ARTICLES SELECTED FROM THE CATEGORY: "Botswana"

We hope all our guests have enjoyed their Christmas break and would like to wish you a very happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

We thank all our guests who have travelled with us in 2017 and previous years, as well as those who have already booked for 2018 and beyond. Most Safari countries are experiencing excellent forward bookings and we would urge guests wanting to travel in 2018 to book as early as possible.

ZIMBABWE
We are very confident that the change of leadership in Zimbabwe will result in Zimbabwe returning to the mainstream safari circuit. Zimbabwe is a great safari country with Hwange National Park and Mana Pools, two of Africa’s very finest reserves within its borders, as well as a number of excellent, but less well-known reserves. At present visitor numbers are low and prices quite affordable whilst the game viewing is exceptional, so we would encourage you to visit Zimbabwe while it remains largely
undiscovered. View Tours

CONSERVATION SUCCESS
Despite the ongoing battle against Rhino and Elephant poaching in many African countries there is also plenty of good news. Some parks that had been neglected for years have received substantial investment and have been restocked and given the protection they need, creating new and exciting destinations to visit, mainly under the management of the philanthropic “African Parks organisation” These include parks in countries as diverse as Rwanda, Republic of Congo, Chad, Zambia and Malawi. 400 elephants were recently translocated in a huge operation to return the Nkhotakota National Park in Malawi to its former glory. 200 Black and white Rhinos have moved from South Africa where they were at high risk of poaching to Botswana where they were locally extinct. They are breeding and spreading well. Lions once again roam free in Akagera. Majete and Liuwa Plains National Park. The importance of tourism as the main source of sustainable funding cannot be underestimated.

NEW CAMPS IN BOTSWANA
In Botswana former hunting concessions have opened or are due to open for photographic tourism following the ban on commercial hunting in the country most of these camps are in huge private concessions with just one safari camp, creating exclusive and genuine wilderness experience. See below.

Kadizora Camp -Northern Okavango Delta

Nogatsaa Pans Lodge – Chobe Game Reserve

Gomoti Plains – South East Okavango Delta

Qorokwe Camp – South East Okavango Delta

Dinaka Camp – Central Kalahari Game Reserve (Opening March 18)

CLASSIC LONGER SAFARIS
At Safari Club we have been busy creating some new flexible, private safari tours which will appeal to guests who are time rich and would like to explore an African country in a bit more depth, some of these are partially self-drive, whilst others are privately guided and may include overland and air travel connections. See below.

Kenya Overland Adventure – 18 Nights
This leisurely safari includes both air and privately guided overland elements. Whilst avoiding the busiest areas, Samburu Reserve, Laikipia Plateau, the Maasai Mara, Amboseli and Tsavo National Parks all feature, the safari ends with a few nights at the idyllic South Coast.
View Tour

Northern Namibia Overland Self Drive Tour – 16 nights
This is a private self-drive safari visiting this scenically stunning country with its fabulous wildlife and fascinating semi nomadic people. With a good road network Namibia is the perfect country for the adventurous traveller to explore. Your tour visits the spectacular red dunes at Sosussvlei, Walvis Bay famous for its prolific, birdlife and dolphins, the seal colony at Cape Cross, the remote and windswept Skeleton coast. You will then travel into mountainous interior where desert adapted elephant, lions and the last free ranging black rhino roam. Etosha National park is the jewel in Namibia’s wildlife crown and here you will drive yourself through the reserve seeking out the plentiful game that can usually be found close to the waterholes. Your safari finishes at the Afrikat foundation at OKonjima famous for its cheetah rehabilitation programme.
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Tanzania Overland Adventure – 12 nights
This tour is a twelve night, privately guided safari through Tanzania’s Northern Circuit, you will visit Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks as well as the Ngorongoro Crater. The highlight of your tour is the Serengeti National Park where you will visit the Central, Western and Northern regions of this huge reserve. The itinerary may be adapted to suit seasonal game movements and offers the opportunity of witnessing the Great Migration as it passes through the reserve. Could be easily combined with a few nights on the beach. Accommodation is in mid-range tented camps and lodges making this trip particularly good value especially for small groups and families.
View Tour
View Family Tour

South Africa Overland Adventure – 29 days
The ultimate month-long adventure through Africa’s most diverse country travelling in a mixture of self-drive and air and including the classic Luxury Rovos Rail journey from Cape Town to Pretoria. Your journey includes the Anglo/Zulu and Boer war battlefields of Rorkes Drift, Isandlwana and Spion Kop as well the Drakensberg Mountains, Durban, Oudtshoorn, the Garden Route, Whale Coast, Winelands, Cape Town and a Rovos Rail experience. Your tour ends with a “Big Five” safari in the outstanding Timbavati Area of Kruger National Park. A fantastic and safe adventure giving a real insight into the splendours of the Rainbow Nation.
View Tour

AFFORDABLE SAFARIS – OUR TIPS

Going on safari is never cheap, but, considering that most things are included, the total cost is often less than at first appears. There are a number of ways you can make a safari more affordable in some cases the savings can be very large without compromising the experience.

• Avoid peak season travel, most destinations have low and mid-season rates and often these can be half the price of high season rates. With good guidance we can advise on where you will get a great experience outside of low season. Particularly good value can be had in Botswana or Kenya both of which have great game viewing at any time.
• Travel with friends, you won’t save much on a flying safari, but privately guided overland trips and self-drives in countries like Namibia, South Africa or Tanzania can be much cheaper.
• Don’t try to do too much, getting from place to place in some countries can be expensive in Africa, it may be better to spend between 6 and 10 nights between two or three different camps in different parts of some of the larger reserves. The Serengeti. South Luangwa, Kafue, Hwange and the Okavango Delta for example.
• Reduce the average daily cost of your African holiday by adding time at the beach in Kenya or Tanzania or maybe spend a few days at Victoria Falls, Lake Malawi or Cape Town.
• Consider carefully which country to visit, as a general rule South Africa, Zimbabwe, Southern Tanzania and Kenya are more affordable.
• Book as far in advance as possible, the most cost-effective lodges and those offering special deals tend to get booked up very early. Nine months is perfect.
• Late availability deals are sometimes available for guests able to travel at short notice who are flexible with dates and location. It is worth asking!
• Travelling with children, try half term or Easter as the summer holiday period is invariably expensive.
• Consider more simple accommodation, whilst it is certainly true with safari holidays that you get what you pay for, spa’s, butlers, gyms, pools and other extras are included in the rate at more expensive lodges and camps but you may struggle to find time to use them. The essential ingredients of a wonderful safari are safety, comfort and great game viewing, guiding and interpretation, all possible at an affordable price.

The enduring fascination of a safari holiday is that no two safaris are ever the same. wildlife, culture, scenery vary from country to country and park to park and season to season. Is it the anticipation before setting out on a game drive, boat safari, or walk, never knowing quite what you will find but secure in the knowledge that there is a very good chance that you will experience something new and wonderful?

