Aug 10, 2019 | Animals of Botswana
Stop!
Take a second and close your eyes.
Now, I want you to picture yourself on safari. What do you see?
If you’re not seeing some of the incredible animals of Botswana, you’re not on the right safari.
90 percent of Botswana is covered in savanna, which means it’s rich in vegetation and a lot of great food for herbivores. In fact, you can find 2500 species of plants and 650 species of trees feeding hundreds of thousands of animals.
And that launches our first Brave Africa blog series: The Animals of Botswana. To kick things off, we’re talking about the almost two dozen different types of antelopes you’ll find throughout the country. You could see many of these on your next game drive with us.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPXzMlWBR_E[/embedyt]
Eland
Eland are the largest of the African antelopes at 150-190cm at the shoulder. However, that large size means that these guys are also the slowest. They survive thanks to their incredible endurance that allows them to trot indefinitely. They can also leap big distances.
How to recognize Eland:
- Eland have a large dewlap—a flap of skin on the chest—which can reach all the way down to their knees.
- They look a little like cattle
Where can you find Eland?
Elands enjoy dry regions and can be found in the semi-desert region of the Kalahari. You’ll also find them in savannas, dry forests, and open plains.
Kudu
Kudu are beautiful antelope known for their spiraled horns and their gruff bark, which is the loudest of all antelopes. The females go around in herds of six to twenty, while the males are often solitary. They are noted for their jumping abilities, easily clearing a 3m fence.
How to recognize Kudu
- Very large ears
- White nose-strip and body stripes
- Males have beautifully spiraled horns
Where can you find Kudu?
Kudu can be found all over Botswana, but are most often in large numbers along the Chobe and Linyanti rivers.
Roan
Roan are highly dependent on water and are limited to exclusive ranges, which has resulted in low population numbers. They congregate in herds of up to 20 Roan with a single bull. These highly unique animals of Botswana confront predators instead of running from predators, using their scimitar-shaped horns.
How to recognize Roan
- Fawn color with black and white facial markings
- Shorter, curved horns
Where can you find Roan?
Roan can be found in well-grassed and wooded areas with permanent water. The best viewing is in Chobe and Moremi.
Sable
Sable are highly territorial and will chase off competition. The males will emit a powerful odor that even humans can smell or try to intimidate others with their tail and horns. Breeding herds can be as large as 20 or 30 individuals, but males are always on their own. As for their horns, they’ll use them to attack lions who may jump on their backs.
How to recognize Sable
- Sloping backs
- Black coloring with white rumps, bellies, and faces
- Very long curved horns
Where can you find Sable?
Sable can be found in well-grassed open woodlands where there is water. The best viewing is around the Chobe River, Linyanti, and Moremi.
Gemsbok
Gemsbok are well adapted to survive in high heat, having learned to use every drop of available moisture. These Botswana antelopes are startlingly attractive and can be found in small herds. Their horns are incredibly effective when it comes to taking down predators, and have been known to impale lions, killing them.
How to recognize Gemsbok
- Long straight horns
- Grey coloring with black and white markings on the face, legs, and belly.
Where can you find Gemsbok?
Gemsbok prefer open sandy grasslands or scrublands in the desert. Best viewing is in Nxai Pan, Deception Valley, and Makgadikgadi.
Wildebeest
Wildebeest are highly territorial antelopes that hang out in large herds of up to 30 individuals. They are migratory animals and will travel 50 km in a day to get to green flush vegetation. These nomadic creatures are relentless when they begin migrating and can travel 1,610 km in a year.
How to recognize Wildebeest
- Broad muzzle with a ride row of incisors, loose lips, and curving horns
- Gray coat with a black mane
- Heavily built
Where can you find Wildebeest?
Wildebeest prefer grass plains and abundant water. They can be found all over Botswana throughout the Okavango Delta and Kalahari.
Red Hartebeest
Red Hartebeest are incredibly fast runners. They can easily attain a speed of 65 km/hr, and when combined with their exceptional endurance, it makes them difficult prey. Preferring dry regions, Red Hartebeest get sufficient moisture from their diet, which includes melons. They do not need to drink water to survive.
