Botswana - Chobe and Okavango Photo Safari - October 2012

Here are some key points to help you decide:
1.  We welcome photographers of ALL levels. This safari will be conducive to learning from one another and include instruction that will suit everyone’s photographic needs. No question is off limits, no inquiry too basic.
2.  We are BIG on photographing in the field. We spend most our time and effort on safari activity and making images. We do meet daily to review images and discuss technique, but this is not a “classroom-intensive” trip. Our "classroom sessions" are optional (although the review sessions are valuable and there is not a more beautiful classroom).
3.  Non-photographer or videographer spouses / travel companions will love these safaris. We have specialist guides leading all safari activities and optional activities (boating, walks, etc.) are also available subject to camp restrictions.

20-23 October 2012; (3 nights)
KUBU LODGE - Chobe River, Kasane, Botswana

On your arrival at Victoria Falls Airport and after clearing customs and collecting your luggage, you will be met by an Eyes on Africa representative, who will assist our group with check-in procedures for our short scheduled air transfer to Kasane, Botswana.  On arrival in Kasane, we will be transferred by road to Kubu Lodge, where we will spend the next three days.

Kubu Lodge is a small, privately owned and run lodge on the banks of Botswana's Chobe River. The elevated thatched chalets, shaded beneath giant ebony and wild fig trees, overlook a spreading lawn to the river's edge. An idyllic setting. Kubu Lodge has eleven thatched wooden chalets that are built on raised platforms to enhance the panoramic views of the Chobe River. Their charming, yet rustic appearance belies the comfort within. Spread out under large shady trees with an expansive lawn provides a cool and verdant ambience. All are fully ensuite with hot/cold shower, basin and flush toilet. Other amenities include ceiling fans, mosquito nets, tea/coffee making facilities and a hairdryer.

During our stay at Kubu Lodge we will concentrate our photographic efforts from boats. We make use of the boats for a number of reasons. As most of our shooting will be done inside the National Park, there is no off-road driving allowed. Using boats means that we can go wherever we need to on the river. The boats also allow us to be able to shoot from a low angle, which is advantageous for getting good images. The boats also allow quiet approaches to be made by drifting in to our subjects.

We will have 6 private boating trips using a type of boat called the "Skimmer" - aptly named after the birds in the area which skim along the water's service hunting for fish.  We will look for the skimmers on these boating trips and photograph them whenever we find them.

The part of the Chobe National Park where we will concentrate our efforts during the three-night stay is home to large herds of elephants, as well as numbers of hippo and some of the biggest and most relaxed crocodiles in Botswana. There is also an abundance of waterbirds to be seen along the river and we can expect to photograph fish-eagles, kingfishers, storks, herons, skimmers and more during our visit. The park has been in existence for more than 40 years and this is evident in the relaxed state of the wildlife, which makes for great photographic opportunities. Unlike Chitabe and Dumatau, the Chobe is open to the public and we will see a good number of other boats and vehicles in the park, especially during the later hours of the day.

23-26 October 2012; (3 Nights)
DUMATAU CAMP - Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, Botswana             Jump to DumaTau Camp

26-30 October 2012; (4 Nights)
CHITABE LEDIBA CAMP - Southeastern Okavango Delta, Botswana             Jump to Chitabe Lediba Camp

Following our last morning game drive at DumaTau, we board our private light aircraft charter to Chitabe.  The flight from DumaTau to Chitabe is a 30-minute plane ride, taking us over the beautiful eastern side of the Okavango Delta.  On arrival at Chitabe airstrip, we will be met and transferred on a 30-minute drive to the camp.

Our group will have the exclusive use of the camp throughout our 4-day stay at Chitabe and we will set our own hours and schedule to allow us to take full advantage of photographic opportunities.

Chitabe Lediba is located in a 28,000-hectare photographic reserve built on one of the most beautiful islands in the Okavango Delta.  The area is made up of a superb variety of habitats, which include waterways and marshlands, dry acacia and mopane woodland, riverine areas, open grasslands and seasonally flooded plains.

Chitabe offers guests game drives in open 4x4 vehicles during the day accompanied by an experienced guide. Chitabe is strictly a game viewing camp - no water activities are offered here.

Game viewing is excellent here, and includes Buffalo, Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Reedbuck, Lechwe, Impala, Zebra and Hippo. Wild Dogs are among the major attractions of this area and a long-standing program to study the Wild Dogs is based nearby. On the way back from the afternoon drives, we may be lucky to spot nocturnal animals such as Pangolin, Civet, Serval, Genet, Porcupine and Aardwolf. Guests will also likely see Zebra, Reedbuck, Red Lechwe, Impala and all the plains game. Chitabe offers some of the most consistently superb game viewing in all of Botswana.

Chitabe has aided in the support of the Botswana Wild Dog Research Project, which was established by Dr Tico McNutt in 1989. The Wild Dog Project has a study area of about 3000 square kilometers. About 160 wild dogs in ten to twelve packs inhabit this region and Chitabe lies within this study area. Dr. "Tico" McNutt and the wild dogs featured in the May 1999 edition of National Geographic Magazine.