Explore Botswana’s Rich Avian Life with a Bird Tour Safari
2 Nights at Nxai Pan
Nxai Pan National Park is a fine destination for those interested in birding. A recorded of more than 200 bird species have been found in this area. With the different habitats of acacia scrub, grassland, mopane woodland found here, a wide range of birdlife is attracted. On the open pan, kori bustards and secretary birds mingle with the visiting storks in wet summer months. With the same habitat as the nearest great Makgadikgadi pans, bird watching in this area can be at the highest level all year round, though the best months is during rains when birds are breeding.
Road transfer from Maun to Nxai Pan, then to Nata Bird Sanctuary
1 Night at Nata Bird Sanctuary
The Nata Sanctuary is situated on the northeastern tip of the great Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, as such is one of Botswana’s premier birding destinations. During and after the rainy season a tremendous variety and concentration of waterbirds migrate to the Nata River delta and its pans. Hundreds of thousands of globally threatened Lesser Flamingos, along with Greater Flamingos, Chestnut-banded Plovers, Great White and Pink-backed Pelicans, and a host of other waterbirds converge on the nutrient-rich waters of the pans. As the pan dries out, the Sanctuary hosts the largest congregation of Lesser Flamingos in Southern Africa – a flamboyant spectacle and a must for any bird enthusiast.
Road transfer from Nata to Lake Ngami
1 Night at Lake Ngami
Lake Ngami lies in the North of Botswana on the edge of the Kalahari Desert. The lake is arguably Southern Africa’s most exciting and vibrant wetland that has attracted many thousands of birds and remains an important habitat for birds and wildlife, especially in flood years. Tens of thousands of birds enjoy the ideal breeding conditions and abundant food at the lake. During the rainy season raptor species such as lesser Spotted and Steppe Eagles, and Amur and Red-footed Falcons can be seen actively feeding on insects, the eagles pecking them off the ground, and the falcons hawking them from the air.
Road transfer from Lake Ngami to Shakawe
3 Nights at Shakawe Panhandle
Shakawe stands on the banks of a channel of Botswana’s Okavango River. It is a prime location on the Panhandle offering great fishing and birding opportunities. The banks of the river provides unique nesting sites for Bee eaters and the high reeds and papyrus become home for many birds species such as the Herons, Cormorants, Warblers, kingfishers, crakes and many more.
Light aircraft transfer from Shakawe to Xakanaka airstrip
2 Nights Moremi Game Reserve
Moremi is a fantastic birding destination, for both woodland birds and water birds. The guides tend to be enthusiastic bird watchers, which helps keen birders not familiar with the area. Walking is not permitted in the reserve,the use of mokoro (dugout canoe) trips offer a good opportunity for photography, as birds tend to let you come very close when gliding on the water. Moremi’s most sought-after special is the rather ordinary-looking slaty egret. Another wetland special, the gracious wattled crane, will be of interest to birders and non-birders alike.
Road transfer from Moremi Game Reserve to Khwai Conservancy
2 Nights Khwai Conesrvancy
The Khwai Private Reserve is located in the best location for both birdlife and game. It is the perfect location for excellent birding along the banks of the Khwai river which during the dry months of the year is the only source of permanent water in the whole area. This area is most famous for its raptor populations – Martial eagles, Secretary Birds, Bateleurs and a whole host of little raptors. There are wonderful water birds to be found along the Khwai river and this river is fairly open and makes for easy birding. Birds to look out for are Purple Gallinule, Saddle Billed Stork, Black Stork, Kingfishers,
Slatey Egret and a whole host of little Waders. The Surrounding Mopane woodland is home to a number of birds of interest too.
Road transfer from Khwai to Savuti Marsh
1 Night at Savuti Marsh
Savuti borders the Okavango Delta to the west and Chobe National Park to the east, this gives it the advantage of spectacular birdlife. The bird watching is excellent particularly in summer. Large secretary birds and kori bustards can be sighted strutting around the Savuti marsh and small redbilled francolins. Interesting summer migrants and water birds include a variety of storks, carmine Bee eaters and even fish eagles. Quelea finches are quite a spectacle as they sway around in thousands. They are in abundance in April when a flock could contain thousands of these little birds.
Road transfer from Savuti to Ihaha
2 Nights at Ihaha
Overlooking the famous Chobe River, Ihaha boosts tremendous views of the river offering the best birding and wildlife experience. Sitting within the Chobe National park which is the top birding spots in Southern Africa, with over 450 bird species most of them residing in the riverine woodland. Some of the bird species found here are the eagles, rollers, egrets, skimmers, geese, kingfishers and herons.
Road transfer from Ihaha to Kasane airport