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Birding expert shares top 10 birds to tick off at Chobe Safari Lodge

admin — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 10:33:09 +0000

Andrew de Blocq is the Avitourism Project Manager at BirdLife South Africa and one of the top birders in Southern Africa. He visited us at Chobe Safari Lodge earlier this year and compiled ten of his must-see birds in the immediate area.

Why Chobe is a top birding destination

The Chobe region is rightfully regarded as one of Africa’s top safari destinations. Perhaps the most unique feature is the access to its main feature, the Chobe River, which meets the Zambezi at the confluence of Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, known colloquially as “Bonazazi”. The river attracts a startling array of birds and animals seeking relief from the baking sun, and a boat tour surveying the edges of the mighty Chobe gives you unparalleled opportunities for natural encounters and photography.

For those inclined towards the local feathered attractions, there is plenty to see with well over 400 species of bird recorded in the area. These include some of Africa’s most charismatic and sought-after species. While the river is certainly the prime birding location, a drive through the nearby Chobe National Park and even a walk through the lush gardens of the Chobe Safari Lodge will reward you with pleasing sightings.

10 incredible birds to look for in the Chobe region of Botswana

Below I have listed ten birds that I consider to be top attractions in the Chobe region. I have stayed away from birds that are exciting but exceptionally rare (e.g. the Pennant-winged Nightjar) and have tried to satisfy both the enthusiastic lister through to the occasional avian observer by including species that characterize Chobe as a destination but also the African safari experience as a whole.

Putting this list together was a difficult task, but the easiest decision of the lot was which bird to start with – Chobe Safari Lodge’s icon.

1. African Fish Eagle

Like its American cousin, the Bald Eagle, the African Fish Eagle has become the iconic species of an entire continent. No African safari is complete without the regal call of this eagle, dubbed by many as “the sound of Africa”.

Photograph by Melanie van Zyl

While African Fish Eagles are widespread on the continent, the Chobe River is among the best places to see them. There are pairs of breeding birds scattered along the river edges and they have become habituated to the regular boat traffic, meaning that the normally skittish eagles are quite tolerant of passing boats and the whirr of camera shutters going off repeatedly. The best way to pick one up while out on your cruise is to look out for them perched in large riparian (riverside) trees. Their white head and breast help them to stand out against the darker background.

2. African Skimmer

Like the continentally iconic African Fish Eagle, the African Skimmer is synonymous with the Chobe River. These rather awkward-looking birds appear front-heavy, with their large red and yellow bills protruding from their tuxedo-like black and white bodies.

However, when you see these birds moving up and down the river this weird anatomy and their name all click as the birds expertly skim prey from the water, flying just above the surface and dipping their abnormally large lower mandible underwater to collect small fish and crustaceans. Flybys from family groups of skimmers is common on early morning and late afternoon river cruises, otherwise they can be spotted resting on sandbars, often among other species.

3. Collared Palm Thrush

Chobe Safari Lodge is famous in Southern African birding circles for this particular bird. The leafy gardens at the hotel are where most birders come for their ‘lifer’ tick because they are quite common and conspicuous here.

Collared Palm Thrushes and found practically nowhere else in Southern Africa, although they can be found more commonly further to the north and northeast. Collared Palm Thrushes can be inquisitive but will frustrate photographers as they seldom sit still and often flit in and out of thick vegetation. A walk around the bushier areas of the lodge should reward you with an enjoyable sighting.

4. Southern Carmine Bee-eater

From a reclusive resident to a very out-there migrant species: the pink lady of the African bush.

Photograph by Andrew de Blocq

Southern Carmine Bee-eaters are eye-poppingly beautiful with their dazzling hues of pink and blue contrasting with the comparatively drab bush backdrop. What makes them even more spectacular is their gregarious nature, with flocks commonly numbering into the hundreds. Watching a throng of these bee-eaters hawking insects in flight while chattering away to each other is a spectacle like no other. While the Big 5 are sleeping in the shade in the midday sun of the summer months, these birds can more than compensate for the lack of furry action.