How to recognize Red Hartebeest
- Straight back, long and narrow face with closely set horns in a heart shape
- Whitish rump with black patches on the upper legs and face
Where can you find Red Hartebeest?
Red Hartebeest love arid regions with dry grassy plains. Best viewing is in the Central Kalahari and Kalagadi Gemsbok Park.
Tsessebe
Tsessebe form herds of either breeding females with a male or young bachelor herds. You’ll frequently find Tsessebe standing on termite hills to use as a vantage point to check for approaching danger. They are also reputed to be the fastest Botswana antelope, reaching speeds of 100 km/hr with a bouncing run.
Photo by Arthur Chapman
How to recognize Tsessebe
- Sloping backs with widely set, outwardly curving horns
- Dark brown coloring with a purplish sheen
Where can you find Tsessebe?
Tsessebe can be found in grasslands and flood plains. In the winter, you’ll find them in the Savuti Marsh, and at other times, in Moremi.
Waterbuck
Waterbuck form large herds of up to 30 individuals. They are usually found near water, though they’ll also head to open woodlands to graze. The males are very territorial and may fight to the death in certain situations.
How to recognize Waterbuck
- A distinctive white ring around the tail
- Shaggy fur
Where can you find Waterbuck?
Waterbuck can be found in the floodplains near water. Best viewing for these particular animals of Botswana is in Moremi and Chobe River.
Sitatunga
The medium-sized Sitatunga live almost permanently in water in the flooded areas of the Okavango Delta. They are very capable, if slow, swimmers, sometimes fully submerging themselves if there is danger nearby. They are solitary animals that are occasionally found in pairs and always found near papyrus.
How to recognize Sitatunga
- Spirally twisted horns
- Body stripes on a dark shaggy coat
- Hunched appearance with a narrow face
Where can you find Sitatunga?
Sitatunga hang out in permanent swamps and thick cover. Best viewing is in shallow waters.
Red Lechwe
Red Lechwe spend all their time near water. You’ll often find then wading up to their bellies in shallow waters to reach aquatic plants. They live in separate male and female herds with enforced separation due to territorial males. When startled, these Botswana antelopes will scatter in all directions to confuse predators.
How to recognize Red Lechwe
- Black lines on the front legs
- Long, thin, and sweeping horns
- Stockier than the impala
Where can you find Red Lechwe?
Red Lechwe enjoy the wetlands with best viewing along the Chobe River, Linyanti, Moremi, and Okavango.
Puku
Puku are easily overlooked. They can be confused with Impala or Red Lechwe, but are slightly smaller in size. You can find them on the dry fringes of swampland and rivers, recognizing them by the repeated whistle they make when disturbed. They live in small segregated herds with territorial males.
Photo by gmacfadyen.
How to recognize Puku
- Uniformly red
- Smaller in size and stouter
Where can you find Puku?
Puku can only be found along the Chobe River near Kasane. They are one of Botswana’s conserved animals.
Impala
Impala are the most abundant Botswana antelopes. They are perfectly proportioned animals that are easily startled or frightened. They live in large herds of up to 100 individuals with females outnumbering males two to one. They can reach running speeds of 80 km/hr and leap 3 meters high.
How to recognize Impala
- Black and white lines on the rump in the shape of an “M”
- Dainty black ankle straps and a black patch on the forehead
Where can you find Impala?
Impala can be found all over Botswana, particularly in Moremi and Chobe.
Springbok
Springbok are well suited to dry, dusty areas. Unlike most other antelope, they do not have a moist external nose, giving them something in common with a camel. You can recognize them by their peculiar stotting and springing leaps, called pronking. With straight legs, they can leap up two meters.
How to recognize Springbok
- Ghostly white faces, bellies, and sides
Where can you find Springbok?
Springbok enjoy dry, open grasslands. The best viewing is in Nxai Pan, Central Kalahari, Khutse, and more.
