Botswana Odyssey

Botswana Honeymoon

2007-10-30T08:47:00.000-07:00

Want to honeymoon somewhere different? For many couples, Botswana provides an ideal honeymoon destination; although a landlocked country it is possible to be on a luxurious safari one day and combine it with an idyllic island hideaway, somewhere in the middle of the Indian Ocean such as the Seychelles or on the shores of Mozambique or Zanzibar the next.

However, even without a break in the Indian Ocean or on the African Coastline Botswana is a fantastic destination for a honeymoon for a number of reasons:

The accommodations throughout the country range from extraordinary colonial hotels with palatial suites to small five roomed luxury tented camps; there is something for every taste.

Botswana has numerous remote and pristine wilderness locations where romantic lodges are tucked away in private reserves away from the crowds.

Victoria falls is without doubt one of the most romantic places in the world. Sitting above the falls whilst having a romantic meal is a must for any couple on honeymoon!

The right lodges take special care of honeymooners; we will not tell you what they do as it spoils the surprise but our guarantee is that some lodges can be simple outstanding!

There are many elegant and small lodges offering a private and personal feeling well away from other tourists.

The weather between May and October (which is when most couples seem to get married) is hot, dry and low in humidity and fantastic for game.

Botswana is virtually on the same latitude as the United Kingdom and therefore benefits from there being no jet lag.

Over the last ten years we have arranged hundreds of honeymoons to Botswana; it is our belief that your honeymoon stands out from anything else on the market and for this reason we highly recommend coming into our offices in Fulham, London for a private presentation. We have spent years designing honeymoons and can talk you through all your options, making the first steps in designing an itinerary that gets exactly what you want. Please contact us if you would like to arrange a time to come in for a chat.

If this is not possible then we can talk you through and advise on any itinerary over the phone. The key is to talk to us so we can understand exactly what you want and what you expect....the more we talk, the more personalized your trip becomes and ultimately, the better your honeymoon is. We also carry stocks of every brochure for every lodge in the country - please email or phone us if you would like to be sent any of these. It is also well worth looking at the testimonials page which has a number of "post honeymoon" feedback from clients.

Our personal favorites for honeymoons are the River Club, Tongabezi and Sindabezi for lodges up the Zambezi, near Victoria falls. Savuti, Kings Pool, Jao, Chobe Chilwero, Stanleys, Duba Plains and Little Vumbura (whose honeymoon suite has a fantastic outdoor bath in the bush!!) are all reliably great options for an exquisite safari.

New Malawi Lodge possible for Botswana Safari add on

2007-10-15T02:11:00.001-07:00

Robin Pope has just opened Pumulani on Lake Malawi.....it is possible to add this on to a safari in Botswana and it is located in one of the only places on the lake that has no bilharzia!!

Pumulani, "the place of rest", is situated on the westside of the Nankumba Peninsula in the south end of Lake Malawi – romantically called “The Lake of Stars”. Pumulani is uniquely situated within the only national park in Malawi that incorporates the lake. This park, now a World Heritage Site, was established to protect the cichlid fish of the area.

The Lodge
• The lodge is on a hillside – giving fantastic views from all the buildings.
• The main building has a dining room, bar and leads onto a large deck
• The horizon swimming pool is on a lower terraced deck

The Villas
• Space and privacy are key – the villas are 125-175 m2 and are separated by rocks and trees
• Each of the ten villas has a bedroom, bathroom and sitting area, with elevated decks.
• The bathroom is luxurious with double sinks, showers and a stand alone bath
• 4 twin, 4 king, 1 honeymoon and 1 family that sleeps 5

Activities
included - snorkelling, fishing, sailing, nature and village walks, sunset cruises on the dhow, kayaking
excluded - scuba diving and motorized water sports (waterskiing, fun tube, picnic tours)

The Beach
We have a private beach and there is a beach bar offering drinks and light snacks. Next to the beach and along the shore are beautiful shaded gardens for those not wanting too much sun!

Rates
The opening special offer is $390 rack for 4 or more nights during the months of July-September 2008.
Pumulani rates Note these are rack and your normal commission with RPS applies.

Meals
The food will be of the highest standard and meal times are flexible, served in the restaurant, on the deck or by arrangement in your room

Children – most welcome, no age limit except during high season July-Sept then age limit of 7

Access
Fly to Club Makokola airstrip then a 45 mins road transfer through villages.
From Lilongwe a 1 hour flight.
From RPS Luangwa Camps to Pumulani, door to door will be around 4 hours (only 30 mins more than to Livingstone.

Health
This is a bilharzia free area and we test monthly so we can state this with confidence!

