Tailormade Holidays in Botswana

Established as a game reserve by the BaTswana tribe in 1963 and encompassing Chief’s island, the Moremi Game Reserve covers nearly 5,000 square kilometres of the north-eastern portion of the Okavango Delta. Its wide-ranging habitats include dry savannah woodland, Mopane forest, riparian woodland, floodplain, reedbeds and permanently flooded delta. Moremi supports large herds of grazers, among them notably high densities of African Buffalo whose presence draws in prides of Lion which are often seen flanking the ever-moving herds. Breeding herds of African Elephants roam between their browsing areas in the Mopane woodland and the fresh water of the Okavango, while African Wild Dogs are always a possibility, along with Leopard, Serval and African Wild Cat. Red Lechwe, too, are a common sight, and very much in contrast to the rare and shy Sitatunga that skulks in the dense papyrus swamps. Moremi is also home to a wealth of birdlife from the Rosy-throated Longclaw, Lesser Jacana and Black Coucal of the wetlands, to Violet-eared Waxbill, Black-cheeked Waxbill and Melba Finch, denizens of the drier regions. The stately Southern Ground Hornbill can often be seen striding across the open grasslands, whilst Paradise Whydahs and a variety of weavers add a splash of colour to the scene. Although rare, the Pel’s Fishing Owl can occasionally be found roosting in the giant Jackal Berry trees that overhang the water. It’s worth noting that walking, night-drives, off-road driving and mokoro boats are not permitted within Moremi and for these you’ll need to stay in one of the private concessions of the Delta.

The Okavango Delta is a permanently flooded network of crystal clear channels, sweeping green floodplains and palm-fringed islands – a truly magnificent spectacle and wildlife habitat. Exploration of the larger islands (and the floodplains during the dry season) is possible on foot and by jeep safari, but one of the real delights of the central Okavango is searching for wildlife from mokoros, the traditional dugout canoes of the Delta that are silently punted along the waterways by local boatmen. This is a great way to view the rich birdlife found here, including the endangered Wattled Crane, the endemic Slaty Egret and the magnificent Pel’s Fishing Owl. The Sitatunga is the sought-after antelope of the papyrus swamps and Red Lechwe, with their specialised splayed hooves, bound between swamps and grasslands. Larger grazers are to be found in the drier zones, and these include African Buffalo, Blue Wildebeest, Impala, Southern Giraffe, Plains (Burchell’s) Zebra and Tsesebe. African Elephants and Hippos are unhindered by even the deepest channels, their movements forming highways for smaller and more waterreluctant species. These waterways eventually lead to fringe-swamp, islands and floodplains where Leopards and African Wild Dogs wait in the wings. The region is also prime Lion territory, with one particular area in the north, the Duba plains, seeing the timeless struggle between Lion and African Buffalo on an almost daily basis. The Okavango Delta, whether the central heart or northern or southern flank, is largely accessed and explored from two distinct styles of lodge or tented camp – ‘wet camps’ and ‘dry camps’. The ‘wet camps’ specialise in mokoro excursions, while the ‘dry camps’ provide traditional 4WD safaris. There are, however, a number of properties that are able to offer both types of excursion and, with so many options available, it is always best to speak to one of our experts so we can find the most suitable experience for you.

There are a few community-owned concessions in the central Okavango and the Khwai is one of the best. It is a huge expanse of protected wetlands, Leadwood forests and open plains that lies adjacent to the eastern limits of the Moremi Game Reserve and the animals wander freely between the two. The concession is managed by the local Khwai people and it is an excellent example of a local community helping to protect, conserve and benefit from their surrounding wildlife. This has been a great success, for the Khwai region boasts some of the best game in the Okavango region, including huge bull African Elephants as well as breeding herds. Lion, Leopard, Serval and African Wildcat are common predators with African Wild Dog and Cheetah also possible. The swampy areas are home to African Buffalo and Red Lechwe, whilst other mammals to look out for during a stay here include Tsesebe, Blue Wildebeest, Plains Zebra, Waterbuck, Southern Giraffe, Greater Kudu, Impala and perhaps even Roan or Sable Antelope. The Khwai River also holds an unusually high density of Hippos as well as many huge crocodiles. The Khwai is also an excellent area for the Okavango’s abundant birdlife including Slaty Egret and the rare Wattled Crane. The liquid song of the colourful Heuglin’s Robin dominates the morning’s birdsong while the Mopane and Leadwood forests are home to Southern Black Tit, Bennett’s Woodpecker and the mighty Giant Eagle Owl.

