Botswana Safari

Mammals of Botswana:

The mammals of Botswana are similar to those found throughout Southern Africa, with the main predators including, lion, leopard, wild dog, cheetah and hyena. Other highlights that visitors wish to see when on a Bostwana Wildlife Safari are huge herds of elephants (often seen in Chobe National Park), giraffes, buffalo and a variety of antelope including impala, red lechwe, springbok, tessebe and Sable. Rhinos are present however they are still low in numbers and are currently being re-introduced to certain areas of Northern Botswana including the renowned Chief's Island, part of the Moremi Game Reserve.

An advantage of Botswana's eco-systems over other African destinations is that they have such a wide diversity. From the fluctuating water levels of the Okavango Delta, to the mopane woodlands and river banks of Chobe National Park, to the Kalahari Game Reserve and the Pans of Nxai and Makgadikgadi, Botswana has it all.

Wildlife Migrations:

First of all, do not think of the migration in Tanzania or Kenya! The migration of game in Botswana is much more subtle and can be described as a subtle movement of wildlife/herds from the main regions of Okavango, Linyanti and Chobe spreading out into smaller herds and dotted through areas such as Chobe Forest Reserve and other neighbouring parks. This gentle movement of game usually occurs around November time thinning out the herds which are often numbering in the hundreds! With the arrival of May you start to see these satellite herds come back to the focal water sources and once again form much larger herds; this is evident in the habitat destruction that you see in areas such as Chobe National Park where the scarily large herds of elephants have all but destroyed the tree life.

Zebra and wildebeest herds follow slightly different patterns with herds of zebra congregating on the Makgadikgadi Pans during the rains and wildebeest often gathering in the Central Kalahari.

Birds of Botswana:

A fantstic birding destination with 550 recorded bird species. These species are encouraged to flourish one again by the sheer diversity of eco-systems that Botswana boasts. The Okavango Delta in itself is a great example of this with its varying habitat of dry regions, to flooded regions, smal islands of tranquility and deep water channels. Migrating species are also a highlight with species arriving from the northern hemisphere during the months of September and October and staying until May time; inter African species are also frequent visitors of Botswana during this period.