Kwando Game sightings September 2007

2007-10-12T01:58:00.000-07:00

Herewith the latest sightings report from Kwando:

September 2007:

Lagoon

. Lion sightings were good throughout the month, with the four male lions establishing their territory in the Lagoon area. They were seen on numerous occasions but were unfortunately not seen making any kills.
. Four different leopards were seen in the Lagoon area during this month. All these leopards were very relaxed and made for some good photographic opportunities.
. The two cheetah brothers made their monthly appearance in the Lagoon area as usual. They were seen stalking and killing an impala next to the river in the water cut area,
. The Lagoon pack of 6 dogs and their 9 pups are doing extremely well. Although they have left the den for quite some time now, they are still seen on a regular basis. They six adult dogs were seen killing an impala and then they brought the pups in to come and share the kill.
. Night sightings were very good this month, with an elusive aardvark being seen. Chameleon, springhare, and giant eagle owl were also seen on some of the night drives.
. Big groups of elephants, breeding herds as well as bachelor groups, have been seen on the floodplains and on the riverbanks. Some of the single bulls have also been visiting the camp during the nights.
. Big mixed herds of buffalo, some of them with 1500 and more buffalo in the herds continue to been seen grazing on the flood plains. Some of the bulls were seen mating with the cows and there are lots of calves in the herds.
. General game was very good with both roan and sable antelope being found. Big herds of zebra and large journeys of giraffe were also seen. Wildebeest, steenbok, lechwe, and impala made up some of the many other species of general game that were sighted.
. A record of 4 porcupines was sighted on one game drive during this month. Honey badgers were also seen on a regular basis
. Birding was good during this month, with secretary birds as well as some ostriches being seen. Marabou storks and black-bellied korhaan were also spotted.

Lebala

. Two male lions killed a buffalo east of Lechwe Island. A new pride consisting of 2 adult females and 4 one-year-old cubs appeared on the scene and were seen on a regular basis. The resident pride of 3 lionesses, 8 cubs and two males had made several kills during the month. The pride of 13 also moved regularly between Selinda and Lebala.
. Leopard sightings were excellent during this month. A male leopard was found after 45minutes of tracking, but he was not relaxed. The resident female was found with an impala kill but she lost it to the hyena as the kill was still on the ground when they appeared. Two other males were found in separate locations. One of them had killed a porcupine while the other one had a steenbok in one tree and an impala up another tree, 30 meters away.
. An unknown female cheetah was seen in the area for 3 days. She managed to kill an impala on the third day and then left the area after feeding on her kill. A new coalition of four cheetah had been spotted in the area but they were very nervous and could not be approached. The two-brother cheetah also spent some time here and managed to kill a young kudu near halfway pan.
. A pack of 11 wild dogs and their 2 pups made a surprise visit to the area for one day. They managed to kill an impala during their visit but some male lions robbed them of their kill. The lagoon pack, consisting of the 6 adults and 9 pups also put in a short visit before moving back towards Lagoon camp.
. Big breeding herds, bachelor herds and some single bull elephants are a common sighting on the flood plains.
. Big herds of buffalo, some ranging between five hundred and a thousand animals were found along various plains. They were mostly seen mating and drinking with some of the bulls fighting for females.
. Excellent general game with many large journeys of giraffe, impala, waterbuck, Tsessebe, Wildebeest, Steenbok zebra, red lechwe and kudu. Some herds of roan and sable antelope were also seen during the drives.
. Night sightings were good with both species of jackal being seen. Some of the hyena clans were seen feeding on a buffalo calf at Tsessebe Island while another group stole a leopard kill.
. Birding was excellent during this month, with most of the summer residents around. The carmine bee-eaters are breeding and the weavers are busy making nests. Lots of kingfishers around as well as a giant kingfisher spotted on the railing of the camp bridge.
. Porcupine sightings were great throughout the month and some guests were lucky enough to see a very elusive pangolin. African wildcat and honey badgers were also seen almost every day as well as many species of mongoose.

Kwara and Little Kwara

. Lion sightings were again very good during this month. A pride of 7 females managed to kill a zebra, while the two big males killed a buffalo. There were lots of hyena and vultures around these kills. The pride of 5, consisting of four females and one young male were hunting zebras but had no luck.
. The well-known female leopard and her cub were seen often throughout the month. She managed to kill a reedbuck and left the kill to go and fetch her offspring. When they got back the kill was already taken over by a clan of hyena. Two other female leopards, one fully grown and the other a young one were also seen during the month. They were both very relaxed and made for some good photo opportunities.
. Two groups of cheetah were seen during this month. A female with her 3 sub-adult cubs were seen hunting but they had no success. The 3 brothers were also seen hunting impala but they were also not successful.
. A small pack, consisting of two wild dogs spent some time in the area. They were seen hunting impala but no kill was witnessed.
. Only a small amount of bachelor herds and some single bull elephant were seen during this month. Some of these bulls were seen swimming as well as crossing the channel in front of the boat cruise.
. Big herds of buffalo have been visiting the area. These herds are coming out of the mopane woodlands where all the waterholes are now dry.
. Hyena was seen most nights patrolling around the camps. Both black backed and side-striped jackal were seen during the night drives.
. General game sightings continue to be very good. Giraffe, zebra, tsessebe, warthog, kudu and some sable antelope were seen.
. Good sightings of Civet, Serval and African Wild Cat have been reported. The game drives have found numerous active Aardvark holes but animals have been eluding the drives up to now.
. Birding was spectacular in this month. All the summer residents had turned up and started breeding at Gadikwe lagoon. The heronry is filled with yellow-billed storks, marabou storks, egrets and many other species of birds.

Botswana Safari

2007-10-10T03:48:00.000-07:00

Botswana Odyssey is committed to running the best Botswana Safari trips possible. Of all the tour operators who specialise on safari in Botswana, we have an exceptional level of knowledge, some of the team writing guidebooks on Africa and the remainder having travelled throughout Africa extensively. Please contact us for a list of references and unbiased biews on safari in the country.