5. Rock Pratincole

Another sought-after summer visitor is the Rock Pratincole. These birds will only visit the region in summer, but their presence can be unpredictable as they are sensitive to water levels. Their preferred habitat is on rocks protruding from river rapids so when the river gets too full and the rocks are submerged they will move elsewhere. They can be difficult to spot because of their camouflaged plumage, but they can be easily identified when seen by the white line under their eyes. One possible way to see these special birds is to book a tiger fishing trip as the feisty fish inhabit the selfsame shallow-water rapids as the pratincoles.

6. Southern Ground Hornbill

This enigmatic hornbill species is the envy of all the ladies with its luscious long eyelashes.

Photograph by Oliver Schapp

Unlike its tree-dwelling cousins (six other hornbill species can be found around Chobe: Southern Yellow-billed, Southern Red-billed, Bradfield’s, African Grey, Crowned, and Trumpeter), this hornbill struts its stuff through grassy patches looking for snakes, scorpions, grasshoppers, lizards, beetles, and whatever other small scurrying creatures it can snatch in its powerful bill. It is known colloquially as the ‘thunderbird’ because of its deep, booming call but also its connection to rain events in African lore. They are extremely territorial and aggressive to outsiders to the family group, to the point that they are known to damage cars, windows, and other property where they mistake their own reflections for intruders.

7. White-backed Vulture

This bird is not included for the way it looks (in fact, vultures are considered – unfairly I think – to be hideously ugly by many), but rather for its ecological and conservation value. Like your local binmen, they provide a vital service without much in the way of acknowledgement or appreciation. Vultures are nature’s clean-up crew, and without these scavengers, the health of the ecosystem and nearby communities are at serious risk.

Vultures can strip a carcass in record time, preventing outbreaks of diseases like rabies and tuberculosis as well as the spread of anthrax in the environment. Though the White-backed Vulture is the most commonly encountered species, it is considered Critically Endangered meaning that without significant intervention it is likely to become extinct within our lifetimes. The vultures as a group are facing a grim future in the face of mass poisoning events, lead pollution, and the wildlife trade, and it would be an indictment on us humans if we lost these important ecosystem service providers. Already, the White-headed Vulture is functionally extinct in this area, but the White-backed, Lappet-faced, and Hooded Vultures persist in dwindling numbers.

8. Coppery-tailed Coucal

The melodic, bubbling, waterfall-like call of the coucal emanating from the reedbeds is one of the emblematic sounds of the Chobe River. Coucals are a favourite with many guests because of their call and their attractive rufous, black and cream colouration, but what often ruins this loveable facade is their habit of ripping open weaver nests to feed on the helpless chicks. The coucals are a member of the cuckoo family (Cuculidae for the bird nerds out there) but are substantially different in two main ways. Firstly, there are relative brutes compared to their more delicate relatives with strong, powerful bodies and hefty bills. Most surprisingly, though, they don’t have the same well-known cuckoo behaviour of laying their eggs in the nests of other birds, which is termed brood parasitism. Like most birds, coucals do the responsible thing and choose to raise their own young. They do have some redeeming features, it seems.

9. Long-toed Lapwing

Long-toed Lapwings are synonymous with African swamps and are easily spotted with their pied black-and-white plumage. When agitated, they will fly up and down giving their scratchy, chattering call. Many visitors will have heard the tales of birds picking food out of the teeth of crocodiles. Lapwings are often the supposed dental hygienists in these stories, but it turns out there is very little evidence to support this association other than the Egyptian Plover, which is not found here. However, crocodiles and hippos do make use of the lapwings and thick-knees as sentries. When the birds give their alarm calls the aquatic behemoths take heed and head for the water to avoid whatever danger was detected.

10. Yellow-billed Oxpecker

One very well documented mutualism is that between oxpeckers and various African herbivores. There are two species of oxpecker in Chobe, distinguished by their either entirely red or mostly yellow beaks as their names imply. Oxpeckers are often seen hitching a ride and combing the fur of antelope looking for ticks and other parasites to snack on. What is less known is that the birds will also feed on mucous, eye gunk, dead skin, scabs, and even flesh and blood. Blood is a particular favourite, and sometimes oxpeckers will deliberately keep a wound open to keep tapping it for the protein-rich flow.

