Archive for the ‘Botswana Parks’ Category

Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana. To the south-east of the Okavango Delta and surrounded by the Kalahari Desert is Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, one of Botswana’s lesser known tourist attractions. It is technically not a single pan as its name suggests, but many pans interrupted with sandy desert in between, the largest being the Sua (Sowa), Ntwetwe and Nxai Pans. (Baines’ Baobabs and Kudiakam Pan are also part of Makgadikgadi). The Makgadikgadi Pans National Park area covers some 16,058km².

Makgadikgadi National Park is situated roughly halfway between the towns of Maun and Nata, on the Francistown road. Watch out for directions at the turn off to the park’s main entrance, the rather bland signs are approximately 160km east of Maun and 45km west of the small village of Gweta, which has the nearest lodge accommodation, fuel and supplies. From that turning, there is a further 8km of rough gravel road before the park entrance gate.

The name Makgadikgadi implies of a ‘vast open lifeless land’. The Makgadikgadi Pans are located in large areas to the south, east and north-eastern regions of the park. Widely believed to be one of the largest salt flats in the world, it is not always dry in Makgadikgadi. Torrential rains fall from mid-November filling the dry, salty, clay crust with water and grass, which will remain until April or May. The ‘vast open lifeless land’ of Makgadikgadi now becomes a fascinating refuge for birds and larger wildlife.

As the pans are nothing more than salty desert, plant life is restricted to a thin layer of blue-green algae. On the fringes of the Makgadikgadi pan, salt marshes appear and are surrounded further away by grassland and shrubby savannah.

Makgadikgadi Wildlife

Very little wildlife can exist at Makgadikgadi during an inhospitable dry season of strong hot winds and salt water (There is no fresh water during the dry season at Makgadikgadi). Once the season changes, the parched lands of the Makgadikgadi are transformed into huge, flat sheets of water. This attracts a sensational variety of water birds and the Makgadikgadi pan becomes a major attraction for migrating animals. The Makgadikgadi is particularly well known for its wildebeest and zebra migration from the Boteti River across to Ntwetwe Pan.

During the dry winter months, the migrations head westwards to the Boteti River in chase of any remaining fresh water, but many desert-adapted creatures remain resident in the Makgadikgadi. These include aardwolf, African wildcat, caracal, genet, honey badger, spring hare, jackal, kudu, meerkats, yellow mongoose, porcupine, ground squirrel, steenbok and occasionally lion. The shy and elusive brown hyena, suricates, aardvarks and small bustard species also remain in the area throughout the year.

Birding in the Makgadikgadi

Birdlife is excellent at Makgadikgadi particularly in the wet season when the pans are home to a massive number of migrant species. During the dry months, bird species include large numbers of white-backed and lappet-faced vultures, bateleur, tawny and martial eagles, black-breasted snake eagle, lanner and red-footed falcons, gabar and pale chanting goshawks. There are also, red-billed and orange river francolin, ostrich, secretary bird, guinea fowl, black and red-crested korhaan, kori bustard, crowned plover, double-banded courser, spotted dikkop, all species of sandgrouse, giant eagle and pearl-spotted owls, lilac-breasted and purple rollers, large numbers of hornbill, larks, cisticolas and pipits.

In the wet season the Makgadikgadi lights up with sandpipers, ruffs, greenshank, stilts, pratincoles, wattled cranes, storks, egrets, lesser and greater flamingos, spoonbills, terns, teals, ibis, Montagu’s and palid harriers, brown snake, steppe and Wahlberg’s eagles, lesser and rock kestrel, swallows, swifts and martins.

Reptiles such as tortoises, rock monitor, snakes and lizards, including the endemic Makgadikgadi spiny agama, can be found on the grassland fringes of the pan.

Unfortunately this magnificent water spectacle is practically inaccessible by road during the rainy season, but on the construction of the airstrip at Leroo La Tau Lodge, this rarely seen wildlife exhibition will be witnessed by passengers fortunate enough to fly over the area during the wet season.

It is extremely challenging to cross the Makgadikgadi Pans by vehicle.

Visitors who wish to travel by road themselves in the Makgadikgadi must adhere to some simple safety rules:

• All roads within the park are rough and in many cases very sandy.
• It is essential to travel in a 4×4 vehicle.
• Carry sufficient clean drinking water for the duration of your stay.
• Travel in tandem with a second vehicle. If there is a breakdown deep within the park, it may be a long wait before any other vehicle is likely to come along to assist.