Bushbuck
Photo by Fieldsports Channel
Bushbuck are solitary, nonterritorial antelopes—the only nonterritorial antelope in Africa. While each adult has their own thicket, they tolerate each other well. However, that doesn’t mean that the males can’t be aggressive. When cornered by predators, they will fight back, killing leopards and dogs.
How to recognize Bushbuck
- Males have spiral horns
- Distinctive spots and stripes on the body
Where can you find Bushbuck?
Bushbuck enjoy dense bush near water. You’ll find these animals of Botswana near the Chobe River, Linyanti, Moremi, and throughout the Okavango.
Reedbuck
You’ll usually find Reedbuck in long grasses and in small groups of up to six individuals. They depend on thick shelter for protection from predators and will use a piercing whistle when alarmed. Reedbuck mate for life in monogamous relationships.
Photo by Bernard DUPONT
How to recognize Reedbuck
- Yellowish-grey coloring with a white under-tail
- Dark brown lines on their front legs
Where can you find Reedbuck?
Reedbuck enjoy tall grassland near water. They can be found in Moremi, Chobe, and Okavango.
Mountain Reedbuck
Mountain Reedbuck live in small, isolated groups, and are under the threat of extinction. Timid animals, they tend to hide undercover all day and only emerge at dusk to eat and drink. They are dependent on water and must drink on a regular basis.
Photo by Bernard DUPONT
How to recognize Mountain Reedbuck
- Short, curved horns
- Greyish brown fur, rufous necks, and white undersides with a bushy tail
- Dark scent patch underneath the ears
Where can you find Mountain Reedbuck?
Mountain Reedbuck spend their times in rocky hills with scrub and grass for cover. They are endangered and are found in the Mokolodi Game Reserve.
Klipspringer
Klipspringer have incredible climbing and jumping abilities, which gives them an advantage over predators. They are very agile and can easily bound up rock walls that are nearly vertical. They are well adapted to extreme habitats and can use their blunt, rubbery, skid-proof hooves to maneuver where they will. They mate for life and live in family groups with one or two offspring.
Photo by Nik Borrow
How to recognize Klipspringer
- Short and stout with muscular bodies
- Yellowish gray to reddish-brown coat
Where can you find Klipspringer?
Klipspringer can be found in rocky areas with the best viewing in Savuti, Ngoma, and Tuli.
Sharpe’s Grysbok
Photo by Bernard DUPONT
Sharpe’s Grysbok are rare Botswana antelopes. They are nocturnal animals that spend their days in protective covers and will run away at the slightest hint of anything bad. They are usually solitary, but can sometimes be found in pairs during mating season.
How to recognize Sharpe’s Grysbok
- Small, dark, and stocky with a slightly hunched back
- Long fur on their hindquarters
- Whitish flecks on a reddish-brown coat.
Where can you find Sharpe’s Grysbok?
Sharpe’s Grysbok enjoy thick vegetation below rocky outcrops. Best viewing is Buffalo Ridge at Ngoma.
Oribi
It’s rare to see an Oribi. They are one of Botswana’s conserved animals and are either found alone or in pairs. When disturbed, an Oribi gives a sharp whistle or a sneeze-like snort before running away. They are territorial, but will bound away if threatened.
Photo by Noel Reynolds
How to recognize Oribi
- Yellow to orange-brown fur on the back and upper chest while the chin, throat, belly, and rump are white.
- Short, bushy tail with black or dark brown upperparts
- Only males have horns that are slender and upright
Where can you find Oribi?
Oribi enjoy large grassy plains with short grass for grazing.
Duiker
Duiker are solitary animals and nocturnal. They are creatures of habit that always use the same paths for resting and latrines. They are considered the most successful antelope in Africa, scavenging fruit below trees where monkeys feed and surviving in a wide range of habitats. They are extremely territorial and will stalk and charge intruders. Duiker are held sacred by the Bangwato tribe.
How to recognize Duiker
- Greyish-yellow with a conspicuous tuft of hair on their forehead
- Long black nose line and long narrow ears
- Closely set horns with ridges
Where can you find Duiker?