As a veteran of more than fifty safaris with visits to most of Africa’s great parks the feeling of excitement anticipation starts from the moment I start planning my next trip and doesn’t leave me until I board the final charter flight at the start of my journey home. If you have been to Africa with Safari Club you will know the feeling, many of our guests return year after year forsaking the trappings of Western civilization for a couple of weeks to enjoy the thrilling sounds, smells and sights of timeless Africa. In this newsletter we feature a few safaris most of which are flexible that might appeal to guests looking to travel next year.

Botswana
Elephants Kingdom – an eight-night trip visiting Victoria Falls, the Chobe Game Reserve and exclusive private concessions in the Okavango Delta and the Moremi Game reserve. An affordable but high quality, “all inclusive” flying safari.
From £3807 to £6071pp on a Victoria Falls to Maun basis.
 
Northern Highlights (classic) -A ten night “all inclusive” flying safari visiting Victoria Falls, the legendary Savute Marsh in Chobe, the Khwai community area of the Okavango Delta and a private concession in the South East Delta. Superb game viewing with the opportunity for elephant interaction at Stanleys Camp.
From £4412 to £7591 on a Victoria Falls to Maun basis

Moremi and Chobe Private Luxury Mobile Camping
Safari in Style on a budget. try our nine day, fully serviced, luxury mobile camping safari starting in Maun and finishing in Kasane. This safari visits the Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve before heading North to the Chobe Game Reserve with the option of extending your tour to include Victoria Falls. The price is the same throughout the year and is the most cost-effective way to visit Botswana’s superb reserves in peak season. This is a great choice for four or more people and perfect for a family with older children.
Price £3456 per person based on four travellers on a Maun to Kasane basis

Guests interested in visiting Botswana may be interested in our report of the Safari Club visit to Botswana in May 2017.

Zimbabwe
Zambezi Wanderer –Two World Heritage sites in one trip

An eight-night trip visiting three of Zimbabwe’s most spectacular tourist attractions,
Your safari starts at the spectacular Victoria Falls and continues into Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s largest reserve and home to up to 100000 elephants. The final part of your journey takes you to another World Heritage Site, Mana Pools on the Zambezi River, a stunning wildlife haven teeming with big game. You can enjoy boat safaris, guided walks and tiger fishing in addition to your game drives.
From £2693 to £4010 per person on a Victoria Falls to Harare basis.
Guests interested in visiting Zimbabwe may be interested in our report of the Safari Club visit to Zimbabwe in June 2017.

Seychelles – Romance with adventure
From March 2018 BA will be commencing daily flights to the Seychelles, as BA also flies direct to Johannesburg and Nairobi which have direct flight connections to Seychelles the planning of a safari and beach holiday becomes much easier and cheaper.
Either of these safari destinations combined with one of the stunningly beautiful islands of the Seychelles could be the perfect romantic holiday combination for honeymoons and anniversaries.
 
Give us a call if you love this idea 0845 0545889

Tanzania
Stars of the North – The Northern Circuit
An attractively priced, seven nights, set departure safari, visiting Tanzania’s fantastic Northern Parks. 
This safari travels overland from Arusha visiting the Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks, the Ngorongoro Crater and of course the Serengeti National Reserve. The tour is suitable for 2 to 6 guests and includes all accommodation, meals, park fees and transport.
This is a great stand-alone safari but it is also ideal to combine with a beach holiday in Zanzibar or other Tanzanian Islands.
From £2568 to £3172 per person on a Kilimanjaro to Kilimanjaro basis

Selous and Ruaha Adventure – Great value for families with teenage children
An eight night trip vising the exciting but less well known Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park.
Fantastic value for money in peak season, with family accommodation staying in comfortable tented camps. Includes game drives and boat safaris. Why not add a few days relaxation on a beautiful tropical beach to complement the safari?
From £13200 Family of four £15500 family of five

Mozambique – Dugong anyone?

Mozambique is one of the last bastions of truly wild Africa, large country with plenty of game reserves and only a smattering of visitors. In the 1960’s Mozambique’s game reserves rivalled the best in Africa with the Gorongosa National Park the jewel in the crown. Civil war and rampant poaching reduced these once prolific reserves to a shadow of their former glory. The parks are now slowly recovering but are unlikely to appeal to mainstream wildlife enthusiasts for a few years yet.

Mozambique though has another trick up its sleeve. The country is blessed with some of the finest beaches and most pristine coral reefs in Africa. This part of the Indian Ocean is home to whales, sharks, manta rays and turtles. Mozambique has a specialty that you are unlikely to find elsewhere. The Dugong is a large and endangered marine mammal that can be found in the waters around Vilanculos. They are usually found in small groups feeding on sea grass in shallow water. If you want to see a Dugong let us help to plan a trip to Mozambique for you.
Mozambique has good flight connections with South Africa,, Kenya and Tanzania so it is a great place to relax after a safari in one of the traditional “Big Five” countries.

The purpose of this trip was to acquaint ourselves with the new camps and areas that have opened up to photographic tourism since my last visit five years ago. Botswana banned all forms of hunting in 2014 following on from the trophy hunting ban that was put in place a couple of years ago and new areas have been leased out for photographic tourism as Botswana endeavors to take advantage of the tourist boom and worldwide interest in the country.

Flying over Northern Botswana it is incredible to see the vast swathe of pristine wilderness below and know that despite the building of new lodges in the former hunting concessions the Botswana Government policy of low impact/high value tourism will keep these areas pristine for the foreseeable future.  With a few exceptions and despite the fact that Botswana’s tourist industry is running at capacity you will probably not see any other vehicles on your game drives.

Our visit was in the shoulder season months of May and June. At this time of year the rains have finished and the days are warm and sunny whilst the evenings are cool. The heaviest rains in living memory during the 2016/2017 wet season have left the bush looking unusually green and there is a great deal of water throughout Botswana’s northern parks so many areas which are normally expected to be dry by May including the Okavango Delta are still holding rainwater which will soon be supplemented by the annual floodwater coming down from Angola.

Game viewing in Botswana is excellent at any time of year provided the right safari camps and lodges are chosen. Our nine-night trip here provided superb game viewing in all of the areas we visited with elephant everywhere including inside the camps. All the iconic species were seen at some some point including lion, leopard, cheetah and wild dog. The only animal not seen were Rhino as we did not visit the areas of Botswana where they are now found following their successful reintroduction over the last couple of years.

The birding was also outstanding and very varied even though this is not prime birding season.

All the safari camps we visited were in the “affordable luxury” category which in Botswana means between US$425 and US$1000 per person per night depending on season.

My conclusion is that the exclusivity and variety of wildlife combined with the wide range of safari activities on offer which include day and night game viewing, mokoro trips, boat safaris, guided walks, sleepout hides, fishing and bushmen walks will continue to make Botswana one of Africa’s premier safari destinations and certainly one of mine.

