With over 500 species of birds and 160 mammals, northern Botswana is one of the world’s great wildlife destinations. A vast area with few people, the region is home to the iconic Okavango Delta, an enormous wetland where rivers flow in, but never out, providing a literal oasis in the desert. Despite the natural wonders, it is uncrowded, and very frequently, we will be alone with the wildlife. Our trip utilizes comfortable mobile tent camps, which allow us privacy, isolation, and a connection to the place that no hotel can provide. Fully equipped with good beds, great food, and hot showers, this is truly the way to experience Botswana.  Scheduled for the early dry season, the timing of this workshop means fewer tourists, more birds, and the unique opportunity to photograph and view wildlife during the northward migration of animals from the Kalahari to Chobe National Park.

As you clear customs in Johannesburg, a driver will be waiting to whisk you off to our local guesthouse, a short distance from the airport. There, we'll meet for our first dinner, where we can meet our fellow travelers, discuss the upcoming adventure, and answer any last-minute questions you have. The next morning, we'll be off to Botswana!

We'll catch a morning flight from Johannesburg to Kasane, Botswana. Our local safari guides will be waiting as we clear customs, ready to load us up in the vehicles for the short drive down to the Chobe Riverfront. Within an hour of landing, we will be heading out for a boat trip on the Chobe, where we will like encounter our first elephants, crocodiles, impala, lechwe, cape buffalo, and uncountable numbers of birds. After a few hours on the river, we'll head off for the short drive to our first camp!

We've got a full day to explore the Chobe Riverfront. With abundant herds of impala, zebra, elephants, and a least one pride of lions, there is no shortage of photo opportunities. 

Transport days are all-day game drives during our safari. As usual, we'll head out at sunrise for a couple of hours of photography while the light is sweet. Then, we'll turn our wheels south and begin making our way toward the arid Savute area of Chobe National Park. Along the way, we'll have a picnic lunch and make many stops for photos. Unlike the dusty, high-speed roads of East Africa, there is relatively little dust in Botswana. The roads are mostly sandy two-tracks, that are driven at slow speed, so keeping our camera gear safe as we travel, is not difficult. We'll arrive in the Savute area in the late afternoon in time for an evening photo session before heading to camp for dinner and a hot shower!

We have two full days to explore the Savute area. Savute is home to two prides of lions, one of which is one of the largest in Botswana with well over 20 members. We'll likely encounter lions on several occasions during our two days here. The immense Savute Marsh, an open savannah area, is home to open country species like Tsessebe and Ostrich. And it's the occasional hunting ground for the local cheetahs. If we are fortunate, we may spot one!

Today, we head on to our first camp in the famous Okavango Delta. Another all-day game drive, we'll head along the length of the Savute Marsh, stopping for photo opportunities as we find them. Around mid-day, we'll find ourselves overlooking the Mababe Depression. This area is often loaded with wildlife as herds of elephants, Cape buffalo, giraffes, and rarer species like roan antelope are often found. Shortly after our picnic lunch, we'll exit Chobe National Park, and enter the Okavango Delta proper. With abundant elephants, packs of African painted dogs, zebras, leopards and so many other species, we'll keep our eyes open and cameras ready. Just after sunset we'll pull into our camp near the San community of Khwai, where we will spend two nights. 

The Okavango Delta is a land of constant change. The waters flood in and dry out, but not with the rains. The floods actually arrive in the dry season, as the rains from Angola and further north find their way into the river systems of the Okavango. This shifting environment is perfect for wildlife as there is always water around. For a couple of hours, we'll explore this watery environment from a pole-driven Mokoro canoe. It's a great way to experience the Okavango from water level and provides an entirely different photo perspective and opportunity. For the rest of the day we'll venture out in the vehicles exploring the mix of forest, savannah, and lakes that make up the Okavango. 

On Day 9 we'll move deeper into the Delta to the Xini or Xaxanaka areas of the Moremi Preserve. The landscape changes here from dry desert-like uplands to swamps filled with hippos, to open lakes loaded with water birds, and surrounded by grazing wildlife. It's an all-day game drive and one of the best. As usual, we'll arrive at camp around sunset, in time for dinner, and gin and tonics around the fire before heading to bed.  

We have two full days in this diverse part of the Okavango. With prides of lions, leopards, and even a chance for cheetahs, this is predator central and we'll be keeping our eyes peeled for them. We'll head out at sunrise each day to catch the early light, returning to camp in the late morning for lunch and siesta before heading out again mid-afternoon for another photo session until sunset. 

It's the final day on safari as we make our way to the regional hub of Maun. We'll have plenty of time to stop for some last images of the Okavango's abundant wildlife, arriving in Maun in time for our afternoon flight back to Johannesburg. We will arrive in Joburg in time for evening or night flights back home, or stay another night and fly home the following day. 

If you've opted for a final night in Joburg, this is the departure day, or your time to venture off on independent explorations. A shuttle will be available to run you to the airport from the hotel, whenever you wish to go.