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There is no doubt about it - with about 577 bird species including over 500 regularly occurring species, Botswana offers some brilliant birding opportunities. The country is essentially a semi-desert, covered largely by dry tree, shrub and grass savanna (a fine example being the Central Kalahari Game Reserve). Only in the wetter north (Okavango Delta and, within it, the Moremi Game Reserve) and northeast sectors (Chobe National Park and the Kasane Forest Reserve); do tropical woodlands occur. In the extreme southwest the dunes of windblown sand form a transition between the Kalahari and Namib-Karoo zones (Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park). There are no endemic bird species in Botswana, and the country's only near-endemic is the Short-clawed Lark with the major global stronghold in the grasslands of the south-east (Gaborone - Ramatlabama area). However, populations of globally threatened Wattled Crane and Slaty Egret in the north are of international importance. When flooded, Sowa Pan, to the east of the Makgadikgadi Pans, attracts globally significant numbers of Lesser and Greater Flamingos. Breeding occurs sporadically, every five or six years, depending on the water levels, such as after the rainy season of 1999-2000, when more than 200,000 flamingos concentrated to breed in the shallow saline lake formed in the pan. Kalahari When to travel |
Chobe National Park
WebsiteSatellite View
Chobe National Park The Chobe National Park (with 450 species – Botswana's longest list) in the north-east provides a similar habitats on a much smaller scale: the Chobe River itself, seasonally inundated floodplains, covered with reeds; riverine woodland and further from the river, mixed broadleaved woodland. Special birds include: African Finfoot, White-backed Night and Rufous-bellied Herons, Slaty Egret, Bradfield's and Trumpeter Hornbills, Narina Trogon, Pennant-winged Nightjar, Racket-tailed Roller, Half-collared Kingfisher, Green-capped Eremomela, Angola Rock Thrush, Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah, Golden-backed Pytilia, Eastern Bearded Robin, Red-faced Cisticola, Collared Palm Thrush, Coppery and Purple-banded Sunbirds, and Pink-throated Longclaw. Getting there: The entry point to Chobe is the village of Kasane, reachable by tarred roads but, with exception of the Kasane – Ngoma Bridge (tarmac); all roads in the park are sandy tracks negotiable by 4x4 only.
Makgadikgadi Pans
WebsiteSatellite View
In years of high rainfall, a shallow alkaline lake system, the Makgadikgadi Pans (16,000 square kilometres) are formed. The pans are famous for their large flamingo breeding colonies. Other special birds include: White Pelican, Secretary-bird, Montagu's and Pallid Harriers, Marshal and Tawny Eagles, Red-necked Falcon, Greater, Lesser and Red-footed Kestrels, Burchell`s and Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Wattled and Crowned Cranes, Ground Hornbil, Bronze-winged courser, Red-winged and Black-winged Pratincoles, Spike-heeled, Pink-billed, Rufous-naped and Clapper Larks, Chestnut-backed Finchlark, Capped Wheatear. Getting there: All roads in the Makgadikgadi & Nxai Pans National Park are negotiable by 4x4 only. There are several basic campsites in the park, lacking any facilities and without potable water.
Okavango Delta
WebsiteSatellite View
In the northwestern corner of Botswana is the inland delta of the Okavango (18,000 square kilometres) where the Kavango River spreads out into a maze of channels, lagoons and backwaters, creating the largest Ramsar site in the world. Habitats range from open grasslands (seasonally flooded) and palm fringed islands with tall stands of mature woodland, to ample Papyrus and Phragmites which line the waterways and lagoons, and lush riverine forests along the riverbanks. The threatened Wattled Crane and Slaty Egret have their global stronghold in this area. Other special birds include: Pink-backed Pelican, Rufous-bellied and White-backed Night Herons, Pygmy Goose, African Skimmer, Pel's Fishing Owl, Coppery-tailed Coucal, Pink-throated Longclaw, Red-winged Pratincole, Chirping Cisticola, Long-toed Plover, Swamp Boubou, Bat Hawk, Western Banded Snake and Long-crested Eagles, Southern Carmine Bee-eater, Narina Trogon and Brown Firefinch. Getting there: The entry point for most tourists is the town of Maun. While western Delta and Panhandle, as well as Moremi Game Reserve are reachable by car (4x2 and 4x4, respectively); light aircrafts are the best way to get around the most of the delta if time matters.