Makgadikgadi Pans National Park

The pans are located between the Okavango Delta and the Central Kalahari game Reserve in a semi-arid area. There is a surprising amount of wildlife here sustained by the now permanently flowing Boteti River and during my visit the area was very green with good grazing.

Plenty of wildlife is drawn to the river but unfortunately, we didn’t get the opportunity to venture deeper into the park, as time did not permit. Birding was also excellent along the Boteti River

May is normally the Zebra Migration season in Makgadikgadi Pans but the exceptional rainfall has delayed it this year, although at the time of visiting the advanced guard had begun arriving.

This park is worth visiting at the beginning or end of a longer Botswana journey but the density and variety of wildlife here is less than in other parts of Northern Botswana so may not appeal to everyone.

Perhaps the highlight of the visit for me was the opportunity to join a family of San Bushmen, men, women and children on a cultural walk in the bush where we were shown how the bushmen live and the various plants and shrubs that are used for water, food and medicine. We were also shown how the bushman make and apply the poison they use on their arrows to hunt for food.

Stayed at Mena a Kwena Safari Lodge

As this is a national park, night drives, off road driving, walking and fishing are not permitted within park boundaries.

Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta is huge, its size can only truly be appreciated as you fly over it on route to your safari camp. Not surprisingly the areas has a wide range of habitats from wetlands and woodlands to open plains and consequently the variety of wildlife and birds that can be seen here is equally varied.

The Okavango Delta also includes the Moremi Game reserve which is the National park located in the Delta area. In combination with Chobe Game Reserve and the Khwai, Linyanti and Selinda Reserves this is one of the largest truly wild and protected and pristine areas on the planet.

We had expected at the time of our visit in May for much of the Delta to be dry as would be normal at this time of year with water only in the permanent channels. The exceptional rainfall this year has changed all that and there is water everywhere with more expected as the annual flood flows into the Delta from Angola.

We saw most of the main species of game in our two day trip with the exception of Wild Dog and  Cheetah and the birding was superb. There are no rhino currently in the concessions we visited although the recently introduced rhino in other areas are gradually beginning to spread out.

Our first camp, Gomoti Plains, was in a large new concession in the dryer South Western Delta. The Gomoti Plains area had previously been used for hunting but has now been leased to the new owners and a permanent camp has been built with a new airstrip to open shortly. The concessions adjacent to other areas of the Okavango Delta which are known for their outstanding game viewing and as the wildlife becomes familiar with safari vehicles this will in future years become one of Botswana’s most sought after safari areas. The birding here was superb and Gomoti seems to be a giraffe hotspot. The full range of Delta activities are possible including fishing and mokoros.

Stayed at Gomoti Plains camp

Our second camp was Kanana, a long-established camp in the permanently flooded areas of the South Eastern Delta. This area is best known for its boating and mokoro trips and for walking, but is also, when water levels permit excellent for game viewing. Kanana camp is a very comfortable but reasonably affordable choice which is ranked number two on “Trip advisor” it is easy to see why.

Stayed at Kanana Camp

Khwai Private Reserve

This reserve is less well known tha other areas of Botswana and is basically a community operated area lying to the North of Moremi Game Reserve up to the borders of the Chobe national Park.

The area was previously used for hunting and also had a few camp sites used by mobile safari operators, in recent years a number of new high quality safari camps have been built and the area has a well deserved reputation for its outstanding game viewing.

I can remember visiting the Khwai area on a self-drive camping trip in 1999 and being amazed at the exciting wildlife experiences we had there.

The area does not have the exclusivity of the Okavango delta as the density of camps is slightly greater and you do see the odd vehicle from other camps and mobile safari operators but generally it is a bit cheaper to stay here.

Our game viewing here was good, the highlight being an excellent leopard sighting at Machaba Camp.

We stayed at two camps in Khwai, Hyena Pan Tented Camp and Machaba Camp which was outstanding and visited the newly opened Sable Alley Camp.

Chobe Game Reserve

We visited two very different areas within this large reserve which is mostly covered in thick woodland. Our first stop was at the Savute Marsh area of the National Park, this is the prime game viewing area in the heart of the park and world famous for its extraordinary big game encounters. We stayed at the relatively new Ghoha Hills Camp which has a stunning position atop a large Kopje overlooking the bush and the marsh beyond.

Our game drive on the Marsh was extremely productive and this was the only place in Botswana that provided cheetah sightings on this trip, there were also many elephant and a good variety of plains game. Our camp was a bit far from the main game viewing area of Savute, although there was excellent birding around camp and we did see plains game including roan antelope near camp.

I think if travelling outside the peak game viewing months of July to November, from a purely game viewing point of view, it would make more sense to stay in one of the camps located close to the Marsh. In peak season the Ghoha area comes into its own as the permanent waterholes attract every species of game which can be observed from a game viewing hide beside the waterhole..

Stayed at Ghoha Hills Safari Lodge

The second leg of our trip visited the Chobe River floodplain in the North of the park close to the borders Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe. The river here attracts staggering quantities of elephant and buffalo in the dry season and for the rest of the year the game viewing remains outstanding.

The only drawback to visiting this area is the large number of tourists that are driving the main riverfront roads, these include many self-drivers from neighboring countries and day trippers from Victoria Falls as well as guests from the larger lodges located to the east of the national park. We stayed at the Western end of the reserve where there are just four lodges. Fewer visitors make it out to this area so you do not get the same number of guests at each sighting as are found further east.

Our sightings here included wild dog, lion and buffalo as well as hyenas with cubs.

A big attraction here are boat safaris on the Chobe River where excellent birding adds to the excitement of close encounters with wild game from your boat.

As this is a national park, night drives, off road driving, walking and fishing are not permitted within park boundaries.

The Chobe river front is close to the airport art Kasane is a good place to start or finish a safari.

Stayed at Muchenji Safari Lodge

New wildlife documentaries featuring African destinations keep on coming, a sure sign of the interest in this vast and spectacular continent from tourists from around the world.

Luangwa Valley
The spectacular Luangwa Valley in Zambia recently warranted its own three part ITV documentary “Lion Country”, which showcases perfectly the beauty and sense of timeless Africa that you get in this raw and compelling wilderness. Safari Club have sent many guests to this exciting destination and look forward to sending many more. If you would like to visit the Luangwa Valley take a look at our 2017 “Land of the Big Cats” itinerary.

Zambia
Zambia is an increasingly popular wildlife destination and now that the government is taking tourism seriously we have noticed an increased level of interest in areas outside the usual circuit of South Luangwa, Lower Zambezi and Victoria Falls. Other attractions include North Luangwa which is only accessible for four months of the year and is the ultimate walking destination with just two small camps. Liuwa Plain which is getting its first permanent safari camp this year and is one of the best places to see cheetah and hyena in Zambia as well as huge herds of assorted plains game. Perhaps most importantly of all the vast Kafue National Park, real rising star on the safari circuit. Following previous articles on this park we have been asked for an idea of an itinerary and costing so please take a look at “Spirit of the Kafue”.

