Dawn Chorus
The nascent light sees crickets and the Fiery-necked Nightjar signing off, whilst the Ring-necked Dove supports the Crested Francolin early movements and wake-up calls of African Green Pigeons.
NP (Nic Paton): charango, valiha, percussion, bass.
Open Channel
African Fish Eagle, Giant Kingfisher and Hamerkop harmonize in a riverside serenade, whilst Swamp Boubou, Yellow-bellied Greenbul and Dark-capped Bulbul weave supporting songs through the dense vegetation nearby.
NP: percussion, melodica, bass, programming, keyboard
Mokoro Journey
The traditional wooden boat glides smoothly up the Okavango River passing vibrant reeds and sedges to the majestic sounds of the African Fish Eagles, frogs and the endless activities of Egyptian Geese.
NP: guitar, clarinet, kalimba, percussion, string arrangement
Victor Masondo: Bass
Rob Jeffry: Cello
Bushveld Bangarang
The cheerful morning calls of an Orange-breasted Bush-shrike inspire a Black-backed Puffback who in turn stirs up a flock of Hartlaub’s Babblers. Their chaotic foraging sends a Red-billed Hornbill “out to lunch” and launches a noisy squabble between a Hamerkop and a troupe of chacma baboons.
NP: mbira, kalimba, percussion
Victor Masondo: Bass
River Horse
Hippos sink, surface and snort beneath the scorching midday sun, whilst Little Rush Warblers, African Stonechats and other feathered friends call quietly from amongst the shady reeds.
NP: guitar, low flute, percussion, bass, keyboard
Totora Wingsong
To the rhythm of the Ring-necked Dove, African Fish Eagles fly over water and woodland, witnessing a curious communication between an African Grey Hornbill and a chattering tree squirrel.
NP: low flute, percussion, bass, keyboard
Ingu (Flood Season)
Ingu is “flood season”: joyful African Jacanas and proud Blacksmith Lapwings set the lily-lined stage for the display flight of the male African Snipe, whilst his female “chucks” her approval from the reedy fringes.
NP: laud, low flute, mbira, percussion, keyboard
Victor Masondo: Bass
Peace Song
The repetitive rhythm of the Ring-necked Dove lulls in the lazy afternoon, supporting songs from the Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove and the Senegal Coucal.
NP: ukulele, percussion, bass, keyboard
Night Blanket
As the orange glow drains from the western sky, eastern guttural toads compete with other frogs and the occasional hippo bellowing in the cooling air as they saunter onto land.
NP: guitar, charango, percussion, melodica, bass, keyboard
Muzumu (Guardians)
Muzumu are the guardians. In the dead of night an African Wood Owl calls out amongst the crickets and stirring waterside birds. He is answered at first by a black-backed jackal, but in due course an African Barred Owlet and a Pearl-spotted Owlet join in to this celebration of nocturnal tranquillity.
NP: guitar, low flute, percussion, keyboard
Denizens of the Dark
From the inky blackness comes the haunting howl of a spotted hyaena, answered by the yelping cries of black-backed jackals. Is there a carcass being consumed or are they just sizing up their nocturnal rivals?
NP: guitar, low flute, percussion, bass
Rob Jeffry: Cello
Robala Sentle (Sleep Well)
To the chirping of crickets and the last twitter of birds, the Wahlberg’s Epauletted Fruitbat pipes politely to the dying embers of the evening.
NP: percussion, keyboard
Rob Jeffry: Cello
The Delta Dreams
Seitsane, a veteran Okavango River guide describes his day, his life, his journey[*] The Okavango River is one of the few rivers in the world that will never reach the sea. It ends, as it begins, well within the heart of the African continent.
*The cast of this journey includes:
Firey-necked Nightjar (0:08), African Fish Eagle (0:15), Ring-necked Dove (0:20), Dark-capped Bulbul (1:08), Hamerkop (1:15), Giant Kingfisher (1:24), Swamp Boubou (1:28), Crested Francolin (1:36), eastern guttural toad (1:40), Yellow-bellied Greenbul (1:44), Black-backed Puffback (2:11), hippopotamus (2:21), Orange-breasted Bushshrike (2:57), Southern Red-billed Hornbill (3:08), Crimson-breasted Shrike (3:17), chacma baboon (3:36), African Grey Hornbill (3:55), tree squirrel (3:56), African Snipe (4:16), African Jacana (4:16), Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove (4:48), Senegal Coucal (5:01), Blacksmith Lapwing (5:32), cricket (5:48), African Wood Owl (6:01), Pearl-spotted Owlet (6:12), spotted hyaena (6:29), black-backed (6:50), epauletted fruit bat (6:58).