Wild Birding | Wild Botswana: Bountiful Birds & Mammals

Wild Botswana: Bountiful Birds & Mammals

per person

From the salt pans of Nxai to the remote heart of the Kalahari and the iconic waterways of the Okavango Delta, this 21-day expedition offers an immersive birding and wildlife experience across Botswana’s most extraordinary landscapes.

Embark on an extraordinary birding and wildlife tour through the pristine wilderness of Botswana. One of our favorite tours to date, you’ll get to have an immersive experience that not only promises lots of encounters with rare bird species and wildlife but also allows you to explore many regions that few people visit. Beginning with the breathtaking Nxai Pan, where the scenery is simply unbelievable. As we delve deeper into the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, vast grasslands and ancient dunes stretch before us, offering encounters with Africa’s iconic wildlife. We’ll then make our way to the world-famous Chobe National Park, where you can expect a huge count of bird species, along with great wildlife sightings. Join us as we journey through untamed savannas, lush riverbanks, and expansive deltas, immersing ourselves in the rich tapestry of birdlife that thrives within these diverse ecosystems.

Bird count:

Over 400

Speed:

Slow – this tour was designed for people to get a fully immersive experience in some of the lesser visited regions in Botswana.

Difficulty:

Easy – but please be aware of the midday sun. Wide-brimmed hats are essential.

Sustainability:

Wild Birding designs birding and wildlife holidays that support conservation, empower local communities, and tread lightly. We work exclusively with trusted local guides and conservation-minded lodges, avoid crowded circuits, and keep group sizes small to minimise our impact. We actively encourage guests to take part in citizen science through eBird, and we’ve partnered with Sustainable Travel to offer optional carbon offsetting and direct support for local conservation projects.

Price:

Our tailor-made birding tours are custom-designed for each client, making standard pricing difficult. Costs vary based on factors like accommodation, group size, duration, and specific locations. For a personalised quote that matches your taste and budget, please contact us with your requirements.

For our Set Departure Birding Tours, with fixed prices, please click the button below.

Bird species highlights:

Western Banded Snake-eagle
African Hobby
African Golden Oriole
Hartlaub’s Babbler
Arrow-marked Babbler
African Yellow White-eye
Terrestrial Brownbul
African Paradise Flycatcher
Swamp Boubou
Yellow-bellied Greenbul
African Emerald Cuckoo
Levaillant’s Cuckoo
Black Cuckoo
Klaas’s Cuckoo
Jacobin Cuckoo
White-browed Robin-Chat
Luapula Cisticola
Chirping Cisticola
Black Coucal
Greater Swamp Warbler
Lesser Swamp Warbler
Great Reed Warbler
African Reed Warbler
White-fronted Bee-eater
Southern Carmine Bee-eater
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
Little Bee-eater
African Fish Eagle
Pel’s Fishing Owl
Wattled Crane
Slaty Egret
White-browed Coucal
Senegal Coucal
Coppery-tailed Coucal
Southern Ground Hornbill
Bradfield’s Hornbill
Ovambo Sparrowhawk
Little Sparrowhawk
African Goshawk
African Harrier-Hawk
Shikra
Gabar Goshawk
African Spoonbill
Yellow-billed Stork
Great Egret
Intermediate Egret
African Openbill
Hamerkop
African Darter
Saddle-billed Stork

Tour Leader:

Born in a village situated in the remote wilderness of Botswana’s Okavango Pan Handle, Disho spent a significant portion of his childhood engaged in hunting and trapping alongside his uncles—a customary practice for young boys within the Hambukushu tribe. These experiences played a pivotal role in shaping him into the exceptional guide he is today, possessing what appears to be a sixth sense for locating wildlife.

Upon completing a diploma in Travel and Tourism at college, Disho entered the tourism industry as a guide, dedicating himself to his passions for wildlife, conservation, and photography. His journey led him to undergo extensive training as a specialised walking and birding guide. Notably, Disho holds the distinction of being the first and only Motswana guide recognised as a full specialist birding guide by the Field Guide Association of Southern Africa (FGASA).

21 Days

Botswana

Departure

Fly with Ethiopian Airlines into Maun and fly out via Victoria Falls.
Included

Airport Transfers

Birding Telescope

Full board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Mineral Water

National Park Fees

Overnight In Top Safari Lodges

Professional Bird Guide

Professional Driver

Safari Vehicle

Updated Bird Checklist

WiFi

Our gallery

A few photos from our previous birding tours in Botswana

Arrival in Maun – Transfer to Nxai Pan

Arrive in Maun and transfer to Nxai Pan. Begin with an afternoon drive across the salt flats in search of Kori Bustard, Northern Black Korhaan, and Bat-eared Fox.

