Below is a list of what wildlife and birds you may expect to see during you safari holiday in Botswana.
Buffalo, warthog, elephant, wildebeest.
Antelopes: Tsessebe, lechwe, kudu, steenbok, sable, waterbuck, duiker, reedbuck, sitatunga.
Predators: Lion, cheetah, leopard, wild dogs, spotted hyena, side-striped jackal.
Egrets including slaty, giant. Wattled crane.
Flamingos (October) – rare.
Impala, Red Lechwe, Kudu. Tsessebe, Giraffe, Reedbuck, Warthog, Zebra, Giraffe, Buffalo.
Predators: Lion, Spotted Hyena, Jackals.
Migratory Elephants, May – October.
Ducks, Plovers, Storks, Stilts, Pelicans, Herons, Egrets, Snipes, Cormorants.
Dominant antelopes: Tsessebe, Impala, Lechwe, Reedbuck, Kudu. Giraffe, Wildebeest, Zebra, Bushbuck, Steenbok, Warthog, Elephant, Buffalo.
Predators: Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Wild Dogs.
The famous Heronry here is active September – November with the region’s most important breeding colonies for Storks, Egrets, Herons, Spoonbills.
Cormorants, Darters, Jacanas, Kingfishers, Geese, Eagles, Harriers, Concals, Parrots, Night Jars, Swifts, Babblers, Snake Eagles, Fulvous Duck, Swamp Boubons, Black and Slaty Egrets, Black-Crowned and White-Backed Night Herons, Migrant Osprey, Dickinson’s Kestrels, Red-Necked Falcons, Bat Hawks, Wattled Cranes (uncommon).
Impala, Red Lechwe, Kudu. Tsessebe, Giraffe, Steenbok, Warthog, Baboon, Vervet Monkeys.
Predators: Lion, Leopard, Spotted Hyena, Wild Dogs.
Wildebeest and Zebra, May – December. Elephant breeding herds, June – December.
Wood Owls, Swamp Boubous, Brown Firefinches, White-Rumped Babblers, Collared Sunbirds, Schalow’s Lourie, Slaty and Black Egret, African Rail and Wattled Crane, Rufus-Bellied Crane, Bateleur and Fish Eagles, African Hawk, Tawny, Martial, Black-Breasted Snake Eagles.
Summer – Carmine Bee-Eaters, Thick-Billed Cuckoo, Narina Trogons. September – African Skimmers.
Impala, Red Lechwe, Kudu. Tsessebe, Giraffe, Steenbok, Warthog, Baboon, Vervet Monkeys.
Predators: Lion, Leopard, Spotted Hyena, Wild Dogs.
Wildebeest and Zebra, May – December. Elephant breeding herds, June – December.
Wood Owls, Swamp Boubous, Brown Firefinches, White-Rumped Babblers, Collared Sunbirds, Schalow’s Lourie, Slaty and Black Egret, African Rail and Wattled Crane, Rufus-Bellied Crane, Bateleur and Fish Eagles, African Hawk, Tawny, Martial, Black-Breasted Snake Eagles.
Summer – Carmine Bee-Eaters, Thick-Billed Cuckoo, Narina Trogons. September – African Skimmers.
Dominant antelopes: Tsessebe, Impala, Lechwe, Reedbuck, Kudu. Giraffe. Wildebeest, Zebra, Bushbuck, Steenbok, Warthog, Elaphant, Buffalo.
Predators: Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Wild Dogs.
The famous Heronry here is active September – November with the region’s most important breeding colonies for Storks, Egrets, Herons, Spoonbills.
Cormorants, Darters, Jacanas, Kingfishers, Geese, Eagles, Harriers, Concals, Parrots, Night Jars, Swifts, Babblers, Snake Eagles, Fulvous Duck, Swamp Boubons, Black and Slaty Egrets, Black-Crowned and White-Backed Night Herons, Migrant Osprey, Dickinson’s Kestrels, Red-Necked Falcons, Bat Hawks, Wattled Cranes (uncommon).
Antelopes: Tsessebe, impala, lechwe, kudu, steenbok, sable, waterbuck, duiker, reedbuck, bushbuck, sitatunga. Elephants, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, warthog.
Predators: Cheetah, leopard, lion, wild dogs, spotted hyena, black-backed and side-striped jackals.
