Botswana – Wild Africa at its Best

Day 1

Beaufort West to Kimberley

Leave Beaufort West early and stop along the road for interesting Karoo birds like Karoo Korhaan, Blue Crane, Martial Eagle and Karoo Long-billed Lark. As we enter the Kalahari we look for birds like Sociable Weaver, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Kalahari Scrub-Robin, Amur Falcon, Abdim’s Stork, Black-faced & Violet-eared Waxbill, White-backed Vultures, cuckoos, Orange River Francolin, Quailfinch, and more.

Day 2

Kimberley to Mafikeng

We proceed through the Kalahari. The Hartswater area normally has good numbers of birds like Abdim’s Storks and the Mafikeng area is host to Coqui Francolin, Short-clawed Lark, Tinkling Cisticola and many more.

Day 3

Mafikeng to Francistown

Crossing the border into Botswana, it’s a long drive to Francistown, but along the way we expect to see Southern White-crowned Shrike, Purple Roller, Chestnut-backed Sparrow-lark, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater and Shaft-tailed Whydah. Our accommodation is situated on the bank of the Tati river, where you will find Tinkling Cisticola, Woodland Kingfisher, White-browed Scrub-robin, Barred Wren-warbler, Brubru, Burnt-necked Eremomela and Melba Finch.

Day 4

Francistown to Nata

We head north to Nata, and look for the legendary Boulder Chat on the way. Kori Bustard, Red- and Yellow-billed Oxpeckers, Fawn-coloured Lark, African Cuckoo and Marico Sunbird might appear. Nata is on the edge of the Makgadigadi Pans, and our stay here includes a game-drive to the Nata Sanctuary – weather permitting. A feast of migrants await.

Day 5

Nata to Kasane

On the way to the eastern parts of Botswana and birds that might turn up include Lesser Spotted Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Ground Hornbill, Tawny Eagle and Black-bellied Bustard. We sleep on the banks of the Chobe River – what can be better?

Day 7

Kasane

A boat trip on the Chobe River is a favourite for our guests, and brings us up close and personal with all the birds and animals that call this paradise home. A game drive into the Chobe Game Reserve in the afternoon gives a whole different perspective on the biodiversity of the area. Rufous-bellied Heron, Saddle-billed Stork, Hooded Vulture, Long-toed Lapwing, Red-winged and Rock Pratincole, Broad-billed Roller, Luapula Cisticola, Red-billed Francolin, Comb Duck and more all call this home.

Day 8

Kasane to Katima Mulilo

The road leads us through the Chobe Game Reserve once again, and we keep our eyes open for Bateleur, Brown Snake Eagle and Tawny Eagle. We then cross the border into Namibia to Katima Mulilo on the banks of the Zambezi River, where we expect to find the Yellow-throated Leaflove breeding in the gardens and Pennant-winged Nightjar and others flitting after moths at night.

Day 9

Katima Mulilo

Waking up on the banks of the Zambezi River to Black and Slaty Egret, Rufous-bellied Heron, Fulvous Duck, White-backed Duck, Pygmy Goose, Western Banded Snake Eagle, Lesser Gallinule, Lesser Jacana, White-crowned Lapwing, Black Coucal, Coppery-tailed Coucal, and White-browed Coucal.

We pay a visit to the spectacular colony of Southern Carmine Bee-eaters after scouring the pans in the area for all the exciting specials.

Day 10

Katima Mulilo to Mahangu Lodge

We drive to the banks of the Kavango River. Birds along the road include Arnot’s Chat, Broad-billed Roller and Yellow Wagtail. Around the lodge, Brown Firefinch, Copper Sunbird, Green-backed Honeybird and Bradfield’s Hornbill frequent the gardens.

Day 11

Mahangu Lodge to Kayova River Lodge

We do a early morning drive through the Mahango Game Reserve where you can find Swamp Boubou, Bradfield’s Hornbill, Wattled Crane, Wood Pipit, Afr Golden Oriole, Lesser Spotted Eagle and Brown-throated Weaver. There after we drive down the Caprivi Strip with regular stops for birds. Good place to see Western Banded Snake Eagle, Dickinson’s Kestrel, Arnot’s Chat, Bateleur and Racket-tailed Roller. Further west we specially look for Rufous-bellied Tit, Hartlaub’s Babbler, Ayres Hawk Eagle and African Golden Oriole. 

Day 12

Kayova River Lodge

Spend the day birding around the area with birds like Rufous-bellied Tit, Grey-headed Parrot, Rufous-bellied Heron, Afr Cuckoo Hawk, Tinkling Cisticola, Souza’s Shrike, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, Black-faced Babblers etc.

Day 13

Kayova River Lodge to Drotsky Cabins

Another day to seek the Souza’s Shrike, Rufous-bellied Tit and Racket-tailed Roller before crossing the border back into Botswana on the way to Drotsky’s. This lodge is famed for its beautiful gardens and abundance of birds. Watch out for Wood Owl, Barred Owl, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Bearded Woodpecker and Yellow-bellied Greenbul.

Day 14

Drotsky Cabins

We have a boat available to our group for the entire day, and we use this opportunity to extensively bird up and down the Okavango River, searching for Pel’s Fishing Owl, Luapula Cisticola, Greater Swamp Warbler, Pygmy Goose, Wattled Crane, Lesser Jacana, Long-toed Lapwing, Slaty Egret, White-backed Night Heron, Blue-cheeked and Little Bee-eater.

Day 15

Drotsky Cabins to Kang

Driving along the western side of the Panhandle, we may see Tawny Eagle, Gabar Goshawk, Dickonson’s Kestrel, Giant Eagle Owl and Striped Kingfisher. From here we turn west and enter the Kalahari again. Kang is home to the Barred Wren-warbler, Great Sparrow and Southern Pied Babbler.

Day 16

Kang to Mafikeng

From Kang, we head for the South African border once again. Passing through the Kalahari, we have a chance to pick up any birds we dipped on on the way up.

Day 17

Mafikeng to Mokala National Park

We believe in ending an adventure on a high note, and Mokala National Park is just the place to acclimatise to being back on South African soil. Here, we find a good number of birds, including Orange River Francolin, Red-backed Shrike and Short-toed Rock-thrush, and a variety of animals in beautiful Kalahari landscape.

Day 18

Mokala National Park to Beaufort West

The last leg of the trip takes us back through the Karoo, before the trip ends back in Beaufort West.