Botswana Odyssey: info@botswanaodyssey.com 0044 (0) 2074718780

Safari in October?

2007-10-04T05:42:00.001-07:00

What will a safari be like in October ?

It is hot – really hot but never will you experience game viewing like this – well worth the sweat. Day temperatures rise regularly above 40˚C and nights are warm with averages in the 20’s˚C. Start early and leave late – that is the solution. Botswana offers safaris in private area so clients have the option of departing on game drives after 17h00 and returning well after dark.

There is no place to hide - everything is bare and the grasses are eaten or trampled. Night drives are at their best and the pervading dust makes all scenes dramatic. Predator chases erupt into clouds of dust as the eternal game of eat and be eaten plays out daily in the very open plains. Scenes like this are often witnessed by guests and their committed and enthusiastic guide & tracker team who are out late during the night - with meals oftern served later or being brought to them in order to futher enjoy rare and unusual game sightings like lion kills and nocturnal game.

Fishing frenzies with the annual catfish (barbell) runs in the rivers.

Botswana: When to go

2007-10-03T03:53:00.000-07:00

The best time of the year to be in Botswana is considered to be the winter months from May to November. This dry season is when game viewing in the main parks is at its most impressive; water holes dry out and game congregates around the remaining areas of standing water and the countries rivers. Temperatures at this time are perfect throughout the day getting progressively hotter until their peak in late October and early November, just before the rains come.

The summer months, from November to April also offer great game throughout the country, especially in such areas as the Central Kalahari. Victoria Falls is also at its most impressive in this period. The bonus at this time of year however is superb value for money as at the start of the season the lodges drop their rates for the months to come.

The Delta itself is in full flood from approximatly May to September every year

Why go to Botswana in the low season?

2007-09-21T02:16:00.000-07:00

-Scenically it is the most beautiful, the bush is alive and a sea of vibrant colours.
-Most antelope have young and most are resident species.
-Predator activity is heightened as they search for the young and vulnerable.
-All migrant birds are in full colourful magnificence.
-Rates are at their most affordable!

What will a safari be like in September ?

2007-09-20T01:22:00.001-07:00

The climate has changed and winter is all but gone. Night temperatures rise rapidly within the month and by month end the averages reach 15C plus and day temperatures soar well in the 30'sC. The sun shines, the skies are clear and it is really dry. Unbelievably the elephant concentrate in still greater numbers as do the buffalo keeping the predators busy as the season takes it's toll on the prey species - a time of plenty for the lions. The colours explode as the carmine bee eaters return from their winter grounds and the other migrants begin to arrive. The water levels have slowly started to drop as the waters from Angola have completed their trek. The fish begin to get active and some trees start to get the first green shoots - fed by the flood waters and temperatures and not by any rain as it is still some 6 weeks to the first rains.

Leroo La Tau managed by Desert and Delta

2007-09-19T02:39:00.000-07:00

African Secrets Safari Company, owners of Leroo La Tau, are pleased to announce that they have contracted Desert and Delta Safaris to take on the management and marketing of Leroo La Tau with immediate effect. This is consequent to an agreement that ownership of the lodge will pass to a new company jointly owned by the two entities. This will take place once all necessary documentation and permissions have been finalized.

Leroo La Tau, situated on the border of Makgadikgadi National Park is built above the Boteti River on cliffs over 15m high. This elevation gives guests a raised vantage point resulting in numerous spectacular wildlife sightings. During the dry season this area is populated by up to 30 000 wildebeest and zebra which have migrated down to the Makgadikgadi in search of grazing. The migration brings with it an increase in levels of predator activity. You may even experience the exhilaration of being caught in a stampede zone as predators hunt around the lodge. However Leroo La Tau is not only about lion zebra and wildebeest. The area around the lodge also boasts Chobe Bushbuck, Leopard, Brown and Spotted Hyena, Impala, Kudu, Jackal, Porcupines, Genets, Caracal and White Rhino to name but a few. Most unique however, are the Crocodile and an amazing pod of Hippo which have survived in extremely adverse conditions for over 12 years. Making this area of the Boteti a unique haven for large herds and predators alike.

Leroo La Tau offers 7 East African Meru style tents each with its own ensuite bathroom and raised on wooden decks. The main lounge and dining room area’s with their inviting wooden and thatch finishing’s offer guests the opportunity to sit back and relax at the bar while listening to the wide variety of night sounds so characteristic of the African bush.

The lodge offers a variety of activities including both day and night drives as well as the opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of Africa on guided walks. Also on offer are day trips out to Baines Baobabs and Nxai Pan and for those looking for some extra insight into this unique area and it’s history there are cultural and topographical talks on offer.

While company formation is in process, Desert and Delta Safaris have agreed to take over the management and marketing of the lodge.

The African Secrets Safari Company is wholly citizen owned, and Desert and Delta Safaris is owned by Chobe Holdings, a public company listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange offering yet another 100% Botswana owned and operated lodge to our industry colleagues.

Currently the lodge is undergoing a temporary refurbishment. This work should be complete by the end of October and is being conducted taking current bookings and guest activities into consideration.

