Senegal - Reserve de Bandia

[Jimbojack]

Here is another set of pictures from my recent Africa trip.

These were all taken in Reserve de Bandia, a small wildlife reserve a couple of hours away from Dakar. Many of the species are not native to Senegal, like the Rhino or Giraffe, but the park was great anyway.

You enter the park in your own car, but you have to pick up a guide to go along with you. The guide will then tell the driver where to go (there are quite a few dirt roads around the park) and help you spot animals. There is nothing seperating you from the animals, and the guide will let you get pretty close to the animals as long as you are carefull and don't disturb them.

I've never been on a real safari, so this was a great day trip for me. I can only imagine how awesome it would be to go on a real safari in East Africa. That's definately on my list of things to do.

I posted this in Journeys since it's from my trip to West Africa, but if the mods thing it should belong in the Wildlife forum please move it, thank you.

Anyway, here are the pics:


Baobab Trees:

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_003.jpg

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_004.jpg

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_006.jpg


A few birds:

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_007.jpg

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_008.jpg

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_009.jpg

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_011.jpg


Savannah Buffalo:

Male
http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_012.jpg

Female
http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_013.jpg


Gazelles:

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_016.jpg

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_017.jpg

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_020.jpg


Giraffes:

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_022.jpg

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_024.jpg

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_025.jpg

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_026.jpg

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_028.jpg


Some Monkeys:

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_029.jpg

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_030.jpg

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_032.jpg


Couple of Rhinos:

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_034.jpg

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_036.jpg

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_039.jpg


Turtle:

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_040.jpg


Warthogs:

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_041.jpg

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_045.jpg

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_046.jpg


Couple of photos my friend took of me and our guide while I was shooting:

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_047.jpg

http://www.jimbojack.com/Countries/Senegal/Senegal_Bandia_048.jpg

More pictures from the park can be seen on my website on the Senegal page.

I hope you enjoy them, next up will be more photos from Mali.

[flyingdutchie]

None of the pictures are showing. I just see dots/periods '.'. :dunno

[Jimbojack]

None of the pictures are showing. I just see dots/periods '.'. :dunno

Hmmm....everything is ok with my server, and the photos are showing up fine for me. Try to view the page again.

Anyone else have this problem?

[flyingdutchie]

Hmmm....everything is ok with my server, and the photos are showing up fine for me. Try to view the page again.

Anyone else have this problem?

still no pics...

[flyingdutchie]

Hmmm....everything is ok with my server, and the photos are showing up fine for me. Try to view the page again.

Anyone else have this problem?

I think the problem is from my site: Your web-site is blocked at my work here.

[ShepsMom]

I see everything, love all the wild life!!! :clap

[Owen]

Very painterly -
what lens were you using?

[Jimbojack]

Thanks for the comments.

I used two nikon bodies:

D70s + 17-55mm f2.8
D70 + 70-200mm f2.8 VR + 1.7x TC

All of these shots are from one or the other cameras/lenses

[ChrisJ]

These are great shots. I really like the horizontal baobob tree. Fantastic warthog, too.

On many "real" safaris you can't leave the vehicle, which feels very restrictive -- but it can be dangerous otherwise. Seeing the Crater/Serengeti was a great experience anyway. We did prefer the freedom of the walking/riding safaris in Zimbabwe (please please become a real country again soon....).