Ready to visit Serengeti?

Africa’s best known reserve is never a cheap place to visit but remains at the top of many bucket lists. If you are able to travel within six weeks we have a special offer that lets you get right into the heart of the Serengeti at around half the normal price. This is a flexible, flying safari staying in top quality camps on an all-inclusive basis which can be extended to visit other reserves. The final itinerary and price will depend on availability at camps so all you need to do is to provide us with dates and we will prepare a tailor made itinerary to suit. This special remains available throughout 2017 and is priced on a Kilimanjaro to Kilimanjaro basis.
7nts US$3834  per person sharing; 10nts US$5547 per person sharing.

Zimbabwe Magic
Zimbabwe remains one of the finest safari destinations in Africa with some excellent National Parks teeming with wild game not to mention the iconic Victoria Falls. The country is safe and peaceful and the local Zimbabwean people are friendly and very welcoming. In terms of value for money Zimbabwe is very attractive as well. If you fancy visiting, see our “Victoria Falls to Kariba” safari visiting Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Lake Kariba and Matusadona or contact us for a detailed itinerary. 
9nts US$3666 pp 12nts from US$5711 pp.

Maasai Mara to Victoria Falls and Zimbabwe?

Yes really! It is now possible to visit these diverse and iconic African destinations using the latest Kenya Airways flights. If you would like to visit these area’s staying in the excellent Governors and Wilderness Safaris camps please take a look at this “Iconic Africa”.
9nts from US$4531 to US$4863 (Excludes International Flights)

Ever seen African Wild Dogs?
For many safari enthusiasts seeing the endangered African wild dog, also known as the painted dog, is the highlight of an African safari. We can arrange a trip for you to the Painted Dog Conservancy adjacent to the Hwange National Park, where tracking these fascinating creatures with the specialist researchers is possible and sightings highly probable. See “Alison Dewar’s recent blog” on her trip to the dogs. Why not add a visit to our “Victoria Falls to Kariba” safari.

Baby Boom – Gorillas
Mountain gorillas have been regularly featuring in TV news bulletins in recent weeks. The reason for this is that buy acyclovir walmart there has been a baby boom, particularly in Uganda where a new baby is being born in most months. This is fantastic news for a species which reproduces slowly and remains highly endangered Much of this success derives from increased conservation efforts largely funded by wildlife tourism. If you can get to Rwanda or Uganda possibly taking advantage of the new direct flights from London Gatwick, then do go! you will enjoy a very special experience whilst helping to conserve one of our closest relatives.

Chimpanzee habitation
If you go to Uganda to meet the gorillas, you could also visit the chimpanzees in Kibale or Budongo and possibly go out with the researchers for a whole day as they go about habituating a group of wild chimpanzees to human presence.

Rwanda Gorilla Permits to double
The Rwanda Development board has announced that the price of a gorilla tracking permit will double from US$750 to US$1500 with immediate effect. Safari Club guests already booked to go to Rwanda have no need to worry as all permits are already secured! Permits for Uganda remain at US$600 at the time of writing making Uganda a very attractive option for guests wanting to see mountain gorillas! Read more

Elephant translocation breeding success
You may have read our blog from last year regarding the translocation of 500 elephants to Nkhotahota National Park from the overcrowded Liwonde and Majete National Parks. Nkhotakota was once home to more than 1,500 elephants. Lack of protection coupled with the insatiable demand for ivory reduced the population to just 100 individuals. Between July and August in 2016, 261 elephants were successfully moved from Liwonde to a sanctuary within Nkhotakota. The new arrivals are thriving! Recently rangers on patrol have sighted some very young elephants that have been born in Nkhotakota in the last six months. While we have yet to confirm numbers, given gestation is 22 months for elephants, these calves were conceived before making the journey to their new home. These elephants will soon be joined by 240 others, coming from Liwonde and Majete Wildlife Reserve between June and August 2017. Would you like to visit Nkhotahota and see some of these animals in their new and very beautiful home? Time it right and you could witness the arrival of the next batch of elephants. A safari here would combine very nicely with a trip to Zambia’s spectacular South Luangwa National Park and a few days relaxing on Lake Malawi.
Contact us if you would like to visit Malawi or read more about the translocation.
9nts from US$4531 to US$4863 (Excludes International Flights)

Botswana summer- Perfect Bargain
Past newsletters have featured “Green Season” safaris in Botswana between December and March. The cost of a safari in Botswana is around half the cost of a visit in the peak season. Green season game viewing remains excellent, with the bush green and fresh, birds in full mating plumage, many animals choosing to have their young in this time of plenty and the light is perfect for photography. Take a look at our “Sightings report” for March 2017 for taste of what could be in store.

Polish up your photography skills in Botswana
Would you like to improve your photography skills whilst enjoying a fabulous safari holiday in Botswana visiting the fabulous Selinda Reserve and the Okavango Delta? Our “Wild Studio” photography tour includes free tuition and advice and is suitable for beginners as well as experienced photographers. Accompanying partners are very welcome and will enjoy normal guided game drives.  The rates offered for the Wild Studio” are the same as normal seasonal lodge rates with no extra expense for specialist wildlife photographer/guide tuition. We recommend starting with three days on the “Wild Studio workshop” and then continuing with a regular safari to other areas of Botswana to practice your new-found skills.

Kwara Concession

A frequently seen female cheetah with her three cubs continued to be a highlight during March. This particular animal has always been relaxed and now it seems that her cubs have picked up on her confidence, using our vehicles for their games of hide and seek, to the delight of the guests. This entertaining family were often found in the Bat Eared Fox Den area where the female was successfully killing impalas, one after the other. Mostly the cubs accompanied her, but we noticed that sometimes she tired of their distracting play and left them behind so that she could get on with the serious job of hunting without them disturbing the prey. On one occasion this family group were seen wading through the flood water – in the Okavango Delta even the cats have to get their paws wet from time to time. A male cheetah, in great condition, was also been found in the area.

Lions were tracked and successfully located most days during March. On one occasion, the guide and tracker had picked up the tracks of 2 females and 4 cubs on the road. They followed the tracks and located the group whilst on foot only to find that they themselves were being tracked – by the young cubs who were making a playful attempt to stalk them. On a different day, a guide and his guests heard a troop of baboon making alarm calls. Upon following up, they found a lioness in the thickets who was killing a big male baboon. She then left the kill and ran to fetch her two shy cubs who seemed rather alarmed when they came face to face with this particular meal. Lions were also seen hunting red lechwe and zebra several times, the most spectacular chase included a stampede and hunt through the floodwater.

Leopards were seen very regularly, often enjoying cooling breezes as they rested on the branches of Marula or Sausage Trees. One beautiful female was very regularly sighted in and around Little Kwara camp where she seemed to have her eye on our resident herd of impala. Towards the end of the month a female leopard was tracked for over an hour, but patience was rewarded and she was located resting up on a sausage tree. Guests were offered very good photographic opportunities as she jumped from one branch to another scanning for prey species. Another lucky group of guests encountered a leopard at the airstrip as they were being collected from their flight, setting the bar very high for the rest of their stay at Kwara. 