Chobe is another of Africa’s finest wildlife reserves, protecting over 11,700 square kilometres from the northern tip of Botswana (where the Chobe River forms the park’s northern boundary) all the way to the Okavango Delta. It is best known for the huge herds of African Elephants which congregate along the Chobe River in the dry season and it is possible to see several hundred of these giants in one day. The broad range of habitats within the park – from floodplain and marsh grasslands to Leadwood forests – support Botswana’s only population of Puku, plus Lion, Hippo, Impala, Southern Giraffe, African Buffalo, Bushbuck, Waterbuck, Spotted Hyena, Roan and Sable Antelope, Greater Kudu, Warthog, Chacma Baboon and many, many others! The birds, too, are excellent, particularly in the ‘green season’, and include Long-toed and Wattled Plovers, Threebanded Courser, White-faced Duck, Giant Eagle Owl, flocks of vultures, including the menacing Lappet-faced Vulture, African Fish Eagle, Lizard Buzzard, Southern Ground Hornbill, Grey-headed Bushshrike, Rosy-throated Longclaw and chattering parties of Helmeted Guineafowl and Red-billed Francolin. Eagles such as Lesser Spotted, Tawny and Steppe seem to circle endlessly overhead while various bee-eaters, shrikes and rollers adorn every lookout. Game drives provide the main form of wildlife exploration in southern Chobe and can also be taken in the northern parts of the park, although early morning and evening sunset boat cruises along the Chobe River are certainly recommended.

The juxtaposition of the Okavango Delta and the Makgadikgadi Pans is quite surreal and the landscape alone is worthy of a visit. The region was once a huge lake that has since dried up forming an area of vast saltpans interspersed with scrub bush and grasslands that stretch as far as the eye can see. With the breaking of sporadic rains in November, the parched earth bursts into life and fresh shoots attract a wealth of antelope species and herds of Plains Zebra and Blue Wildebeest. Numbers of game are usually at their best between January and April and, in fact, the Nxai and Makgadikgadi Pans play host to one of the largest zebra migrations in Africa when a huge herd of up to 25,000 individuals passes through between March and April, as long as the seasonal rains don’t fail. The region offers as good a chance as any of seeing the elusive Brown Hyena, and Meerkat colonies are also present. The conventional game-viewing can be supplemented by walks with Bushmen as well as palaeontology explorations.

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is a beautiful expanse of sands, saltpans, scrub bush and grassy plains that roll on for mile after endless mile. Wildlife is at its most abundant between January and March when seasonal rains bring life to this dry region and grazers such as Oryx, Springbok, Impala, Blue Wildebeest and Plains Zebra gravitate here in search of fresh pastures. Inevitably the predators follow and among the most successful are Black-maned Lion and Cheetah, the latter using its superior speed to full potential in the open expanses found here. Leopard, African Wild Dog and Brown Hyena are all possible with a slice of luck, and such iconic African bird species as Ostrich, Secretarybird, Kori Bustard and Pygmy Falcon may also be seen.

The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park protects over 3.3 million hectares of the vast Kalahari Desert and supports a remarkably diverse range of wildlife. This is a harsh but beautiful environment of sweeping vistas and distant horizons, and of majestic brick-red sand dunes and some of the most beautiful sunsets in all of Africa. Here the black-maned Lions of the Kalahari, as well as Cheetah, Springbok, Gemsbok and Southern Giraffe may be seen, together with a number of more elusive mammals such as Meerkat (Suricate), Bat-eared Fox, Springhare, Aardwolf and the secretive Brown Hyena. Raptors are common and include Bataleur, Tawny Eagle, Black-breasted Snake Eagle, White-backed and Lappet-faced Vultures, Pale Chanting Goshawk and Pygmy Falcon. The huge Kori Bustard is frequently seen pacing through the grasslands, whilst some of the more unobtrusive species include the beautiful Violet-eared and Blackfaced Waxbills, Rufous-eared Warbler, Redheaded Finch and Swallow-tailed Bee-eater. The Kalahari works particularly well in combination with the Western Cape, but to get the best of both regions one must travel in the Austral spring between late August and October.