Photograph by Andrew de Blocq

I chose the Yellow-billed Oxpecker for this list because it is the prettier of the two and also the rarer. Red-billed Oxpeckers attend the full range of mammals from small antelope through to rhinos and even hippos.

Yellow-billed Oxpeckers, on the other hand, are not tolerated by smaller and thinner-skinned hosts because of their sharper claws, so the best way to find them is to search for big game like giraffes and buffalo.

The Green Season is the Best Time For Birding

Photograph by Cornelia Rautenbach

Although Botswana has no endemic bird species, it’s one of the easiest places in the world to find extraordinary feathered friends. Migrant birds will be swooping about all over the park between December and February. Why not spend your Christmas in Kasane? Baby animals, vibrant birdlife, affordability and the magnificent rains are just a few reasons to visit during Botswana’s lush Green Season.

CONTACT US TO BOOK YOUR BIRDING SAFARI TO CHOBE SAFARI LODGE.

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The Charm of Chobe National Park

admin — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 20:30:17 +0000

Chobe National Park is 11700 square kilometers of charming scenery characterised by the meandering Chobe River and the large game animals that thrive off it.

Chobe was Botswana’s first national park; first named Chobe Game Reserve in 1960 and then officially a national park seven years later. Located in Botswana’s beautiful northern region, Chobe is rich in biological and topographical diversity as well as an abundance of animal and bird life.

Here are just three aspects of many that make Chobe National Park a charming destination in Botswana:

River landscape

The Chobe River is the major natural feature in the landscape of Chobe National Park. Fanning out from this magnificent river and its forests, the park is characterised by floodplains and seasonal marshes that become incredible rocky outcrops beyond.

The park can be divided up into four areas according to their distinct ecosystems. These are the Chobe riverfront (also known as the Serondela area), the Savuti Marsh and Mababe Depression, the Linyanti Marsh with its jackalberry and sausage trees, and the lesser known Nogatsaa Pan covered in mopane and deciduous woodlands.

Elephants, elephants everywhere

Home to around 120 000 elephants, it is quite fitting that Chobe is fondly known as ‘The Land of Giants’. This is the highest elephant concentration in Africa and the largest continuous surviving elephant population on earth.

This impressive population lives in and around the park, making quite a splash as they head down to playfully swim and drink in the Chobe River during Botswana’s dry season from about May to October. As the rainy season sweeps across Botswana, they journey for 200 kilometres to the south-eastern regions of the park and beyond.

Watery wildlife playground

Chobe is celebrated for more than just its hefty herds of elephants. Healthy populations of buffalo and hippo are a part of the ‘wildlife furniture’ of Chobe and can be seen daily taking up their grazing spots on the lush riverbank or wallowing in the river’s cool waters.

Along with elephants and buffalo, the two feline members of Africa’s fierce and famous Big 5 are also found in Chobe. Lions often lie in wait nearby the riverbanks, stalking buffalo and other game animals such as bushbuck and puku. Leopard, cheetah and spotted hyena are fairly easily sighted further inside the park.

Birders can find out more about going on a summer birding safari in Chobe National Park.

Chat to us about planning your future safari in charming Chobe National Park.

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Rare Feathered Friend Visits Chobe Bush Lodge

admin — Thu, 28 Nov 2019 13:37:05 +0000

There has been much excitement around Chobe Bush Lodge recently, as a pair of red-throated twinspots was sighted in the area, a rare occurance as they are normally found in Zimbabwe’s eastern highlands and Mozambique.

Also known as Peter’s twinspot, the red-throated twinspot (Hypargos niveoguttatus) is a small bird about the size of a house sparrow – its height at 13 cms and weight just 15 grams. Their diet consists mainly of seeds and small inverterbrates, like flies and worms. You will usually find them in woodlands, grasslands and riverine areas in pairs or flocks, rather than as single birds.

The male of the species will, like most birds, have plumage and colours that are different to that of the female. These birds are monogamous unless its mate dies, at which point it will search for a new mate. The nest among the branches of a tree or shrub and lay about three white eggs.