Duiker prefer scrub savannah, but they will tolerate most habitats. Best viewing is in the Western and Central Kalahari.
Steenbok
Steenbok are extremely territorial and refuse to leave their food supply. They live alone unless they mate and then stay in a breeding pair. Surprisingly, they can and will eat meat, killing mice and birds as needed for protein. They run in a zig-zag pattern, frequently stopping to look back for pursuit and additional danger. They are the only Botswana antelope to cover their defecation by scaping sand over the spot.
Photo by Tim Ellis
How to recognize Steenbok
- Small animals with large wide-set ears with a distinct leaf-like pattern on the inside
- Smooth horns and a red tail
Where can you find Steenbok?
Steenbok have a wide habitat but prefer short grasslands and shrubs. You can find them in dry areas throughout Botswana.
Aug 3, 2019 | Adventure Safari, Brave Africa Safari, Safari Tips
If you’re getting ready to plan your first safari in Botswana, you’re probably concerned about the cost. You’ve heard tales about how Botswana is the most expensive location to safari even as it’s also considered the best.
So, what can you expect when it comes to the cost of a safari in Botswana? Is it only affordable for the wealthy?
We won’t lie and say that going on safari is cheap, but it’s not as expensive as you might think. By choosing the right flights, time of year, and safari experience, you can still have the experience of a lifetime at a price that’s less than you might expect.
Cost of Botswana Safari International Flights
When you first start planning your trip to Africa, you’re probably concerned about the price of plane tickets. After all, it’s expensive to fly short flights. How much more costly is a flight to Botswana?
The U.S. to South Africa — USD $800 – $1400 Round-Trip
If you’re coming from the U.S., there are many options for getting to Johannesburg, South Africa. It all depends on where you’re coming from. In most cases, you’re going to want to make your way to the East Coast.
JFK New York is a popular airport, and right now, flights on Kenya Airways and through Nairobi are just $886 for a round-trip. Going through Los Angeles, you can expect to pay only $1,033 on Qatar Airways through Doha.
Europe to South Africa — USD $663 – $950 Round-Trip
If you’re traveling from Europe, you can expect flights to be a little bit cheaper. From Frankfurt, a flight on Ethiopian Air is just $663 round trip, and on Lufthansa, it’s $916.
Australia to South Africa — USD $1150 – $1500 Round-Trip
From Australia to South Africa, you can expect similar prices as the U.S. Nonstop flights start around $1250 on Qantas Airways.
Flights to Maun — USD $200 – $350 One-Way
Once you make it to South Africa, you then have to take another short international flight—two hours—to get to Maun, Botswana. While Air Botswana is typically your most affordable option, we recommend flying South African Airways for a better guarantee of your flight arriving on time.
Here’s what you can expect to pay to fly to and from Maun, Botswana:
- Johannesburg to Maun: USD $200 – $300 one-way
- Cape Town to Maun: USD $275 – $350 one-way
Flights to Victoria Falls —USD $250 – $319 One-Way
If you decide to visit Victoria Falls before or after your safari, you’ll need flights to or from Victoria Falls:
- Johannesburg to Victoria Falls: USD $250 – $319 one-way
Bush Flights — USD $430 – $600 Round-Trip
Going on safari in Botswana is unique in Africa in terms of travel. While in South Africa, Kenya, and Tanzania, it’s common to drive to your safari camp, in Botswana, that’s not the case.
The remoteness of Botswana’s safari destinations means that driving isn’t a choice for most travelers. It would take up too much time and require a four-wheel-drive vehicle. That’s why bush flights are the popular choice for travelers and safari camps alike.
The good news is that there are many options for chartered bush flights, including:
So, what’s the exact cost of Botswana safari bush flights? Your travel agent will, most likely, include it in the total price of your safari. But, if you decide to book your own bush flights in Botswana, we talked to Mack Air to get their 2019/2020 rates.
Maun is your most likely departure point. It’s the most accessible destination to fly to from Johannesburg or Cape Town, which is most likely where you’ll enter Africa for your international flight. The good news is that since Maun is such a popular starting off point, prices are relatively affordable.
