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Botswana Birding Tour: Moremi, Okavango Delta + Chobe + Victoria Falls

Botswana Birding Safari: Okavango to Victoria Falls

14 NIGHTS FROM:

$6,045

Per person sharing

Scheduled flights quoted separately

7BYB14M

• Botswana Birding Tour

• Moremi Game Reserve

• Okavango Delta

• Bird Watching

• Khwai River

• Savuti Plains

• Game Drives

• Chobe River

• Victoria Falls

• Zambezi Cruise

From October to April, this specialist Botswana birding tour departs from Maun, travelling overland in a 4x4 vehicle to Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta, Khwai River, Savuti & Chobe. Accommodation is in Meru-style safari tents, with proper camp beds & en-suite hot bucket shower. Afterwards relax at the spectacular Victoria Falls. Set departure dates. Min 2 / max 7. No single supplement.

Detailed itinerary ▶

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Day 1

You will be met at Maun Airport and transferred to your lodge near this small town, which is the gateway to the famous Okavango Delta.

Check into your lodge where you can relax and enjoy the birdlife of the region.

Day 2

This morning your guide will collect you from your Maun hotel and transfer you 3-hours to Moremi Game Reserve, situated on the eastern side of the famous Okavango Delta.

Within an hour of leaving Maun, it is possible to view the first of the birds that inhabit this unspoilt region. We should have a good day for raptors, so look out for the African hawk-eagle, Gabar goshawk, Shikra, Little sparrowhawk, Dark chanting goshawk, Tawny eagle, Lesser spotted eagle* and Steppe eagle* which all inhabit the mopane and adjacent woodlands.

Other birds common along this route includes most of Botswana’s hornbills including the Red-billed, Southern yellow-billed, African grey, Bradfield’s and Southern ground hornbills. A large number of brood-parasites may also be seen including the Diederick cuckoo*, Levaillant’s cuckoo*, Jacobin cuckoo*, Great-spotted cuckoo*, African cuckoo*, Common cuckoo*, Shaft-tailed whydah, Pin-tailed whydah, Eastern paradise whydah, Greater honeyguide, and Lesser honeyguide (*=migratory species).

On arrival check into your tented camp in the Xakanaxa region, settle in and relax in this pristine conservation area that offers superb land-based game viewing and outstanding birding.

Note: All Meru-style tents will be pre-erected and are en-suite, with beds and linen provided, as well as three delicious meals a day. Packed lunches will be provided on travelling days. Drinks and a small selection of alcohol will be provided at all tented camps, but when staying at lodges all drinks and alcohol are payable locally. A head torch is essential, as lighting in the tents is dimmer than at home.

Days 3 To 4

The seasonal Okavango Delta is flooded annually by the great Okavango River, whose waters flow inland from Angola into the vast Kalahari – never finding the sea, but instead forming a great inland delta whose waters are absorbed by the desert.

Comprising 6,000 square miles of crystal clear channels, serene lagoons and a myriad of islands, the Okavango Delta forms a natural oasis that sustains a vast variety of wildlife and birds of all descriptions. The waters are at their height from July to October, forming an amazing wetlands ecosystem that is one of the greatest natural wonders of the world.

Activities in Moremi Game Reserve are devoted to birding, where the swampy areas of Xakanaxa are home to African rail, Coppery-tailed coucal, Black coucal*, Red-chested flufftail, African crake*, Black crake, Chirping cisticola, Luapula cisticola, Purple swamphen and Allen’s gallinule to name but a few. The open waters attract the African skimmer, Saddle-billed stork, Yellow-billed stork, Intermediate egret, Goliath heron, African fish eagle as well as the globally threatened Slaty egret and Wattled crane (*=migratory species).

You should also see some of the larger animals that inhabit this region such as buffalos, hippos, lions and elephants. Red lechwe are one of the more unusual antelope species commonly found here and Moremi is one of the best game reserves for viewing the endangered African wild dog. In the evening relax around a blazing campfire under a balmy African sky.

