Botswana Wildlife


		Botswana Photography Tour Details
		Dates	Sep 18–Oct 1, 2009
		Leader	Joe Van Os
		Fee	$14,995 from Johannesburg, South Africa Roundtrip flights between Johannesburg and Maun at additional cost
		Deposit	$2,500
		Limit	16
			Special Terms and Conditions Apply

Botswana is one of the great wildlife countries in Africa offering spectacular photography opportunities in three dramatic habitats—the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park and the Kalahari Desert. Bisected by the Tropic of Capricorn and located on the southern African plateau, land-locked Botswana encompasses an area slightly larger than France. This fascinating country enjoys an incredible richness of wildlife and represents the last hope for a great refuge from elephant poaching—and large herds still roam the parks!

Botswana is so arid that much of its land is uninhabitable. Yet, paradoxically, Botswana also contains one of the world's great wetlands and the largest inland delta—the Okavango. During the annual "flood," the mighty Okavango River rises in Angola, flows into the Okavango Delta and then abruptly disappears into the desert. This seasonal abundance of water limits human settlement. Canals of deep, clear flowing water lined by waving papyrus fronds reveal the underwater "highways" of feeding hippos, lurking Nile crocodiles and the elusive sitatunga—an antelope that seems to walk on water with its broad, splayed hooves.

During our shoot we stay in three small and luxurious bush camps, each located in the heart of the regional photo action. At our first camp we experience the vast open space of the Makgadikgadi Pan, learn from and photograph our Zu/’hoasi Bushman guides, and interact with a troop of human-habituated, photogenic and highly curious meerkats. Our second camp lies on the banks of the famous Savuti Channel, sometimes called the "Stolen River," within Chobe National Park. The river hasn’t flowed since 1982, but the channel and the Mababe Depression (once the Savuti Marsh) have an incredible abundance of elephants. The Moremi Reserve in the Okavango Delta is our last stop. Our attractive camp lies on the beautiful Xakanaxa Lagoon under cool towering ebony trees. Lions, cheetahs and leopards are counted among the area’s many highlights.

We see a number of ungulate species that can’t be photographed in East Africa—red lechwe, tsessebe, and the beautiful roan and sable antelopes. Another outstanding feature of Botswana is its remaining population of wild dogs. We search for their denning areas during our stay. With its great mammal herds still intact, an impressive

variety of birdlife and low number of tourists, Botswana affords a "wilderness" wildlife photography experience as it was in East Africa 50 years ago.

Our trip is offered with only three photographers per vehicle while we photograph—an almost unheard of luxury on a Botswana tour! We dine al fresco, enjoy the evening campfire and, if we’re not too busy downloading from all the day’s shooting, night game drives are possible here.

Join us on an amazing Photo Safari in this safe and thriving country, to see Africa as it existed during the days of Burton and Livingston!

Day 1
Depart from home.

Day 2 (Sep 19)
Arrive in Johannesburg, South Africa and overnight. (D)

Day 3
Morning flight to Maun, Botswana. We continue on a short flight aboard light aircraft to our small camp on the western edge of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans—a relic "super lake" that dried up thousands of years ago. (BLD)

Day 4
We meet our San Bushman guides and then drive out to photograph a troop of curious, human habituated meerkats. (BLD)

Day 5
Light aircraft takes us to our second camp near Chobe National Park at Savuti. (BLD)

Days 6–8
We photograph nearly all of the big mammals of the Savuti region during the day. Huge bull elephants come to the lodge water hole in the evening. (BLD)

Day 9
We fly to our last camp in the northcentral region of the Moremi Reserve, Okavango Delta. We have our first game drive this afternoon. Along with the mammals, birds provide exceptional photo opportunities here. (BLD)

Days 10–12
We explore the shallow flood plains by boat and the dense riverine forest by vehicle, photographing during morning and late afternoon light. We return to camp during midday for lunch and rest. (BLD)

Day 13 (Sep 30)
We fly to Johannesburg and depart for home. (BL)

Day 14
Arrive home.



	Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris, Inc. P.O. Box 655, Vashon Island, Washington USA 98070 Phone: (206) 463-5383 Fax: (206) 463-5484 Email: info@photosafaris.com Copyright © 2008, Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris, Inc.

Botswana Wildlife

Botswana Photography Tour Details