As soon as the agreement is finalized and all necessary Government permissions have been obtained, it is proposed that the lodge will be completely re-built.

Game in the Kwando Camps in August

2007-09-17T06:37:00.000-07:00

Lagoon Camp
. The coalition of four, young male lions is still operating between Lagoon and Lebala. They are still following the buffalo herds around and have been seen twice on buffalo kills. A young male was seen North of the camp, but he did not stay for very long. The four males have been regular visitors to the camp at night and they were very vocal whilst moving through.
. Leopard sightings were again very good during this month. A female leopard was seen hunting and killing an Impala. A young male was also seen hunting a couple of times and he was also found feeding on an Impala carcass. A very good sighting of a one and a half year old male and female were reported. They were walking together, very relaxed and made for some excellent photographic opportunities.
. A single female cheetah was seen a couple of times during the month. She was very relaxed and made for good close up viewing.
. The Lagoon pack of 6 dogs and their 9 pups continue to do well. This month have seen them leaving the first den site for another den, not far away from the original site. They only stayed at the new den for about two weeks before they upped and moved in to the mopane forest. They continue to appear on a regular basis and were followed hunting on numerous occasions. The pups are now participating in some of the hunts.
. Big groups of elephants, breeding herds as well as bachelor groups, continue to be seen on the floodplains and on the riverbanks. Some of the single bulls have also been visiting the camp during the nights. Some bulls were also seen mating with the females.
. Big mixed herds of buffalo, some of them with 1500 and more buffalo in the herds have been seen grazing on the flood plains.
. Night drives during this month delivered both species of jackal, small and large spotted genets a couple of chameleons and a civet.
. General game during this month was again very good with both roan and sable antelope being found. Big herds of zebra and large journeys of giraffe were also seen. Wildebeest, steenbok, lechwe, and impala made up some of the many other species of general game that were sighted.
. Very good sightings of honey badgers were reported throughout the month. A single porcupine was also seen as well as a caracal. Banded and dwarf mongoose also appeared on a regular basis.
. Birding was excellent during the month, with purple gallinule, lapped faced vulture, osprey and giant eagle owls being seen. Yellow billed storks and pink backed pelicans added some colour to the birding scene.

Lebala Camp
. Lion sightings have been excellent throughout the month. The two dominant males and the rest of their pride consisting of three adult females and their eight cubs spent a lot of time in the area. They made four buffalo kills in the open areas around the camp. The two males also managed to kill an old hippo bull about a kilometre away from camp and they fed on the kill for almost a week. A single lioness joined them on the kill. The four young males also moved in to the area and were heard having a roaring competition with the dominant males. They quickly retreated when on of the big males moved closer to see who the intruders were.
.A total of six different leopards were seen in the Lebala area during this month. Some of them were seen on more than one occasion. The older resident female leopard was seen hunting guinea fowl up in the trees and she managed to kill one in front of the guests. A big male, extremely relaxed walked right past the workshop in camp and paid little attention to the staff working there. Two younger males were found together on old Lebala road, they were skittish at first but the guides approached them very carefully and they eventually relaxed. Another young but relaxed male was found hunting north of Lebala. A very unusual sighting of two different leopards feeding on an elephant carcass was reported. They came to feed on different times and one of them was seen patiently waiting for a hyena to move away before he approached.
.The now considered resident female cheetah was seen on numerous occasions. She was followed for a couple of days and was eventually seen killing an impala. The two brothers also put in their monthly appearance. One of them had swollen eye and left side of the face. The guides suspect that a zebra might have kicked him in the face.
. Big breeding herds, bachelor herds and some single bull elephants are a common sighting on the flood plains. These herds are now moving out of the Mopane forests onto the floodplains since all the water holes have dried up.
. Big herds of buffalo, some ranging between five hundred and a thousand animals were found along various plains. They were mostly seen mating and drinking with some of the bulls fighting for females.
. Lots of hyena activity was reported during this month. They were very busy cleaning up all the kills that were made by the lion pride. Both black backed and sided striped jackal were also seen on a regular basis.
. Excellent general game with many large journeys of giraffe, impala, waterbuck, Tsessebe, Wildebeest, Steenbok zebra, red lechwe and kudu. Sable and roan antelope were also seen on some of the drives.
. Birding was very good during this month. The first sightings of the carmine bee-eaters were reported. This is a true indication that summer has arrived. Marabou storks as well as wattled cranes were also seen. Hundreds of guttural toads and bell frogs could also be heard during the night.
. A very brief sighting of an elusive aardvark was reported on one of the night drives. Cerval, civet and honey badgers were common sightings during the night drives.