Dragan Simic
Environmental & Travel Journalist
birdingserbia@gmail.comhttp://www.birdtours.co.uk/tripreports/botswana/gaborone/Gaborone.htm
Other material - Andrew Hester
Bird Guide - Western Cape - 0027 +83 456 1824
shoebill@yebo.co.za
Number of bird species: 577
Bird Atlas of Botswana
Huw Penry Paperback - 350 pages (November 1994) University of Natal PressISBN: 0869808958
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Newman's Birds of Southern Africa
Kenneth Newman 527 pages, col photos, col plates, maps. New Holland PublishersISBN: 1868727351
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Photographic Guide to Birds of Prey of Southern, Central and East Africa
David Allan, Peter Hayman (Illustrator) Paperback - 144 pages ( 1 November, 1996) New Holland Publishers (UK)ISBN: 1868725219
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Southern African Birdfinder
Where to find 1400 bird species in southern Africa and Madagascar Callan Cohen, Claire Spottiswoode and Jonathan Rossouw 456 pages, 80 col photos, 100 maps, pull-out route map. New Holland Publishers 2006ISBN: 1868727254
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The Larger Illustrated Sasol Guide to Birds of Southern Africa
Ian Sinclair (Editor); Phil Hockey (Editor); Peter Hayman (Illustrator); Norman Arlott (Illustrator) Paperback - 448 pages New Ed (1997) New Holland PublishersISBN: 1770072438
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National parks and game reserves bookings
Bookings aren't available at the park gate, and without one you will be denied entry to the park. Book through Department of Wildlife and National Parks (phone +267 580-774, fax +267 580-775, e-mail dwnpbots@global.bw or dwnp@gov.bw, PO Box 131 Gaborone) in the Government enclave in Gaborone. When booking include the name of the park, the campsites requested, the dates of arrival and departure, the total number of campers and whether they are citizens, residents or visitors to Botswana.
Proact
Coordinator: none (why not apply?) see http://www.proact-campaigns.net/coordinators
Members: None yet!
Join us at http://www.proact-campaigns.net/team
African Bird Club
WebsiteWith a good tourist infrastructure, friendly people and over 500 regularly occurring species, Botswana offers many opportunities for the birdwatcher. It also contains the Okavango delta, one of the jewels of Africa and home to an amazing variety of wildlife. Birdwatching however, can start in and around the capital, Gaborone.
BirdLife Botswana
WebsiteThe BirdLife Botswana (former Botswana Bird Club) aims to conserve and protect birds and their habitats. Write at blb@birdlifebotswana.org.bw, or: The Secretary,BirdLife Botswana, Private Bag 003, Suite 348, Mogoditshane, Gaborone, BOTSWANA. Please also contact Guy Brina for Francistown information (gltm@botsnet.bw) and Roger Hawker for Maun Branch information (birdlifetours@dynabyte.bw) or contact BLB (subject: Francistown/Maun Branch).
BirdLife Botswana - Francistown Branch
WebsiteBackground history etc...
BirdLife Botswana - Gaborone Branch
WebsiteBackground History & Contacts etc...
BirdLife Botswana - Kasane Branch
WebsiteContact details, meetings, etc...
BirdLife Botswana - Maun Branch
WebsiteContacts, meetings etc...
Kalahari Conservation Society
WebsiteWelcome to the home page of the Kalahari Conservation Society. The aims of the KCS are simple but of prime importance to the future of Botswana, to the conservation of the natural heritage, and indeed to the economy...