Wild dogs were seen many times, sometimes on the move or playing, other times looking full-bellied and sleepy. One of the best sightings in March was an incredible morning spent on one of the islands where seven wild dogs were found feeding on a kudu kill. The pack was being nervously watched by a large male leopard who had taken refuge in a nearby tree. We stayed with this intriguing scene for some time and eventually, after the dogs had eaten their fill and moved off, the leopard gingerly came down from the tree to eat the leftovers. On a different drive the wild dogs left their carcass to a small pride of lions.

General game in the Kwara area was abundant including giraffe in groups of up to seventeen. Large breeding herds of elephants have starting coming through the concession and there are plentiful numbers of zebra, tsessebe, wildebeest, reedbuck, red lechwe and impala.

The boat trips from Kwara continue to be rewarding. Hippos and large basking crocodiles are often seen, lucky guests may also have the chance to spot the elusive sitatunga antelope. On one cruise this month no less than five of these rare animals were seen at different points of the trip. The heronry is very busy at this time of year; before the winter season the chicks will be independent. Regular sightings included Pink-backed Pelicans, Black-crowned Night Heron, Rufous-bellied Heron, egrets and weavers. Fish Eagles are often hanging around watching for the opportunity to steal a nestling from the island.

Lagoon Camp

We are happy to report that the two sub-adult cheetah brothers who left their mother earlier this year are going from strength to strength and appear to be very successful hunters. During March, we were able to follow them on hunts and witnessed them bringing down young zebras and impalas.

The Wapoka Pride of 14 lions were spotted regularly – this large pride comprising of 6 adults and 8 bouncy sub-adults are always entertaining to watch and photograph. The two dominant males in the area known as ‘Big Gun’ and ‘Sebastian’ were also seen regularly eating, sleeping or sniffing after the females. Towards the end of the month the Northern Pride were also seen in the area, with one exceptional sighting as the lions clambered up onto a dead tree, posing in perfect light. A lone lioness was successfully tracked. She appeared to be in hunting mode, so we stayed with her and in the end, she was successful in killing a warthog after an exciting chase.

The general game in the Kwando area was excellent with herds of giraffe, eland, impala, tsessebe, kudu and, wildebeest all being seen regularly. It is always interesting to revisit the same groups and observe how the behaviour of the animals can change from day to day. One overcast morning a large mixed group of zebra and tssessebe was found skittishly racing up and down Baruti Road for no apparent reason. The following day they were in the same area, lying down very relaxed in the sun. Each sighting produces a unique experience and different photographic opportunity. A successful game walk also located the herd of around 80 eland on foot, as well as a wealth of bird species.

Large breeding herds of elephants were seen in the woodland areas, feeding on different plant materials. Hippos were seen in outlying pans as well as in the river area.

Troops of baboons were often seen foraging and interacting with each other. Watching mothers nursing babies, youngsters romping or adults engaging in grooming rituals is always interesting.
Leopard were seen a few times. A persistent morning tracking paid off when a female was found relaxed and in hunting mode. Our guests were able to spend good time with her which they really appreciated.

Wild dogs and hyena were not seen as often as usual in the area for much of March, however towards the end of the month they seemed to return to some of their usual favourite spots, so hopefully we will be seeing more of them again during April.

Some notable sightings of smaller mammals sighted during night drive included honey badger and African wild cat.

The boat cruise from Lagoon camp always gives good opportunities to get close up sightings of hippos and crocodiles, as well as water birds such as cormorants, darters, herons, egrets, ibis and other waders. The aptly-named Goliath Heron, standing up to 5 feet (1 metre 50) tall was a popular favourite.  Lechwes, kudus and waterbucks were often seen in the marshes during March. Beautiful white water lillies are out in full bloom and it is a treat to try and photograph African Jacanas amongst the flowers, stalking across the lily pads with their specially adapted long toes.

Lebala Camp

The guides were excited to find a set of small new prints when tracking the Wapoka Pride this month and sure enough, when they located the lions, there was a new cub of about 8 weeks old playing with a sub-adult. It is always a joy to see new life in our concessions. The mother and cub have also been seen apart from the pride, so it seems that she is managing her baby’s integration into family life slowly.

The large Northern Pride of lions were sighted regularly. On one memorable afternoon the adult lions lay resting whilst the 10 sub-adults played endlessly, climbing up fallen logs and pouncing on each other, to the great entertainment of the guests. Two male lions were also seen regularly, often full-bellied and sleepy, but were also seen in hunting mode stalking a big herd of wildebeest at the airstrip.

General game in the Kwando area continued to be very good and the impressive herd of over 80 eland was still in the area. Both sexes of the eland have horns, and we can already see that the twenty or so calves born this year are starting to grow theirs. Other species regularly seen included sable antelope, zebra, wildebeest, impala and warthog.

One rather notable sighting was when we found a hyena being chased by a large wildebeest bull on the airstrip – it is always rather amusing to witness the hunter turning tail and becoming the hunted.

The resident pack of wild dogs, consisting of 19 adults and 9 young were found eating a young male impala. The guides were also intrigued to follow a smaller group of two male and two female wild dogs who appeared in the area near Twin Pools. Time will tell if this a transient aciclovir buy over counter group or whether they will attempt to stay in the area and form a territory of their own.

A dead hippo was relished by the scavenging ‘clean-up crew’. Up to eight hyena at a time were seen feeding on this feast, as well as many vultures. The most common vulture in the Kwando area is the White-backed Vulture, however Lappet-faced, Hooded and White-headed Vultures can also be seen in the region.

Leopards were seen a few times, including a female with two sub-adult cubs. One day they were all found up a tree feeding on an impala kill, the following day the carcass had dropped to the ground where the two youngsters were enjoying finishing it off whilst their absent mother was no doubt hunting for their next meal. Towards the end of the month some guests were able to enjoy a wonderful photo opportunity of a leopard perched on top of a termite mound, staring intently at a herd of antelope.

Other smaller animals enjoyed by guests during the month were dwarf mongoose, African wild cats, honey badgers and occasionally a python basking in the sun.

The bird life in the Kwando area continued to be rewarding and some migrants who appeared included White Storks and White Storks, European Bee-eaters. One night drive gave a wonderful sighting of a Verreaux’s Eagle Owl.