Kwara and Little Kwara
. Lions sightings were very good throughout the month. A pride of seven females, who no one has seen before, moved through the area. They were shy and did not stay very long. The pride of four females and one young male were found feeding on a zebra kill. Later on they were spotted resting high up in a tree. The two big males seem to be trying to take over the area. They were also seen feeding on a buffalo kill. Seven hyena managed to steal a buffalo calf kill from a young male lion.
. The mother leopard and her now sub adult female cub was seen on a regular basis throughout the month. The cub made her first impala kill in Kwara camp, next to tent one. They were also seen in a tree with a reedbuck kill and managed to kill a cerval close to the boat station.
. A female cheetah and her three cubs visited the area during this month. She managed to kill several impala and a reedbuck. During one of the hunts, she decided that it was time to teach the youngsters how to kill. She brought an impala down but did not kill it. She then left it to the cubs to bring down. They tried hard to impress mum, but it took them a while before they managed to kill the impala. The guides and trackers also found tracks of three cheetah. They tracked them for more than two hours and eventually found three male cheetah, resting on a termite mound.
. Two wild dogs made an appearance in the area. They did not stay for long, but managed to kill an impala during their visit.
. Some bachelor herds and single bull elephant were seen feeding on the flood plains during this month. A couple of breeding herds also passed through the area.
. Big herds of buffalo, some of them up to two thousand are still found in the Kwara area. One of these herds was home to a big old bull with a broken leg. The lions very quickly picked him out and he became food for the lions.
. Hyena were very active during this month due to the lions making so many kills. Black backed and side striped jackal were also seen on most of the night drives. Giant eagle owls were also seen regularly.
. General game sightings continue to be very good. Giraffe, zebra, tsessebe, warthog, kudu and some sable antelope were seen.
. Good sightings of Civet, Serval and African Wild Cat have been reported. The game drives have found numerous active Aardvark holes but animals have been eluding the drives up to now.
. Birding continues to be good in the area. Wattled cranes, saddle billed storks, fish eagles and many species of herons and storks. The heronry has become very active as a lot of the storks and herons had started breeding.

Kwando Lagoon Camp,Game Sightings

2007-04-25T09:30:00.000-07:00

Lagoon
· A single male lion was heard calling for a couple of nights. He was eventually tracked down and was found feeding on a Kudu kill. Another two males were also seen, moving South through the area.
· An excellent sighting of an unknown 2 year old male Leopard was reported. He was found sleeping on a termite mound and was very nervous at first but relaxed after a while. He allowed the game drive vehicle to get close enough for very good viewing.
· One female cheetah was seen hunting, and she was later seen moving South, towards the Lebala area.
· The Lagoon pack of 6 dogs were seen hunting in the area but no kills were seen. The pack of 16 dogs came over from the Lebala area and the Lagoon pack disappeared whilst they were around.
· Hyena, both species of Jackal, African wild cat, small spotted genet, civet, bat-eared fox and caracal was seen during the night drives.
· Small groups of elephants, breeding herds as well as bachelor groups, continue to be seen on the floodplains and on the riverbanks.
· General game is very good with Tsetsebee, warthog, wildebeest, steenbok, lechwe, zebra seen on most drives. Some guests were lucky and managed to get a good look at some roan antelope.
· A group of 36 banded mongoose were seen, as well as 3 porcupine, a civet and a honey badger.
· Birding continues to be good, especially the birds of prey, with Martial eagle, Black breasted snake eagle, Giant eagle owl, barn owl and pearl spotted owls being seen. Spoon bill storks and wattled cranes were also seen.

The Eviction of the Kalahari Bushmen Turns Sour

2007-04-20T02:27:00.000-07:00

An article taken from the UK's Telegraph perfectly summarises this fight........

-Two tatty cloth-bound suitcases were just visible in the gloom of the branch and thatch hut. A blanket lay folded nearby. Jerry cans for water stood in a line.

Gaorongwe Tshotlego is preparing to leave the "cursed" place she has been forced to call home for five years and trek back into the remoteness of the Kalahari, the true home of her people for 20 millennia or more.

The slight, smiling woman, who guesses her age as 50 but looks older, is one of 1,580 Bushmen evicted from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve by Botswana's government since 1997.
In December, her people won a historic legal case when a court ruled they had been illegally forced from their land. Now, however, the celebrations which followed the decision, and the high hopes that they could go home at last, have turned sour.

Clifford Maribe, the government spokesman for Bushman affairs, announced the government now interprets the judgment as applying only to the 243 original applicants named on court papers - some of whom have died - and not the entire Gwi and Gana tribes who were rounded up in lorries and moved to "resettlement areas”

"I have not seen my mother for five years, when I heard of the court case, I was so happy that now I could go home," Mrs Tshotlego said in Kaudwane, a village 130 miles north of the capital Gaborone.

"But I am afraid. I want to go with permission, because I never want to come back to this place, but I don't know if I am allowed. I am worried I will be killed for returning."

Her fears are based on common concerns among her people. The Bushmen believe that exploration for minerals and precious stones, as well as the armed patrols by wildlife rangers - who are renowned as brutal when dealing with anyone suspected of hunting - are two very real threats to their way of life.

After a three-day trek north along sandy tracks and through thorny bush into the reserve, The Daily Telegraph found Mrs Tshotlego's aged mother patching the thorn fence which protects her hut from lions.

Bashelwago Ramaila is one of a handful of Bushmen who escaped the round-ups, surviving as their ancestors did on tree roots, melons, seeds and rare harvests from meagre allotments. "This court case is not a success," she said. "I have not seen my daughter come home to me, I have not seen my belongings they took returned to me, I have not seen the water trucks come here to help us again."

Botswana's government is rightly proud of its social welfare system, which used to take water into the reserve for the Bushmen, who were eligible for state support.