Day 5

Today we continue to explore the vast Moremi Game Reserve, as we travel to our next campsite situated in a private reserve on the banks of the Mababe River.

The mopane canopy is home to raptors such as the African hawk-eagle, Tawny eagle, Gabar goshawk, Little sparrowhawk, African harrier hawk and Shikra. Other birds you can hope to see moving through the canopy include the Red-headed weaver, Stierling’s wren-warbler, Scarlet-chested sunbird, Neddicky, Yellow-breasted apalis, Chin-spot batis and Diederik cuckoo* to name but a few. The verges of the swamp are breeding grounds for the Rosy-longclaw, Black coucal*, Long-legged bustard and the African crake* (*=migratory species).

This mopane bushveld is also home to breeding herds of elephants, whilst the eastern reaches of the Khwai River is home to some impressive old bulls. These rivers have a high density of hippos as well as some huge crocodile. Leopards, cheetah, servals and lions are common predators, as are wild dogs. General game includes the Southern giraffe, Burchell’s zebra, tsessebe and red lechwe, whilst roan and sable antelope are less common residents.

Enjoy superb birding all day in this amazing region, where animals migrate freely across huge distances.

Days 6 To 7

The Mababe River flows in the Khwai River, forming the northern border between Moremi Game Reserve and the Khwai community area. These large floodplains provide good grazing for many species of antelope and unobstructed seasonal movement of birds and wildlife.

Rise early, with coffee and biscuits at first light, for the opportunity to explore the surrounding wilderness on foot and by mokoro canoe. The western reaches of the Khwai River are prime habitat for the uncommon Rosy-throated longclaw and the entire length of the river is the hunting domain of the Bat-hawk. Other commonly found species include the Tawny eagle, Steppe eagle*, Lesser-spotted eagle*, Martial eagle, Bateleur and African hawk-eagle. If you are fortunate you may see the rare Cuckoo hawk, Long-crested eagle and Black sparrowhawk. These waterways also host Africa rail, African crake*, Greater painted snipe, Allen’s gallinule*, Lesser jacana and Lesser moorhen (*=migratory species).

Lion, leopard, hyena, serval and African wildcat are common predators here, with wild dogs and cheetah being less common. Buffalo use this area seasonally with large herds moving in during the summer rains. The swampy areas in the west are also home to red lechwe and other ungulates including tsessebe, blue wildebeest, reedbuck, giraffe, zebra, kudu, sable antelope, roan antelope and impala.

Exploring after dark with a spotlight offers the opportunity to see some of the nocturnal birds and animals that are rarely encountered during the day.

Note: Night drives and guided walks are not permitted within the national parks, so these activities are conducted in the Khwai community area outside the boundaries of Moremi Game Reserve.

Day 8

Today is one long birding day as we travel 5-hours to the vast Savuti Plains in Chobe Game Reserve, driving along sandy roads suitable only for 4x4 vehicles and stopping for a picnic lunch along the way.

The most challenging part of our trip is crossing the deep sands of the winding Magwikwe Sand Ridge that marks the shoreline of what was once a massive inland sea. The old lake bed, now called the Mababe Depression, has a dense clay floor that is rich in protein – so the area teems with wildlife after the rains It is a birder’s paradise, with nutritious grasses that grow on the rich soils providing excellent seed for an impressive array of estrillids and viduids. Among these are the magnificently coloured Violet-eared waxbill, Black-cheeked waxbill, Village indigobird, Shaft-tailed whydah and Paradise whydah. These in turn provide a good food source for small raptors such as the Little sparrowhawk, Shikra, Gabar goshawk, Red-necked falcon and Lanner falcon. It is not only small birds that feed on the grass seeds, but rodents such at rats and mice too. As a result huge numbers of Secretary birds, Tawny eagles, Black-shouldered kites, Steppe eagles*, Lesser-spotted eagles*, Wahlberg’s eagles* and Steppe buzzards* can also be found here (*=migratory species).

