w w w. o r i e n t - e x p r e s s . c o m

CAPRIVI STRIP

N O R T H E R N B O T S WA N A

OKAVANGO DELTA

MAUN

EAGLE I S LAND CAMP

MOREMI W I LDL I F E RESERVE

(XAXABA I S LAND)

KHWAI R IVER LODGE

SAVUTE E LEPHANT CAMP

NAMB IA

CHOBENAT IONAL PARK

VICTOR IA FALLS

KASANE

L IV INGSTONE

ZAMB IA

JANUARYThe bush is alive with activity.

January is the middle of the rainy season with spectacular afternoon thunderstorms. Daytime temperatures are warm, averaging 86°F (30°C). Night time averages are 68°F (20°C).

• Peakbreedingtimeformanycolourfulmigrantbirdspecies• Excellentwildflowersandbrilliantgreenfoliageabound• Constantsoundsdayandnightfrominsectsandbirds• Gameviewingisaveragewithactivepredatorschasingthe fast ‑developing young of their prey species• Anidealmonthforphotographyenthusiastswithbrilliant coloursanddramaticskies• Predatorsaremoreeasilyseenbytheirpreyspeciesandhaveto workhardforameal,whilepreyspeciesenjoyatimeofplenty

FEBRUARY The Okavango Delta is brilliant, noisy and alive.

The rains continue in the form of afternoon thunderstorms with dramaticskiesandsounds.Daytimetemperaturescanreachupto104°F(40°C)butaveragearound86°F(30°C).Thenightsarealsowarm,averaging68°F(20°C).Therecanbebothwetanddryspells during this month.

• Ripefigsareeatenbymanyspeciesincludingfruitbats,who makeinterestingnightsoundswhilefeeding• Waterliliesareattheirfloweringpeak• Colourfulandnoisyreedfrogsareabundant• Allplantsaregrowingactivelyduetotherain• Butterflies,birds,frogsandsmallcreaturesareattheirmost active• Thegiantbullfrogemergesfrommonthsandsometimesyears ofhibernationtoindulgeinnocturnalfeedingfrenzies• Theresidentgamespeciesdonothavefartogoforwaterand the young are almost as tall as the adults

MARCHVisit now and see the migration moving North through the Savute.

Temperaturesarestillwarmbothdayandnightbuttheairisdrierand rains less frequent.

• Witnesshundredsofzebraandwildebeestmovingthroughthe Savute marshlands• Hearthecallsofthelastofthemigratorybirdsbeforethey move to the northern hemisphere• InMoremitheMarulatreesarefruitingwhichattractsbull elephants who wander from tree to tree in search of their favourite meals• Thestartoftheruttingleadstothesleekmaleimpala cavorting to attract females

OCTOBERTemperatures soar and game viewing is exceptional.

Daytimetemperaturesriseregularlyabove104°F(40°C)andnights are warm with averages in the high 60’s (high teens Celcius).

• Morninggameviewingactivitiesbeginveryearlyandnight drives depart later to avoid the heat of the day • Thepervadingdustmakesallscenesdramatic• Predatorchaseseruptintocloudsofdustastheeternalgame of“eatorbeeaten”playsoutdailyonthewideopenplains• Therearefishingfrenzieswiththeannualcatfishruninthe rivers• TheGodikweheronryisinfullactivitywiththousandsofbirds breedingandnesting

NOVEMBERA wonderful time for photographers as there is excellent colour,

action and visibility.

Temperaturesremainhighbothdayandnight. • Gameviewingcontinuestoimproveuntilthedayofthefirst rains,normallyaroundmidNovember• Theanimalsallseekanendtothedrynessanddust.Oncethe rain comes, they disperse to feed on the new vegetation anddrinkfromtheseasonalpans• Theantelopebirthingseasonbeginswithtsessebe,followedby impala and lechwe• Predatorsseekoutthevulnerableyoungandkillmanytimesa daytogettheirfill–whichmeansplentyofaction• Treesburstintolifeandshortgreengrassbeginstoappear• Excellentvisibility

DECEMBERThe pans remain full and the colours shine in brilliant green.

Therainsbecomemoreregularwiththunderstormseveryfewdays.

• Theimpalacompletetheirlambing• Thewildebeestfinishcalvingwithinafewweeks• Protein-richgrassesfeedmotherantelopeswhilethelambs and calves grow at astounding speed• Whilegrazersenjoythegreen,tendermouthfuls,the predatorsarevigilant.Withtheirwintercamouflagemaking themstandout,theyhavetoworkharderfortheircatch• Thebushbecomesdenserprovidingmorehidingplacesfrom whichpredatorscanstalktheirprey• Allthemigrantbirdshavereturned

APRILThe first signs of the changing season appear.