- Maun to Xakanaxa: USD $215 per person
- Maun to Khwai: USD $215 per person
- Maun to Savuti: USD $217 per person
However, if you’re coming from or heading to Victoria Falls before or after your safari, then you might use the Kasane airport instead. Due to the airport’s location as well as its less frequent use, flights to and from Kasane are slightly more expensive.
- Kasane to Xakanaxa: USD $372 per person
- Kasane to Khwai: USD $372 per person
- Kasane to Savuti: USD $357 per person
The Cost of a Safari in Botswana
After paying for flights, the only thing you have to worry about is the cost of your safari in Botswana.
The great news about a safari is that it’s all-inclusive. There’s no paying for a hotel and then paying for your food and activities separately. After just a few days, you might not realize how quickly it all adds up.
According to recent surveys of Americans on vacation, each day, on average, you can expect to pay:
- $258 — for a hotel room in a large city such as New York City
- $59 — for a car rental
- $50 — for food
- $100 — all-day activity/tour
That’s a total of $467 per day + $159 per day for every additional person. So, for two people, that equates to $608 per day on average for an international trip. That’s $6,080 for 10-days for a couple.
Now, that price can increase or decrease significantly depending on where you’re heading for a vacation. The more remote the destination or popular the city, the more you can expect to pay.
A safari with Brave Africa isn’t that much more expensive. Our per-person price includes:
- Accommodations
- All meals, snacks, and house beverages (including unlimited alcoholic drinks)
- Laundry
- Road transfers from the nearest airstrip and between our camps
- National park fees
- Emergency medical evacuation insurance
- All-day game drives and professional guiding
For all of that, you can pay as little as $880 per couple per day for a ten-day/nine-night safari in Botswana. That’s barely $270 more per day for a trip of a lifetime.
Total Cost of a Botswana Safari
So, when you add everything up, how much does it cost to go on safari in Botswana for a couple? Let’s add it up.
- International Flights: $2000 per couple
- Maun Flights: $1000 per couple
- Bush Flights: $1000 per couple
- 10-Day Safari: $10,000 per couple (shoulder rack)
Total Cost of a 10-Day Safari in Botswana for Two: USD $14,000
And while that might seem expensive, let’s compare it to a trip to Disney World. This is a fairly decent comparison because you pay a daily fee for all-day activities, aka park tickets and hotels are at a premium on property. We planned a 9-night/10-day vacation and chose the average prices for comparison.
- Hotel: $350/night — $3,150 total
- 10-Day Tickets: $1100 per couple
- 10-Day Dining Plan: $1300 per couple
- International Flights: $2000 per couple
Total Cost of a 10-Day Trip to Disney World in Orlando, FL: USD $7,550
So, would you rather pay half as much and go to Disney World like everyone else or pay a little more and go on a trip that will change your life?
And if you’d like to save some money on flights, we’re writing a blog in a few weeks about using just 80,000 points per person for a round trip flight to South Africa. That’s a $2000 savings! So stay tuned!
Jul 28, 2019 | Botswana News, Conservation
Lions are dying.
Over the last 25 years, 50% of lions have disappeared from the face of the earth. That means that when you watched the original The Lion King in 1994, there were almost twice as many lions in the wild as there are today, says the Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN).
To put that in numbers; there are only 25,000 African lions left in the wild! That puts them on the vulnerable to extinction list, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
So, why is this happening? Aren’t African safaris and conservation efforts helping?
Why Are Lions Disappearing
- Lions used to roam the entire African continent. Now, 94% of that range is lion-free. They roam less than 660,000 square miles.
- Lions don’t have enough wild prey to eat. The bushmeat trade has forced lions to get close to humans and their livestock for food.
- Human settlements are growing and taking over more and more lion habitat. Humans are also fragmenting lion ranges, which means males have a tough time finding new prides and mates.
- Human and lion conflict is escalating. More lions are being killed, often by poison.