Male red-throated twinspot

Female red-throated twinspot

Sightings like these are always special for everyone but in particular the avid birders. Even without rare sightings like these lovely red-throated twinspots, Chobe National Park is an excellent birding safari destination throughout the year. The Chobe River provides ideal conditions for an impressive diversity of water birds, like the African darter, slaty egret and squacco heron, and then, from November to April, Chobe really shows off as a birding safari destination the migrant species in full breeding plumage make their stopover in the park.

An easy way to get up close to these feathered beauties is on a private boat cruise. Whether a professional photographer or developing a burgeoning interest in the craft, the boat will afford you the opportunity to get some great shots, particularly since the birds are relatively indifferent to the boats. Staying at either Chobe Bush Lodge or Chobe Safari Lodge, puts you right where the action is on the river!

Contact us to book your birding safari in Chobe National Park.

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Festive Family Safari in Chobe National Park

admin — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 13:57:38 +0000

A family safari in Chobe National Park is an excellent way of retreating from the hustle and bustle of every day life to create special, lifelong memories together in the bush.

For a family visiting Chobe National Park in northern Botswana, there is loads of excitement to be had in the wilderness as well as learning about the fascinating stories of Botswana’s wildlife from local guides. This is one of Southern Africa’s premier wildlife destinations and offers a relatively affordable, ‘soft landing’ for a first-time family safari.

Here are three reasons to take the family on safari to Chobe National Park:

Meet the locals

Elephants leave the Chobe River after enjoying a refreshing swim

Chobe National Park is a stronghold of one of Africa’s most iconic wildlife species, the elephant. The park is the playground of approximately 120 000 elephants and it is almost certain that you will see large herds in Serondela frolicking in the cool waters of the Chobe River.

A lioness lies down to rest in Chobe Cational Park

Moving out from the Chobe Riverfront into the surrounding marshes and neighbouring dry woodlands, you will may find big predators like lion, wild dog and leopard. Some of the other mammals to keep an eye out for on your family safari are bushbuck, red lechwe, roan, sable as well as small predators like serval and wild cat.

A hippo shows off the species’ notorious grumpy and aggressive side

The Chobe and Linyanti rivers have impressive numbers of hippos that are partial to a grumpy temperament, even to the toothy crocodiles. Amazing birdlife, particularly aquatic species like the African darter and saddle-billed stork, can be spotted fishing and nesting along the riverfront.

Explore in different ways

A sunset boat cruise on the Chobe River

A river boat cruise will likely be one of the major highlights of your family’s safari in Chobe. As the Chobe River is a permanent water source in Botswana, water safaris are offered throughout the year from most riverside lodges and camps.

A safari by boat gives a different perspective of the Chobe River

From the water, you can really get up close to the animal and bird life that thrive around the river habitat, and they are generally not too concerned by the boats. Of course, a safari in Africa is epitomised by the traditional game drive, which takes you into different equally wildlife-rich areas of the park.

A safari by game drive vehicle in Chobe National Park

There are also exciting day trips to enjoy from Chobe National Park and its closest town, Kasane. You can take the younger kids to witness the natural might of Victoria Falls, while the teenagers can take an exhilarating dip in Devil’s Pool at Livingstone Island.

Stay in family-friendly accommodation

Aerial view of Chobe Safari Lodge overlooking the Chobe River

Chobe Safari Lodge and Chobe Bush Lodge are found in Kasane on the banks of the Chobe River, closely neighbouring the park. Both lodges have suites that comfortably accommodate families with children of all ages.

One of the children’s room at Chobe Safari Lodge

At Chobe Safari Lodge, you can book out a family room with separate children’s room consisting of bunk beds. You can feast on indigenous flavours of Africa as well as English and Continental as a la carte and buffet style meals.

The main lodge with swimming pool at Chobe Bush Lodge

Chobe Bush Lodge is conveniently located within eye distance of the Safari Lodge, which allows for easy movement between the two properties. There are four exclusive family rooms that are spacious for four people. Onsite facilities include a swimming pool, restaurant and bar.

Contact us for more information on our family-friendly accommodation in Chobe National Park.

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In the Press: Why the Rainy Season Is Still the Perfect Time to Visit Botswana

admin — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 10:17:16 +0000

In this December 2018 article in Culture Trip, South African-born travel writer and photographer, Melanie van Zyl, tells us why the rainy season is still the perfect time to visit Botswana.

