Selinda Camp is an amazing place before the annual rains begin to bless the soil and vegetation in late November. It’s a time when the landscape is refreshed with new life. New growth on trees, shrubs, bushes and grasses – but also a time when many of our antelope species give birth to their young. A small herd of Impala that call the fringes of Selinda Camp home have decided that the rain is now near and its time to give birth to their young.

Jeff and Cynthia O’Brien who were here to celebrate their 10 year wedding anniversary had the pleasure to watch this young Impala mother giving birth to what we believe was her first calf. Their guide, Mots, came to the conclusion that this was her first because she was walking around very pensively and didn’t quite seem to understand what was happening, or what she should do.

It was a magical moment for Jeff, Cynthia and Mots to have observed. Jeff very kindly allowed us the use of his photographs for our Dispatches as to be there at the moment of birth is a very rare occurance. Thank you Jeff!

Here are some photos of the young mother and the calf. Enjoy!

Photographs by Jeff O’Brien.