Day 1: Johannesburg – Maun – Lake Ngami
You will arrive in Maun on a flight from Johannesburg and be met by your guide who will drive you to a private camp at Lake Ngami. This relatively unknown place is certainly a birding highlight, with great numbers of birds to be seen – and the private camp allows for quality time in the field. Birds that can be seen here include Black-tailed Godwit, Greater and Lesser Flamingo, Great White and Pink-backed Pelican, White-backed Duck, Lesser Jacana and Pririt Batis.
Day 2 & 3: Lake Ngami – Okavango Panhandle
Today you head north to the Okavango panhandle where we will spend the next 2 nights exploring this unique birding destination on boats and on foot. The bush camp is situated near the border to the Caprivi Strip of Namibia. The area is a mixture of permanent water, floodplains and riverine forest and is home to many fascinating species. It’s the best place to see Pel’s Fishing Owl and Narina Trogon and the guide will be just as passionate to find them as you are. Birds that can be seen here include White-backed Night-Heron, Southern Brown-throated Weaver, Black-faced Babbler, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Narina Trogon, Western Banded Snake-Eagle, African Skimmer.
Day 4: Okavango Panhandle - Caprivi Strip Kwando
After crossing the border into Namibia the tour drives through the beautiful Mahango Game Reserve, renowned for its diversity and abundance of birds before heading east through teak woodlands to your bush camp located on the Kwando River. The Kwando River is one of the exciting new destinations on the African birding safari map and is also renowned for its wildlife such as Elephant and Buffalo. Birds that can seen here include Rufous-bellied Tit, Racket-tailed Roller, Sharp-tailed Starling, Purple-banded Sunbird, Copper Sunbird and Wood Owl.
Day 5 & 6: Kwando – Katima Mulilo Eastern Caprivi
Katima Mulilo, which means ‘douse the fire’, is situated on banks of one of Africa’s legendary rivers, the Zambezi, and is home to the spectacular Schalow’s Turaco. You will explore the area along this great river, marvelling in the variety of birds to be seen.
Birds that can be seen here include Eastern Bearded Scrub-Robin, Schalow’s Turaco, Giant Kingfisher, Racket-tailed Roller, Rock Pratincole, Shelley’s Sunbird and African Finfoot.
Day 7 & 8: Katima Mulilo – Livingstone Zambia
Leaving the Caprivi you head east across the Zambezi by ferry into Zambia and the Victoria Falls where you will spend the next 2 nights near Livingstone. The falls may be the main attraction of the area but the riparian forest along the Zambezi is ideal habitat for birding.
Birds that can be seen here include Trumpeter Hornbill, Crowned Hornbill, Verreaux’s Eagle, Taita Falcon, Narina Trogon and Olive Woodpecker.
Day 9: Livingstone – Choma
Today you leave Livingstone very early and head for the Nkanga River Conservancy near Choma for an overnight, a place where Zambia’s only true endemic, the Chaplin’s Barbet, can be seen. The Miombo woodlands of the area ensure excellent birding.
Birds that can be seen here include Chaplin’s Barbet, Souza’s Shrike, White-bellied Cuckoo-Shrike, Red-throated Twinspot, Spotted Creeper and Miombo Pied Barbet.
Day 10 & 11: Choma – Chobe
The tour leaves Zambia and re-enters Botswana before heading for Kasane on the edge of the legendary Chobe National Park. Chobe is renowned for its Elephants and other herds but the birding is exceptional. You will spend 2 nights here exploring the river and surroundings by boat and vehicle to get the ultimate birding experience.
Birds that can be seen here include Collared Palm-Thrush, Bronze Mannikin, Orange-winged Pytilia, Racket-tailed Roller, African Finfoot, African Skimmer, Pel’s Fishing Owl and Brown Firefinch.
Day 12: Chobe – Makgadikgadi Pans
Today you head south into the vast semi-arid Kalahari for an overnight, with the highlight been the vast Sowa Pan near the Nata Bird Sanctuary. Here birds such as flamingos flock during the wet season. Birds that can be seen here include Greater and Lesser Flamingo, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Montagu’s Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Abdim’s Stork and Marsh Owl.
Day 13: Makgadikgadi Pans – Maun
You leave the Pans early and head to Maun for an overnight on the banks of the Thamlakane River, arriving around lunch time. The afternoon is at leisure to recharge the batteries or if you are want to continue birding then there is some good birding in the riverine woodlands around the bush camp. At this point your tour guide will change vehicles for the trip into Moremi. Birds that can be seen here include White-backed Duck, Lesser Jacana, Bat Hawk, Kalahari Scrub-robin and Purple Roller.
Day 14: Maun – Moremi Game Reserve
Today you head for your final destination on this Botswana Birding Safari where you will be spending 3 nights in the incredibly beautiful Moremi Game Reserve on the eastern edge of the Okavango Delta. The diversity of habitats of Moremi will ensure one of the best birding safari experiences in Africa.
Day 15 & 16: Moremi Game Reserve
During your time in Moremi you will explore the range of habitats such as floodplains and forests in search of the hundreds of species that inhabit this area. Often regarded as the most beautiful park in Africa, Moremi is a highlight of any Botswana Birding safari. Birds that can be seen here include Rufous-bellied Heron, Wattled Crane, Slaty Egret, Black Coucal, Swamp Nightjar and Luapula Cisticola.
Day 17: Moremi – Maun - Johannesburg
Today your tour guide drives you back to Maun to get there in time for your connecting flight to Johannesburg.