- Poach also poses a severe threat. Lions are valued for their skin, paws, teeth, and claws—all of which can be used in rituals and medicine in parts of Asia.
How Can We Protect Lions and Other Wildlife?
How can we change this and start protecting lions and other African wildlife? First, we have to change the conversation.
The current problem is that there is a high cost for people living beside lions, which means they don’t see the value in preserving them. This can make conservationists jobs incredibly difficult. Without a desire for peaceful coexistence, lions and humans will continue to fight for their right to live, and the lions will lose.
According to Amy Dickman, a research fellow at the Oxford Wildlife Conservation and a National Geographic grantee, the solution is to offset the burden or protecting wildlife. She told National Geographic, “If we want lions to exist in 50 years from now in any meaningful way, we need to adjust the costs and benefits so that far more of the benefits accrue at the local level and the costs are borne at the international level.”
Getting Communities Involved
What exactly does this look like? It means recognizing that local communities have a significant role in protecting lions. They have to deal with the challenges associated with living beside lions, elephants, and other dangerous creatures, so we need to provide those communities tangible benefits (rewards) for living with lions.
- Provide an incentive not to poach.
- Offer a reward for not retaliating against lions after a livestock kill.
- Provide compensation to owners to replace livestock or other property harmed by wildlife.
Donating to Conservation
Saving lions also requires money, lots of money. According to a 2018 study, it will require more than one billion dollars annually to save lions in Africa’s protected areas. Currently, there’s only about $381 million a year.
Changing the Political Mindset
Last, but certainly not least, to save the lions, political leaders need to see the value in conserving them. More than just demonstrating how beneficial wildlife is to tourism, politicians need to understand how protecting nature supports job growth, economic development, and more. We need to prove that protecting lions results in cleaner air and water, more carbon storage, and improved overall wellbeing in rural communities.
African Safaris and Conservation
Tourism is a rapidly growing industry. In 2018, more than 42 million people visited sub-Saharan Africa. Many of those tourists go on safari.
Now, some people believe that safaris can’t possibly be okay. After all, shouldn’t animals be kept away from tourists and vice versa? But that’s preservation, not conservation. If you put animals into a box to keep them safe, you’re not doing what you can to maintain habitats and change mindsets, but that’s what African safaris can do.
Responsible wildlife safaris encourage people, communities, and political leaders to save the natural environment. By bringing money into countries through wildlife tourism, you’re demonstrating that it’s more valuable to keep animals alive and thriving. You’re making animals a valuable commodity, and money speaks.
More Revenue from Conservation Safaris = Less from Illegal Activities
While it’s difficult to prove a definitive link between a drop in tourists and a rise in poaching, there’s definitely a link between the two. Tourists help protect wildlife from their sheer presence. The revenue they bring in also makes a big difference.
Mark Butcher of Imvelo Safaris told The Guardian, “When people are hungry, they don’t worry about conservation. The wildlife gets left in the care of poorly motivated and ill-equipped bureaucrats.” Basically, when tourists bring money into communities, and people can afford to live well, they don’t have to resort to illegal activities to survive.
For example, in Kenya between 1977 and 1983, visitors dropped by 70,000 a year. The loss in revenue resulted in a 60% decline in anti-poaching patrols. During that time, rhinos practically disappeared, elephant numbers plummeted, and meat poaching was bigger than ever.
The Surprising Power of Safari Photos
Maybe the most surprising power of a safari to aid in conservation is using your photos to track wildlife. Your pictures, when shared on social media can help experts track illegal wildlife trading, demonstrate which areas are most often visited by tourists, and more.
According to a recent study in Botswana, when safari tourists were asked to provide their photographs to help with conservation, they were able to estimate the densities of lions, spotted hyenas, leopards, African wild dogs, and cheetahs. The results were similar to a professional tracking survey and far more affordable.
The reality is that tourists take thousands of photos every day, and those photos can help create statistical models and provide valuable data for conservation.
Brave Africa and Conservation
Finally, African safaris can make a major difference in conservation if you choose the right operator. There are many great safari operators who give back to communities, respect wildlife, and donate to various conservation efforts. At Brave Africa, we’re also doing our part.