Nighttimetemperaturesdroptobelow68°F(20°C)onaveragebutdaytimetemperaturescontinuetoriseupto104°F(40°C)onsome days.

• Coolermorningtemperatureswithrelativelyhighhumidityleadsto earlymorningmist–especiallyoverthewater• Theimpalarutisinfullswingandtheimpalanoisecontinuesright throughthenightwithmajorclashesbetweenrivalmales• Baboonsareoftenseenwithimpalaastheyassistwiththesafety of the preoccupied antelope• Thetreeshavecompletedfloweringandfruitisripeningoverwith massive sausages hanging from the Sausage Trees• Thereptilesareactivelybreedingandfeedingin anticipation of the dry spell ahead

MAYFlood waters from Angola start to reach the top

of Okavango Delta and begin their slow, deliberate progress through the Delta.

The rains are over and the nights are cooler with temperatures averaging59°F(15°C).Daytimetemperaturesremainwarmbuthavelosttheiredgewithmaximumtemperaturesseldomexceeding95°F(35°C)–jacketsareadvisablefornightdrives.

• Thebuffalobegintogroupintolargeherdsandvisitthepermanent waterholesmoreoftenastheseasonalpansbegintodry• Breedingherdsofelephantincreasesindensitydailyastheyvisit the permanent waters • Greencoloursstarttofadeintothedullerdryseasoncolours• Thepredatorsbegintothriveagainastheircolouringblendsin with their surroundings• Migratorybirdsbegintheirarduousflightstowinterfeedingand breedinggrounds

JUNEWinter – an exciting time in Botswana.

Temperatureshavedroppedtotheircoldestbytheendofthemonthwithnighttemperaturesreachingaslowas41°F(5°C).Itisverycoldon early morning and night drives due to wind chill. Daytime temperaturesriseuptoacomfortable77°F(25°C)anddustydryconditionsbegintodominatetheregion.

• TheAfricanwilddogsbegintosearchfortheirdens.Oncethey have denned these endangered animals are easy to view for 3–4months• Somegreenbushesandtreespersist,howevermostarebeginning to lose their leaves• Animalsandtheirpredatorsnowconcentrateatthepermanent waterholes • Pansaredyingupacrosstheregion

JULYAn abundance of animals congregate near the water and floodplains making it a special time of the year.

ThenightsarestillcoldbutthedaysaremarginallywarmerandtheweatherbecomestypicalofBotswana–sunnyandclear.

• ThefloodsarriveintheOkavangoDeltaandotherareasaftera slowpathfromthewetAngolanhighlandsthousandsof kilometresaway• Watermakesitswayintoareasthatweredrythedaybefore• Mekoroandboattripsbecomemoreexcitingasnewplacescan nowbeaccessed• Softearlymorningandeveninglightcombinewithdusttoprovide excellentphotoopportunities

AUGUSTThere is plenty of action around – with patience

and perseverance, the rewards are great.

Theweatheriswarming,evenatnight,withdaytimepeaksaveragingnear 86°F (30°C) and night time averages rising to 50°F (10°C).

• Animalherdsaregettinglarger• Limitedspacenearthewaterleadstotensionbetweenbreeding herds of elephant• Thenightsarefilledwithelephantsounds• Thebushisbareanddustpervadesthroughouttheregion•Birdssuchasheronsandstorksstarttoconcentrateatthe Godikweheronryandbeginnest-building•ThefloodshavepassedthroughtheDeltaandreachasfar southasMaun

SEPTEMBERThe climate has changed again and winter is all but gone.

Nighttimetemperaturesriserapidlywithinthemonthandbymonth’send, with averages reaching 59°F (15°C) and daytime temperatures soaring well into the 80’s (high 20’s).

• Thesunshines,theskiesareclearanditisextremelydry• Theelephantandbuffaloconcentrationsarestillgreat• Thepredatorsarebusyastheseasontakesitstollonprey species–atimeofplentyforthelions• Carminebee-eatersandothermigrantbirdsreturnfrom winter grounds• WaterlevelsslowlystarttodropasthewatersfromAngola subside• Fishbegintogetactiveagain

NORTHERN BOTSWANA MAP AND SAFARI CALENDAR