PHOTO COMPETITION WITH KWANDO SAFARIS

Win a six day safari with Kwando Safaris, by simply submitting a selection of your holiday photos taken while on safari in Kwando camps.

Photo Competition Categories:

• Big Five
• Mammals
• Birds
• Action
• Desert
• Landscape
• New Life
• The ‘Essence of Kwando’
• Camp

Kwando Safaris is considered by many to be the safari operator of choice for the discerning wildlife photographer, due to their long experience in guiding and hosting professional photographers and film makers. Their circuit of the finest intimate and exclusive camps includes 2 camps in the Okavango Delta, 2 in the Linyanti area, 1 in Makgadikgadi Pans (Nxai) and 1 in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

The Prize:

A five night safari through any combination of the Kwando camps. The prize includes full board accommodation, drinks, laundry, all game activities, inter camp charters to and from Maun. It excludes use of a private vehicle, international flights to Maun, safari/other holiday extensions for prize winner and travel companion(s).

For complete rules and conditions of this Photo Competition please feel free to contact us.

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SANCTUARY HEART OF THE ELEPHANT PACKAGE, BOTSWANA

NEW 5 NIGHT ELEPHANT PACKAGE

(OKAVANGO DELTA & CHOBE COMBINATION)

Duration: 5 nights

 Highlights of the Safari:

2 nights Sanctuary Stanley’s Camp

3 nights Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero

 Attention elephant lovers! Always dreamed of getting up close to these gentle giants? Now you can with this package that combines an incredible elephant interaction adventure in the Okavango Delta with ChobeNational Park, home to the largest concentration of elephants inAfrica. Could you imagine being guided though the Delta by a fully grown elephant?

 Sanctuary’s new Heart of the Elephant package includes two nights at Sanctuary Stanley’s Camp in the Okavango Delta where guests have the unique opportunity to experience the surrounding scenery though the eyes of three semi-habituated elephants – Jabu, Thembi and Marula. Spend the next three nights at Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero which bordersChobeNational Park, famous for being home to the largest remaining population of elephants in the world.

 This high season package includes the elephant interaction activity at a low season rate. 

Valid for new bookings made from 1 June 2011.

Valid for travel 1 June – 31 December 2011.

 

FISHING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE OKAVANGO DELTA

 

Although over 80 fish species occur in the Okavango Delta, the species most sought after by recreational fishermen include tigerfish, nembwe with various other tilapia (bream) species and African pike. In the winter months fishing is not that productive due to cooler conditions. The summer months (Sept-April), when waters are warmer, offer far better fishing opportunities with the peak being October and November. A new fishing law prohibits fishing in Botswana in January and February for fish breeding purposes.

Catch and release is practised at all Wilderness Safaris and Safari Adventure Company camps. Whilst none of their camps in Botswana are sold as ‘fishing camps’ per se, they are able to offer this as an activity at the following camps: Banoka Bush Camp, Xigera, Jacana, Jao, Kwetsani, Tubu Tree, Little Vumbura, Vumbura Plains, Seba, Abu, Selinda, Zarafa, Savuti, Kings Pool and DumaTau. Only a basic supply of equipment is offered, so avid fishermen are welcome to bring their own equipment along.

 

UPDATE ON THE NEW BANOKA BUSH CAMP, DELTA

Family Room At Banoka Bush Camp

The family suite at Banoka Bush Camp consists of two separate canvas tents on elevated platforms. Both rooms have separate entrances and their own bathrooms, with the children’s tent being a little smaller.

Since the camp’s opening, wildlife sightings have been excellent, including: pack of 14 African wild dogs with pups (a regular sight at the moment), herd of approximately 1 000 Cape buffalo, leopard chasing and catching a squirrel, pride of seven lion feeding on a young buffalo carcass, common waterbuck in camp, elephant and general game such as southern giraffe, red lechwe, spotted hyaena, common reedbuck and impala.

The camp also recently ran its first cultural village trip for enthusiastic guests.

 

 

ROMANTIC ‘STAR BATHS’ IN THE OKAVANGO DELTA

@ THE LUXURY SANCTUARY BAINES’ CAMP

Sanctuary Baines’ Camp now offers private “star baths” for honeymooners guests celebrating anniversaries and can be requested in advance during the summer months of the year, in addition to the already popular “sleeping under the stars” experience.

Guests returning from their night drive will be surprised with a romantic, star bath waiting on their viewing deck. Imagine soaking up the scenery of the shimmering waters of the Boro River while sipping sparkling wine under the stars.

The free-standing traditional Botswana-style zinc baths come complete with hot and cold water taps as well as environmentally-friendly Africology products. Mobile canvas screens ensure complete privacy.

 

BIRDING EXPERIENCE, OKAVANGO DELTA

egret

yellow billed stork

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Delta is a haven for wildlife that is sustained by the year-round abundance of water and attracts stunning water birds.

It is the breeding time for  and many migrant birds such as the Southern Carmine Bee-Eater. The heronries have come alive with chirping young birds which are a treat to photograph! Bird enthusiasts can explore the delta waterways by motorboat, a birder’s paradise, especially for herons and storks in the breeding season.

Botswana offers some of Africa’s finest birding. November to March is the most productive time of year to see birds (when the number of bird species is at its highest with migratory species having arrived to join Botswana’s resident species).  The northern wetlands are the best places in Africa to see the near-endemic Slaty Egrets, the endangered Wattled Cranes and the huge Pel’s Fishing Owls and harbour an unrivalled selection of herons, storks and other egrets.

 

 

 

RHINO SIGHTINGS

Rhino Sightings In Xakanaxa, Moremi Game Reserve

For four days around 16th August this year, Rhino tracks were found along the road at Jessie’s Pools near Xakanaxa Camp! Guests staying at Xakanaxa Camp said they had seen it as they flew into the camp the day before. This comes as very exciting news and shows that the Rhino release efforts are bearing fruit and the animals are spreading around the Okavango Delta area.

In 2001 the first four white Rhino were released into the Moremi Game Reserve with funding from Tusk Trust. A further 22 Rhino arrived as a result of a swap between South Africa and Botswana called ‘rhino-for-roan’. Unfortunately in 2003 the project suffered a setback when two rhino were killed by poachers. Within a week security was upgraded, the poachers were caught and three new rhino were released. Since then more than 23 calves were born in the reserve since 2001 and there have been no further losses. The Department of Wildlife and National Parks’ Anti-Poaching Unit has been providing security and monitoring the rhino on a daily basis, as well as recording GPS positions through a radio transmitter which is implanted in the horn of the animal.

Currently the focus of the project is to bring in more black rhino in order to form a healthy founder population in the Okavango Delta. The team hopes that the rhino will begin reproducing and expanding their range into parts of Botswana where they have not been seen in many years!

Rhino distribution is largely influenced by the availability of water, food and vegetational cover. During the rainy season they are often in areas which are difficult to reach, due to flooding. With more rhino sightings, game viewing should be very exciting in Xakanaxa!!

Xakanaxa Camp has special rates for SADC residents which are available upon request.