Elsewhere in the reserve, there were schools and clinics. All were shut down when the evictions began. The water tanks at Gugamma, Mrs Ramaila's village, were overturned, never to be filled again. Boreholes were cemented shut.

The Bushmen should move out of the reserve, the government said, to better access the "benefits of modern development". The move would in fact save the authorities the vast expense of providing for the Bushmen in their homeland.

Now the closest secondary school to Gugamma, where Mrs Ramaila's 19-year-old great-grandson, Onthusitse Tshotlego, boards, is 450 miles away on the other side of the 20,000 square mile reserve.

"We know the government will not bring us the things they used to, but we just want our family to return and for them to leave us alone. This is our place," said Onthusitse's mother, Lenkagetse Tshotlego, 41. Next to her, in the shade of the camel thorn tree, Thola Those sat by his wife, trying to repair his trainers, which had all but disintegrated.

The couple sneaked into the reserve a week ago, determined to return to their village after hearing of the court ruling, but too afraid they were still barred by the state to declare themselves at the entrance gate.

They were the first to come back. But 30 miles to the south, Mrs Tshotlego is dreaming of the day she can join them and her mother.

"Life is so much worse here, people drink, they get sick," she said, smoking cheap tobacco through a steel cigar-shaped tube and pointing to the huts of Kaudwane.

"But if we say we want to go back to the bush, they say we're leaving development behind. What is it we are leaving behind? Only suffering."

Botswana for Families

2007-04-19T02:42:00.000-07:00

Seba Camp in the Okavango is family focused with: no minimum age, special family activities and a new family room.....its the perfect place to see the best of Botswana

Seba Camp - Family Facts
• Children of all ages welcome
• New family tent (max 2 adults, 2 children) with own small pool, toy box & sandpit
• Children's packs include: Puzzle books, colouring-in books, pencils and magnifying glass• Children's menu available, babysitting on request
• Private safari activities tailored to each family’s needs
• 5 en suite tents, raised off the ground with a viewing deck overlooking the lagoon• Swimming pool
• Activities: Day & night game drives, walks, mokoring, elephant research, guided nature walks around camp for children
• Educational experience: Resident elephant researcher, base for unique research on elephant behaviour & a centre for wildlife film-makers, close up viewing of the Abu released elephants•

Rate: From US$550 rack pppn (valid 1 Apr to 14 Jun 07)

A Report from Kings Pool in Linyanti: the season so far in 2007.

2007-04-16T10:34:00.000-07:00

January has been a hot and wet month in Kings Pool. The area has experienced some severe rainstorms, with as much as 128mm in an hour and a half, contrasting with dry hot spells - the water level in the Linyanti River continues to rise very quickly. Most of the floodplains are flooded and the Linyanti Concession is a paradise once again. Interestingly, even as far as the Savuti Channel, water is pushing in along the famous dry riverbed.

The game has been outstanding. We had frequent sightings of lion, elephant, wild dog, leopard and lots of other general game. Of course, because of the rain, elephants are spread out all over the concession, moving further into the Mopane woodland, but every now and then the breeding herds make an impressive comeback.

Lion seen on game drives from Kings Pool this month were the Linyanti and Selinda prides. The Linyanti Pride comprises three females, three cubs and one unknown male. They were mostly seen between the Kings Pool airstrip and Nkwe hide area. We also had a sighting of one of the females from the LTC pride mating with an unknown male. We witnessed this on drives for four consecutive days!

Early in January, the Selinda female and her two cubs returned to the Selinda concession but later in the month re-emerged in Linyanti area, mostly seen between the Chobe 1 and Livingstone's hide area. We are happy to see the cubs growing very quickly without being under any threat. They are still entirely dependent on their mother to do most of the hunting. When the mother goes on a serious hunt, she gives them a special growl sound and they obediently stay behind.

The spectacular sightings of wild dogs added another flavour. Both packs of wild dogs, namely DumaTau and Linyanti packs, were sighted in the Kings Pool area. The DumaTau pack is made up of ten adults and six puppies while the Linyanti pack is made up of five adults. In terms of the frequency of sightings, the DumaTau pack took the lead. The pack covers the area up to 10km north-east of Kings Pool camp and another amazing 100km north-west of Kings Pool. They travel as far as the Kwando Concession.

The following leopards were seen this month: Boscia female, Motopi, Thonningii female and Thonningii male. We only had a single sighting of the Boscia female being chased by a troop of baboons. She escaped by quickly running into the Mopane woodland. It is a common event in the Linyanti Concession for the baboons to chase leopards during the day whenever they see them. However, baboons can only do that when they are in a group. A single baboon cannot challenge a leopard.The Motopi female, the daughter of Boscia female, was seen with two different Impala kills in different locations.

The most interesting kill happened nearby at the back of the camp kitchen. Managers closing down the camp after an evening with guests drove 50 metres from kitchen and found the leopard holding down a struggling adult female impala, much bigger than her own size. Once the struggle stopped the leopard dragged her prize into the undergrowth. Efforts to find the kill the next morning were sadly unsuccessful and it is more than likely that the hyaenas who frequent the camp had taken the carcass it for themselves.

