Botswana Travel Guide

wonderful

It was a one life time experience.
Hope to be able to do it again.

Chobe River National Park in Botswana is a Wonderful Location

Except for Airfare to and return from Johannesburg, tips for guides and staff, alcoholic beverages, and miscellaneous the cost of the Safari is all-inclusive. It includes overnight stay in Johannesburg the first night and air transfers during the Safari. The boat that the CNP safaris use on the Chobe River is custom-made with 360° rotating seats with an adjustable camera mount which has a Wimberley gimbal head. This gives you the option of photographing in different directions, high or low and the ability to follow moving creatures. It also means that you do not have to carry as much camera equipment that you would normally have to. I brought with me was a camera body, and three lenses, 17-35 mm, 35-70 mm, and 70-200 mm.

CNP also supplies professional Nikon equipment for the use of the participants. To give everybody a chance photographing from the front of the boat, for the first two trips, you used the seat that you were assigned, and for each succeeding trip everybody moved one seat up, and of course, the front person transferred to the last position.

you are able to photograph multiple species of mammals including wild dogs, elephants, hippopotamuses, Cape Buffalo, and baboons. There are multiple species of birds ranging from raptors to Passerine's along with wonderful scenery
The average day started at around 6 AM with coffee; then we will head out to the Chobe varying locations. We would photograph, and had an instructor available to help with any of problems. We would return to the dock in time to have a late breakfast. After breakfast, the group would gather in the boardroom four a lecture and/or instruction plus time to download our images from the morning’s event. There was time, for a rest before the afternoon’s trip. We would leave by 3 PM at the latest or earlier depending on the distance that we need travel on the Chobe to get to a location. Returned to the dock around 6 PM, where we went to our room freshened up before meeting for supper.


We follow the same itinerary daily, except for the last day, where we left for the morning shoot, returned, finished packing up, checking out, and being driven to the airport we would board the plane for the flight back to Johannesburg. The nicest part was at the airport actor Kasane; we could check our bags right through to our final destination plus get all of our boarding passes.

Included in the cost of the trip was everything from when you arrived in Johannesburg and until you left, excluding tips for the guides and helpers. The cost of the flight from JFK to Johannesburg range from $1000 to $1400, depending on when you booked.

The rooms Chobe Safari Large were large with two double beds side by side, mosquito netting, available, a work desk, stall shower and a large bathtub. In each room were a fan and air conditioning. Breakfast and supper were buffet style with multiple items available for your gastronomical pleasure. There were omelets and eggs cooked to order, cheeses and bread, different juices, coffee or tea. At suppertime, you could have a different soup every day, salads, stir-fry, at least 4 to 5 varieties of meat, fish, and vegetarian.

Two nights, we ate in the other dining room which was more formal with tablecloths and prepared appetizers and entrées.

Alcoholic beverages and wines were available, which you were charged separately for, and their prices were very reasonable.

We had to great captains on the boat, Kawana, and Mokamba, who knew the river, how to position the boat to obtain the best pictures and could identify flora and fauna for us.

Tony Mobile Safaris is totally recomended, the guys made our trip to a very special.

I'd never thought, that we see so much wildlife, nature and meet such nice guys. Everything was very fine, we would do this Safari every time again.

Regards Tim & Celine

I think there are more predators missing in the park ... the rest is great

A life changing experience beyond expectations.

I am humbled and privileged to witness nature at work with Botswana's amazing wildlife. Highlights included seeing elephants, lions, cheetah, leopard, hyena, wild cat, hippo, several antelopes -- so many, many wonderful cherished moments with a leopard cub, and several hyena cubs,and lion cubs. The guides and lodging were spectacular; the food was delicious; the staff members were wonderful. Everything was well beyond my wildest dreams. In fact, I am returning to Botswana in June 2019. I now consider Botswana my paradise -- some people have tropical islands for their paradise, mine is the African bush and its lovely people. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Very few human settlements, so more nature and wildlife which roams freely. Nice weather, sunshine all year-round and cost of living is quite afordable.

Go during the dry season!

My first recommendation would be to go during the mid dry season. Too early and the vegetation is too thick and the grass is too high for optimal game viewing. Also with lots of water around, the game doesn’t concentrate at watering holes. This made for interesting tracking but less prolific game. Botswana is great. The accommodations were very nice, the guides were fantastic (pick a good company to travel with). The scenery was pure Africa. We had some cold weather because we went too early. Don’t forget to try to visit with some of the indigenous people like the Bushmen. Overall excellent experience.

Fantastic safari in Chobe during low season

Lots of animals, babies, birds and greenery...
Great accomodation and awesome guide, overall a lifetime experience

Botswana: Not to be missed in any African Adventure.

Firstly it should be appreciated that Botswana is a shining light among African Countries by avoiding the humanitarian, political and economic mess that has characterized to post colonial status of the majority of African states. Secondly Botswana's conservation policies are to be applauded.
Royal Tree Lodge, just outside Maun proved an ideal spot to recover from our international flight with excellent accommodation and what we realized later gave us the best look at the herbivore population at the lodge which can be viewed at close hand on foot or horseback. Royal Tree Lodge funds a Mission in Maun that undertakes a wide range of humanitarian work.
Tusker's was excellent but one night would have been sufficient as a stop over on the way to the Delta, to see what they had to offer: mostly elephants. We chose land transport to get to Xobega Island Camp. The roads are seriously rough but the drive from Tusker's to the boat station made it all worth while and we enjoyed the Game Viewing around the lagoons on the way which I assume would not be included if flying in.

Xobega was magical, especially the camp culture, the bird life and the sunsets.

Our driver was uncompromising in ensuring we had the best experience. Our next adventure, the Chobe Princess is also not to be missed but we were never sure if we were in Botswana or not. We would certainly recommend the Princess ahead of the larger boats but would suggest incorporating a Land excursion in the Chobe national park.

Wonderful wilderness/wildlife experience in Chobe National Park.

The wildlife experience was wonderful. The scenery is rugged, but natural and interesting, not spectacular. The weather was good with a light rain each morning before sunrise. The camping accommodations were much too primitive for 69 year olds and described to us poorly. We were expecting ''glamping". Our guide, Issac,was charming, informative and extreemly well informed about the animals in the park. I was very impresssed with the ecology and conservation practices of the guides in the park. I was a little surprised when we watched ,disapprovingly as a guide roared his truck off road and up to a mating lion pair, to find there is no process in place to reprimand the display of bad judgement. The food was great and the overall experience wonderful. I would recommend this safari to others.