An incredible place to visit at any time of year, Botswana tops the chart of Africa’s best safari destinations. Here’s why Botswana’s resplendent wilds are just as likely to impress during the rainy season.

Baby animals, vibrant birdlife, charismatic cats, scores of elephants, affordability and the magnificent rains are just a few reasons to visit during Botswana’s ‘Green Season’, often considered by many to be the worst time of the year to come.

One of the first things you’re likely to Google when travelling is ‘When is the best time to visit?’ For Botswana, some sites will recommend the dry, winter season between May and September, when temperatures are moderate and game viewing is said to be better than at other times of the year. However, experiencing Botswana in the ‘Green Season’ definitely has its perks.

The ‘Green Season’ is good value

Locally known as the ‘Green Season’, Botswana’s rainy, wet, summer season runs from December to March. The biggest advantage of travelling at this time is that visitor numbers dwindle, so you’re likely to enjoy a quieter, more personal stay at affordable rates as camps drop their prices by as much as 50 percent.

Discover Botswana’s beautiful beasts in the Okavango Delta

The November to February period is right in the middle of the heat and rain of midsummer. The Kalahari Desert is particularly stifling, but thankfully there’s a slosh of water, namely the Kavango River and its catchment area, cutting through this harsh environment and providing refuge for the wild world.

The Okavango Delta is a low-impact tourism destination and visiting requires off-road driving, boating or fly-ins using small aircraft. Thanks to this inaccessibility, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has been dubbed ‘the Last Eden of Africa’.

Spot tsessebe (the fastest antelope in the world) or shy water-dwelling sitatunga and enjoy the reinvigoration of the natural world as young, ungainly antelope join the herds. Botswana is also a hotspot for one of the world’s most endangered mammals, the African wild dog.

Tip: When staying at a lodge, such as the new Kwando Splash Camp in the Eastern Okavango, professional guides will be well acquainted with the movements of local lion prides, cheetah coalitions and the fast-moving, hunting packs of African wild dogs (named by World Wildlife Fund as the second-most endangered carnivore in Africa). In fact, these sought-after predators have territories so close to this particular camp that you’re likely to see them while eating breakfast.

See the wild from the water in Chobe National Park

The wide, wild Chobe River marks Botswana’s border with Namibia and provides both sanctuary and water for the many creatures of Chobe National Park. Most notably, this area is home to the African continent’s greatest concentration of elephants, with overall herd numbers at an estimated 120,000. They’re best admired from the water.

Tip: Many lodges in the nearby town, Kasane, offer sundowner cruises, but Chobe Safari Lodge is the closest base to the park for ease of access. You can also book a private boat for the early morning, when rain and thunderstorms are less likely.

Fall in love with Botswana’s birds

During summer, migrant birds swoop south and congregate in high numbers at various hotspots across the country. Even non-birders will be reaching for their binoculars during this active avian season.

Although Botswana has no endemic bird species, it’s one of the easiest places in the world to find extraordinary feathered friends. The Okavango Delta, for example, is a stronghold for critically endangered wattled cranes. For many twitchers, the ultimate sighting is the Pel’s fishing owl, a rarity that feeds on fish and frogs. Colourful bee-eaters snatch insects swiftly from the air, striking African skimmers flock to the northern rivers scooping up water using their specially adapted bills and the African fish-eagle lets out its resonating, soulful call.

Tip: During the Green Season, die-hard birders cannot miss the wonder of Godikwe Lagoon in the heart of the Okavango Delta, where waterbirds find safety from predators on islands surrounded by deeply flooded lagoons. Different species nest side by side in a seasonal ceasefire and create enormous breeding sites called heronries. Godikwe Lagoon is only accessible via boat when staying in lodges near to the Moremi Game Reserve, such as Kwando Splash Camp.

Dance in the rain

There is a particular reverence for rain in Botswana, which is called pula in the local language of Setswana. Pula is also the name of Botswana’s currency, and the colour blue dominates the country’s flag, representing the life-giving forces of water.

