The second event in the Dolores Public Library’s “Winter Tales” lecture series took attendees on a virtual safari to southern Africa.
A large crowd packed into the library Thursday night, despite the snowstorm outside, to hear a report from a country that rarely experiences snow, even in winter. Dolores residents Phil and Mary Kemp gave a presentation on their July trip to Botswana, which they took with several other people interested in wildlife. They showed pictures of several rare animal species while recounting the more exciting parts of the journey.
The library is offering a free event every week through the beginning of March, alternating between foreign film screenings and “Winter Tales.” Carolyn Gunn gave the first of the lectures on Jan. 5, about climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
The Kemps told a few stories about their adventures in a Botswana national park – like the time a family of baboons stole their camp gear – but their main focus was on the animals.
“The trip was not a wildlife photography trip, the trip was just to see Botswana and ... enjoy the animals that live there,” Phil Kemp said.
Still, Mary Kemp managed to get many high-quality photos of hippopotamuses, giraffes, lions, cape buffaloes and a wide variety of African birds. She even photographed a black rhinoceros, a member of an endangered species. One of her favorite moments, she said, was when the group watched a herd of elephants cross a river with a baby in tow.
“The little guy was having trouble, but the other elephants, and they were all females probably, they all made sure he made it,” she said. “It was so great to see.”
After the presentation, the couple answered questions from the crowd about the animals and landscape. They showed their route on a map of Botswana, and handed out lists of the animals they identified on the trip. Library Director Virginia Mattingly thanked the crowd for coming and encouraged them to attend the next lecture, on Feb. 2. Andrew Gulliford will speak about a travel opportunity close to home, in a lecture titled “Outdoors in the Southwest.”