Although it is possible to pay entry fees at the gate, the government of Botswana does place limits on visitors entering their national parks and reserves. Booking in advance is advisable and reservations can be made in Maun and Gaborone. Non-citizens and non-residents pay more for the experience, through a policy introduced to ensure that the Parks and Reserves remain accessible to the local people.

Makgadikgadi Accommodation

Jack’s Camp is located on the edge of the largest salt pans on the continent, The Makgadikgadi, deep in the Kalahari Desert. It is rightly described as a ‘classic desert safari camp’ and offers its guests the opportunity to explore the Kalahari Desert and Makgadikgadi National Park. It is set in a palm and acacia-studded oasis, emerging from the barren Kalahari wilderness. Jack Bousfield, the father of the current owner, established the site in the 1960′s. It was expanded in 1992 and fully refurbished in 2003. The camp can be reached by fly-in and transfer by road from the local airstrip.

Leroo La Tau Lodge is situated near the village of Khumaga on the western border of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. It is set on the eastern end of a bend on the banks of the Boteti River, a natural watercourse that derives its flow from the core Okavango Delta through the Thamalakane River in Maun. The lodge is outside of the park, and surrounded by the Makgadikgadi on 3 sides.

Planet Baobab is located just north of the Makgadikgadi National Park area in north-central Botswana, some 200km east of Maun. It is about 4km east of the small town of Gweta, approximately 1km off the highway and the signposting to the camp is in the form of a huge concrete aardvark that marks the turn-off. It is set amongst some enormous ancient baobab trees of the Kalahari Desert, hence the name.

What Travelers Can Do at Makgadikgadi

Nata Bird Sanctuary

The 230-sq-km community-run Nata Bird Sanctuary was proposed in 1988 by the Nata Conservation Committee and established four years later with the help of several local and international nongovernmental organisations (NGOs). Local people voluntarily relocated 3500 cattle and established a network of tracks throughout the northeastern end of Sowa Pan.

Although the sanctuary protects antelopes, zebras, jackals, foxes, monkeys and squirrels, the principal draw are the large population of water birds. Over 165 species of birds have been recorded here, including pied kingfishers, carmine and blue-cheeked bee-eaters, martial and black-breasted eagles, and secretary and kori bustards. When the Nata River flows in the rainy season, the sanctuary also becomes a haven for Cape and Hottentot teals, white and pink-backed pelicans, and greater and lesser flamingos.

In the dry season (May to October), it’s possible to drive around the sanctuary in a 2WD with high clearance, though it’s best to inquire about the condition of the tracks in the sanctuary prior to entering. During the rainy season, however, a 4WD is essential.

Kubu Island

Along the southwestern edge of Sowa Pan is Kubu Island, a ghostly, baobab-laden rock, which is entirely surrounded by a sea of salt. In Setswana, kubu means ‘hippopotamus’ (because there used to be lots here) and, as unlikely as it may seem given the current environment and climate, this desolate area may have been inhabited by people as recently as 500 years ago.

On one shore lies an ancient crescent-shaped stone wall of unknown origin, which has yielded numerous artifacts. The island is now protected as a national monument, with proceeds going to the local community. There is also a small camp site with pit toilets, though you will have to carry in your own water.

Makgadikgadi Pans Game Reserve

During years of average to low rainfall, the Boteti experiences one of southern Africa’s most spectacular wildebeest and zebra migrations between May and October.

The 3900-sq-km Makgadikgadi Pans Game Reserve extends from the Boteti River in the west to the Ntwetwe Pan in the east. Although the Boteti River only flows after good rains, wildlife congregates along the river during the dry season when the flow is reduced to a series of shallow pools, as these are the only source of permanent water in the reserve.

Makgadikgadi & Nxai Pans National Park

Makgadikgadi & Nxai Pans National Park is administered by the Department of Wildlife & National Parks (DWNP), so camping is only allowed at designated camp sites, which must be booked in advance at the DWNP office in Gaborone or Maun. You will not be permitted into either park without a camp-site reservation, unless you’re on an organized tour.

Nxai Pan National Park

The 2578 km² Nxai Pan National Park lies on the old Pandamatenga Trail, which once connected a series of bore holes and was used until the 1960s for overland cattle drives. The grassy expanse of the park is most interesting during the rains, when large animal herds migrate from the south and predators arrive to take advantage of the bounty.

The region is specked with umbrella acacias, and resembles the Serengeti in Tanzania (but without all the safari vehicles).