Nxai Pan National Park

Full day birding and game viewing in Nxai Pan. Target species include Double-banded Courser, Burchell’s Sandgrouse, and Crimson-breasted Shrike. Look for springbok, giraffe, and possibly cheetah.

Transfer to Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Drive into the vast Central Kalahari. En route birding for larks, chats, and raptors. Evening arrival and first game drive.

Exploring Central Kalahari

Explore open grasslands, dry riverbeds, and acacia scrub for species such as Eastern Clapper Lark, Rufous-eared Warbler, Greater Kestrel, and Pale Chanting Goshawk. Wildlife may include oryx, lion, and black-backed jackal.

Full Day Birding in Central Kalahari

Continue birding and game viewing across this starkly beautiful landscape. Look for Martial Eagle, Secretarybird, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, and African Wild Cat. A truly remote wilderness experience.

Central Kalahari to Gomoti River

Leave the Kalahari and travel north to the Gomoti River region, bordering the southeastern Okavango Delta. Mopane woodland birding along the way. Arrive in time for a relaxed afternoon birding session.

Birding the Gomoti River

Explore riverine forest and floodplain habitats. Target species include White-backed Night Heron, African Barred Owlet, Lesser Jacana, and Southern Carmine Bee-eater. Good elephant and hippo sightings likely.

Wildlife & Birds of Gomoti

Morning and afternoon drives or walks along the Gomoti River. Look for Greater Painted-snipe, Little Bittern, and water-associated raptors such as African Fish Eagle. Optional night drive for owls and nightjars.

Transfer to Moremi Game Reserve

Drive into the heart of the Okavango at Moremi Game Reserve. Game drive on arrival looking for Slaty Egret, Saddle-billed Stork, and Wattled Crane. Good chances for leopard, buffalo, and African wild dog.

Birding & Big Game in Moremi

Explore Moremi’s floodplains, channels, and mopane woodland. Birding highlights include Pel’s Fishing Owl, African Pygmy Goose, and Coppery-tailed Coucal. Wildlife sightings may include giraffe, lion, and spotted hyena.

Moremi Game Viewing

Another full day birding and wildlife viewing. Target African Jacana, Hamerkop, and Lesser Spotted Eagle. A great day for photography and tracking large mammals through varied terrain.

Transfer to Khwai Community Concession

Cross to Khwai, a productive birding and wildlife region bordering Moremi. Enjoy an afternoon game drive or birding walk. Look out for Arnot’s Chat, White-browed Coucal, and Southern Ground Hornbill.

Birding & Wildlife in Khwai

Explore a mix of riverine forest and savannah. Excellent chances for Rosy-throated Longclaw, Little Bee-eater, African Hawk-Eagle, and elephants crossing the river. Optional mokoro (dugout canoe) excursion.

Full Day in Khwai

Morning and afternoon birding drives. Search for African Paradise Flycatcher, Black Crake, and various kingfishers. Wildlife sightings may include hippo, sable antelope, and lion.

Transfer to Savute

Drive to the drier, more open grasslands of Savute in western Chobe National Park. Look for Kori Bustard, Rufous-naped Lark, and Rüppell’s Vulture. Afternoon game drive on arrival.

Savute Birding & Game Viewing

Full day exploring Savute’s open plains and rocky outcrops. Birding highlights include Red-necked Falcon, White-backed Vulture, and Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark. Lion, elephant, and wild dog are all possible.

Second Day in Savute

Continue birding and game viewing with a focus on dry country species. Look for Kalahari Scrub Robin, Yellow-billed Kite, and Crimson-breasted Shrike. Night drive or sundowner available.

Drive to Chobe Riverfront

Head north to Chobe’s lush northern boundary. Afternoon boat cruise or game drive along the riverfront, famous for its large elephant herds. Look out for African Skimmer and Long-toed Lapwing.

Chobe River Boat Cruise & Birding

Morning boat cruise to photograph waterbirds up close — species may include Collared Pratincole, White-crowned Lapwing, and Spur-winged Goose. Afternoon game drive in Chobe National Park.

Final Full Day in Chobe

Spend your last full day exploring Chobe’s diverse habitats. Birding and wildlife remain excellent right to the end — possible sightings include Goliath Heron, Brown Snake Eagle, and buffalo crossing the river.