Dawn Chorus

04h00-06h00

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

06h00-08h00

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

08h00-10h00

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

10h00-12h00

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

12h00-14h00

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

14h00-16h00

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)

16h00-18h00

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

18h00-20h00

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

20h00-22h00

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)

22h00-00h00

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

00h00-02h00

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)

02h00-04h00

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

A medley summing up the day

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).