Though we are just barely getting started, we’re already thinking about how we can help keep Botswana pristine.
Our Employees
We believe that giving back to the community where we operate and taking care of our employees will make the largest difference in conservation. After all, if they live well and feel like they are a part of something valuable, then they’ll take that back home.
As part of that, one of our principal owners is Tabona Wina, a native Botswanan. Wina is the heart and soul of Brave Africa. It’s his knowledge of the Bush and creating a memorable safari experience that makes us who we are. We are one of the few safari companies who have an owner who lives in the community where we operate.
As for the rest of our employees, our goal is to be a company where they love to work. We want to be the premier employer in Botswana because we’re known for taking care of our employees in regards to compensation, benefits, and work environment.
Giving Back
At Brave Africa, we’re also putting our money where our mouth is ($5 a day for every guest).
- $50 from every 10-Day/9-Night itinerary will be donated to conservation efforts.
- $35 from every 7-Day/6-Night itinerary will be donated to conservation efforts.
As we said in a previous blog about Elephant conservation, we’re donating a portion of the proceeds from every guest’s stay with us to Elephants Without Borders, but that’s just the start. We also have plans to give to other charitable organizations that are all focused on conserving wildlife and nature. While we haven’t chosen what other organizations we’ll give to—more research is needed—our goal is to find nonprofits and charities that are doing great work and making a big difference.
We’ll keep you updated as we choose our charities, and we welcome your feedback. If there’s an organization that you feel is doing great work, let us know.
Jul 22, 2019 | Adventure Safari, Brave Africa Safari, Game Drive
Imagine waking up just as the sun starts to peek over the horizon right before your first game drive in Botswana. Your tent is cold in the morning chill, but the blankets are soft and warm, keeping your bed a cocoon of comfort. Outside, you can hear life beginning to wake up. Birds are chirping, hippos are lowing, and you can sense the excitement in the air. In less than an hour, you’ll be on a…
As you leave the comfort of bed, the cold air shocks you awake, but that’s okay. It’s exactly what you need to get going. You dress quickly, throwing on layers of warmth because you know the day will heat up quickly, and your stomach bubbles with anticipation.
The stunning view outside your tent.
Just outside your tent, you stop to take in the view. It’s gorgeous. The sky is an array of pink, yellow, and sparkling blue. There’s a gentle breeze on your skin, and though you shiver a little in the crisp air, Botswana has gotten into your blood.
You smile.
You stop at the basins on your tent porch to find steaming water and washcloths waiting for you. The heat seeps into your skin as you sink your hands into the water to dunk the fabric. It’s a little piece of heaven to wash your face neck and arms in the warmth, and it’s the perfect final wake up call. You dunk the cloth again just for the joy of feeling steam on your face. Somehow, it warms up your entire body. Now, you’re ready.
The animals are calling…
Hot steamy water waiting for you when you wake up.
You head over to the main tent for a quick breakfast. A fire pit, hot coffee, muffins, cereal, oatmeal, and more await you. Everyone straggles in at their own pace as the sun continues to creep into the sky, but in only a few minutes, you’re all gathered and ready to go.
The excitement in the air is palpable.
Who knows what could be waiting for you out in the bush, but you can’t wait to find out. Even hot coffee and food can’t keep you occupied for long. Everyone is starting to get antsy, and then, you finally hear the words you’ve been waiting for, “Let’s go!”
LC1 is waiting for you with blankets and ponchos (the poncho blocks the win) to help you stay warm in the open air. You all get comfy, and then your guide takes off, and you’re on your way.
Immediately, there’s magic to uncover in the bush. A few hundred meters from camp, you turn a corner and your guide points out fresh elephant droppings. For a second, you wonder why he’s focused on poo, and then he points a little further in the distance. You look, but there’s nothing there.
The car slows…you look closer.
Suddenly, you see him! It’s a huge bull elephant hidden in the bushes, eating his morning breakfast. You can’t believe you missed him. How could an elephant hide in such small bushes? What a great sighting.
