Botswana safari 2015

I went to Southern Africa for my 5th safari in August 2015. Flying in via Johannesburg, the safari started in Maun on August 10th and ended in Kasane on August 20th. The mobile camping safari was called Botswana Classic, and involved stays at four different locations. These were the Moremi Game Reserve which sits in the Okavango Delta, the Khwai Community Area located between Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe National Park, Savuti in the central part of Chobe National Park, and finally the Chobe Riverfront area in the Chobe National Park. These locations include many of the classic wildlife destinations in Northern Botswana. This was a mid-range priced safari, based on tented accommodation and driving in an open safari vehicle (Toyota Land Cruiser). We were only three guests on the trip, leaving plenty of space in the car. Although the mornings were freezing cold with temperatures down to 5°C, at daytime the temperatures rose to more than 35°C. Always sunny, with plenty of sand and dust everywhere. All in all, it was a great safari, and probably my best so far in terms of wildlife viewing. We were also very lucky with the guide, who was excellent at spotting and locating wildlife.

After the safari, I flew from Kasane to Cape Town via Johannesburg. There I aimed at a pelagic birding trip, running from Simon's Town on the Cape Peninsula. Unfortunately, the trip as well as the backup trip the next day had to be canceled due to windy offshore conditions. I instead spent a day visiting Cape Point Wildlife Reserve in hope of finding some endemic birds, and took a boat trip to Seal Island in False Bay to see the Cape Fur Seals (and hopefully a jumping Great White Shark, no luck there). At least the penguin colony in Simon's Town was a highlight!