Botswana & Zimbabwe May 2023
3 nights Leroo la Tau - 2 nights Xakanaxa - 3 nights Chobe Game Lodge - 3 nights Elephant Camp
Image 1: Zebra kick up the dust after completing the long trek to quench their thirst at the drying pools of the Boteti River
Thousands of Zebra kick up the dust, causing a stunning orangy back-drop for one of Botswana’s great natural spectacles - recent research shows that with a 560km round trip, they endure the longest mammal migration on the continent. During the dry winter months, they head to the nutrient-rich grasslands of the Makgadikgadi and make their almost daily trek to drink along the drying pools of the Boteti river, the extension of the Okavango. Quite often they only start arriving in June however due to a relatively poor rainy season this year, they have arrived early. The life-giving waters of this ephemeral river also host a plethora of other life in this fascinating corner of Botswana.
Image 2: Wildlife congregates in great numbers close to Hippo Pools
On our second full day we enjoyed great adventure as we took a day trip across the deep sands of the Kalahari up to Nxai Pan. This area hosts many Kalahari specials such as Oryx, Springbok and bat-eared foxes. After a hearty bush brunch under the watchful eye of a big bull elephant, we headed back to camp via Bain’s Baobabs. This is a fascinating historical site and also a natural wonder of the tree world!
Image 3: Baines’ Baobabs - in the middle of nowhere this historical landmark is a site to behold
After a wonderful few days at Leroo la Tau we hopped across on a 50-minute flight to the Okavango. Here we entered paradise by calmly ambling down quiet, Lilly-filled backwaters outside Xakanaxa, our home for two nights. The Okavango slowly revealed its magic and for the guests, the highlight was watching a young female leopard go about hunting – her choice of prey was a red-billed spurfowl!
Image 4: A bit of a harsh moment but this spurfowl was the meal this young leopard needed
I wasn’t too impressed with the way she played with her food before killing it but in the end, it was the meal she needed to sustain her for another day in the tough life of being an adolescent in this part of the world. In the evening she got so close as she stalked an adult male impala however even though she easily got into striking distance she seemed somewhat confused and realized her prey selection was a bit on the large side – she gave a half-attempt causing pandemonium in the impala herd – they regrouped and then followed her closely, snorting in disapproval!
Image 5: Angolan Reed frog (Hyperolius parallelus) was a wonderful highlight on our boat cruise
Image 6: For bird lovers and anyone who appreciates the variety of nature, we saw over 200 bird species - here a posing Western-banded Snake Eagle.
With many more highlights, we headed up to our next stop, the Chobe Riverfront at Chobe Game Lodge. This lodge is in an excellent location and being the only lodge situated inside the park allowed for a head start to one of Africa’s best game viewing areas. With excellent game viewing on the trip so far I wondered if the Chobe riverfront would reveal its magic with the large herds you find in the dry season. Even though it was May the game viewing was great! This promises to be an action-packed season ahead!
Image 7: This elephant took great exception having lions feasting on a warthog close to where her calf was trying to drink! Photographed at Kalwezi.
Image 8: The following morning we were blessed with more lions - it was a trip of lions and this one jumped across a channel at Puku Flats.
We took a road transfer to Victoria Falls to Elephant Camp. This is one of my favourite camps in the area – situated along the Batoka Gorge, just outside town, the area has wonderful vistas and a lot of wildlife. We enjoyed a relaxing sundowner above the roar of the rapids. The following morning, we headed down to the Falls to see it in full flood! Victoria Falls is always action-packed and as a group with different interests, we split up for various activities to appreciate the Falls from a helicopter, go zip-lining as well as shop to find treasures among the huge numbers of curious on sale. Over the next two evenings, we enjoyed a sundowner from a boat above the falls, and had high tea at the Victoria Falls hotel – our highlight though, was another morning safari though where we managed to find an elusive black rhino bull!
Image 9: A special moment - a young and inquisitive rhino bull steps forward toward us before promptly heading into some thick bush
We ended the trip with 31mammal species, a great total for a trip largely conducted in the Kalahari. We surpassed 200 bird species, which have all been added to ‘Birdlasser’ a citizen-science app. We recorded a handful of frogs and dragonfly species and appreciated a large botanical diversity across all regions.
