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December 6, 2015

Best of Botswana

Africa Safaris Wildlife & Natural History

Part Two of a Two-Part Epic Journey Through Namibia & Botswana

We visited the Okavango Delta region of Botswana on a tented safari in August. I can’t say enough about the capabilities of the local guides—they were absolutely great—and the accommodations were amazing.

Our travels took us from Maun to Xakanaxa, Xugana, Khwai, Savuti, and Chobe (in that order). We saw 35 mammals and over 160 bird species in the course of 2 weeks, many of them up close and personal. This album is separated into wildlife parks and arranged in order of appearance to give a feel to the variety of life seen on a given day.

A safari tent with two twin beds, a green mat at the entrance, and a small chair and basket outside, set in a dry grassy landscape, captures the best of Botswana.
Xakanaxa—Moremi Game Reserve: Mobile Tent Camp Views
A large monitor lizard crawls through dry grass and reeds near a body of water, showcasing the rugged beauty that makes travel to Botswana an unforgettable adventure.
Xakanaxa—Moremi Game Reserve: Monitor Lizard
A saddle-billed stork stands majestically in a dry, grassy area of Botswana, showcasing its distinctive black, white, and red plumage along with a striking yellow and red bill—a sight that any travel blogger would eagerly capture.
Xakanaxa—Moremi Game Reserve: Saddle-billed Stork
Three zebras standing close together with one zebra's head resting on another's back. They have black and white stripes and are facing different directions against a dry, beige background. Perfect for a travel blog about adventures in Botswana.
Xakanaxa—Moremi Game Reserve: Zebra
A gray fox stands in the dry grass of Botswana, looking towards the camera with a neutral expression—an image worthy of any nature blog.
Xakanaxa—Moremi Game Reserve: Side-striped Jackal
A rustic wooden footbridge in a grassy landscape under a pale sky, leading towards a path surrounded by sparse trees, captures the serene beauty of Botswana travel.
Xakanaxa—Moremi Game Reserve: Bridge and Stream Crossings
Four people are on a safari in Botswana in an off-road vehicle. Two are sitting in the front seats, one in the back, and one is standing outside next to the open driver's window. They all appear to be smiling, capturing what could be their best adventure for their travel blog.
Xakanaxa—Moremi Game Reserve: Land-Cruiser Moments–Shane and Betta plan out the next part of the trip, with Ellen contributing to the discussion.
A spotted hyena stands on grassy terrain in Botswana, looking directly at the camera—a perfect capture for any travel blog.
Xakanaxa—Moremi Game Reserve: Hyena
A wildebeest and an impala graze together on dry grass in an open field with sparse trees in the background, showcasing the Best of Botswana.
Xakanaxa—Moremi Game Reserve: Wildebeest and Impala
A helmeted guineafowl standing on a fallen branch in a dry, forested area with sparse vegetation captures the essence of the Best of Botswana.
Xakanaxa—Moremi Game Reserve: Helmuted Guineafowl
A young giraffe nurses from its mother in a woodland area with dry grass and trees in the background, showcasing the Best of Botswana's majestic wildlife.
Xakanaxa—Moremi Game Reserve: Giraffe
A cheetah, mid-stride, walks on dry, yellow grass in the Best of Botswana. Its body is lean and covered with black spots on a golden coat. The cheetah appears alert and focused.
Xakanaxa—Moremi Game Reserve: Cheetah
A marabou stork stands on top of a leafy tree under a blue sky with scattered clouds, capturing the essence of Botswana's wildlife—a scene worthy of any "Best of Botswana" blog.
Xugana: Maribou Stork
A deer with long, curved antlers stands in a field of tall grass, facing forward against a backdrop of dry vegetation—a scene reminiscent of the Best of Botswana’s wild landscapes.
Xugana: Red Lechwe, Meechem Island
A bright-colored kingfisher with a blue head and red beak holding a small fish perches on a tree branch against a light background, offering an enchanting view for any travel blog on Botswana's natural wonders.
Xugana: Malachite Kingfisher with Fish
A small green and yellow bird with a long black beak is perched on a slanted twig, set against a blurred background of tall grass—truly one of the Best of Botswana's natural sights.
Xugana: Little Bee Eater
Three elephants standing in a shallow body of water, with tall grasses and trees in the background, create a quintessential scene perfect for any travel blog about Botswana.
Xugana: Elephant Crossing
A bird with a long beak and dark feathers perches on a nest built in tree branches, with green leaves partially visible, embodying the natural splendor found among the Best of Botswana's diverse wildlife.
Xugana: African Darter Colony
Three hippopotamuses partially submerged in water with only their heads visible. Grassy reeds are in the foreground, capturing a serene scene perfect for your next travel BLOG about the Best wildlife experiences in Botswana.
Xugana: Hippos, Palm Island
Sunset over a calm lake in Botswana with sun rays breaking through clouds, reflected in the water below, showcases the best of Botswana's natural beauty, making it a perfect travel blog feature.
Xugana: Sunset, Day 3
Two African wild dogs lie in the dry grass of a wooded area, showcasing the best of Botswana. One dog gazes towards the camera while the other rests its head on the ground.
Khwai: Wild Dogs
A large black bird with a red face and long beak stands in the tall, dry grass of Botswana.