Chobe National Park
WebsiteSatellite View
The natural unspoiled environment of the Chobe, makes one to wonder whether there is any other place in the world where the sun rises and sets in its own peculiar way like it does in Chobe region…
Gemsbok National Park
InformationSatellite View
The Gemsbok National Park in Botswana is the continuation of the Kalahari Gemsbok Park in South Africa, from which is separated by the dry riverbed of the Nossob River. It covers an area of 9000 square kilometres of Kalahari Desert. The entrance to the park is at Twee Rivieren…
Mokolodi Nature Reserve
WebsiteSatellite View
The Mokolodi Wildlife Foundation was formed in 1991 with the aim of promoting wildlife conservation and environmental education for the children of Botswana. The first project of the Foundation was the creation of the Mokolodi Nature Reserve in 1994 on 30 square km of donated land outside Gaborone, the capital of Botswana. In addition to naturally-occurring animal species such as warthogs, steenbok, kudu and a variety of snakes, several species have been re-introduced e.g. zebra, giraffe, eland, ostrich, hippos and rhinos.
Okavango Delta
InformationSatellite View
The Okavango Delta is home to a prosperity of wildlife and attracts thousands of visitors a year...
This section sponsored by: 
2002 [October] - Tony Coatsworth - Victoria Falls - Botswana
ReportList of nearly 200 birds and over 30 mamals seen with notes and pages of pictures.
2003 [February] - Jos Stratford
ReportBeginning a trip to northern Botswana in the south of South Africa, some 2000km from the desired spot, might not seem the most logical thing to do, but that`s exactly what I did...
2003 [October] Eduard Sangster
ReportCape, Namibia, Botswana, Kruger, Swaziland and Kwazulu-Natal...
2004 [December] - Richard Rae
ReportThis is a report on a trip to Namibia and northern Botswana by Richard Rae and Emer Callanan. The trip was based around the best birding sites, and most time was spent on birding, although some time was also spent doing other activities, which resulted in some species being missed that would probably have been seen on a hard-core birding trip...
2006 [December] - Pat & Judy Hayes - Real Birder
ReportSuffice to say, it was agreed that we would produce an itinerary which Rockjumper would fine tune, cost and return, for our approval. The itinerary was a well tried & tested one, Walvis Bay, Etosha, the Caprivi Strip & the Okavango Panhandle. It soon became apparent that a trip of more than the standard 14 days was required so we opted for 17 days birding with 2 days travelling to and from Namibia.
2006 [October] - Bo Beolens
ReportThis leg was a truly marvellous 2-week multi-nation birding safari. The adventure first sampled one of the richest birding regions in Africa, the Victoria Falls/Caprivi/Okavango region. This is one of the greatest bird (both water birds and woodland species) and mammal havens on earth. The itinerary then took us westwards into increasingly dryer habitats and eventually into the very heart of the Namib Desert with its beautiful, rugged mountains, gravel plains, camelthorn-lined dry riverbeds, dunes and more. The stunning, scenically diverse Namib Desert (which extends into southern Angola) is inhabited by a host of endemic bird species. Finally, this leg ended on the Namib Coast. Here, Namibia’s only true endemic (Dune Lark) displays above sparsely vegetated red sand dunes, the diminutive, endangered Damara Tern reaches its highest densities anywhere, the beautiful Chestnut-banded Plover runs over the sand, and an amazing spectacle of flamingos, pelicans, waders and grebes work the Walvis Bay Lagoon...
2007 [July] - Lawson's Birding and Wildlife Tours; Namibia & Botswana
ReportThis all-encompassing Namibia and Botswana tour produced and excellent total of 350 bird species considering it was mid-winter with a distinct absence of intra-African and Palearctic migratory species. For me Namibia is a special place - a vast country with spectacular scenery, brimming with endemic birds...
