Okavango Delta, Moremi, and Makgadikgadi Pans - Botswana Safari and Lodges

Co-Pilot Audrey on a Botswana Bush Flight

Taking to the skies over the Okavango Delta in a bush plane. Audrey tries her hand at co-pilot en route to Camp Xakanaxa, Botswana.

Feeding Time for Baby Zebra - Leroo La Tau, Botswana

The zebra migration begins along Boteti River in Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, Botswana.

Lilac-breasted roller - Leroo La Tau, Botswana

A beautiful lilac-breasted roller in early morning light on a game drive in Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, Botswana.

Zebra Migration Begins - Boteti River, Botswana

The zebra migration begins along Boteti River in Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, Botswana.

Okavango Delta from Above - Botswana

Okavango Delta, Botswana from the wing of a bush plane. Two stories worth noting here: 1) the remarkable and thrilling system of 5- and 12-passenger bush planes and airstrips required to hop from camp to camp in and around the delta, and 2) the delta itself, one of the world's largest. As Botswana heads into its dry season, the Okavango Delta gets an annual filling from the waters of the Angolan highlands. It takes approximately six months for the waters to reach the southernmost areas of the delta where it eventually evaporates into the sands of the Kalahari Desert. via Instagram http://ift.tt/23dNL2j

We (the silhouettes pictured) spot the African jacana, otherwise known as the "Jesus bird" whose slender toes and light weight enable it to move as though it walks on water. This was taken on an afternoon boat ride on the Xakanaka Lagoon and Khwai River, from Camp Xakanaka in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. From Chobe to the Okavango Delta and the Kalahari, the birds of Botswana were a real surprise. We easily spotted -- with little effort -- well over 100 species of birds during our trip. And this is just a fraction of the 500 species that call the country their home. via Instagram http://ift.tt/1Uytked

Elephant mother and child - Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana

Elephant mother and child, with other members of the herd in tow. Elephants were a welcome and seemingly permanent fixture during our time in Botswana. We took this one just as our morning game drive at Camp Xakanaxa (Moremi Game Reserve) came to a close. It was as if they wished to say farewell. A recent elephant census estimates that around 120,000 elephants call Botswana their home. With Botswana’s hunting ban and crackdown on poaching, we imagine this number will continue to grow. Elephant factoid: Elephants mourn their dead, finding ways to bury the body with leaves and twigs, then remaining with it for days. via Instagram http://ift.tt/1tA479t

“Delta" John Carter, a local legend for his knowledge and wisdom drawn from growing up in a village along the Okavango Delta. He served as one of our guides, including on this late afternoon paddle along the slowly rising network of waterways just outside Camp Okavango. A remarkable experience all its own, but astonishing when you consider the ecology and cycle that sees the annual filling of these channels, then absorption of the water into the sands of the Kalahari Desert. In the current season, in only a few days, once dry patches turn to lagoon as the flood waters arrive. It gave us a sense of what the same land looks like flush with water…and without. via Instagram http://ift.tt/1Qdq1sS

Kudu buck and a couple of females at the watering hole - Leroo La Tau, Botswana

A kudu buck, late afternoon at a watering hole. Daily cycles, including remarkable herds of antelopes, zebra and elephants emerge on our late afternoon game drives along the Boteti River in Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, Botswana. Taken during our stay at Leroo La Tau, where our veranda looked out over the same landscape. via Instagram http://ift.tt/1rvoRxh

3 of 1000s of zebra we'd seen. Botswana is home to the second largest zebra migration in Africa, whereby over 25,000 zebra make their way down the Boteti River in search of water during the dry season. During our stay at Leroo La Tau on the edge of Mgkadigkadi Pans National Park, we witnessed the prelude to this mass move as vast herds of zebra filled the valley and river basin through the course of the day and into the late afternoon. The "in case you didn't know" factoid bonus: the zebra is the national animal of Botswana. via Instagram http://ift.tt/26bxFbh

Dust Picks Up at the Boteti River as Zebra Herd Runs - Leroo La Tau, Botswana

Leroo La Tau at the edge of Makgadikgadi Pans National Park is home to the 2nd largest zebra migration in the world. At its height an estimated 25,000 zebras make their way to the Boteti River to drink. Botswana.

Zebra Migration Begins - Leroo La Tau, Botswana

Great numbers of zebra begin to converge along the Boteti River at Leroo La Tau Camp, Botswana.

Sleepy Male Lion - Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana

A sleepy male lion gets some sun at Moremi Game Reserve near Camp Xakanaxa, Botswana.

Crocodile Smile - Camp Okavango, Botswana

A well-fed crocodile suns himself in the early morning light at Camp Okavango along the Okavango Delta in Botswana.

Camp Xakanxa - Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana

Okavango Delta From Above, Flying to Camp Xakanaxa - Botswana

Okavango Delta from our bush plane, flying from Kasane to Camp Xakanaxa in Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana.

Botswana from Above - Flying into Camp Xakanaxa

Flying into Camp Xakanaxa in northern Botswana.

Taking Flight Along Khwai River - Camp Xakanaxa, Botswana

Reflection of a bid taking flight along the Khwai River near Camp Xakanaxa. Okavango Delta, Botswana.

African Jacana - Okavango Delta, Botswana

The African Jacana (or Jesus bird) along Khwai River near Camp Xakanaxa, Botswana.