There’s surely no better place to watch and photograph one of Africa’s most emblematic raptors, and fittingly Botswana’s national bird, than on the Chobe river.

More than 460 species of birds have been recorded on the Chobe from tiny kingfishers to goliath herons, from skimmers to slaty egrets, but none quite so impressive as the magnificent fish eagle – instantly recognised by its far-carrying, haunting call that’s often referred to as the ‘cry of Africa’.

When you cruise the river these special birds are perched like tall sentinels, singly or in pairs, at remarkably regular intervals on the tall trees or dead branches lining the banks; their unmistakable white hoodies making them clearly visible to the naked eye.

Admiring these stunningly graceful birds bathing at the river’s edges or sweeping down from their waterside perches, with wings open and talons thrown forward to snatch their fish supper, is a highlight of any visit. Watching is the easy part, however. Photographing the action is another matter. Fun and frustrating in equal measure it requires knowledge of these immensely territorial birds’ foraging behaviour and hunting habits, bags of patience and time, fast reflexes, a steady hand, a smooth tracking technique and bags of concentration.

These birds are fast, efficient and incredibly economic when fishing. Their talons barely disturb the surface of the water so there’s none of those splashy crash landings we’ve seen with ospreys, that leave you plenty of time to catch focus as the bird takes off with its catch. Thankfully there’s plenty of chances of a repeat performance if you don’t at first succeed because the Chobe is home to an extremely high density of these majestic birds, possibly the highest density anywhere on the continent. That’s pretty impressive if you ask us…