February 2012 – Botswana
see images from previous trips
Botswana is regarded as the prime photographic destination in Africa and for good reason. The game, birds and landscapes are staggeringly rich and spectacular. It also has retained a wilderness atmosphere lost in many of the other prime game viewing areas of the world. We stay at camps which are all in private concessions so we can enjoy night drives, off-road driving, walks and will also have vast wilderness areas to enjoy. The company also offers outstanding guiding. The summer, or emerald season, offers outstanding light, green landscapes, flowers and abundant game. While you do need to search a bit harder for game in the thicker vegetation this is by far my best time for photography.
Add ons….
If you are flying from faraway destinations you may consider an additional couple of nights before or after the trip to fit in with the itinerary.
At the beginning of the trip. The Kalahari is excellent at this time of year and we can arrange a stay in this one of the largest game reserves in the world. The camp is reached from Maun by light aircraft.
At the end of the trip. The Chobe region offers outstanding game viewing. We can arrange a visit to a private and very remote camp where you will be assigned your own private boat – a great option for anyone wanting to photograph from boats or to try their hand at tiger fishing, which is legendary in these parts.
GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES
The Okavango
At 1,6 million hectares the Okavango is the largest inland Delta and one of the great natural wonders of the world. Kwara is on an island and fronts onto a huge floodplain, adjacent to the permanent water of the Delta, and is backed by 1,700 square kilometers of wilderness, bordering the game rich Moremi Reserve. The area encompasses clear Delta waters with reed-lined lagoons and channels, open grasslands, mopane woodlands and palm-fringed islands. The animals found here include, lechwe, sitatunga, reedbuck, bushbuck, hippo, crocodiles, elephant, buffalo, sable, roan, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, impala and tsessebe. Lion, hyaena, wild dog, as well as leopard and cheetah. Kingfishers, pygmy geese, fish eagles, jacanas, darters and the elusive Pels Fishing Owl and many other birds species are found here. The famous Godikwe lagoon, where you can stand eye to eye with thousands of herons, storks and other nesting birds, is also nearby.
Linyanti
The triangle formed by this vast wetland is home to the Mamili National Park in Namibia. Lebala means ‘wide open spaces’ in Setswana and the vast plains with scattered palms and tree islands are backed by wooded savannahs. This special ecosystem is home to a wide variety of Africa’s plains game such as zebra, wildebeest, impala, giraffe and tsessebe and also provides refuge to lechwe, waterbuck and the shy sitatunga.
The Add ons …
Kalahari
Covering 52 800 square kilometers, the Kalahari is one of the largest game reserves in the world. This is one of the best game viewing areas in Botswana at this time of year with flowers aplenty and large clouds towering above the plains. You can expect to see – and photograph – springbok, gemsbok and wildebeest in their thousands and also predators including the Kalahari black-maned lions. There are also many cheetah, leopard, jackals, brown hyenas and antelopes include eland, springbok, steenbok, gemsbok, hartebeest, kudu and duiker, honey badgers, ground squirrels and meerkats. Bird life is aplenty and includes the Kori bustard, black korhaan ostrich as well as double banded and namaqua sandgrouse.. In the evenings they flock to the waterholes in their thousands. Raptors include pale-chanting goshawk, rock kestrel, bateleurs, brown and tawny eagles. Tau was the first camp to be built within the national park. It is a place of breathtaking beauty with wide horizons, fascinating night skies and myriad drought adapted plant and animals.
Chobe
Ghe Chobe area where the Linyanti, Chobe and other rivers and channels form a sprawling wetland which feed into the Zambezi which then flows east for about 80 kilometres before tumbling over Victoria Falls. The papyrus-fringed waterways abound with life and make for great bird watching. It’s also famed tiger fishing country. A short boat ride takes you to the Chobe River. which is a wonderful area for watching elephants and other game from the comfort of your boat.
The southern shore of the Chobe River is the game rich Chobe Game Reserve which is a 10 277 square kilometer tract of woodland and open plains which has one of the largest concentrations of game in Africa including lion, leopard, elephant, kudu, impala and many other species.
Victoria Falls
It’s a short transfer from Chobe to Victoria Falls, which is a great place to end your safari. Victoria Falls is at its most impressive at the end of summer when up to 550 million litres of water a minute rush over the edge. The massive cascade is 100 metres high and 1,7 kilometres wide and is visible for more than 30 kilometres.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is recommended to take out cancellation and curtailment travel insurance to cover yourself should you need to cancel this booking.
MALARIA
Botswana and Namibia are both malarial areas. Please make sure that you consult your doctor in advance and take necessary precautions.
What is included
light aircraft transfers, photographic guiding by David Rogers, workshop notes, accommodation, meals, beverages, game drives, bush walks, boat cruises, fishing, mekoro trips, laundry and medical evacuation with MRI
What is excluded
International flights, travel insurance, tips, Iitems of a personal nature are excluded.
More questions?
A FAQ document that includes what to take, what to expect, other tours is on www.davidrogers. co.za, or contact david@davidrogers.co.za
To book your place fill in this form, or contact David Rogers now on 27 82 7843309, or email david@davidrogers.co.za
