Botswana Wildlife and Birding safari

The best game viewing and birding in all of Southern Africa

Our Botswana Wildlife and Birding safari takes you to the Okavango Delta and greater Chobe river area of northern Botswana. Join us for a 9-day luxury safari with an expert local guide as we look to find the birding specials of this unique area while we enjoy the fantastic wildlife.

We will divide our time between three luxurious lodges and enjoy the stunning aerial views as we fly between the lodges. We will start off with three nights at Camp Moremi situated in the heart of the Okavango Delta at the northern end of the famous Moremi Game Reserve. From here we venture north and spend three nights at Chobe Savanna Lodge, situated on the Namibian side of the Chobe river; perfect for exploring the famous river and Impalila Island. Our last two nights will be at the luxurious 5 star Chobe Game Lodge, the only lodge situated within Chobe National Park. We will enjoy the birding and game viewing on a combination of open vehicle game drives, boat cruises and guided walks.

Some of the birds we will be looking for include Pel’s Fishing Owl, White-backed Night Heron, African Finfoot, Western Banded Snake Eagle, Rock Pratincole, Hartlaub’s Babbler, Luapula and Chirping Cisticola, Schalow’s Turaco, Brown Firefinch, Coppery-tailed and White-browed Coucals, African Skimmer, Swamp Boubou, Copper Sunbird, Holub’s Golden and Southern Brown-throated Weaver, Greater Swamp Warbler, Slaty Egret and African Pygmy Goose.

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Starts in Maun

Ends in Kasane

Duration: 9 Days

Accommodation: Luxury

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Day to Day Itinerary

DAY 1:
Off to the Delta – Depending on your arrival time in Maun, we will board a small aircraft and leave this busy town behind as we make our way into the world-famous Okavango Delta. As our first lodge is situated right in the heart of the Delta we will have spectacular aerial views of this wetland paradise.

After settling in we will have a bit of time for general birding around the lodge before departing on an afternoon drive. The thick riverine bush surrounding the lodge is home to Western Banded Snake Eagle, African Hobby, African and Eurasian Golden Oriole, Hartlaub’s and Arrow-marked Babbler, Southern Yellow White-eye, Terrestrial Brownbul, African Paradise Flycatcher, Swamp Boubou, Yellow-bellied Greenbul, African Emerald, Levaillant’s, Black, Klaas’s and Jacobin Cuckoo as well as the beautiful and ever present White-browed Robin-Chat. In the heart of Moremi Game Reserve we will not only be focused on the prolific bird life but on the wildlife around us. Our days here will include sightings of watching a Leopard stretched out lazily in the branches of a Mopane tree, herds of Elephant grazing under a canopy of green or a pride of Lions camouflaged in the long grass. Moremi Game Reserve’s incredible wetlands support a vast number of antelope, including Impala, Kudu and Waterbuck. 

After the game drive we will return to our lodge early evening and enjoy a lovely dinner prepared to perfection.

DAY 2:
Wetland Paradise – Today will be dedicated to exploring the Okavango Delta both on land and water. We will start off with a morning boat cruise and as we silently float along the many small channels that make up the delta we expect to find Luapula and Chirping Cisticola, Black Coucal, Greater and Lesser Swamp, Great Reed and African Reed Warbler. White-fronted, Southern Carmine, Blue-cheeked and Little Bee-eaters are plentiful while iconic African Fish Eagles are common.

The main focus of the boat cruise will be to find Pel’s Fishing Owl at its daytime roost. A sighting of this sought after bird is always a highlight on any birding trip to northern Botswana.

While on the boat trip we will hope to see an elephant herd in search of a cool splash. Not only does this region have large populations of Elephants, Lion herds, Leopards, and Hippos, but it also boasts an abundance of antelope, such as Impala, Kudu, and Waterbuck.

After returning to our lodge for lunch and some time to relax, we will depart in the afternoon for another exciting game drive. We will once again be looking for specials like Wattled Crane, Slaty Egret, White-browed, Senegal and Coppery-tailed Coucals, Southern Ground Hornbill and Bradfield’s Hornbill. Raptors are present in good numbers and sightings of Ovambo and Little Sparrowhawk, African Goshawk, African Harrier-Hawk, Shikra and Gabar Goshawk are regular.

In the early evening we will return to our lodge for yet another splendid dinner and a great nights rest.

DAY 3:
Moremi Game Reserve – We will start the day with an early morning game drive in the extensive Mopane woodlands of Moremi looking for specials like Arnot’s Chat, Tree Pipit, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, Retz’s and White-crested Helmetshrike, Bearded, Cardinal, Golden-tailed and Bennett’s Woodpecker, Meyer’s Parrot, Three-banded Courser and Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle.

Moremi is also a great place to look for rare antelope species like Sable and Roan Antelope, Topi (lunatus subspecies, also called Tsessebe by some), Common Eland and if we are lucky African Wild Dog. The Mopane woodland also holds big herds of African Buffalo and African Elephant.

By late morning we will slowly make our way back to the lodge, birding and game viewing along the way.