Unlike the vast majority of the country, Savuti is not a totally flat landscape and large outcrops of volcanic rock reach up out of the Kalahari sands, towering over the endless savanna and providing a habitat for a completely different array of small wildlife, birds and plants. These desert-like landscapes offer world-acclaimed game viewing – including the famous Savute lion prides, leopard, wild dogs, bull elephants, black-backed jackal, bat-eared foxes, hyena, cheetah, tsessebe, kudu, impala, ostrich and more. Savuti has been the stage for many of the most dramatic wildlife documentaries in Africa. The now dry Savuti Channel runs through this landscape, linking the dry sand veld with the waterholes, hills and grasslands of what was once the Savuti Marsh.

On arrival we check in to our tented camp on the vast Savuti Plains, surrounded by open savanna and camelthorn trees and enjoy an enchanting sunset before dinner.

Note: During the rainy season the Mababe Depression is impassable and an alternative route must be used.

Days 9 To 10

The desert-like landscapes of Savuti offer world-acclaimed game viewing – including the famous Savuti lion prides, leopards, wild dogs, bull elephants, black-backed jackal, bat-eared foxes, hyena and cheetah. It is a feast for predators, as migrating zebra and wildebeest assemble in a chaotic pattern on the marsh and Cape buffalo herds arrive - as well as tsessebe, kudu, impala and ostrich.

However it is the interaction between lion and elephant that is the most interesting, as Savuti is inhabited by a huge pride of lions that has learned how to hunt these massive pachyderms, that are supposedly above predation. Launching their attacks under cover of darkness, and using their numbers, they attack adolescent and even young adult elephants. The marsh is also prime cheetah country and in the wet season it is not unusual to find wild dogs hunting here.

The surface water found here is a major attraction for birdlife. In the dry season thousands of doves and sandgrouse come down to drink in the mornings, watched by Yellow-billed kites*, Tawny eagles and African hawk-eagles. The Red-crested korhaan is common in the Kalahari apple-leaf trees. The summer rains bring migrant birds that swell the resident population of over 300 different species, making this a bird watchers delight. Carmine bee-eaters perch on the back of kori bustards, red-crested korhaans plummet from the sky in daring mating displays, marabou storks roost in the trees and woodland kingfishers will sing you to sleep. In summer the marsh is also home for good numbers of Caspian plover* and Montague’s harrier* as well as Chestnut-backed sparrowlark, Grey-backed sparrowlark, Northern black korhaan, Rufous-naped lark, African pipit and Desert cisticola. Dickenson’s kestrel, Amur falcon* and Red-necked falcon are found along the perimeter of the marsh (*=migratory species).

Day 11

Today we continue northwards travelling for 5-hours on the 4x4 road through Chobe National Park towards Kasane, stopping along the way for a picnic lunch.

Kasane is uniquely situated at the confluence of the Zambezi and Chobe Rivers where four African countries meet – Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia. The Chobe River is the life-giving force of this region and provides a border between Botswana on the southern banks and Namibia on the northern banks. The river has extensive grassy floodplains on either side, which disappear under the annual floodwaters, making boats the best way of getting around.

The most unusual species today are found in the teak woodlands of Chobe Forest Reserve and along the banks of the Chobe River itself. Here we will find insectivorous birds that favour a canopy habitat such as the Grey tit-flycatcher, Ashy flycatcher, Paradise flycatcher, Pallid flycatcher, Scarlet-chested sunbird, Amethyst sunbird, Yellow-throated petronia, Red-headed weaver and Violet-backed starling. The Dickenson’s kestrel, Red-necked falcon, Peregrine falcon* and Lizard buzzard are some of the raptors to keep an eye out for, while the diminutive White-faced owl can often be seen roosting in road-side vegetation. If you are fortunate you may see the Flappet lark, Fawn-coloured lark, Dusky lark*, Olive-tree warbler* and Neddicky (*=migratory species).