When to Visit the Makgadikgadi

May to November the Makgadikgadi is dry and largely devoid of game. The primary reason to visit at is to experience the inspirational nothingness of the Makgadikgadi pans themselves, search for Stone Age tools, go walking with the Bushmen, get to know some meerkats, enjoy excellent hospitality and generally luxuriate in this vast outdoor space.

December to April the desert can spring into life as rain showers pass, followed by huge herds of zebra in particular, accompanied by a wide arrange of other grazers and their associated predators. The Makgadikgadi pans themselves become less accessible, but this is compensated for by increased wildlife viewing. If this sounds like the perfect destination for your southern African safari, contact us today!

Botswana’s Okavango Delta Private Game Reserves are world-class. The Okavango River’s headwaters begin in the highlands of Angola and proceed to flow southeast, crossing the Caprivi Strip in Namibia’s panhandle, before entering Botswana’s Kalahari where it fans out into the world’s largest inland delta.  Commonly known as the Okavango River delta, it is more popularly referred to as the ‘Okavango Delta,’ and is one of Africa’s most sought after safari destinations.

Spreading over 15,000 km², the Okavango Delta’s environment consists of lush water-wilderness of papyrus swamps, shallow reed-beds and floodplains, glittered with islands weaved with a network of channels.  This vast virtually uninhabited land makes for an extraordinary big game safari.

Imagine your perfect African safari.  Now imagine an Okavango Delta private game reserves safari – gliding silently across the waters in a mokoro, traditional dugout canoe, watching wildlife unfold before your eyes at eye level.  With the aid of your guide catch sight of the more difficult to spot, other times wildlife will be much easier to see, like the red lechwe wading in the river’s shallows, or elephant herds marauding the islands amongst flowers and singing birds.

The Top Reasons Why You Should Safari in the Okavango Delta’s Private Game Reserves?

The private game reserves, or ‘concessions,’ protect the delta’s incredible environment in and around Moremi Game Reserve.  The majority of these private game reserves contain a couple of small, private safari camps.  Guests travel by air and are offered spectacular safari activities.  When comparing these private game reserves versus that of public game parks, the Delta’s private game reserves have several advantages.

• The guides are allowed to drive off-road, thus following wildlife in their tracks to enhance optimal game viewing.
• The guides are allowed to conduct night game drives, again enhancing your chances for sighting the great nocturnal wildlife that would otherwise be left unchecked on your list –this includes leopard which are more generally seen after dusk.
• A handful of private game reserves offer walking safaris, which are not allowed in public national parks.
• These private game reserves are undisclosed, which means absolute exclusivity – rarely seeing other people on safari, and real luxury lodging in nature’s best pristine wilderness.

Discover Botswana’s Best Camps for Walking Safaris (click here)

What Wildlife Will You See in the Okavango Delta Private Game Reserves?

It is possible to see all Africa’s Big Five here in the Delta’s private game reserves thanks to the reintroduction of rhino.  Elephant and buffalo congregate in large numbers year round.  Common animals, nearly all visitors see include blue wildebeest, Burchell’s zebra, impala, kudu, tsessebe, red lechwe, waterbuck, reedbuck, giraffe, common duiker, bushbuck, steenbok, warthog, baboon, and vervet monkey.  Although less common, the eland, sable, and roan antelope can also be seen in the Delta.

And with high population of antelope, predators such as lion, leopard, cheetah, and spotted hyena, thrive in the area.  The African wild dog finds home throughout most of Northern Botswana and is easiest to find on the northern and eastern sides of the Delta.

Black-backed and side-striped jackal, bat-eared fox (though not common in the drier areas of Botswana), a wide variety of mongoose –slender, banded, dwarf, large grey, and water.  Serval, aardwolf, caracal, and aardvark are also found throughout the Delta.  Pangolins can also be seen in the area.

In 2001, the first white rhino were introduced into the Mombo Private Game Reserve.  From having been exterminated from the area due to poaching, the population is not on the up and is well on its way to becoming a story of success to model after.

The Birdlife is Prolific in the Delta

The Okavango Delta is home to over 400 species of bird – distributed throughout the Delta according to habitats.  Nonetheless, no matter where in the Delta you ultimately choose to safari, the sheer number of birds is sure to amaze you. Private Game Reserves are ideal for a well balanced wildlife experience.