We will enjoy lunch and then a final boat cruise in the Moremi Delta. Besides the birds mentioned yesterday we will also visit a big heronry known to produce great sightings of African Spoonbill, Yellow-billed Stork, Great and Yellow-billed Egret, Hamerkop, African Darter and Saddle-billed Stork. Giant, Pied, Malachite and Half-collared Kingfishers patrol the channels.

We will keep an eye open for animals like African Elephant, African Buffalo, Lion, Chacma Baboon, Greater Kudu, Impala and Waterbuck that make their way down to the water to drink. 

Our last dinner at Moremi under the stars will be enjoyed, tomorrow we are off to Chobe National Park.

DAY 4:
Onwards to Chobe National Park – We will use the first couple of hours of daylight birding around the lodge before enjoying breakfast and departing for Kasane Airport to board a light aircraft. The drive from the airstrip to immigration often produces sightings of Northern Grey-headed Sparrow, Bradfield’s Hornbill and Southern Ground Hornbill. After quickly finishing the paperwork, we will depart for our lodge on the Namibian side of the Chobe river.

We will enjoy lunch at our lodge overlooking the Chobe River and enjoy the brilliant birding around the lodge with specials like Holub’s Golden Weaver, Brown Firefinch, Swamp and Tropical Boubou, Yellow-bellied Greenbul, Terrestrial Brownbul, and Marico, Copper and Purple-banded Sunbirds.

We then set off on an afternoon boat cruise in Chobe National Park. Exploring Chobe by boat is famous for producing birding specials like Long-toed and Wattled Lapwing, Rufous-bellied and Goliath Heron, and Slaty Egret. Water birds are very common and we expect to see good numbers of Black Heron, African Openbill, Yellow-billed, Saddle-billed and Marabou Stork, Spur-winged Goose, African Spoonbill, Glossy and African Sacred Ibis. Common Greenshank, Marsh, Wood, Common and if we are lucky Green Sandpipers patrol the bank.

Boat cruises in Chobe regularly produce brilliant sightings of African Elephants coming to the river to drink and swimming across to the islands, Hippopotamus in big numbers, big African Buffalo herds, Southern Lechwe, Waterbuck and the predators like Lion and African Wild Dog.

Before dinner we will search the floodplains and lodge garden for Swamp and Fiery-necked Nightjars, African Wood Owl, African Barred and Pearl-spotted Owlets and Spotted Eagle-Owl.

Dinner will be served under the stars and a good nights rest while listening to the African Bush!

DAY 5:
Impalila Island – With an early start and a quick stop to look for Black Coucal we will make our way to one of Southern Africa’s birding hotspots, Impalila Island. This small island in Namibia is located where the country meets Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia. More than 450 bird species have been recorded on this birding paradise. After exploring the channels around the island by boat looking for White-backed Night Heron, Pel’s Fishing Owl and African Finfoot we will depart for a birding walk on the island. The thick riverine bush is known for producing sightings of Schalow’s Turaco, Crowned and Trumpeter Hornbills, White-backed Night Heron, Retz’s and White-crested Helmetshrikes, Green-capped and Burnt-necked Eremomela, Black, African and Red-chested Cuckoos, African Golden Oriole, Red-headed Weaver, Bennett’s and Bearded Woodpecker, Southern Yellow White-eye and Bearded Scrub Robin.  

As we slowly make our way back to the lodge we will pass Sedudu Island which hosts good numbers of White-faced Whistling Duck, Glossy Ibis, African Darter, Yellow-billed Stork, African Sacred Ibis, Water Thick-knee and Saddle-billed Stork. This island is also a favourite hangout for African Buffalo, Hippopotamus, Waterbuck, Southern Lechwe, Nile Crocodile and African Elephant.

After lunch and relaxing for a few hours we will finish the day with a boat cruise on the Chobe River. Besides the birds mentioned yesterday we will look for huge flocks of Collared and if we are lucky Black-winged Pratincoles, Southern Carmine and White-fronted Bee-eater colonies, Water Thick-knee, African Marsh Harrier, Pink-backed and Great White Pelican. The beautiful African Skimmers and African Fish Eagles are always present in good numbers.

Between the birding we will enjoy great game viewing and seeing a baby elephant holding onto its mother’s tail while crossing the river is an unforgettable sight. 

Having enjoyed an afternoon of bird and game viewing from the boat we can slow the pace down to watch as the day draws to an end and the wildlife you have been watching prepares for the night ahead. The sounds of birds, insects and calls of animals in abundance fuels the atmosphere, helped along by a sundowner drink.

We will return to our lodge for another spectacular dinner.

DAY 6:
Kasai Channel and Kasane Rapids – With another early start we will make our way to the famous Kasai channel where we will spend the morning looking for Slaty Egret, Lesser Moorhen, Lesser Jacana, Allen’s Gallinule, Rufous-bellied Heron, Chirping and Luapula Cisticola, African Pygmy Goose, Greater and Lesser Swamp Warbler, African and Great Reed Warbler, Greater Painted Snipe and Southern Brown-throated Weaver while Sand, Brown-throated and Banded Martins, Wire-tailed and Grey-rumped Swallows and African Marsh Harriers patrol the reeds. The wildlife will be constant so keep your eyes open to not miss a spectacular sighting.