The Thonningii male is the Kings Pool territorial male. His territory overlaps the territories of eight different females. He can travel 20km north-east and 10km south-west of Kings Pool camp. As a result of having a bigger territory, we don't see him all that often except in the winter dry season.

This time of year is favoured by many for photographic reasons; the lush green vegetation is an ideal backdrop for these beautiful animals and birds; birdlife in the Linyanti Concession is always wonderful and the stormy skies with the sun's rays behind provides the most magnificent light, especially sunset. The sunset always silhouettes a bird of prey perched on a fallen tree and turns the river water into extraordinary pinks, purples and oranges. Ripples spurred on by the water birds: Jacanas stepping across waterlilies, Kingfishers diving into the pink glassy surface, Herons picking their way alongside the rushes alert for that tiny movement giving away the fishes' hiding place and the Weavers landing on a thread of papyrus which then sways under their delicate bodies.

The warm air, the warm-coloured skies and the cacophony of frogs and hippo calls amount to the most magical of moments in Africa. All the guests have been amazed by the different sounds of frogs especially the painted reed frog and bull frog.

One guest highlighted the diversity of the Linyanti, saying: "It's nice to experience both the wet and dry season because they are totally different but equally as good".Report by Keiditsemang 'KD' GabogolelweKings Pool Guide

The Selinda and Linyanti Reserve - Lodge Review : Kings Pool

2007-04-16T10:31:00.000-07:00

Overlooking the Kings Pool Lagoon and Linyanti River the accommodation is in 9 huge taught canvas tents with thatched roofs raised on wooden platforms, complete with your own private plunge pools.

The rooms have huge four poster beds, draped with mosquito netting and covered with soft linen. Lavish en suite bathrooms have his and hers basins, outdoor showers and if one is not enough, 2 more indoor showers to choose from. The large decking area outside each room have a plunge pool, sun-loungers and a sala for catching a snooze before your afternoon safari.

The lounge, dining area (food here is simply fantastic) and bar area face out over a wide expanse of decking onto the hippo filled pool below. Each night before dinner, everyone joins around the fire and chats until dinner is served before returning to their room to appreciate the sky at night from the comfort of their sala. Waking up here the following morning is not uncommon (and highly recommended)

Overall

The rooms here are more luxurious than both Mombo and Jao and for that reason we give Kings Pool the label of the most luxurious camp in Botswana and one of the most luxurious in Africa. The game in the area is superb, overall levels of guiding and service are set just as high and therefore if money is no object (!) then Kings Pool is the place to be for the Linyanti.

Savuti and Little Vumbura have opened

2007-04-10T23:06:00.000-07:00

Savuti and Little Vumbura camps have successfully been rebuilt and reopened to great excitement. Both these camps have been newly upgraded with spectacular soft finishes and with a rigid building process that limited any impact on the environment.

Regarded very highly by safari-buffs we were cautious of the rebuild of these two camps. Although we have not visited either since their completion the word from those in the know is very good and the camps have kept the character they have become so famous for.

We will keep you posted of what we think as we re-visit both camps in May.

The Okavango Flood

2007-04-10T23:02:00.000-07:00

The Okavango floodwaters have finally delivered on the promise of earlier in the season and its seems this year is going to be seeing a substantial flood, a very welcome one given the low rainfall experienced across the region this season. The initial floodwaters proceeded quickly through the panhandle and are already present in the Jao Concession.

Baby Rhino Born at Mombo

2007-04-10T22:59:00.000-07:00

The Botswana Rhino Reintroduction Project has produced another white rhino calf – the 11th since reintroduction. Poster Mpho found the week-old male during a patrol. The newborn, who has been named Delta, was born to mother Maun and likely father Sergeant, the territorial bull of the area. This is the second calf born to Maun since her release in the Mombo area.

Little Vumbura and Savuti - the new camps

2007-04-10T02:14:00.000-07:00

Little Vumbura in the Okavango and Savuti Camp in Linyanti are currently undergoing complete revamps.

At Little Vumbura, the camp has been completely demolished to make way for the new one, allowing nature to reclaim the island for a short time. The entire camp will be rebuilt, but the intimate atmosphere will be retained with only six tents (one being converted to a family unit). The tents are to be slightly larger with an improved design on the past version and will focus on better lighting, privacy and comfort. The dining, lounge and pool areas will also be enlarged, and the curio shop renovated.

Credit must go to the Little Vumbura team who have ensured that as little impact to the environment takes place during the building process as possible. All building materials have been transferred onto the island by boat and all vehicle driving has been disallowed.

Savuti is the quintessential bush camp, a very special place with many avid fans, so its rebuild aims to keep this character. The camp has been redesigned to place more emphasis on the spectacular Savuti Channel. The dining area will be turned around so that each guest has a view of the Channel while they eat. All seven tents (plus family room) will face onto the Channel, providing more privacy and better views than before. Each tent will have a snug seating area inside, as well as on a deck in front allowing comfortable viewing of the goings-on at the camp waterhole. The main deck will also now be thatched, creating a lounge overlooking the waterhole.

We will keep you posted of when the camps open

Why choose the Green Season?

2007-04-10T02:09:00.000-07:00

It has been a spectacular Green Season in 2007, the main areas for this time of year, such as the central Kalahari and Makgadikgadi have been game rich again proving that this is a spectacular time of year to visit.