On arrival relax surrounded by the vast endless landscapes, open plains, baobab trees and the abundant river-based wildlife of Chobe.

Day 12

Rise early for a day of birding along the Chobe River, which is dominated by an impressive sandy ridge with broad-leafed woodland vegetation. As you move into the valley the impact of the high elephant population is felt, with the paucity of large trees that typically line the rivers of sub-tropical Africa. The river itself is broad and meandering and in the flood season is an impressive sight. To the east, outside of the park, lie the riparian forests that are home to so many of the more tropical species whose ranges end abruptly in north-eastern Botswana.

Bird life along the river is plentiful and you can hope to see the African fish eagle, Tawny eagle, African openbill stork, Marabou stork, Sacred ibis, Pied kingfisher, Cattle egret, Great egret, Spur-winged goose as well as the glorious Lilac-breasted roller. Bat-hawk, Cuckoo hawk, Eurasian hobby falcon* and Ovambo sparrowhawk are more interesting raptors you can hope to see today, whilst. Corncrake*, African crake*, African rail, Luapula cisticola, Malachite kingfisher, Quail finch and Rosy-throated longclaw are found on the edges of the floodplain. Large flocks of Great white pelican investigate the drying pools as the floodwaters recede. Much larger flocks of the nomadic Red-winged pratincole and also Black-winged pratincole, numbering in their thousands, can be found on the drying floodplains. The woodlands also support Racket-tailed roller, Stierlings wren-warbler, Tree pipit* and Miombo rock-thrush (*=migratory species).

Chobe National Park is also home to vast herds of buffalo, as well as numerous other species which roam in profusion and diversity. During the dry season, vast elephant herds migrate from both south and north to congregate in their thousands along the Chobe River – the largest concentration of elephants in the whole of Africa. This migration of wildlife is possibly due to the creation of protected wildlife corridors, which allow the elephants to travel between the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Park (KAZA) countries safely. Also hope to see lion, leopard, cheetah, giraffe, hippo, kudu, crocodiles, roan antelope, sable antelope, the endemic puku, Burchell's zebra, bushbuck, waterbuck, warthogs, baboons and many other interesting animals before returning to camp.

After a beautiful African sunset, enjoy the balmy evening and pristine stars of the Milky Way as you have never seen them before – as well as the spectacular Southern Cross.

Day 13

This morning we rise early and drive to Kasane on the Zimbabwe border for a birding and game viewing boat ride on the Chobe River, after which your tour ends.

Then complete border formalities and connect with your 2-hour transfer to your hotel situated near Victoria Falls on the mighty Zambezi River.

Located in the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA), where the borders of five African countries converge, the sheer scale of this vast international conservation project is difficult to comprehend. It encompasses a bewildering range of experiences, ranging from the mighty Victoria Falls to the lifeforce of the region, the Zambezi and Chobe Rivers.

Check in, settle in and relax whilst you catch your first glimpses of the magnificent Smoke That Thunders first discovered by Dr. David Livingstone and still one of the greatest natural wonders of the world. The flow of water over the Victoria Falls is greatest from February to June following the summer rains, but they are a magnificent sight at any time of year.

Note: As transfer vehicles cannot cross the border, you will be dropped off on one side of immigration control and collected on the other side.

Day 14

This morning enjoy a private tour exploring on foot the mighty Victoria Falls and its rainforests, which offer magnificent views.

Afterwards you may wish to visit Elephants Walk, a small crafts complex where you can see talented local artists and sculptors at work and support them by buying one of their items. Alternatively you can participate in various optional activities, such as a helicopter flight over the falls.

In the late afternoon enjoy an included shared cruise on the Zambezi River where you may see hippos, crocodiles and abundant birdlife.

Note: Take light rainwear for use when the falls are full.

Day 15

Transfer to Victoria Falls Airport for your flight home.

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