Birdwatching

Providing more species during quiet times of year than Europe or North America has to offer during their peak birding seasons, Botswana is a birder's paradise.  The Chobe National Park in northern Botswana is one of the best birdwatching areas in all of southern Africa, boasting 450 species living among its riverine woodland, mixed woodlands and floodplains.

Birding is best when the migratory species are present.  The migrants start to arrive at the onset of the rainy season in November, and are usually all present in late December.  This is the hot, wet season, and for game viewing represents something of an off-season, so many lodges offer discounted green-season rates to take advantage of.  The Central Kalahari in particular is probably best visited during this time, as the water brings life to the otherwise dry dunes and plains.  Having said that, there is no bad time of year to go birdwatching in Botswana, so you may wish to combine a few [cont.]

dedicated birding drives in with your normal game drives while staying during the peak season of May - October.

The Okavango Delta is the best place in Africa to see rare water-birds such as the Slaty Egret and Wattled Cranes.  It is also excellent for sightings of Pel's Fishing Owl.  The open vistas of the wetlands and floodplains offer excellent views of birdlife, while the denser mopane woodland and forested areas make things a little trickier.  In general though, most lodges will be happy to accommodate serious birders, and often have at least one guide who specialises in birdwatching.