Botswana's Desert & Delta (Mammals)

The Okavango is the world's largest inland delta. Rains falling on the Angolan Highlands, over a thousand kilometres to the north-west, feed the Okavango River which flows across Angola and into Botswana before fanning out over the vast, flat and parched deserts of the Kalahari, creating a lush wildlife haven covering over 15,000 square kilometres.

On all of these safaris we are based in mobile bush camps, set up on private and remote camping sites and looked after by a friendly team of local staff. All tents are equipped with comfortable camp beds (with bedding) and their own en-suite 'bush bathroom'. Our time in Botswana will be split between three nights in the Khwai Concession and four nights in the Moremi Game Reserve around 50 kilometres to the west. On each day we will be up before sunrise and —  to the sound of countless purring Turtle Doves — head off in spacious, open-sided safari vehicles on a morning game drive. After brunch and a siesta, we will set off again for a late afternoon drive. In the Khwai Concession, where night driving is permitted, we will have a sundowner after a couple of hours and then make our way back to camp, spotlighting as we go.

Our safari begins with a flight to Maun (via Johannesburg), from where we transfer to the Khwai Concession, a wilderness of wetlands, leadwood forests and open grassy plains. This reserve is looked after by the local Khwai people and is an excellent example of a community helping to protect, conserve — and benefit from — their wildlife. Game is abundant and includes plenty of African Buffalo, Red Lechwe, Southern Giraffe, Plains Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Tsessebe, Greater Kudu and others. If we are lucky, we might even come across a herd of Sable or Roan Antelopes. With such an abundance of prey, it is not surprising that there are plenty of predators too, such as Lions, Leopards and the occasional Cheetah. The Khwai area is also roamed by huger 'tusker' Elephants and there are plenty of Hippos in the river. At night, our chances of seeing Leopards increase, and we might add Honey Badger, Common Genet, Black-backed Jackal, White-tailed Mongoose and Spring Hare to our list.

The birdlife is also abundant and diverse. Widespread species such as Bateleur and Martial Eagle, African Jacana, Giant Kingfisher, Saddle-billed Stork, Goliath Heron and African Spoonbill will add to the usual plethora of rollers, bee-eaters, barbets, doves and other delights of the bush. Less common targets include the rare Slaty Egret, African Pygmy Goose, Southern Black Tit and night birds such as Verreaux's Eagle Owl and the extraordinary Pennant-winged Nightjar.

Leaving Khwai, we move into the heart of the Moremi Game Reserve on the edge of the Okavango Delta. The reserve covers nearly 5,000 square kilometres and is considered to be one of Africa's most important wildlife sanctuaries. It is one of the best places on the continent to see African Wild Dogs and we will make a special effort to find a pack. There are also Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Serval and plenty of Spotted Hyena. A large resident herd of African Buffaloes lives here too, stalked by no less than four prides of Lions!

Once again, birds are abundant, including, amongst many others, Southern Carmine Bee-eater, Dickinson's Kestrel, Rosy-throated Longclaw, Violet-eared and Black-cheeked Waxbills, Stierling's Wren-Warbler, Little Sparrowhawk, Southern Ground Hornbill and Black Coucal. These are just a few of the 200 or more bird species that we might see during our time in  Botswana, before we must return to Maun for our flight home.