Planning a Botswana Safari
 

Hi. I am planning a 1 week safari in Botswana in June 2006. I want to see the lions up at Duba, so am looking at 3-4 nights at Duba Plains Camp.

Are there other camps anyone can suggest, where we can see wild dogs, maybe go in a canoe on the Okavango, etc.?

IMO, the very best place in Botswana for wild dogs is Selinda Reserve, either Zibalianja or Selinda camp...especially in June-August. The name Zibalianja means 'place of the wild dogs'. However, nothing can be guaranteed. You need different locations for mekoro, or canoe, trips in the Okavango...I'll leave suggestions to others because it's too long since I had that experience.

John
www.afrigalah.com

June 2007, you need to get cracking in terms of your reservations.....

I'd say contact your agent and see what is available for the dates of travel.

For wild dog.....the best places include, Selinda/Zib, Lagoon/Lebala, Duma Tau, Kwara in the delta, also Chitabe in the delta.

Ideally, if you want to try and visit all the places in your list, you may need a 10 night visit (minimum)

Rgds,
Hari

I'd suggest 4 nights in Duba because the pride can go to areas inaccessible by vehicle. They only stay away a day or two, so 4 nights would greatly increase your odds of seeing lions. If the lions are gone, there are still other interesting animals. I saw kudu, eles, several aardwolves, servals, huge numbers of bat ear fox in addition to the Duba pride.

Since you mentioned "see the lions" there would be no need for a private vehicle. But if you want to observe the spectrum of lion behavior over a few days and hopefully see them interact with the buffalo and hunt, then I'd suggest a private vehicle. It is the only place I've ever arranged a private vehicle and it made all the difference in seeing the unique lion-buffalo confrontations.

Wild dogs--like the others, I'd suggest Chitabe or a camp in Selinda or Linyanti.

For a mekoro (maybe a canoe) on the delta, there are many options. I like Little Vumbura (or Vumbura Plains) because the other game is so strong and you can see sable.

You mean 2007 I am sure so don't delay.

For a 1 week safari I would suggest to stay in 2 camps.

Because you haven't booked yet, chances of staying at your preferred camps is not guaranteed by any means.

Duba Plains can be tricky that time of year for the reasons Lynn explained. When I was there in June 2005, I had 4 incredible days, but the week before nothing much was going on and the day I left the buffalo crossed to Paradise Island (which couldn't be reached by car). With a short stay (3-4 days), it's the luck of the draw. Normally you should be able to do a mokoro trip at Duba that time of year.

I think Kwara is even better than Vumbura if you want to focus on canoeing/boating and having a chance of seeing the dogs at the same time.

Other good places to see the dogs are already mentioned by John, Lynn and Hari.

Best regards,

Johan

Raelond went to Duba in June.

Here's a link

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34833240

We saw the wild dogs on several occasions when we were at Duma Tau in October - and there was even a kill in front of us at the camp. The whole pack was there including the pups. As for the best time of year to see them -others will be able to advise you of that.

We also saw lions - in fact Duma Tau came up trumps when it came to sightings!

You might also consider Nxabega in the Ok delta as a fine place for mokoro, game drives, and a pleasant camp. Bell frogs serenade the place at night, and it's not at all unusual for elephants to roam through the camp.

best time for dogs will be denning season June to August or thereabouts. But, then......it depends year to year....one year they will be in the Kwando, one year in the Selinda, another year in the Linyanti (DT) never know. However, they do travel over long distances and with the right luck at the right time and place, and you may come across them.

I mentioned earlier about some of the better camps to see dog. Lebala/Selinda/Zib/DT essentially see the Selinda pack (number 16) at the moment. The lagoon pack of 6 have been seen very regularly in recent weeks.

Chitabe has a resident pack of dog. Check Gaurang's current trip report for more details.

kwara has a resident pack of 3. Also, in recent weeks have been seeing a new unknown pack of 14.

Hari

Thanks to everyone. Botswana does seem to require more forward planning then I thought. I will postpone to June 2008, and look at spending 10 days on Safari.

18 months in planning, and I leave tomorrow for South Africa. 2 nights in Sandton, and then onto the safari.

We are spending 4 nights at Duba Plains. The Private Vehcile has already been booked by someone else, so no private game drives.

Then 4 nights at Little Vumbura.

2 nights at Kings Pool.

1 night at J'burg airport, and back to Nairobi.

Can't wait :)

And you're off.

Looks fantastic!