Khwai: Southern Ground Hornbill
Two elephants, symbolizing the Best of Botswana, stand close together near water with their trunks raised.
Khwai: Elephant
Four elephants, including a calf, walk through shallow water at sunset in a grassy Botswana landscape.
Khwai: Elephant Wateringhole
A large red sun sets behind a silhouetted tree and dark landscape in Botswana, casting a striking glow in the sky. This breathtaking view is one of the best you'll ever capture for your travel blog.
Khwai: Sunset and Moonrise
A waterbuck with large spiraled horns drinks from a shallow water source in a grassy area, capturing the essence of the Best of Botswana.
Khwai: Waterbuck
Four warthogs walk in a line on dry, sandy terrain with sparse vegetation in the background—a scene straight out of the best of Botswana for any avid travel blog.
Khwai: Warthog
A large lizard with textured, spotted skin lies on the ground near a body of water, surrounded by green grass—a true sight to behold in the Best of Botswana.
Khwai: Monitor Lizard
A crocodile, camouflaged in the water with aquatic plants and grass around it, exemplifies the wild allure highlighted in any Botswana travel blog.
Khwai: Crocodile
A zebra and its foal stand in tall, dry grass with trees in the background, showcasing the natural beauty that makes Botswana a wildlife haven.
Khwai: Zebra
A deer stands alone in a dry, grassy field with sparse vegetation and rocks in the background, capturing the serene beauty that ranks among the best of Botswana's landscapes.
Savuti: Steenbok
Two giraffes stand together in a grassy, open landscape, showcasing the best of Botswana. The surroundings are sparse with scattered bushes under a clear, light blue sky—an idyllic scene perfect for anyone interested in Botswana tourism.
Savuti: Giraffe
An ostrich stands and looks off into the distance in a dry, grassy field, a typical scene in Botswana, one of the best travel destinations and top attractions for wildlife enthusiasts.
Savuti: Ostrich
A leopard stretches on a large rock in the savanna landscape of Botswana, with trees in the background.
Savuti: Leopard
A bird with vibrant blue, purple, and brown feathers sits perched on a dead tree branch against a clear blue sky—truly the best of Botswana's natural beauty.
Savuti: Lilac Breasted Roller
Close-up of an elephant's face in Botswana, emphasizing its eye and the detailed texture of its wrinkled skin—perfect for a travel blog image.
Savuti: Elephant
A group of elephants gather around a waterhole at sunset in Botswana, with a barren tree in the background. The sky is tinted with shades of orange and purple, capturing the Best of Botswana's natural beauty.
Savuti: Elephants
A leopard in Botswana stands on a muddy ground, holding the carcass of a large animal in its mouth, showcasing nature at its best. Perfect for an unforgettable blog post!
Savuti: Leopard
A hornbill with a yellow beak and patterned plumage stands on sandy ground with sparse vegetation, embodying the wild beauty often highlighted in the "Best of Botswana" blogs.
Savuti: Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
Two giraffes stand near grazing zebras on a grassy plain with a herd of other animals in the background, under a clear sky. It's the best of Botswana's natural beauty on full display.
Chobe: Mixed Group Scene
A baboon sits on a fallen tree trunk in a natural landscape with a body of water and grassy fields in the background, showcasing the best of Botswana.
Chobe: Baboon
A vibrantly colored bird with a red body and blue-green head perches on a bare branch against a light grey sky, capturing the essence of Botswana's natural beauty—a perfect addition to any travel blog.
Chobe: Southern Carmine Bee-eater
Lion standing on dry grassland with sparse vegetation in the background, a perfect scene for a Botswana tourism blog.
Chobe: Lion
Close-up of a warthog's face showing its prominent tusks and rough skin, surrounded by dry grass—a snapshot perfect for any travel blog about Botswana's wildlife.
Chobe: Warthog Snout
Owl perched on a tree branch, blending with the bark, in a dry, leafless tree, showcasing the Best of Botswana's natural beauty.
Chobe: Giant Eagle Owl
A small bird with vibrant green, blue, and brown feathers perches on a weathered log, holding its beak open as if calling out amidst the serene backdrop of Botswana's natural landscape. It’s moments like these that make travel to Botswana unforgettable.
Chobe: White Fronted Bee-eater
Close-up of an elephant's face and tusks, with a background of blurred trees and sky. The elephant's wrinkled skin and large ears are prominent, showcasing the incredible wildlife that makes Botswana travel so unique.
Chobe: Elephant
A hippopotamus grazes on grass in a field with birds perched on its back, a typical scene of Botswana travel. Trees and dry terrain are visible in the background, showcasing some of the natural beauty that makes Botswana tourism so unique.
Chobe: Hippo with Hitchhiking Oxpeckers
A white bird with a long, flat bill and pink legs stands in shallow water, illustrating the Best of Botswana with grass and muddy ground in the background.
Chobe: African Spoonbill

This was truly the trip of a lifetime (and we’re looking to see if we can manage some way to get back again soon!).

-Photos and text by WT adventurers Randy Roig and Ellen Sampson, Botswana: Okavango Explorer

Experience part one of Randy and Ellen’s southern Africa adventure, in Namibia, here!

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