When the heat builds up and clouds eventually rupture with rainstorms, bringing water back to this parched place, join in the joy and soak up the open sky. After all, Africa knows best, that ‘no rain, no gain’.

Tip: During a stay at Mma Dinare Lodge in the southern reaches of the Okavango Delta, you may be so lucky as to meet the delightful camp manager Mmapula Malela. ‘Mmapula’ means ‘mother of the rain’, and rain is all that anyone can talk about in the heights of summer’s stifling heat.

Feature image courtesy of Melanie van Zyl for Culture Trip.

Chat to us about how the green rainy season in Botswana can make for truly magical safari in Chobe National Park and/or the Okavango Delta.

The post In the Press: Why the Rainy Season Is Still the Perfect Time to Visit Botswana appeared first on Under One Botswana Sky Blog.

Summer Birding Safari in Chobe National Park

admin — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 14:50:22 +0000

A birding safari in Botswana’s warm and wet summer months is a wonderful affair of colourful plumage and raucous mating calls that bring a special energy to the skies over one of the country’s premier wilderness areas, Chobe National Park.

While the dry winter season might be the time for excellent animal sightings, November to April is the period best-suited for avid birders and twitchers to pack their binoculars, cameras and bird books (or apps) for a birding safari in Botswana.

Squacco heron

Chobe National Park is blessed with the mighty Chobe River, a reliable water source that forms the country’s northern border with Namibia. As one year comes to an end and another begins, the sandy riverbanks and surrounding vegetation become a festival of migratory and resident bird species, both aquatic and terrestrial, that come to breed and raise their young in this natural paradise.

Water birds of Chobe

African jacana

There have been an impressive 450 migratory and native bird species recorded within Chobe, making this one of the top places for a birding safari in Southern Africa. One of the most thrilling ways to get up close to water bird species is by cruising along the Chobe River, where you can see the African jacana (Actophilornis africanus) or ‘Jesus Bird’, slaty egret (Egretta vinaceigula) and Southern carmine bee-eaters (Merops nubicoides). People often remark that many of the birds on the riverbanks are generally unconcerned by the passing boat, which makes for fantastic photography opportunities.

Terrestrial birds of Chobe

Kori bustard

While walking safaris are not permitted in Chobe National Park, the traditional game drive will allow you to tick off some of those birding specials, like the Knysna turaco (Tauraco corythaix), thrush nightingale (Luscinia luscinia) and, if you are lucky, even the elusive Pel’s fishing owl (Scotopelia peli). While on a birding safari, it will be hard to miss Africa’s heaviest flying bird, the kori bustard (Ardeotis kori) along with the Marabou stork (Leptoptilos crumenifer) or ‘Undertaker Bird’. The marabou stork is also considered a ‘wading bird’ so you can also find it in wet habitats.

Marabou stork

As Chobe National Park is considered one of the most bird-abundant regions of Botswana – if not in the whole of Southern Africa – a birding safari based out of Chobe Safari Lodge and Chobe Bush Lodge is not to be missed!

Chat to us about planning and booking your birding safari during the upcoming summer months in Chobe National Park.

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In the Press: Explore Four African Countries in One Easy Road Trip

admin — Thu, 25 Apr 2019 19:05:42 +0000

In her latest contribution to the internationally award-winning travel blog Culture Trip, Melanie van Zyl inspires readers to go on the ultimate self-drive safari that covers four African countries in one week on just one tank of fuel. We have pulled out some of the highlights below from this seemingly impossible adventure story titled Explore Four African Countries in One Easy Road Trip.

No signpost indicates the exact spot, but in northern Botswana near a place named Kazungula, four countries meet at the convergence of the Zambezi and Chobe Rivers. This is the African Quadripoint, where Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia and Botswana all flow into one border. Technically, it’s just water, but this quirky confluence occurs nowhere else in the world.

The Kazungula Bridge Project will eventually join these notable points, but the only way to experience this confluence today is by boarding the Kazungula ferry across the Zambezi River. It’s a border crossing for the bold, requiring time, hustle and patience. Luckily, there is another, much easier way to reap the rewards from the proximity of these four extraordinary countries.

