Botswana, Africa

OKAVANGO DELTA, LANDSCAPES, WILDLIFE, BIRDS & STAR-FILLED SKIES 

August 5-14, 2024 – SOLD OUT

10-DAY WORKSHOP – $8995**

MEET AND GREET ON August 5, 2024 at Maun International Airport, Botswana

**$8995 for Single Occupancy rooms in very comfortable lodges that are near the prime game viewing areas.

**$7995 for Double Occupancy

This price also includes all park fees and park entrance fees, all meals, all transportation during the workshop in private vehicles, two games drives per day (over land or overwater game “basts”), private guides at all lodges and photography instruction by Bryan Peterson. 

Don’t miss out on our inaugural Botswana workshop!  By popular demand, we are going to Botswana and we are so excited to have this sensational trip on our 2024 workshop schedule.  Working with our partner in southern Africa, we have chosen lodges that are close to the prime viewing areas for wildlife, which will be ideal for both landscape and wildlife photography and charter flights between lodges to make maximum use of your time.  And if you are a birder, you will be delighted with the abundant and rare birds like the African paradise flycatcher, Carmine bee-eaters, waterfowl, raptors and the endangered wattled crane that make Botswana their home.

Situated in the southern reaches of Africa, Botswana is renowned for its pristine wilderness areas characterized by deep lagoons, wetlands, lush palms, rugged hills and desert plains. These natural wonders provide a tranquil haven for an abundance of African wildlife to thrive.  The vast red expanse of the Kalahari Desert and its remarkably beautiful Okavango Delta, the largest inland delta in the world, the wildlife density and the relaxed attitude animals have around vehicles and boats make Botswana a bucket list trip for every wildlife and birding photographer.

We will take a boat cruise on the Chobe River which will bring us up close to elephant, hippo, and buffalo, in addition to highly sought after bird species, such as the African skimmer.  Twice daily game drives over land and over water with our private guides at each of the lodges will position us for the best landscape and wildlife viewing and photographs.  

Check out this Botswana 2024 Workshop overview provided by our local provider:

www.Botswana_LisaPhillips.com

Provided below is a detailed itinerary.  Make your deposit today for this fantastic new workshop.

August 5-6:  Maun

We begin our photography workshop in Botswana at the Maun International Airport.  Our private driver will pick us up at the airport and transfer us to our accommodations at the Thamalakane River Lodge for the night.

Accommodation:  Babbler Chalets at the Thamalakane River Lodge

Thamalakane River Lodge is ideally located an easy 20-minute drive from Maun Airport en route to the famous Moremi Game Reserve. It is a secluded haven of tranquility nestled in a grove of mature riverine trees on the bank of the Thamalakane River. The rambling lodge has an idyllic setting and is committed to service excellence.  Accommodations will be in en-suite stone chalets, positioned in the shade of the riverine forest, overlooking the river. All chalets and common areas have terraces that take advantage of the serene 180-degree view of the riverbanks lined with fluttering reeds visited by an ever-changing array of waterfowl and birds. Each spacious chalet has a stone wall with an en-suite bathroom consisting of a shower, hand-basin and toilet.

August 6-9:  Mapula and Sekwana Concession, just north of the Okavango Delta

After breakfast on August 6, our private driver will take us to the Maun International airport where we will catch a charter flight to Jumbo Junction.  After a short ride we will arrive at our accommodations at the Jumbo Junction Lodge, our home for the next 3 nights.

Jumbo Junction is situated in one of the most pristine open system conservation areas in the Northern Okavango Delta, the ultimate safari breakaway for nature lovers and adventure seekers. Jumbo Junction is located 30km from the small town of Seronga on a peninsula bordering the Okavango Delta. Its accessibility makes it one of the easiest gateways into the Northern Okavango Delta.

The Mapula and Sekwana Concession, also known as NG12 (an acronym for the broader Ngamiland) is situated north of the breathtaking Okavango Delta, spreading out over 220,000 acres, and is only accessible via aircraft from Maun. Several villages are encompassed by the concession, and the local communities work in conjunction with NG12 management to sustain the beautiful natural area.

Jumbo Junction provides easy access to a 100,000 hectare, unfenced concession just waiting to be explored. The concession, NG12, has a diverse range of wildlife and its remote location ensures that our game drive vehicles will probably be the only one at game sightings, a privilege not often found at other locations in the Delta.

This Community Concession boasts magnificent delta landscapes, as well as mopane woodlands. In the southern part of the park, we can expect to see and photograph prolific birdlife, such as the African paradise flycatcher, Carmine bee-eaters and the endangered wattled crane.  In additional to the abundant flora and fauna, expect to see numerous giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, lions, wild dogs, and various antelope species. 

