A journey through… northern Botswana
Africa expert Jonathan Fitzsimmonds recently returned from a spectacular trip to Botswana, visiting luxury camps, drifting down the Chobe river, and spotting wildlife at every turn. Here he sums up his itinerary, accompanied by photographs he took along the way.
Above: A lily floating in the Okavango delta
Jonathan flew into Johannesburg, and then transferred to a flight to Kasane airport, the most northerly airport in Botswana. Upon landing, he was transferred to the Chobe Princess – a small, luxury houseboat that drifts languidly in the Namibian waters of the Chobe river. The Chobe Princess offers water-based wildlife viewing in tender boats, fishing trips and village visits, or you can just relax, catch the breeze and enjoy the scenery.
Below: Sunset on the Chobe river, aboard the Chobe Princess houseboat
Next on the itinerary was the Chobe Elephant Camp, a comfortable safari lodge with amazing views of the Chobe river floodplains and across to Namibia.
Below: Jonathan's guide, Joel, at the Chobe Elephant Camp.
Heading further south, Jonathan stayed at the Ghoha Hills Savuti Lodge, set high in the Ghoha Hills and offering 180-degree views. The Savuti area is famous for its high concentration of wildlife, especially the elephants that gather at a nearby waterhole during sunset (below).
Below: The surrounding landscape, with twin baobabs
The next stop was the Okavango delta, home to a wide variety of wildlife and famous for its wetlands. For the first few nights, Jonathan stayed at the luxurious Sandibe Safari Lodge (below).
Below: Playing lions
Next was the Kwara Concession staying at Little Kwara, in another part of the Okavango delta, bordering the Moremi Game Reserve.
Below: A stalking cheetah
Moving on to the Khwai Community Concession, Jonathan spent two nights with Letaka, this time on the north-eastern border of the Moremi Game Reserve. Letaka have absolutely superb guiding and offer a range of small-group mobile tented camping safaris.
Below: Mokoro excursion
Below: Wild dog and wildebeest
Nearby was the Sango safari camp, where Jonathan was greeted with a singing welcome (below). Sango is an intimate little bush camp in a lovely setting and prides itself on a fantastic team. Game drives are offered in both the Khwai Concession and Moremi Game Reserve.
Below: Leopard in the Moremi game reserve
Further up the Khwai river and to the east of Sango camp is Machaba camp. Machaba offers classic yet luxurious and supremely spacious safari-style tents, elegantly furnished and with indoor and outdoor showers (below).
The final stop was the luxury Pom Pom camp, positioned in the south of the Okavango delta. Pom Pom offers a mix and land and water-based wildlife viewing activities; Jonathan spotted these waterbuck (below).
Cox & Kings are able to organise tailor-made and private holidays to northern Botswana, as well as a group tour mobile camping safari, in the Moremi Game Reserve and the Khwai Concession area. Read more here >
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This looks fabulous
Thank you Marion. It was a wonderful trip, and Botswana truly is a fantastic wildlife destination.