Nxai Pan Camp

Prize for sighting of the month across all the Kwando camps surely had to go to the surprise arrival of two hippos at the Nxai Pan watering hole. To find these highly water-dependant animals in a (normally) semi-arid desert environment is testament to the incredible rains throughout Botswana that the early part of 2017 will be remembered for. Bearing in mind that Nxai Pan is hundreds of kilometres from the nearest permanent river, these two animals must have had quite a journey, stopping at rain-filled pans and natural watering holes along the way. Many of our Kalahari-born staff had never seen a hippo before, so the arrival of these large, strange creatures caused great excitement. The bushman tracker was initially perplexed when he initially spotted the tracks, having never seen such a creature in the area before. Even when the guide identified the footprints there was a good deal of disbelief at the thought of desert-dwelling hippos. The animals stayed around for a couple of days before they headed off to their next destination. Now that the weather is drying up again we hope that they reach the safety of a permanent river soon.

The camp watering hole was a popular spot for a wide range of species during March. A bachelor herd of six buffalo bulls were regularly seen, and two big breeding herds of buffalo used the watering hole before continuing on to the southern area of the pan. Elephant bulls showed up at brunch-time each day to drink and bathe. A large breeding herd of elephants also returned to the area, coming for water before disappearing into the bush.  In the afternoons, zebra came to drink in massive numbers, as well as wildebeest, springbok and many giraffes.

With so many animals congregating in the region it is no surprise that predators were seen regularly. The resident lion pride of seven sisters and two dominant males were seen almost every day last month. The two males were mating with one of the lionesses for a week. Two separate lionesses showed off their 3 cubs during March, each family having two females and a male cub.  These six cubs are all about 8 weeks old and were hidden in safety during their most vulnerable stage. A group of lucky guests were able to witness one of these lionesses moving her cubs to a new den site, carrying one in her mouth with the other two following behind. It appears that some of the other females of the pride are also pregnant, so we hope to have a very sizable pride at Nxai Pan soon.

This baby boom is not restricted to the lions. A female cheetah was seen with brand new cubs. Towards the end of the month cheetah were seen on every single drive. The regularly- seen mother cheetah with her two sub-adult cubs were making the most of the congregations of springbok in the middle of the pan and were in excellent condition. There was also a single male cheetah in the area who appeared to be doing well.

Bird watching was at its best during March, with many sightings of eagles, hawks and kestrels. There were lots of Kori Bustard in the area and ostriches with chicks in the Pan.  Summer migrants included both Blue-cheeked and Southern Carmine Bee-eaters. Due to the abundant rain, waterbirds such as Abdim’s, Yellow-billed and Saddle-billed Storks were unusually in the area. A Spotted Eagle Owl was seen many times returning from evening game drive.

Guests making the day trip to Baines Baobabs were rewarded with spectacular view of the pans which were filled with water. The birdlife was incredible and oryx were resident in large numbers.

As always, our guides were keen to show guests a wide range of wildlife species and other notable sightings during March included honey badgers, black-backed jackals and bat-eared foxes. Basking snakes included black mambas and a rock python. A small spotted genet was sometimes encountered in the evening on the walkway when taking guests to their rooms.

Tau Pan Camp

The impressive Tau Pan pride were seen almost daily during March. They were mainly found towards the Pan area where there was the highest concentration of game and were often seen stalking oryx.

Seven lions, two lionesses and five males were seen finishing off an oryx carcass, apparently killed the previous night. They were surrounded by group of 13 jackals who were impatiently waiting for their turn, working together to try and make bold snatches at the kill whenever the opportunity arose. The lions became extremely irritated, chasing the jackals away repeatedly. Our guests were able to witness this spectacle for over 45 minutes, until eventually the lions moved off leaving just the skull and spine for the jackals and some waiting vultures to tussle over.

On another occasion, a guide called his guests through to the main area early as the pride had killed an oryx and were feeding right in front of camp.  One evening, a large male lion was seen chasing a single oryx for over a kilometre all the way from the open plain into an area of thick vegetation.

As often seems to be the case with this dynamic pride, the number of individuals ranged considerably, but usually they were seen in groups of a range between four and eight. One of our guides’ interest was aroused when he found a lioness on her own, having already seen the rest of the pride together earlier in the drive. He followed this single female and sure enough his intuitive reading of her behaviour was correct; his guests were lucky enough to see her tenderly reunite with her tiny cub of just one month old and pick the cub up in her mouth.

Leopards were seen a few times, including one on a springbok kill at San Pan, and another posing beautifully up a tree. Cheetah were not seen often during the early part of the month, but were being picked up much more regularly during the last two weeks, including a female with two cubs.

In an interesting drive on the return from San Pan 2 jackals killing an adult springbok. The antelope appeared to be nursing a previous wound and thus could not run away.

A rather skittish Brown Hyena was spotted; though highly mobile and shy it was wonderful to see this threatened species. There were also some fabulous sightings of the smaller predators during March including a very relaxed Cape Fox close to the road. This is a beautiful silver-grey fox with a yellow belly and a black tip to its tail.

A caracal was also seen nonchalantly walking along one of the roads. These medium-sized cats with beautiful tufted ears are always a treat to see.

Oryx and springbok were in plentiful numbers in the Pan area and appeared to be enjoying the new shoots of the grasses. A small group of 3-4 red hartebeest was also seen as part of this mixed herd.  Springboks congregated in large number and were often seen running spontaneously and ‘pronking’. Giraffe were found in the Tau Pan browsing on Acacia trees and in large numbers at San Pan on top of the sand ridge.

There was still lots of birdlife in the pan during March, many water species such as Saddle-billed Storks were attracted to the large puddles of water which remained after the rains. Southern Pale Chanting Goshawks were numerous in the area. These elegant grey raptors have a varied diet of rodents, lizards and insects; this month one individual was seen feeding on a juvenile African Rock Python. Other notable birds of prey seen during March were Tawny Eagles, Bateleur eagles, Blac-shouldered Kites, Amur Falcons and Lanner Falcons.

Article courtesy of Kwando Wildlife

We have been collecting together lots of photographs that have been provided either by some of our clients on safari or by ourselves on our familiarisation trips.

For example Martin Taylor and family did a self-drive holiday in the Western Cape on a trip to South Africa, staying in Knysna, buy aciclovir uk Hermanus, Franschhoek and Cape Town. They then flew to Timbavati Reserve (Kruger area) and stayed at Hamiltons and Chitwa Chitwa Camps.

Links to our photo galleries will appear on the destination pages to which they apply but all the galleries currently available can also be seen here:

All Photo Galleries

Take a look at the sightings report for July 2016 below and we think you will agree Botswana is worth every penny.

Kwara Private Concession – Okavango Delta

Boat cruises are a lovely relaxing activity – perhaps getting to see a hippo, maybe a crocodile, and if lucky elephants coming to drink or cross. But their main focus is to see the beauty of the waters, birdlife and aquatic plants – to experience another side of being on safari. The Okavango Delta being what it is, always has a surprise up its sleeve… a morning boat ride along the channels into the Moremi Game Reserve came across three large male lions contemplating a swim in the chilly winter waters, standing on one side of the channel. They seemed intent on getting to the other side, but a lot of thought was being put into this. Eventually, two stopped ‘pussy-footing’ around and edged into the deep water, swimming to the other side. The third one, however, had had enough, and backed off the way he had come, preferring the safety of dry land.