Main Safari Camps in the Delta Private Game Reserves

Sandibe/Chitabe Reserve – Great for dry-land safaris

• Sandibe Safari Lodge
• Chitabe Camp
• Chitabe Lediba
• Chitabe Walking Trail

Stanley’s and Baines’ Reserve – Wildlife more variable than Chitabe

• Stanley’s Camp
• Baines’ Camp

Santantadibe Reserve – Great for families and small groups

• Santantadibe Mobile Camp (no permanent camps or lodges here)

Abu Reserve – Famous for its elephant-backed safaris / Wildlife viewing mediocre, but fine during the wetter months between January and April.

• Abu Camp (where the elephant-backed safaris are based)
• Elephant Villa
• Seba Camp

Nxabega/ Kanana Reserve –Wildlife viewing mediocre during dry season

• Nxabega Safari Camp
• Kanana
• Pom Pom Camp
• Kanana mokoro trail

Jao Reserve – Extraordinary for great water activities and dry-land 4×4 excursions

• Jao Camp
• Kwetsani Camp
• Jacana Camp
• Tubu Tree Camp

Duba Plains Reserve – Known for battles between lion and buffalo / area attracts large herds of game

• Duba Plains Camp

Vumbura Reserve – One of the Delta’s best & most scenic reserves / Superb in the dry season and rivals Mombo for quality and diversity of wildlife.

• Little Vumbura
• Vumbura Plains Camps

Mapula Reserve – Excellent wildlife viewing year-round / Lodge has strong involvement in local community

• Mapula Lodge

Shinde Reserve – Wildlife is plentiful during dry season and water activities have access to excellent deep-water lagoons.

• Shinde Camp
• Footsteps Walking Trails (best camp for walking safaris)

Kwara Reserve – Big game is plentiful, popularly explored by 4×4 and boats.

• Kwara Camp
• Little Kwara

For the most current Okavango Delta Private Game Reserves specials contact us today by following the button directly below!

Moremi Game Reserve protects the interior of the Okavango Delta, and was established in 1962 when the local BaTwana people set aside a third of the area with the idea to protect the wilderness for the future.  They called this area, the Moremi Game Reserve, and it encompasses a vast area of the Delta’s wetlands in addition to the main dry peninsula that extends into the Delta, known as the Mopane Tongue.

There are several safari camps built within Moremi Game Reserve.  However, most of the Okavango’s small safari camps and lodges can be found outside this area, in their own private wildlife reserves.

Moremi Game Reserve is essentially a patchwork of lagoons, shallow flooded pans, plains and forests.  Moremi Game Reserve is lush and teems with wildlife.  It is one of Africa’s best areas for wildlife with extremely high game densities.  The wildlife here is relaxed, thus allowing vehicles to approach closely without much concern.

Perhaps Moremi Game Reserve’s most excellent area is Chief’s Island, home to a handful of Botswana’s top safari camps.  Nevertheless, there are several key areas on the periphery of the Mopane Tongue where the land meets the Okavango’s permanent waters, which can also be reached with a mobile safari, including the Khwai River area, Xakanaxa Lagoon, and Third Bridge.

Safari camps within Moremi Game Reserve include:

• Mombo Camp
• Little Mombo
• Chief’s Camp
• Xigera
• Xakanaxa Lagoon
• Camp Moremi
• Xakanaxa
• Camp Okuti

Areas within Moremi Game Reserve:

Chief’s Island

Most visitors to the Okavango Delta are surprised to learn that many areas within are largely dry.  Chief’s Island (although a section of the larger Moremi Game Reserve, Chief’s Island is entirely private) is immense and was once the royal hunting reserve of Chief Moremi, the traditional leader of local tribes.  He was the first to propose this area be supplemented as a game reserve in the 1970’s , and with his vision –which was way beyond his time –set the motion for creating one of the regions greatest areas for wildlife safaris.  Camps here adhere by the national park rules on walking and driving at night.

Khwai River

The Khwai River is located on the northeastern tip of the Moremi Game Reserve; the area is pleasant with towering evergreen trees lining the wide floodplain.  It is home to brilliant diversity of predator and prey species.  Large prides of lion hunt buffalo and elephant, and leopard sightings are common.  Birding is also exceptional.

Xakanxa Lagoon

In the heart of the Moremi Game Reserve, at the tip of the Mopane Tongue, mopane forests meet a patchwork of deep waterways and shallow flooded depressions.  The environment is beautiful and filled with wildlife.  Leopard and cheetah sightings are common and the density of antelope (ungulate) is overwhelming.  Birding is also amazing – herons, egrets, storks, waders, harriers, buzzards, etc.