2010 [August] - Glen Valentine - with Namibia & Victoria Falls
Report...We headed further east along the Golden Highway through the fabled Caprivi towards Botswana and the Okavango Panhandle where the Okavango River spreads out into the sandy Kalahari soils to form the staggeringly expansive floodplain of the Okavango Delta....
2010 [August] - Josh Engel & Charley Hesse
Report...By the water's edge we saw Little Grebe, Reed Cormorant, African Darter, Striated Heron, Hamerkop, Hadeda Ibis, Red-billed Teal, Southern Pochard, African Pygmy-goose, Blacksmith Lapwing and the seldom seen Allen's Gallinule. Other birds in the grounds themselves were African Harrier Hawk, Little Bee-eater, African Hoopoe, Bradfield's Hornbill, Wattled Starling, Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver, Red- billed Firefinch, Blue Waxbill & Village Indigobird...
Birding Sites Near Gaborone - Dragan Simic
ReportApproximately the size of France or Texas and land-locked in the heart of southern Africa, Botswana has about 150 resident birders and about 560 bird species (320 non-passerines and 240 passerines); with more than 500 being regular - as well as 12 globally Important Bird Areas (IBA) covering 130,000 km2 or 25% of the country`s territory.....Dragan Simic reports
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Birding Pal
InformationLocal birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...
Birding Safaris
InformationA listing of various safaris for birders...
Rockjumper Birding Tours
Tour OperatorBotswana is without a doubt one of the greatest safari nations in Africa, and while it doesn’t offer any endemic birds, the sheer volume and diversity of birds and wildlife, especially in the Okavango Delta, makes this a thoroughly worthwhile destination.
SafariWise
Tour OperatorSafariWise was founded in Namibia in 1992 and operated in Botswana and Namibia. In 1999 the company spread its wings to South Africa where it trades as SafariWise (South Africa), and also started doing Safaris to Mozambique...
Wilderness Safaris
Tour OperatorForget big lodges with large numbers of tourists . They are not for anyone who wants to capture the heart and soul of Africa. We learned this from the guests we guided over twenty years ago and it is even more relevant in today`s fast moving and crowded world. When we created Wilderness Safaris in 1983 we had this obsession for privacy ingrained in our philosophy and it is an integral part of our culture today...
Cresta Mowana Lodge, Xigera Camp & Chitabe amp
AccommodationChitabe confina con la Moremi Game Reserve...
Mowana Safari Lodge
AccommodationA deluxe hotel, the Mowana is the finest safari lodge in the Chobe National Park. This spectacular park is home to over 45,000 elephants. The hotel features early morning game drives and sunset river cruises. Enjoy spectacular river views from your private balcony. Rooms offer all the modern luxuries. Other amenities include air conditioning, airline desk, bar, car parking, conference rooms, direct-dial telephone and free transfer to and from the airport. The hotel offers free game viewing.
Nata Lodge
AccommodationStill under construction after 2 years...
Sandibe Safari Lodge
AccommodationOkavango breezes to cool the rooms, which are decorated in a rich and sensuous fusion of ochres and textures, from leather to silk and wood. Private verandahs and decks are idyllic vantage points in this wildlife paradise...
Birding Botswana
WebsiteBirding Botswana is based in the tourist capital of Botswana – Maun, the gateway to the world-famous Okavango Delta. This specialist birding operation has established itself to meet the needs of birders who want to be professionally informed about the birding possibilities in Botswana...
Checklist
WebsiteSouthern Africa Birding
WebsiteBirding Resources for Southern Africa. This site is about birds and birding in South Africa and the Southern African region, including Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho, and Zambia. The region`s best birding sites are featured under Birding Spots, together with birding resources under Bird guides, tours and Accommodation. The latest rare bird sightings are posted on our Twitchers Tales page, What`s On highlights major events, and Birding Organisations puts you in touch with other birders and organisations working towards bird conservation.
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This site was last updated on Monday, 30th January 2012.
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