By mid-morning we will slowly cruise back to the lodge birding along the way to enjoy lunch and some time to relax.

In the early afternoon we will be in the boat again as we make our way the Kasane Rapids which offers brilliant birding. The overhanging vegetation is favoured by African Finfoot, Half-collared, Malachite, Pied and Giant Kingfishers. The exposed rocks are the best place to look for Rock Pratincole and Western Yellow Wagtails are present every summer. The trees in the rapids are the nesting spot for a variety of herons and storks that include Yellow-billed Stork, African Openbill, African Spoonbill, Great Egret and Yellow-billed Egret, Grey and Black-headed Heron, African Darter, Reed and White-breasted Cormorant and Purple Herons.

On the way back to the lodge we will keep an eye out for hunting Bat Hawk and Eurasian Hobby as well as any predators that patrol the river bank. All the while we will be enjoying another sunset in Africa.

Dinner will be served and then we head off for a good nights rest.

DAY 7:
Kasane and Chobe National Park– After an early breakfast we will depart for immigration and make our way back into Botswana. We will spend a few hours birding at well-known spots in and around Kasane for specials like Collared Palm Thrush, Brown Firefinch, Shelley’s, Marico, Scarlet-chested, Purple-banded and Copper Sunbird, Diederik and Klaas’s Cuckoo, African Pygmy Kingfisher and Eastern Nicator. Acacia woodland holds Grey Penduline Tit, Burnt-necked and Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Violet-eared Waxbill, Rattling Cisticola, Southern Black Tit, Arrow-marked Babbler, Long-billed Crombec, Chestnut-vented Warbler, Grey-backed Cameroptera, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Marico and Spotted Flycatcher, Chinspot Batis, Brubru, Orange-breasted Bushshrike and White bellied Sunbird.

We will then have a late morning game drive as we make our way to our lodge for the next two nights which is situated in the middle of Chobe National Park. After settling in and enjoying lunch we will be in open 4×4 vehicles for an afternoon game drive in Chobe National Park which is world famous for spectacular game viewing and a famous birding destination.

We will keep an eye out for Lappet-faced, White-backed, White-headed and Hooded Vultures, Tawny, Lesser Spotted, Martial and Wahlberg’s Eagles, Western-banded, Brown and Black-chested Snake Eagles, Dark Chanting Goshawks, and Broad-billed and Purple Rollers. Yellow-billed and Red-billed Oxpeckers as well as Pearl-breasted, Grey-rumped, Lesser and Greater Striped Swallows are present in good numbers.

Game viewing along the banks of the Chobe River is one of the most incredible wildlife viewing experiences in Africa. Vast numbers of game are drawn to the cool waters of the river from the parched surrounding bush. We will be hoping to see more Lion, Leopard, African Wild Dog and Spotted Hyena.

Dinner will be scrumptious as well as falling asleep to the sounds of the African Bush.

DAY 8:
Chobe Forest Reserve – With an early start we have the advantage of having the park to ourselves since other game drive vehicles will only start making their way into the park at this time. While looking for any nocturnal animals and birds that might still be out and about, we will make our way towards the Teak and Broadleaved woodland of the Kalwezi Valley and Nantanga cutline. We will focus on finding Arnot’s Chat, Broad-tailed and Long-tailed Paradise Whydah, Racket-tailed and Broad-billed Roller, Tree and Wood Pipit, Dusky Lark, Dickinson’s Kestrel, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, Bronze-winged Courser, Orange-winged Pytilia, Green-capped Eremomela, African Cuckoo-Hawk, Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle and Lizard Buzzard.

We will enjoy a slow game drive back to the lodge for lunch looking for Roan and Sable Antelope, Plains Zebra, African Buffalo, Greater Kudu, African Elephant, Giraffe and if we are lucky Leopard. At the lodge we will enjoy lunch and a siesta before our next exciting game drive.

By mid-afternoon we will be back in the open game drive vehicle stopping at bird parties which normally contain Chinspot Batis, African Paradise Flycatcher, Cardinal and Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Violet-backed Starling, Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow, Southern Black Tit, Red-billed Firefinch, Black-crowned and Brown-crowned Tchagra, Green Wood Hoopoe, Common Scimitarbill and Black-headed Oriole. Our main target for this afternoon will be to find Rosy-throated Longclaw around Puku Flats.

By sunset we will again find ourselves on the deck of this beautiful lodge overlooking the Chobe river and enjoying our last meal in the African bush.

DAY 9:
Departure – On our last morning we have a choice between a game drive, boat cruise or birding walk around Chobe Game Lodge. The lodge property itself is home to Schalow’s Turaco, Swamp Boubou, Broad-billed Roller, White-browed and Senegal Coucal, Coqui Francolin, African and Eurasian Golden Oriole as well as African Paradise Flycatcher. Or you could choose to have your last game drive enjoying the sights and smells before heading off home.

From here we will take a final slow game drive making our way out of the park back to Kasane Airport for your onwards flight home.

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