Third Bridge

Within driving distance from Xakanaxa, Third Bridge is positioned on an island with pockets of bush and open plains.  There are campsites for mobile safaris and a plethora of wildlife.  On the boundary of the land and water areas of Moremi Game Reserve, mobile safaris can easily organize boat trips, and/or overnight sleep excursions on the islands.

South Gate

South Gate is a campsite that is popularly used by mobile safaris and is located at the southern entrance to Moremi Game Reserve.  Located just outside the Moremi Game Reserve, that area is home to acacia trees that attract large concentrations of game, including herds of giraffe.

If you’re planning a Moremi Game Reserve Safari don’t hesitate to contact us to find the hottest deals in Botswana!

A Chobe National Park safari is often frowned upon by African safari aficionados who compare other safari destinations or wildlife viewing areas of Botswana. One of the biggest reasons, it is much more crowded than the other regions.

With that being said, a Chobe National Park safari is easily combined with a safari to the much less crowded Okavango Delta.

Chobe National Park is more crowded simply because it is a National Park and not a private concession. A Chobe National Park safari is accessible by a variety of camps and lodges rather than just the lodges that belong to the private concession. For comparison reasons, Selinda and Kwando areas only have 2 lodges in their large concession areas.

In Wild Safari Africa’s opinion, a Chobe National Park safari is definitely worth incorporating into your safari in Botswana. The Chobe National Park covers approximately 11,700km² of the northern Kalahari, much of it is impenetrable thorn bush growing in deep sand. This is an old safari destination. Pioneer explorer David Livingstone first visited the Chobe region in the 1850’s, as have countless travelers since.

A Chobe National Park safari is famous for gigantic herds of elephant and buffalo, and the large prides of lion that have learned to hunt them.  Chobe is classic big cat and big game country as it is a permanent water source. The Chobe River, a river that apparently flows both ways and for the mysterious, disappearing and reappearing Savuti Channel, from June through November Chobe is overwhelmed with large herds of wildlife. A unique wildlife experience set entirely on the Chobe riverfront.

Chobe National Park consists of 4 main areas including the Chobe Riverfront, Ngwezumba Pans, Savuti and Linyanti.

The key to a Chobe National Park safari is animal migrations. The wildlife here moves in complex, ancient patterns determined entirely by the rain and available food. Within the National Park there are 2 areas with a few luxurious private lodges: The Chobe Riverfront and Savuti Marsh. I have to also say that these areas are generally best explored on a mobile safari.

The Chobe Riverfront is highly seasonal. The best game viewing is between the months of June and November. During the wet (“green”) season the wildlife disperse into the deeper regions of the National Park. As June approaches the large herds begin migrating back to the region in impressive numbers.

Migratory herds come from as far away as Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe.

What kind of wildlife can you see on a Chobe National Park safari?

Chobe is home to buffalo, elephant, a variety of antelope and grazers including giraffe, impala, duiker, kudu, eland, sable and roan to name a few. Predators include wild dog, cheetah, lion, and leopard (and of course the much smaller predators!). Sadly, rhino are no longer an inhabitant of the park due to poaching in recent years

There are no night drives on a Chobe National Park safari. Because it is a National Park they are not possible. The park is open during strict hours when travelers are allowed access to the park. Game drives are also restricted to the various tracks that access the different corners of the park.

Chobe Riverfront: Chobe National Park Safari Lodges & Camps

Bordering the Chobe River, the far north of the park has long been renowned for its large populations of wildlife. Travelers can expect nonchalant prides of lion, prolific antelope herds, excellent birdlife, along with some large hippos and crocodiles guarding the shores of the river.

If you’re interested in visiting this area, then we recommend the following lodges near Chobe or in the Forest Reseve.

• Muchenje Safari Lodge
• Chobe Game Lodge
• Chobe Chilwero
• Impalila Island Lodge
• Ichingo Chobe River Lodge

Savuti Marsh: Chobe National Park Safari Lodges & Camps

Savuti (Savute, spelled either way) is one of Africa’s most famous big game areas, with an atmosphere of its own. It’s something of an enigma. You can visit Savuti either on a mobile safari or stay at one of the camps here:

• Savute Elephant Camp
• Savute Safari Lodge
• Savuti Camp

A Chobe National Park safari also offers easy access to the border with Zambia and Namibia. Its near the breathtaking Victoria Falls and is a popular option to an overall safari in Botswana itinerary.

Where would you like to begin / end / go to after your Chobe National Park safari?