A male leopard was found along River Road, hunting, but had no success whilst we were watching.  Another day, and another male leopard hunting. In spite of his stealthy effort at stalking a group of impala, they caught sight of him before he could make his move and he left empty-handed. A female leopard also struggled to make a kill along Boundary road, just missing a reedbuck.  Meanwhile, the female leopard that has a cub is doing well in the area, and the cub is growing bigger every day as a result of mum’s successful hunts. 

We were also lucky enough to see two male leopards meet each other – not something that is seen very often. It’s likely that the scent of a female leopard nearby caused the males to ignore any territorial rules and duel it out for the right to mate. A very impressive sight!

In case there are not enough lions in the Kwara area, an unidentified sub-adult male arrived into the area near where Mma Leithlo’s pride are resident.  Young males have to roam until they can establish their own territories, and form coalitions, but it’s a very dangerous time for a single lion, as any other male will automatically see them as a threat. Being sub-adult, he is not an experienced fighter, nor has the weight or muscle to defend himself against a fully grown male.  Not far away, two of large males from the Zulu boys were busy hunting warthog, unaware of the new presence in their territory for now…

The mother cheetah and her cubs spent five days at the beginning of the month along the Kwara floodplains, but did not seem to be having any luck in their hunts. Finally, on the sixth day, persistence paid off, and it was definitely worthwhile following them: they spent a lot of time trying to get close to a herd of impalas without being noticed, and sure enough, closing that distance paid off as when they sprang into action, they managed to catch one and kill it just in front of the vehicle!
The very small pack of wild dogs – just  three adults – were found denning in the Tsum Tsum area of the concession. We did not have any luck seeing the pups, and it took us some time to relocate the den when they moved it  – about 100m from the original den site.

Other interesting sightings this month were a big herd of buffalo (not so common in the Kwara area in such large numbers), honey badgers strolling around, and a very active hyena den.  We had lots of elephant activity – in and out of camp – and large congregations of giraffes, as well as all the normal general game we see – kudu, warthog, zebra, wildebeest, tssessebe and so on.

Kwando North Private Concession – Linyanti Reserve

Driving from the airstrip one morning we found a dead impala tucked under a bush, next to the road. Whose was it?  Returning a few hours later, we found a female leopard feeding on it. She didn’t get to feed on it for much longer however, as hyenas arrived and chased her off the meal.

On the first day of the month we were also lucky enough to see the first sighting of the tiny wild dog puppies at their den site. The 14 adults were playing around the den when five little puppies came out of the den and joined in! By the end of the week, more puppies had emerged from the den – making a total of 10 in the litter. Whilst they are so small, one or two of the adults remain with the pups at all times, whilst the rest of the dogs go out and hunt. After a successful hunt, they return to the den, and regurgitate food for both the puppies and any adults that have remained behind.

Arriving at Half Way Pan on the morning of the same day, we spotted a large male lion looking fairly majestic, sitting under a tree. On approaching, we realized that the male had been assigned a task perhaps not normally associated with the “King of the Jungle” – babysitting. He had been left alone to supervise eight cubs! The mothers were either ‘out’ hunting, or perhaps taking a chance of a bit of peace and quiet…  A few days later and the same pride were seen again in the same area. The lionesses had blood on their faces when they appeared, and soon led their cubs away to a warthog they had killed earlier.

Another day, and another wild dog hunt. This time, guests didn’t even have to leave the comfort of their fireside chairs to witness it. Early one morning, 13 wild dogs came chasing a kudu at full sprint through the camp, only stopping when they got to the fireplace and saw a rather startled group of people sitting around having coffee and porridge for breakfast. A quick detour by the dogs, and another hunt began finally catching a male kudu close to the airstrip (and followed by a rather rushed group of guests having given up on breakfast and dashed out to the cars.

You don’t always find exactly what you are looking for when tracking animals in the bush – a fair amount of time was spent tracking a leopard, only to come across two male cheetahs off in the distance. We were able to sit and watch the hungry-looking animals for some time, whilst they stalked their prey, eventually chasing and catching a female kudu. We left the leopard hunt for another day!

Later in the month, we were again following the dogs hunting – they had had several order acyclovir online uk warthogs over the last few days, and even attempted to chase sable herds to harass the youngsters. They were moving from one termite mound to the next as we followed them, apparently searching for more warthogs, when all of a sudden they gave chase and disappeared through the bush. We could hear them barking – not something wild dogs actually do very often. On re-locating them, we found them all around the base of a tree looking up – at a very unhappy male leopard that had obviously just scrambled up there in the nick of time!

Tables were turned slightly, when the pack of dogs were found feeding on a kudu. Whilst we were watching a big male lion appeared, chased the dogs off, and began feeding. The dogs hung around for some time, trying to see if they could risk an attempt at getting the kill back, before giving up and moving off after an hour. They returned to the den site and regurgitated what they had managed to eat for the puppies.

Kwando South Private Concession – Linyanti Reserve

Lots of activity at the hyena den, with six cubs of varying ages being looked after there. Four adults are seen around the den, trying to keep the cubs somewhat in line. Not the easiest thing to do when they are so boisterous! You can imagine, when the adults aren’t there, things get even more interesting… naturally curious, any vehicle visiting becomes a possible target for an over-eager hyena cub, wondering what a mud-flap is like to chew on.

18 lions is a lot of lions to feed (even if eleven of them are not fully grown) so it’s not surprising that the lion pride tries to kill as big a game as possible. This month, they were seen feeding on several buffalos and a zebra.  Apart from the big pride, we also had lovely sightings of a mother suckling her young cubs, and an attempted hunt by three lionesses of a kudu, that was unsuccessful, due to the rather over-excited and  eager 5 month old cub that tagged along for the ride and didn’t stay put when told to!

And if you think six youngsters might be a handful, try 15 of them. The Southern Pack of wild dogs – thirteen adults – is busy raising a litter of 15 little puppies at their den site. They all seem in good condition and healthy. With so many mouths to feed, the adults have to be sure that they are hunting often enough to ensure everyone gets a fair share.  When they do have successful hunts, they try harder than ever not to lose the kill to another predator. This was the case when we witnessed them kill an impala and three hyenas immediately approached to try and take the kill off them. The dogs and hyenas spent some time tussling with each other, before the dogs had to retreat – too big a risk of injury when having to fight the much heavier and bulkier hyena.

We were lucky enough to see a female leopard with her two young cubs a few times this month. This is the small family that set up shop in and around the camp last month – this month, they were found a little further away. We also followed them when they were walking along the road, and were very relaxed with us following them. After a while, they moved off into the thicker surrounding bush, and we left them to their evening.

General game this month was wonderful, with lots of big herds of elephants everywhere – including in the camp, making it tricky to get to your room at night –  as well as the bulls interspersed amongst them. Zebra, impala, wildebeest, reedbuck, kudu and lots of warthogs. Interesting and unusual sightings this month included porcupine and serval cat.

