skimmer

As mentioned before, timing a safari to Northern Botswana will be more difficult than in the past as we are going through a wetter cycle.

LV and Kwetsani will be affected (WS already mention it on his own website -> camp news Little Vumbura).

An example: paradise island in neighbouring Duba plains can't be reached now for some time (a couple of years now). I expect that a lot of the floodplains in Vumbura will be inundated during a great part of year and some of them won't also be accessible throughout the year.

The delta is going through some massive changes. We can only guess what will happen in the future but with more rain and floods in the pipeline, it's highly likeable that safaris in the delta will be much more of a challenge especially in the wetter parts.

Some will say that I overdramatise but having been there much more than most of the people here, I can easily see the differences between the drier and wetter years.

In the past, I always had better cat sightings in the Vumbura area than in the Jao concession. My thoughts about these areas: great in certain aspects but not top if you like to focus on certain animals/birds (f.e. I would prefer Xigera instead of Kwetsani (for birding) and Chitabe instead of Little Vumbura (for cats and dogs). The Jao concession has a problem with guide turnover and in Little Vumbura there is one superior guide as in Chitabe you have at least three (BB/Phinley/Newman).

My prediction about having massive fires, was sadly true as the Chobe/Linyanti area burnt once again last September. I don't see it really change in the years to come ...

Radio-controlled drives: one of the biggest problems these days as people want to see the same ... well even if you are staying in the same camp, you won't have the same sightings as the people in the other vehicle. I would prefer Savuti (smaller camp). Duma Tau and Savuti normally provide good sightings but it's often the luck of the draw. Something is involving around Duma Tau and you are rushing in from Savuti but you miss it. (or the other way around)

Hope this helps,

Johan

HariS

I just returned from Bots a couple of days ago, and I fully agree with Johan. Timing a safari in Bots during this wet cycle involves a lot of bravado and luck. The rains have already begun, with a couple of real big storms in the Linyanti and some real patchy weather in the Delta towards the end of September.

I don't know about these concessions listed here Jao etc etc., - but, not just massive changes in the Delta areas. But, there is overflow from the Linyanti and Kwando systems as well.

Massive changes indeed - look for example at the Selinda spillway and the amount of water around the Selinda. Look at the Eastern side of the Kwando concession that resulted in a new airstrip for Lebala.

Anyone read the Air Bots Peolwane September edition about the floods?

safariwannabe

Johan and HariS, thanks for responding. I'm rethinking the Little Vumbura/Kwetsani portion of the trip. As I was primarily looking at water based activities for these camps (I'm planning on Chitabe in addition to LV/Kwetsani), I'm thinking that 2 nights would probably be sufficient at one of these camps.

skimmer

For water activities, I would highly recommend Xigera. Try to organise a full day boat trip up to Sinbira (Chief's island where Mombo is located). Normally water levels will be high enough to do so. Birdlife will be fantastic and you'll normally see "red lechwe/hippo/elephant/buffalo" from the boat.
Xigera lagoon is normally one of the best spots to see "african skimmers".

I always found the gameviewing from the boats at LV quite poor ... Kwetsani is better but not on par with Xigera at all.

So if you primarily want to do water activities while there, skip LV or Kwetsani and go for Xigera. Two days will be enough if you just want to experience the delta from another perspective (mokoro/boat).

And I am sure you won't regret Chitabe. I always had phenomenal predator sightings there ...

Best regards,

Johan

safariwannabe

Thanks to everyone who offered help, advice and suggestions - here's what I ended up with:

Chitabe Lediba - 4 nights
Little Vumbura - 2 nights
Savuti - 3 nights
Vic Falls - Ilala Lodge - 2 nights
Little Makalo - 3 nights
Ruckomechi - 4 nights

atravelynn

Well done wannabe! Don't you have some reporting to catch up on?

christabir

Sounds perfect. Trying to get to LM and Ruck next year, too but probably in 2011 with Zambia.

safariwannabe

Your right Lynn, got sidetracked with the planning and works been brutal, but I should be finishing up the trip report pretty soon.

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