Book a call with a safari expert

phone icon

Client reviews

5 star icon
safari experts, since 1991
Book a call with a safari expert Book a call
Client reviews Client reviews
×
SEARCH OUR STORIES
SEARCH OUR SAFARIS

Thursday, 2 October 2014

IN CHAD’S DRY SEASON, THE WATERS
OF ZAKOUMA ATTRACT A
VERITABLE NOAH’S ARK OF ANIMALS

camera
Images by
MICHAEL LORENTZ

Renowned safari guide Michael Lorentz has been immersing guests in the wildlife lore of Africa for 26 years. He is always in search of authentic experiences and he has taken this to new levels in Chad’s Zakouma National Park, a place he now ranks as his favourite destination.
Many of Africa’s safari operators cater for the luxury market, but as Lorentz points out, ‘To truly appreciate the wonder of the wilderness, one needs the luxury of just “being”. It is a surprisingly rare luxury in today’s over-regulated safari world, and therefore all the more special when indulged. Sitting for hours at the waterholes of Zakouma, as a Noah’s Ark of animals and birds came to drink and socialise, fulfilled a lifetime of longing for being a part of a natural whole.’ And so we bring you a few images of that ark, taken by Michael down by the waterside of Zakouma.

 

Michael-Lorentz-Zakouma-gallery-7

Nothing stops these white-faced whistling ducks and Defassa waterbuck from getting a drink, not even the obvious threat of crocodiles. ©Michael Lorentz

 

Michael-Lorentz-Zakouma-gallery-2

Northern carmine bee-eaters commonly nest on the Zakouma’s river banks. ©Michael Lorentz

 

Michael-Lorentz-Zakouma-gallery-3

A Buffon’s Kob tentatively makes its way to the waterside, while northern carmine bee-eaters can be seen at their nests which they have excavated in the river bank. ©Michael Lorentz

 

Michael-Lorentz-Zakouma-gallery-13

Young baboons at play. ©Michael Lorentz

 

Michael-Lorentz-Zakouma-gallery-6

A leopard makes his way to the waterside flanked by yellow-billed storks. ©Michael Lorentz

 

Michael-Lorentz-Zakouma-gallery-10

A pair of red-throated bee-eaters with a freshly caught moth. ©Michael Lorentz

 

Michael-Lorentz-Zakouma-gallery-12

A baboon mother, infant clutching her chest, dashes away from a male. ©Michael Lorentz

 

Michael-Lorentz-Zakouma-gallery-5

African catfish, or barbel as they are better known, populate a muddy pool. ©Michael Lorentz

 

Michael-Lorentz-Zakouma-gallery-4

A hammerkop goes fishing for smaller fare amid the gaping mouths of barbels. ©Michael Lorentz

 

Vervet monkeys keep a wary eye on the horizon as they take a drink. ©Michael Lorentz

 

Michael-Lorentz-Zakouma-gallery-8

Lelwel hartebeests stop in their tracks as they spot the photographer. ©Michael Lorentz

 

 

Michael-Lorentz-Zakouma-gallery-11

An Abyssinian roller feeds in a muddy patch. ©Michael Lorentz

Micha

A lion at a fresh kill buffalo kill. ©Michael Lorentz

 

Thousands of red-billed quelea take flight. ©Michael Lorentz

 

Michael-Lorentz-Zakouma-gallery-9

Black crowned cranes depart the waterside before a setting sun. ©Michael Lorentz


MIKE

MICHAEL LORENTZ is passionate about wildlife, wilderness and elephants in particular. Born in South Africa, he knew early that his true vision and happiness would lie in Africa’s wild places. A passionate and award-winning photographer, Michael’s work has been featured in several publications, as well as at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington DC. Having guided for 26 years, this remains his first professional love, conducting safaris throughout Southern, East and Central Africa.

To comment on this story: Login (or sign up) to our app here - it's a troll-free safe place 🙂.


African safari

Why choose us to craft your safari?

Handcrafted experiential safaris since 1991.

Travel in Africa is about knowing when and where to go, and with whom. A few weeks too early/late or a few kilometres off course, and you could miss the greatest show on Earth. And wouldn’t that be a pity?

African travel

Trust & Safety

Client safari payments remain in a third-party TRUST ACCOUNT until they return from safari - protecting them in the unlikely event of a financial setback on our part.

See what travellers say about us

Responsible safari

Make a difference

We donate a portion of the revenue from every safari sold to carefully selected conservation projects that make a significant difference at ground level.

YOUR safari choice does make a difference - thank you!

[wpforms id="152903"]
<div class="wpforms-container wpforms-container-full" id="wpforms-152903"><form id="wpforms-form-152903" class="wpforms-validate wpforms-form wpforms-ajax-form" data-formid="152903" method="post" enctype="multipart/form-data" action="/stories/zakouma-chad-waterhole-wildife-safari-africa/" data-token="b9c94f64145ff50893720fea12a9f22d"><noscript class="wpforms-error-noscript">Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.</noscript><div class="wpforms-field-container"><div id="wpforms-152903-field_1-container" class="wpforms-field wpforms-field-email" data-field-id="1"><label class="wpforms-field-label wpforms-label-hide" for="wpforms-152903-field_1">Email Address <span class="wpforms-required-label">*</span></label><input type="email" id="wpforms-152903-field_1" class="wpforms-field-medium wpforms-field-required" name="wpforms[fields][1]" placeholder="Email " required></div></div><div class="wpforms-submit-container"><input type="hidden" name="wpforms[id]" value="152903"><input type="hidden" name="wpforms[author]" value="284"><input type="hidden" name="wpforms[post_id]" value="7705"><button type="submit" name="wpforms[submit]" id="wpforms-submit-152903" class="wpforms-submit" data-alt-text="Sending..." data-submit-text="Subscribe" aria-live="assertive" value="wpforms-submit">Subscribe</button><img src="https://africageographic.com/wp-content/plugins/wpforms/assets/images/submit-spin.svg" class="wpforms-submit-spinner" style="display: none;" width="26" height="26" alt="Loading"></div></form></div> <!-- .wpforms-container -->