Nxai Pan –Makgadikgadi Pans

Lots of sightings of bat eared foxes about at the moment – although common throughout the year, they are very noticeable at the moment, as they are trying to keep warm in the colder temperatures. To do this, they hunker close to termite mounds, which keep their residual warmth even through the coldest of the nights.

Although the zebra migration has long since moved on, we are still left with our resident zebras. These are seen mingling in the middle of the pan with the springbok, and even a few ostrich as part of the crowd.  Definitely safety in numbers with a good collection of eyes to keep watch on whatever predator may try an attack from the wide open surrounds.

Chaos abounds in the large Nxai Pan lion pride – the two adult males decided it was time for the eight sub-adult males to leave –before they get too big and become a threat to the dominance of the adult males. With the youngsters forced out, the pride fractured for the time being, and the three lionesses and two female sub-adults also moved off from the two males. The males are likely to try to rejoin the lionesses at a later stage, seeking them out for mating, but also for the benefit of being able to get a few free meals off them.

A relaxed female cheetah was found resting in the shade of a tree. She appeared to be lactating, but there was no sign of her cubs. Likely they are still very small, and hidden away for safety, with her visiting to suckle them between hunts.

Lots of bull elephants, and even breeding herds, coming to the camp water hole to drink. Some of the males are still making forays into camp, even though there is sufficient water for them to drink at the waterhole. Part of this is pressure from too many males being at the waterhole at once, and the eternal search for one’s own personal water fountain. Luckily, breakages have been at a minimum this month – partly due to teams of staff sitting up all night to deter overly enthusiastic individuals – as well as regular cleaning out of the waterhole to make it even more enticing!

Elephants are not the only nightly visitor to the camp – three buffalo bulls are regularly seen coming into the camp at night – seemingly believing that the camp grounds offer a safe haven to rest up from the dangers of the bush.  Since lions have also been seen in the camp, this possibly needs a re-think.

Unusual sightings this month include honey badgers, and an aardwolf that appears to have denned near to the main water hole. Add to that some very strange visitors – a herd of eland passing by in front of camp!

See our Botswana in the Secret Season safari for an example of a safari visiting these concessions.

If you’re eager to see a range of African animals amongst a wilderness that has not been damaged by human intervention, a safari trip to Botswana is definitely for you.  Hippos, elephants and crocodiles are all in abundance in this country, while there’s also a chance of spotting all of the big cats. You could also find that your money goes surprisingly far during a lengthy stay in Botswana. Below, we go into further detail about various attractions of this southern African country and what you can do and see there.

Chobe Game Reserve

Safari experiences don’t get much more organic than those you can enjoy at Chobe Game Reserve. This National Park has little permanent development, which means that you can enjoy the area much like locals of several centuries ago would have done. The rich riverine forest of the Chobe River front is the setting for one of southern Africa’s best short safaris. Chobe Game Reserve is also home to Africa’s highest concentration of elephants.

Tsodilo Hills

There’s obviously a long history of artistic activity in Botswana; for evidence of that, you just have to head to Tsodilo hills, which provide something of an outdoor art gallery. There are over 4,000 ancient San Bushmen rock paintings to admire here – and some of this area’s rock art is known to be over 20,000 years old. It’s a strong sign of the area’s appeal to modern tourists that it is, today, an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Mokolodi Game Reserve

This reserve is great for a day trip, order acyclovir online being only a short drive away from Gaborone, the country’s capital. Mokolodi Game Reserve is dedicated to educating about conservation – and, as a result, is often visited by excited children on school field trips. You could find yourself just as excited as them when you see the white rhinos here; thanks largely to a successful breeding program, the white rhino has been kept from extinction in this country.

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Tours – Gabarone

Gaborone, Botswana’s capital, has become better known since it was chosen as a major setting in Alexander McCall-Smith’s popular books in the detective series The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. It’s now possible to join a tour where you can see not only Precious Ramotswe’s home town, but also locations used for shooting the HBO TV series adapted from the books. You can choose either a half-day or two-day tour; both take in Gabarone and its surroundings, but the longer tour also includes Mokolodi and Machudi further afield.

Khama Rhino Sanctuary

Originally set up in 1992, the Khama Rhino Sanctuary is, unsurprisingly, a good place to see rhinos. However, you can embark on game drives and walks to see many other animals, while the pleasant scenery includes a major, grass-covered depression dotted with natural water holes. The sanctuary is particularly commonly visited by school children from nearby settlements and Francistown, which is considered Botswana’s second city. You can enjoy all of this with one of our Botswana safari packages!

At Safari Club, we regularly send consultants to Africa to seek even further beautiful rural areas for our customers to check out. It’s a seemingly never-ending job, as Africa is probably the best continent in which to uncover ever-greater numbers of visually awe-inspiring animals. Whether you go north, south, east or west, there is natural beauty in abundance. However, we know that you have limited time and money to spend exploring Africa, so we’ve decided to single out 5 of the continent’s most visually pleasing national parks.

Amboseli National Park, Kenya

Though Africa’s highest mountain, Mt Kilimanjaro, is technically just within Tanzania, you can enjoy the most awesome views of its peak from Amboseli National Park, which is in Kenya. Once you’ve took plenty of pictures of that glorious mountain, you might as well stay in the park to check out the flat topped acacia trees and big herds of elephants, for which Amboseli is especially renowned. Click through to learn more about what you can see when you use our safari package for Amboseli National Park.

Kruger National Park, South Africa

South Africa certainly has no shortage of exciting national parks, and among the best of those is Kruger National Park. It’s got a broader range of wildlife than any other of the country’s national parks; you can check out, to reel off just a few examples, crocodiles, cheetahs, hippos, giraffes and gorillas. You can also see the so-called Big Five!

Chobe Game Reserve, Botswana

If one of your biggest reasons to consider a safari is the opportunity of seeing a herd of elephants, you should buy acyclovir online australia make an especially large priority of booking a trip to this national park. It’s located in Botswana’s Okavango Delta and home to over 120,000 elephants. Unsurprisingly given this number, it’d be pretty difficult for you to avoid seeing an elephant here! Overall, the park has four distinct ecosystems, Savuti Marsh being the most popular.

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

If you like cats, a great place to see big cats, including Cheetah, is Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. They are certainly bigger than the cute little bundles of fluff you probably have back home – and, when you turn to our company to book a trip to this park, you can also benefit from world class accommodation that, depending on your preferences, can be suited to a romantic getaway or family holiday. The name “Serengeti” actually translates into “endless plains”, and you should soon see why when you go on safari here.

South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

Returning to the earlier mentioned subject of big cats, it’s easy for you to catch sight of large lion prides at Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park. These prides can have up to 30 lions, but they are far from the only mane – ha! – attraction. There’s also, for example, lots of hippos, who are among the over 40 animal species that call this wonderful place home. There are also as many as 400 wild bird species. Now, we’ll leave you to have fun sightseeing!