Cruise your way across watery wonderlands, spend two nights in every country and explore the only international quadripoint in existence starting with Namibia. Anyone can tackle this easy tarred road trip route on one tank of fuel in roughly a week.

Namibia’s serene Zambezi Region

Previously named the Caprivi Strip, the Zambezi region is a narrow 500-kilometre-long finger of land that hovers between Botswana and Zambia. The Caprivi (as it’s still primarily known around there) is home to four different rivers, but the most magnificent has to be the broad Zambezi, which is where this epic journey begins.

Self-drive safari guide to the Zambezi Region

Stay here: To get to Zambezi Mubala Lodge, and for the ultimate aqua stay, you’ve got to board a boat. Spacious cabins face the Zambezi River and porthole-shaped windows, plus watercolour decor, reinforce the feeling that you’re floating on water. For those on a tighter budget, the more rustic, neighbouring tented camp is equally charming.

Elephants everywhere in Botswana’s Chobe district

Driving the short 70 kilometres south from Katima Mulilo, villages line the tarred B8 road. Look out for sand sleighs specific to this area. They are pulled by handsome cattle to more efficiently transport goods than any wheelbarrow could in this thick river sand. Cross into Botswana at Ngoma border post.

Self-drive safari guide to Botswana

Stay here: Closest to the Chobe National Park, Chobe Safari Lodge is Kasane’s oldest tourism establishment and has riverfront views. Book an original 1960’s era rondavel room, which has been modernised on the inside, but feels like a traditional safari stay on the outside.

Zimbabwe’s natural wonder at Victoria Falls

Onwards from Kasane, the abundant Chobe waters merge with the Zambezi River before the border crossing into Zimbabwe. Mosi-oa-Tunya, or “The Smoke that Thunders”, is the local name for Victoria Falls in the Lozi language and the next destination. A natural world wonder, bucket list tick and UNESCO World Heritage Site, the majority of the 1,7-kilometre-wide Victoria Falls is seen from the Zimbabwean side.

Self-drive safari guide to Zimbabwe

Stay here: Sip a Zambezi Lager at sunset and watch the wildlife drink at the waterhole from the sprawling deck above at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge. Bushbuck, guinea fowl and more walk the grounds, but the daily vulture culture feed will be the most memorable wildlife encounter. Critically endangered, the lodge has been feeding these curious birds for 19 years and every afternoon, they fly in from far and wide for a free feast.

Adventure abounds in Zambia’s little town of Livingstone

After seeing Victoria Falls from the many meandering viewpoints on the Zimbabwean side, the spectacle of spray and scenery is best appreciated from the sky. Breathtaking doesn’t begin to describe the half-hour helicopter flight with Batoka Sky that takes you looping above the wide waters of the Zambezi River before dropping right down into the untamed Batoka Gorge.

Self-drive safari guide to Zambia

Stay here: Another great hydrous hotel, the Victoria Falls Waterfront is perched on the banks of the Zambezi and offers adventure alongside creature comforts. The Explorer Club Africa is the on-site hub from which to organise any Livingstone exploits, from white water rafting to sunset cruises on a wooden-decked 1950s-era boat. There’s also a daily shuttle to see the Victoria Falls from the Zambian side or to explore the town of Livingstone, which is a little too far for walking.

Whether you are interested in taking this exciting self-drive safari or experiencing beautiful Botswana by itself, contact us to book your stay in Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta.

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President & 1st Lady at Chobe Safari Lodge

admin — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 17:39:52 +0000

Last month, Chobe Safari Lodge hosted His Excellency President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, Botswana’s First Lady Ms Neo Masisi and other dignitaries of the Botswana government, who were meeting with the Centre for African Resources Animals, Communities And Land (CARACAL), a non-profit and non-governmental organisation based in Northern Botswana.

As part of the tour led by the President and First Lady with CARACAL, the group gathered for a buffet lunch above the cocktail bar at Chobe Safari Lodge to review some of the projects they are running in the area to aid in community development and empowerment. Afterwards, they were treated to a boat cruise on the magnificent Chobe River giving them the opportunity to view the wildlife of Botswana’s northern region with our experienced guides. They were treated to afternoon snacks on-board with the Head Chef of the à la carte restaurant at Chobe Bush Lodge, Kagiso Hlabano.

