here they are in front of Sedia. Two years ago, when Lake Ngami finally refilled, the numbers were in the 10's of thousands. Now they are just in the thousands - but still a marvel to watch.

Sundown is an active time, with many flocks all returning at the same time from the day of foraging. The occasional flash of silver as they swoop and dive is eyecatching. With their special navigation skills, they all seen to find the right temporary rousting tree. The chatter escalates each time a new flock joins a tree. It seems that there is much to talk about after a day on the wing.

A late afternoon walk down to the river is often rewarded with a view of the 'high priest' of river fishing - the African Fish Eagle. What could be better than two in one tree. Few fishing trips are complete without a story of the Fish Eagle stealing a fish from a boat. With a good storyteller, you can almost see the extended talons ready to grab it's catch of the day.

Bird lovers have identified over 130 different birds in and around Sedia. They mark the seasons and for many make the trip. A checklist is available for the enthusist, to help keep track of their sightings and sounds