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Michelle Bontrager

photography
  • blog and travel photos
  • Living in East Africa
  • Photography
  • About Me
  • Contact Me

Pink-backed Pelican, Kazinga Channel

Kazinga Channel Uganda

August 18, 2025

Our private boat ride on the Kazinga Channel began well after sunrise. Our expectations were high after reading reviews from other photographers describing the abundance of wildlife along the banks and in the channel. Photographers recommended hiring our private boat so we could take our time at sitings to compose photographs at our pace.

Expectations Adjusted

It was a very bright and sunny day to start with, well after the glow of early morning hours had burned away.  We waited for our skipper to ready the vessel then off we went into the sun. Peter and I gamely kept our spirits optimistic during the boat ride but the little wildlife we saw sat stoically still, watching us closely as we floated past. We did not encounter the herds of wildlife that so many other photographers have posted from the very same boat ride.

Our private Kazinga Channel experience was simply a birding exhibition. Birds’ common to swamps across Africa such as herons, skimmers, and stilts. We were disappointed at the time but did realize no one can choreograph herds of zebra, antelope, or elephant.

Palm Nut Vulture
Palm Nut Vulture
Wahlberg's Eagle
Wahlberg's Eagle


By definition, wildlife are wild creatures. They move and migrate throughout Queen Elizabeth National Park. We were lucky for the opportunity to boat on the Kazinga Channel together surrounded by birds and with the knowledge that this is a special place in Uganda. We never know what will happen in nature.


View fullsize Grey-headed Kingfisher
Grey-headed Kingfisher
View fullsize Blue-Cheeked Bee-eater
Blue-Cheeked Bee-eater
View fullsize Pied Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher
View fullsize Whattled Lapwing
Whattled Lapwing
View fullsize Great (white-breasted) Cormorant
Great (white-breasted) Cormorant
View fullsize African Skimmers
African Skimmers

Lake Albert


Featured
Black-lored Babbler
Aug 17, 2025
Black-lored Babbler
Aug 17, 2025
Aug 17, 2025
African Green Pigeons
Aug 17, 2025
African Green Pigeons
Aug 17, 2025

Finally got a shot of the African Green Pigeon species

Aug 17, 2025
In Uganda Tags Kazinga Channel, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda, Travel Africa, Birding, Twitchers, Birds, National Parks
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Mantadia, My Visit to an Old Growth Forest

November 20, 2023

Forests can be replanted but the biodiversity of the old growth forests cannot be replaced. The authors of “Primary Forests are Irreplaceable for Sustaining Tropical Biodiversity“ Nature, (2011) successfully argue “…when it comes to maintaining tropical biodiversity, there is no substitute for primary forests.”

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In Madagascar Tags Andasibe, Mantadia National Park, Travel Africa, Biodiversity Matters, Primary Forest, Old Growth Forest, lemurs, indri indri, Sifakas
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Analamazaotra National Park, a holiday in the eastern rainforests of Madagascar

October 9, 2023

…I asked to arrive to Analamazaotra N.P. promptly at 6 AM the next morning, so eager to see what the forest had to offer…

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In Madagascar Tags lemurs, sifakas, Andasibe, Analamazaotra_National_Park, Travel Africa, biodiversity matters, Wild Madagascar, Lemur Conservation
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Song of the Indri Indri

September 24, 2023

Sometimes I make plans well in advance. I consider every contingency and discuss options before finalizing the itinerary.

But I’ve changed and am able to accept surprise opportunities as they arise, because I’m comfortable with my judgement now. When a trip to central eastern Madagascar came together in a matter of a few weeks, I couldn’t believe my good fortune.

The Andasibe region of Madagascar has different types of protected areas creating a patchwork of wild spaces to be explored. The rock stars of the region are the Indri Indri lemurs. They are the largest lemurs of Madagascar and are found in certain rainforests of eastern Madagascar. Their vocalization is quite unique. Researchers have been recording and watching these lemurs for decades trying to piece together the evolution of song and communication.

View fullsize MPB_8876-Edit.jpg
View fullsize Mitsinjo Reserve
Mitsinjo Reserve
View fullsize MPB_8670-Edit-2.jpg
View fullsize MPB_8700-Edit-4.jpg

A recent paper has confirmed that the Indri Indri have different vocalizations towards non-family members dependent if the other Indri Indri are local neighbors or strangers to their territory. These types of sophisticated social communication styles help Indri Indri warn of other lemurs, avoiding physical fighting. I think we can all agree that verbal discussion is the first step to solving disagreements.

mantadia national park


The owners of Wild Madagascar arranged for my driver and lodge stays throughout my holiday in the Central-Eastern rainforest area of Madagascar.

Here is a link to a recording  https://wildlife.org/watch-lemurs-have-rhythm/I

 



Featured
Association Mitsinjo a community-run protected area
travel africa, Andasibe, Mitsinjo, indri indri, lemurs, biodiversity matters, Primate_Photography, Lemur Conservation, Community Conservation, Wild Madagascar
Association Mitsinjo a community-run protected area
travel africa, Andasibe, Mitsinjo, indri indri, lemurs, biodiversity matters, Primate_Photography, Lemur Conservation, Community Conservation, Wild Madagascar

During my brief visit I was moved by the beauty of Andasibe, the variety of wildlife and unusual botanicals was astounding.

travel africa, Andasibe, Mitsinjo, indri indri, lemurs, biodiversity matters, Primate_Photography, Lemur Conservation, Community Conservation, Wild Madagascar
Analamazaotra National Park, a holiday in the eastern rainforests of Madagascar
lemurs, sifakas, Andasibe, Analamazaotra_National_Park, Travel Africa, biodiversity matters, Wild Madagascar, Lemur Conservation
Analamazaotra National Park, a holiday in the eastern rainforests of Madagascar
lemurs, sifakas, Andasibe, Analamazaotra_National_Park, Travel Africa, biodiversity matters, Wild Madagascar, Lemur Conservation

…I asked to arrive to Analamazaotra N.P. promptly at 6 AM the next morning, so eager to see what the forest had to offer…

lemurs, sifakas, Andasibe, Analamazaotra_National_Park, Travel Africa, biodiversity matters, Wild Madagascar, Lemur Conservation
Escape to Le Palmarium - Ankanin’ny Nofy
le palmarium, ankanin'ny Nofy, Eastern Madagascar, village life, Eastern_Madagascar, Lake Ampitabe, Atsinanana Region, Pangalanes Canal, Wild Madagascar, lemurs, Lemur Conservation
Escape to Le Palmarium - Ankanin’ny Nofy
le palmarium, ankanin'ny Nofy, Eastern Madagascar, village life, Eastern_Madagascar, Lake Ampitabe, Atsinanana Region, Pangalanes Canal, Wild Madagascar, lemurs, Lemur Conservation
le palmarium, ankanin'ny Nofy, Eastern Madagascar, village life, Eastern_Madagascar, Lake Ampitabe, Atsinanana Region, Pangalanes Canal, Wild Madagascar, lemurs, Lemur Conservation

 

 

In Madagascar Tags indri indri, lemurs, biodiversity matters, Eastern Madagascar, Travel Africa, Atsinanana Region, travel africa, Wild Madagascar
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