CARACAL focuses on developing the livelihoods and capacity of local communities as well as securing the health of the ecosystems which communities depend on. The organisation has been operational for about 20 years, continually aiming to support the government in building Botswana and securing a better future for Batswana.

To experience all that Chobe National Park has to offer in terms of wildlife, local community spirit and hospitality, chat to us about staying at one of our lodges based here.

The post President & 1st Lady at Chobe Safari Lodge appeared first on Under One Botswana Sky Blog.

Giving Back: Community Christmas Celebrations

admin — Thu, 20 Dec 2018 19:48:26 +0000

December is the festive season and, for most people, it’s a time to celebrate with friends, families and colleagues. That’s why, as part of giving back to our local community, Under One Botswana Sky throws a Christmas party every year for orphans, vulnerable children as well as those with physical and mental disabilities.

This year, Chobe Safari Lodge was the place to be as we celebrated the 9^th Annual Christmas Party in a special way. This year, 220 children, 60 caregivers, 20 staff volunteers and 20 attachment trainees celebrated with Santa on a three-hour cruise along the Chobe River. From the river, they were escorted to the camp site where entertainment and lunch was served. As the day came to a close, the children were treated with goodie bags and handballs, before they went home dancing with joy!

This initiative started in 2009 in collaboration with organisations such as Red Cross Orphanage, Orphans from Chobe District Council, Children’s Ark, Metlayabofelo and Kachikau Special Unit Primary School. In 2013, we officially adopted the Kachikau Special Unit and are both privileged and proud to be part of this important organisation. Also at the event were representatives from the Chobe Regional Education, Social Work Department, District Commissioners Office, Fire Department, among various other stakeholders who had donated supplies and gifts for the event.

We believe in promoting a country of compassionate, just and caring people, which is why we throw this party to demonstrate genuine care and love to these children. Through this, we aim to help dispel the stigma that society has towards those who have disabilities as well as stressing that financial aid is not the only thing that children need that heart-felt affection goes a long way too.

Next year, it will be the 10^th Annual Christmas Party held by Under One Botswana Sky and we intend to continue this tradition for many years to come.

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#ThisIsChobe: In Abundance

admin — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 10:30:54 +0000

There’s so much to love about Chobe National Park that there’s even a four-day long #ThisIsChobe campaign dedicated to celebrating it – and it starts this weekend!

What is #ThisIsChobe?

The #ThisIsChobe campaign began in 2014 as a ‘Twitter safari’ to give both those who know as well as those who want to visit Chobe a chance to celebrate their love for or find out more about this top safari destination by simply following the hashtag.

Four years on and the campaign has extended to include Facebook and Instagram, but it continues to remain “dedicated to exploring and sharing the very best of Chobe”. This Saturday marks the start of this year’s event, which will continue through until this upcoming Tuesday.

What will we be doing during #ThisIsChobe?

The Chobe River, which Chobe Safari Lodge and Chobe Bush Lodge look across, is a well-known haven for local herds of elephants who come to quench their thirst or wallow in the cool water. On Monday, Chobe Safari Lodge will be hosting the #ThisIsChobe Team as well as representatives of Elephants Without Borders and CARACAL, two organisations that do wonderful wildlife conservation work throughout Africa.

We’ll be on the ground covering some of the events taking place over the four days. So, if you’re keen on joining us on our online safari in Chobe, check out our feed on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Why do we love Chobe?

Elephants everywhere: This lush paradise is the stomping ground of more elephants than anywhere else in Africa. If you love elephants like we do, you definitely need to plan a safari to Chobe National Park.

Diverse animal species: It’s not just about the ellies though. Chobe is also home to a wonderful variety of big cats like leopard and lions as well as plains game such as giraffe, zebra and different types of antelope.

Feathered friends from afar: Over 450 species of birds are found in Chobe and many of these are migrants who come to enjoy the warm and wet summers.

Water-based safaris: The mighty Chobe River and its waterways make for the perfect way to encounter game from a mokoro. And watching the sunset from a boat is simply spectacular.

To find out more about the #ThisIsChobe campaign or to book your Chobe safari, contact us.

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