Roan antelope (May – November)
Kingfishers: Malachite, pied, giant. Jacana.
Egrets: Slaty, giant, black-winged skilt.
Storks: Open-billed, saddle-billed, spoonbill. Reed cormorant.
Ibises: Glossy, sacred.
Kudu, Bushbuck, Grey Duiker, Waterbuck, Baboons, Vervet Monkeys, Giraffe, Elephant.
Predators: Lion, Leopard, Spotted and Brown Hyena. The lions are particularly common during the peak migratory period (see the disclaimer at the foot of this section).
Migrating Zebra; September – November in massive numbers.
Myer’s Parrot, Kingfisher, Burchill’s Concal, Heulen’s Robin, Pelicans, Cranes, Fish-Eagles, Goshawks, Secretary Birds, Vultures. Summer: Storks, Bee-Eaters, Kites, Shrikes.
Impala, Red Lechwe, Kudu. Tsessebe, Giraffe, Reedbuck, Warthog, Zebra, Giraffe, Buffalo.
Predators: Lion, Spotted Hyena, Jackals.
Migratory Elephants, May – October.
Ducks, Plovers, Storks, Stilts, Pelicans, Herons, Egrets, Snipes, Cormorants.
Impala, Tsessebe, Giraffe, Lechwe, Steenbok, Wildebeest, Zebra, Giraffe, Baboon Elephant.
Predators: Lion, Leopard, Spotted Hyena, Black-backed and Side-striped Jackal.
Herons, Storks, Hamerkops, egrets, black-krakes, bee-eaters, kingfishers, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Hornbills. Eagles, Vultures.
Impala, Tsessebe, Giraffe, Lechwe, Steenbok, Wildebeest, Zebra, Giraffe, Baboon Elephant Predators: Lion, Leopard, Spotted Hyena, Black-backed and Side-striped Jackal.
Herons, Storks, Hamerkops, egrets, black-krakes, bee-eaters, kingfishers, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Hornbills. Eagles, Vultures.
Antelopes: Tsessebe, impala, lechwe, kudu, steenbok, sable, waterbuck, duiker, reedbuck, bushbuck, sitatunga. Elephants, giraffe, zebra, wilderbeest, warthog.
Predators: Cheetah, leopard, lion, wild dogs, spotted hyena, black-backed and side-striped jackals.
Roan antelope (May – November)
Kingfishers: Malachite, pied, giant. Jacana.
Egrets: Slaty, giant, black-winged skilt.
Stocks: Open-billed, saddle-billed, spoonbill. Reed cormorant.
Ibises: Glossy, sacred.
Elephant, Zebra, Giraffe, Warthog, Baboon, Vervet Monkey. Impala, Bushbuck, Red Lechwe, Kudu, Sable, Tsessebe, Sitayunga, Waterbuck, Reedbuck, common duiker, Steenbok, Buffalo, Blue Wilderbeast, Cape Otter, Clawless Otter. Spotted-necked Otter, Honey Badger.
Predators: Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Spotted Hyena, Wild Dog, Side-striped Jackal, Black-backed Jackal.
Numerous, but worthy of note: Storks – Marabou Storks, Saddle-billed Storks, Wattled Cranes.
Dominant Antelope – Tsessebe, also Impala, Giraffe, Zebra, Wildebeest, Kudu, Steenbok, Red Lechwe, Reedbuck.
Predators: Lion, Leopard.
Migratory: Elephant, December – June. Buffalo, May – November. Cheetah, October – December.
Storks, Ducks, Herons, Plovers, Geese, Vultures, Eagles, Kites.
Please note that there are no fences between reserves and concessions. To this end these lists are not comprehensive they are based on our experiences and information from the guides. Practically speaking almost any game or bird can be found in any area. Many tour operators will give much longer lists of likely viewings, we are just being realistic. Sightings also depend on the skills of your trackers and guides, the weather, and a large element of luck. We only recommend camps with the very best trackers and guides. We can plan your safari for you to coincide with favourable weather. As for luck, we are sorry, but this is about the only aspect of your safari that we cannot assist you with! However, having said this, historically our clients have been very lucky. We would like to believe that it has been down to our choice of camps and guides for them.
From The U.K. 01865 600727
International + 44 1865 600727