In general, the summer viewing has been outstanding, and we can only recommend these months as incredible opportunities because of the sheer beauty of the country at this time anmd the excpeptional value for money as it is low season in the camps.

Its true that because rain has fallen game has dispersed, vegetation gets thicker, and humidity is higher but this creates an explosion of life and colour and some exceptional game and bird viewing in spectacular scenery. Migratory biords decsne don the country preparing for their migration in an explosion of plumage colours.

A variety of our itineraries take in those areas that produce year-round high quality game viewing, as well as those areas that come into their own in summer. Throughout the camps this is the season of plains game births, vocal migratory birds in breeding plumage, floral displays, fruiting and fertility.

In short, to experience the summer highlights is to experience a richer version of Africa. Yes the volume of game is not as impressive as in the prime game viewing months but look at it another way....if ever the animals are happy, it is now and this is Botswana....game viewing (in the right camps) is ALWAYS fantastic!

The Selinda and Linyanti Reserves; a review of the lodges

2007-04-09T07:11:00.000-07:00

Over the next month we will be reviewing the Linyanti and Selinda Reserves in Northern Botswana and the best lodges to be found throughout the region. Keep an eye on this blog every week for new reviews from our consultants.

The Linyanti is a reserve to the West of Chobe National Park in Northern Botswana. Connected to Chobe by the Savuti Channel (with the Savuti marshes being found within the National Parks boundaries), the Linyanti region is well know for its large predators and concentrations of game. Just to the West, bordering the Linyanti Reserve is the Selinda Reserve. Famous for its walking safari Selinda shares the same game but focuses more on a safari connoissuer clientele.

The diversity of habitat in the area is an attraction in itself with waterways, marshes, permanently dry riverbeds and large mopane and acacia woodlands creating fantastic game viewing areas.The last stretches of Africa's Great Rift Valley divide the forests with the rivers and floodplains of the Linyanti and it is along this ridge that one sees the best wildlife.

The Savuti Channel itself has been running dry for 25 years, last having flowed in 1980, leaving behind a predators enclave of open grassland that is known throughout Africa for thrilling game drives and walking safaris. It is a sharp contrast to the lush Chobe river as the area is almost desert like, starved of water for much of the year.

The Linyanti is far lusher than the Savuti Channel with water running down the Linyanti River throughout the year and swamp areas running off either sides of the Linyanti River providing areas for river activities the Savuti region has always promised.

In the dry winter months of July to October game viewing is fantastic as massive herds of elephant move into the area and can be seen crossing the Linyanti River regularly. Good numbers of buffalo, giraffe and zebra are present along with hippo, waterbuck, tsessebe, roan ,sable, kudu, wildebeest and and jackal.

The large numbers of game provides ample hunting opportunities for the resident prides of lion that the area is so famous for along with hyena, leopard, cheetah and roaming packs of wild dog. Birdlife, especially along the Linyanti rivers and marshes is stunning, satisfying the most serious of birders and amazing the novices.

The variety of wildlife in the region and the difference in habitat from the Delta itself and the Chobe River area makes the region a must to fully appreciate the diversity of the country.

Botswana in April?

2007-04-09T04:09:00.000-07:00

What will a safari be like in April and May?

The first signs that the times are a changing – night temperatures drop to below 20˚C on average but day temperatures continue to rise up to 30-35˚C on some days. Its important to stay in camps located under big trees providing ample shade for tents. The cooler mornings with high relative humidity lead to wonderful early morning misty magic especially over the waters. The impala rut is in full swing and the impala noises continue right through the night with dramatic clashes between rival males. Baboon and impala are often together assisting the safety of the busy impala. The trees have completed flowering and fruit is ripening all over with the massive sausages hanging from the sausage trees. The reptiles are actively breeding and feeding in anticipation of the dry season about to start.

This time of year guarantees the arrival of the Okavango’s flood waters into the Delta and although they may not peak until June , this time of year is the most dramatic seasonal change and it is actually possible to see the flood waters encroach and cover the surrounding floodplains until there is nothing left but water and palm fringed islands.

Yet again, the animals spring to life, taking full advantage of the arrival of the new water as it flushes out rodents from their hibernation, making easy meals for all kinds of predators from stalks to cats!

The waters also rejuvenate the parched floodplains. Nutritious water dwelling plants emerge from underneath the Delta providing an alternative to the dry grasslands and woodlands. The plains game, especially lechwe, buffalo, zebra and wildebeest wade into the water, seeking out these new shoots. This is also the time of year that thousands of water lilies emerge for the first time, covering the water in blankets of stunning blue and white flowers.

As the flood levels arrive they also bring an array of underwater life; bream and other fish swim up the new channels awaking the attention of the fish-eating birds, especially the kingfishers, the cormorants and the African Fish Eagle. Bird life is prolific throughout the period as the water is packed with nutrients, providing a welcome source of food. Jacanas also spring to life, walking over the waterlillies as if walking on water.

One of the most interesting things about this time of year is the start of the rutting season of many species of antelope. Fights ensue, as the rams battle for control of the best grasses that will therefore invite the highest number of females in time for breeding.

Botswana Odyssey

2007-03-26T03:30:00.000-07:00

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