Our private guide on our twice daily game drives will ensure that we are well positioned every day to photograph the diverse wildlife in this stunningly beautiful area of Botswana.  

Accommodation:  Jumbo Tents at Jumbo Junction

The accommodation at Jumbo Junction offers great value for money in luxury chalets and a catered tented camp. Twin beds, an en-suite basin and toilet with an outside shower. Tents have 220V power points and lighting. 

Enjoy a pre-dinner drink around the fire with other guests before indulging a freshly prepared, three course meal.

August 9-12:  Khwai River View

After breakfast on August 9, our private driver will take us back to Jumbo Junction where we will catch our private, charter flight to Khwai River View Lodge.  After a short ride we will arrive at our accommodations for the next three nights.

The Khwai area of the Okavango lies along the northern boundary of the Moremi Game Reserve. Khwai Community Area has unfenced boundaries allowing wildlife to move freely between the woodlands.  The Khwai River Lodge offers the same wildlife experience as the Moremi Game Reserve with the added advantage of being a private concession, which means the ability to do walking safaris and night drives. 

Situated along the eastern border of the Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta, Khwai River View provides a luxury traditional safari experience in an area renowned for large concentrations of wildlife.

We can’t wait for the opportunity to soak up beautiful views of the scenic landscape and spot an array of wildlife.  The exceptional location overlooking the Khwai River into Moremi Game reserve provides a true wilderness experience, a wilderness that is a regular host to elephant, buffalo, lion leopard, cheetah and wild dogs. 

This is the perfect location for observing the perennial drama of the African Bushveld and provides for excellent birding opportunities.  Birdlife can be viewed in abundance with exceptional sightings of wildfowl and raptors. 

Accommodation:  Khwai River View Twin Rooms at Khwai River View

Khwai River View is a tented safari camp located close to the Khwai village within the Khwai community. The camp is simple and suitable for guests seeking an Out of Africa safari experience. The Khwai River attracts a multitude of wildlife species. 

Tents have two single beds with chair, bed side tables, canvas cupboard. Each tent has its own private bathroom, flushing toilet and en-suite outdoor shower. Tents also have daily housekeeping.

August 12-14:  Chobe River Lodge

After breakfast on August 12, our private driver will take us to catch our private, charter flight from Khwai River View to the Kasane Airport. After a short ride we will arrive at our accommodations for the next two nights at the Chobe River View Lodge.

Victoria Falls is an hour and a half drive from the lodge, and the lodge offers daily boat cruises into Chobe National Park, where we can expect to see game coming to the water’s edge to drink including herds of elephants, crocodile, hippos and more.  Daily game drives into Chobe National Park will provide elephants by the hundreds, various antelope, giraffes, lions and leopards.  And as if we haven’t seen enough birds already, Chobe National Park is home to over 400 different species of birds.  Birders, prepare to be dazzled by the bird photography opportunities!

Accommodation:  Luxury Rooms at Chobe River Lodge

Chobe River Lodge is located in the small town of Kasane, on the Chobe River in Northern Botswana. The lodge is five minutes by boat from the Chobe National Park and approximately eight minutes by vehicle.  Chobe River Lodge, a four-star lodge with five star commitment.

Spacious double or twin room with en-suite bathroom and verandah overlooking the Chobe River. Beds can be made into two single beds or one king size bed. Air conditioning, free wifi, coffee making facilities, and all needed toiletries including a hair dryer.

August 14:  

After breakfast on August 14, our private driver will take us back to the Kasane Airport, where the workshop will end and we will say our goodbyes.  

NOTE(s):  

• Workshop dues include all meals, park entrance fees, private guides, and all transportation during the workshop, including private charter flights between lodges, 
• Students will be responsible for arranging and paying for their flights to and from the workshop.  Students will also be responsible for the cost of the charter flights, which are estimated to be around $500 per student.   
• Feel free to arrive in Botswana before the workshop starts if you wish to see the area or just get acclimated to the time zone change. Students are strongly encouraged to arrive no later than August 4, 2024, to allow time to compensate for any travel delays.  
• Check the latest guidance for vaccinations required to travel abroad:

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/index.html

We will have a Meet and Greet on August 5 at Maun International Airport in Maun, Botswana where we discuss student goals and objectives, and Bryan will provide an overview and rough agenda for the workshop.

To sign up for this workshop, click on the link above to make a deposit and secure a place in the workshop. To get additional information or ask to be on the waitlist, send an email to Lisa Phillips at [email protected].