Botswana question
 

Hi

We have visited Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa on a number of occasions and are now thinking of Botswana in either July or October 2012. From reading various threads I understand that the game patterns have changed in the last 18 months as a result of heavy rains (eg the now flowing Selinda Spillway).

We are not overly worried about mekero trips - our main objective is high quality game drives (carnivores in particular) and we would not want to visit areas where game drives are significantly limited becaues of flooding. Where do the Botswana experts suggest we visit ?

In today's context of the wet cycle, there possibly isn't any concession/park which is not impacted by the effects of water (Northern Bots). There are road networks everywhere which are hit. Suggestion would be to pick a game area that is consistent and fairly reliable. You will still have a great trip and see something or the other.

For your time frame - recommend some of the Northern camps ...... Kwando Lagoon, Lebala, Duma Tau, Selinda (all wild dog areas). Particularly for October .... July will be more denning season.

I personally wouldn't go to the Delta camps in the winter - but, if you choose to you probably will still see something or the other. Choices aplenty and pick what suits your needs!

Thanks Hari

I actually have a lot of flexibility in terms of travel dates - and am particularly keep on maximizing wild dog spotting chances. When you say that you wouldn't travel in winter, do you mean northern or southern hemisphere winter ?

phil

I meant Delta specific camps in the Southern African winter, Phil. If it's your first time to Bots no harm in doing a couple of nights to get the delta feel. You might still see something or the other -

You can definitely go to the Linyanti areas for wild dog spotting chances in their winter. Kwando Lagoon, Duma Tau and Selinda are good options. All three have a good track record of dog dens. I don't know the history of Duma Tau(presumably very good), but, at Kwando Lagoon has had a dog den every single year (except 2006 when the dog pack was in transition that year. There was a Lion attack to the pack in 2005). End July into August might be a good time frame. Selinda didn't have a dog den for a couple of years (2006-2008) but, they have denned there the last few years again.

If October (as you mentioned) is your other option - I'd say, the pack will be mobile but would not be moving long distances due to the size of the puppies. Your options could be Duma Tau, Selinda, Lebala and Lagoon. (South to North)

Hi Phil,

IMO, HariS is the expert on Kwando camps as he has been to them many times. I have been to most of the ecosystems in Botswana during most every time of year but my Kwando experience is limited to brief camp visits. I will defer to Hari on the wild dog/Kwando question.

There was a very similar question to yours posted on Trip Advisor a few weeks back but it was about cats and not “all” carnivores. I am going to plagiarize my own writing from there. Below this information I will address your specific parameters. I realize you are only asking about Botswana but here are the best cat and dog places in my Southern Africa experience.

Cheetah – Go to Phinda in South Africa or Selinda/Kwando concessions in Botswana. Behinds these is the Linyanti Concession in Botswana or the Kalahari in the green season (Dec-Mar). I would not go to the Kalahari in June or October for cats. I saw 31 cheetah on one game drive at Phinda on my last visit. I saw cheetah just driving from the airstrip to Zarafa camp on the Selinda concession in Botswana. I have never seen cheetah on the Linyanti concession but I know many people do. I saw two cheetah in one day in the Kalahari in Botswana.

Leopard – The most “dense” spot is going to be anywhere in the Sabi or Sand River Valley in the Sabi Sands private game reserves adjacent to the Kruger National Park in South Africa (MalaMala, & Londolozi best IMO). In Botswana, the best leopard in my experience are on the Linyanti concession (Duma Tau, Savuti, Kings Pool) or at Chitabe (Wilderness Safaris) or Sandibe (&Beyond). Chitabe and Sandibe are in in the Okavango Delta but their elevation is higher than typical concessions and most of the land is dry year round. Chitabe only offers land based game drives and a very large concession.

Lion – Mombo, Duba Plains, Chief’s Camp in Botswana. MalaMala/Lion Sands in South Africa. The water at Duba Plains will be quite restrictive in June. You will also have a very good chance of numerous lion sightings in the Linyanti.
Wild Dog – I saw 23 wild dog on the Mana Pools (Zimbabwe) flood plains by Vundu last month and six more at Ruckomechi in Mana Pools last month. I saw four at Madikwe near Maori & Madikwe Safari Lodge last month. I saw 13 at Duma Tau (Linyanti) last year.

Caracal & Civet Cats – I have seen both at Chitabe (Okavango Delta) and Caracal at Little Makalolo (Hwange) in the past 24 months – always at night of course. I think I saw Caracal at MalaMala once but I do not take animal photos on safari or keep a journal of animals so my memory may be foggy. I realize Civet is a rather general term for several cat species but I am referring to the one in Botswana.

Hyenas – you will see them everywhere.

Carnivorous Birds – you will see them everywhere as well. They do not migrate as much as other bird species.

Crocs – anywhere on the banks of the Delta or Zambezi (Mana Pools) or Chobe River systems.

If you really want to maximize the chances of seeing animals AND money is not a top consideration, I would choose September/October over June. In June, you could have some quiet mornings if it is really cold and this is also the peak month for floods (along with May). Many of the Botswana places I mentioned above are not prone to flooding effects – especially Chitabe and the Linyanti. Selinda, Duba, and Mana Pools are very prone to the effects of flooding or seasonal game variation.

In my experience, most of the places in Botswana reach a stable level of excellence by late June where Mana Pools and Selinda get better and better until the rains begin in November.

If you are really a carnivore fan, then I suggest Chitabe, Savuti/Duma Tau, and Sabi Sands for a total of 9-10 days in September or October.

Craig Beal – owner – Travel Beyond

Not sure why I read June instead of July. July and October are typically the same price at most lodge chains. Go later!

Craig Beal - owner - Travel Beyond

Cheetah in the Linyanti Concession - the famous, Blood Brothers (Savute boys from the Nat Geo documentary) were originally from there (spent a lot of time there during their reign at the top) and ofcourse, extended their home range to Include the Selinda and Kwando concessions later on.

WRT Cheetah, Kwando camps have never disappointed me.

Kwara in the Green Season months are awesome too ..... I'd say Nov/Dec/Jan.

A big thank you to Craig and Hari for all your fantastic advice. Based on this, I think we'll be going in October - or perhaps first week of November when the rates seem to drop by around 35%

Phil

November is a fine choice to secure better rates.