Okavango / Botswana

Location: Botswana
Duration: 11 nights / 12 days
Group Size: Max 10
Level of fitness required: Easy

Join Tatra Photography for an incredible wildlife photography tour in one of the best wildlife areas on the African continent. Botswana is a rarity in our overpopulated, over-developed world. Untamed and untamable, it is one of the last great refuges for nature’s magnificent pageantry of life.

Botswana is well known for having some of the best wilderness and wildlife areas. With nearly half of its total land area devoted to national parks, reserves and wildlife management areas – for the most part unfenced, allowing animals to roam wild and free travel through many parts of the country has the feeling of moving through an immense nature wonderland.

Our two centre photography tour which has been planned to coincide during the prime game viewing season will start in the Moremi Game reserve on Chiefs Island in the Okavango Delta,one of the most sought after wilderness destinations in the world, the Okavango Delta gives entrance to the spectacle of wild Africa with the heart-stopping excitement of big game viewing, the supreme tranquility and serenity of an untouched delta, and evocative scenes of extraordinary natural beauty.

Your tutor for this workshop is Simon Stafford. Simon first became interested in photography while a university student. Completely self-taught, his photographic career began when he talked his way into a job as the photographer for his university’s weekly newspaper and has been shooting pictures ever since. His photographs have been used widely in newspapers, books, calendars, and magazines, including Nikon Pro, Professional Photographer, Practical Photography, Digital SLR Photography and Photography Monthly, plus he is Technical Editor to Nikon Owner magazine.

Simon has built up a wealth of experience over the past thirty years in both film and digital photography. Throughout his photographic career he has used the Nikon system extensively, adopting digital photography at an early stage with the release of the Nikon D1 camera during 1999; he has being using digital cameras exclusively since 2004. He completed his first book, The Nikon Compendium, during 2003. With nearly 400 pages and Simon’s own extensive photography of Nikon cameras, Nikkor lenses, and Nikon system accessories, it represents a comprehensive history of the Nikon system for the user and collector alike. He has also written over twenty books on the Nikon camera system for the Magic Lantern Guide series, published by Sterling Publishing. Currently he is involved in a wide variety of photographic projects, which include presenting photographic workshops, teaching on-line photography courses, and working with wildlife research and conservation organisations in South Africa.

Our target species for the first part of our two centre trip in the Okavango are, Wilddog, Hyena, Elephant, Rhino (black & white) Buffalo, Leopard, Lion, Giraffe, Crocodile, Red Lechwe, Waterbuck, Reedbuck, Impala, Kudu, Steenbok, Wildebeest, Hartebeest, Sable, Roan, Tsessebe, Genet and Serval, along with an immense variety of birds – land and water, resident and migratory, some of which are rare and endangered.

This chart has the number of sightings in September 2013. E.g Wilddog sightings on 21 days out of 30 days during September 2013.

Chief’s Camp is located in the world-renowned Moremi Game Reserve. The luxurious camp is ideal for African safari’s due to the vast numbers of animals that congregate all year round. Chief’s Island is one of the many islands created by the seasonal flood waters of the Okavango Delta and is well-known for the finest game viewing in Southern Africa, including both black and white rhino completing the Big Five.

The twelve guest pavilions are nestled in a jackalberry and sausage tree woodland that is characteristic of the area. Each guest pavilion boasts an indoor and outdoor shower, a spacious seating area and a private game viewing deck overlooking the
surrounding floodplains of the Okavango Delta. Sumptuous four poster beds with generously draped mosquito nets and traditional ceiling fans also feature and for your convenience, the rooms are equipped with a hairdryer, ceiling fan, room safe.

When you visit Chief’s Camp you’ll see why Condé Nast Traveler consistently rates it as one of the top safari destinations in Botswana. The camp is part of the magazine’s exclusive “Platinum Circle” in recognition of its inclusion in the prestigious Gold List for the last five consecutive years.

The split-level main deck offers expansive views over the floodplain while the lower level of the deck houses an exquisite swimming pool to cool off after a day of exciting game viewing. The main area houses a bar, curio shop, library reception and dining area. For a rejuvenating pampering session, choose from a range of treatments at the camp’s treatment room.

During the second part of our photography tour we will be based in Chobe national park. Undoubtedly one of Africa’s most beautiful rivers, the Chobe supports a diversity and concentration of wildlife unparalled anywhere else in the country. The most accessible and frequently visited of Botswana’s big game country, the Chobe Riverfront is most famous for its large herds of elephants and Cape Buffalo which during the dry winter months converge upon the river to drink.

Our target species for the second part of our two-centre trip in the Chobe national park are, Lion, Leopard, Jackal, Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Waterbuck, Lechwe, Puku (this is the only part of Botswana where they can be seen), Giraffe, Kudu, Roan and Sable, Impala, Warthog, Bushbuck, Monkeys and Baboons.

Over 460 bird species have been recorded in the park, making it one of Africa’s premier venues for bird Safaris. Common species to be seen include the Sacred ibis, Egyptian Geese, the ubiquitous cormorants and darters, Spur-winged Geese, pel’s Fishing Owl, carmine Bee-eaters, most members of the kingfisher family, all the rollers, the unmistakable Fish Eagle, the Martial Eagle, and many members of the stork family.

This chart has the number of sightings in September 2013. E.g Leopard sightings on 20 days out of 30 during September 2013.

Chobe Chilwero is a luxurious riverside retreat in the heart of the bush on the edge of Chobe National Park, home to the world’s largest remaining population of elephants. Sitting above the Chobe River, the lodge offers unparalleled panoramic views across the islands and floodplains as far across as Namibia. This is an incredibly luxurious lodge with just 15 guest cottages, as well as the only full spa on the Botswana safari circuit.

Each of the 15 thatched guest cottages has two showers, one inside and one outside. The en suite bathroom also has a large free-standing bath. A hearty full English and continental breakfast is prepared by the Chef and served before departing for your morning game viewing activity. After experiencing the magnificent Chobe National Park you will be taken back to the lodge for lunch where you could make your own pizza or enjoy a delicious three course plated meal.

Later in the afternoon the friendly staff serve afternoon tea with the Chobe River as a back drop before departing again for your afternoon game viewing activity.

All monies paid by you for the air holiday package shown are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 6404. For more information see our booking terms and conditions.

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