KARL BRANDSTAETTER

I met Karl Brandstaetter, a renowned Austrian Painter,
well known and respected throughout Europe,
during a "Vernissage" a "first time exhibit" of new paintings.

You have to study these images for some time
before they make an impact on you

I will show this series of paintings, which deal with
"Faust" the mythical figure in Goethes work by the same name,
and hope to talk about them at some length.

South Carinthia

Inspite of the fact that all my thoughts center around
my upcoming Safari to Botswana and Namibia
I drove into the Carinthian country side.
Hoar frost covered every tree and the valley below
was covered by a thin layer of snow
and a cold cold haze was in the air.

...maybe I should have brought my polarizing filter.

AFRICA -3-

In the southern part of the Namib desert is a depression, surrounded by high red sand dunes, called the "Sossusvlei Pan"... It is a further stop of our planned safari... Several large sand dunes, such as Elim Dune, Dune 45, Big Daddy and others will attract us.
It is said, that due to its colourful richness, these dunes are among the most photographed features of this entire area.
We shall prepare to reach the famed "Etosha National Park" in Namibia. It is said that the game viewing in Etosha is among the best anywhere. Needless to say how much we look forward to this safari....

AFRICA -2-

I'd like to tell you a bit more about the "Central Kalahari Game Reserve". (CKGR)
It covers an area of about 53,000 sq.km...is therefore twice the size of Massachusetts, or speaking in Austrian terms, it's a bit larger than the provinces of Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria and Salzburg, or more than 64% of all of Austria. The CKGR occupies 1/16th of all of Botswana's total land area.
All the varieties of Animals mentioned before find a home in this area which is mostly flat, gently undulating, with sand dunes covered with bush and grasses as well as some tall trees.
The Bushmen, also called "San" have roamed the land as nomadic hunters for thousands of years.
However, since the 1990s efforts were made by the Botswana Government to relocated the "San" outside the CKGR and the majority indeed left the Park. Recently, though, the Botswana Supreme court proclaimed this eviction as illegal, thereby allowing people to return to the CKGR.
(Information above and earlier was taken from "Wikipedia")

AFRICA

Let me talk to you a bit about my plans for this late spring: 11th April I shall be leaving Austria for a 4 weeks Safari in southern Africa. I'll be flying to Harare, Zimbabwe and from there, by stretch Rover, accompanied by one of the foremost guides of Zim, I shall be roaming part of Zimbabwe, the Hwange Game Preserve, then cross into Botswana, where the Chobe National Park, then, Moremi, a wild life nature park, situated right in the middle of the famed Okawango Delta, will be our home for 4 nights. The Okawango Delta is the largest inland Delta, created by the Okawango river, as it empties into a swamp in the Kalahari Desert. The Okawango absolutely abounds in wild life:
African Bush Elephant, African Buffalo, Hippos, Giraffe, Black Rhinos, many varieties of antelopes, such as Wildebeest, Lechwe, Topi, Kudus and Sable Antelpe. Of course there are Lions, Cheetah, Hyenas, the rare African Wild dog and who knows what more. There are also about 400 (yes, I said 400 ) variety of birds, including the African Fish Eagle, Crested Crane, the Lilac Breasted roller, Hammerkop and Ostrich and 395 more. I could fill pages and pages talking about the people of this area. But many books you may consult do this better than I can.
From the Okawango delta we shall travel South/East to the for me unpronouncable Makgadikgadi Pan. This is a "Salt Pan" which, in the dry season supports little wild life, but forms an important stop over for migrating animals during, or shortly after the rainy season.

From there, Southward to the "Central Kalahari Game Reserve"...
There have been uncountable books written and filmed documentaries created, which talk about and play in this wonderful part of the Kalahari Desert of Botswana.

This is only the beginning of this trip. I shall be taking many many pictures and I will make copious notes, so I may be able to talk about this Safari to anybody who wants to listen and even to those who wish I'd shut up already.
Till the next time.
Bert

For "Ant Kashula"

I am posting these pictures for Ant.
This coming April, I will spend 4 weeks in Botswana
and Namibia, with Ant as my guide.
I am posting these images strictly for Ant's
amusement.
Above: With 2 Anti Poaching Rangers in Chobe, Botswana.

"After a drink"
on the Zambezi River

"Breakfast in ManaPools"

Miscellaneous MUST BE VIEWED LARGE

The Oyster Plant
Since I have not posted much lately,
because I have not been around and about
to take exciting pictures,
I thought I should dig in my treasure chest and show you a few
images you might find pleasing to the eye

The first signs of fall.
This image simply must be viewed
in the Large Format.



In the 30,000 islands, the Georgian Bay Region
The sun rises slowly