That’s what a game drive in Botswana is all about!
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1J_9MD2GTI[/embedyt]
After stopping for a few minutes for pictures and videos, you’re ready to keep exploring, so you move on. A few more minutes of driving, and you hear something in the distance. What could it be? It’s loud and sounds like hooting and screaming?
You get closer and then, right there in the middle of the road, you find a troop of baboons!
Wow!
They’re just hanging out, playing, running, and having a blast as a family. They run up a tree, and your guide pulls forward slightly to give you the perfect view. The baboons are having a great time and so are you. Their interactions are fascinating, how they hang together as a family—a slightly dysfunctional one. Two tweens fight on a nearby branch. The baby of the family hangs out by himself, but dad’s nearby just in case.
Baboon dad and baby.
They don’t slow down the entire twenty minutes you hang out watching them, and you realize that you could stay there for hours, but there’s always something new to see. So, after taking hundreds of pictures (can you really have too many?), you move on again.
And so the day goes over and over again. You run into dozens of different animals: impala, waterbuck, hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, more elephants, birds, zebra, giraffe, and even a sleeping leopard.
Buffalo with birds.
They’re all there—seemingly within touching distance.
Every sighting is unique and incredible. Even if you’ve seen the animal a hundred times before, every time you see them it’s something new. Your guide will point out some behavior or fact at every encounter.
You might learn that baboons and impala live hand-in-hand together, relying on each other for safety from other predators. However, if the baboons get hungry and the impalas aren’t careful, their own babies will be up on the menu. Impala for dinner.
Or you might run into a young zebra and have a question about their lighter coat. Your guide will teach you that it’s important for camouflage at that young age and will grow darker as they get older.
A brown-striped zebra foal.
Your guide spends years in school and in yearly training to learn all there is to know about the Botswana bush—the animals, the plants, the weather, and the landscape. No matter what question you might have, your guide will probably have the answer. That’s what makes a game drive in Botswana with Brave Africa so special.
It’s not just about what you see; it’s about the entire experience. By the time you leave Khwai—three days later—you’ll know everything you need to know.
This is just a sneak peek of a morning on safari in Botswana.
We didn’t delve into what it’s like to eat lunch in the bush or how you’ll end your day, but we hope this short look into going on a game drive in Botswana sparks your imagination. Your experience will be completely unique to you, but we can promise that it will be something you’ll never forget.
Giraffe family.
Sleeping leopard
Jul 14, 2019 | Behind the Scenes, Brave Africa Safari
We have a lot going on, but we wanted to give you the latest update on everything that’s happening at Brave Africa. We’re so excited about everything that’s happening as we get ready for our official Brave Africa launch with our first 10-day/9-night Botswana safari on August 30, 2019!
We’re Crazy Busy
Honestly, there’s not much more that needs to be said. We’re in the final few weeks of getting our safari up and running, and that means we’re running around like crazy and trying to get everything together.
Of course, as with any business, few things go to plan. Instead, you have to roll with a thousand little punches and make things work the best that you can. You also have to realize that there is only so much that you can control. Sometimes, you just have to cross your fingers and hope for the best.
Our U.S. Team Flew to Botswana for Safari Prep
In flight to Maun, Botswana. Here we go!
First and foremost, is the fact that our U.S.-based team flew out to Botswana to meet up with Wina and work on Brave Africa on location. Both our teams have been in near-constant communication over the last few months, but there is something to be said about meeting up in-person, and that’s what this week is about.
Our team flew out of Denver at 4:00 pm on Friday, June 28. Nine hours later—at 10 am local time—they landed in Munich, Germany for a short two-hour layover before taking a one-hour hopper flight to Frankfurt. Then, they had around nine hours in Frankfurt to run around before taking the 10:30 pm flight (local) to Johannesburg.
Running around Frankfurt, Germany for a few hours during our layover.
Pushing 5 bags and 1 giant box up an escalator in Joburg airport.
Twelve hours later, they arrived in Joburg at 9:00 am (local). They then had three hours to check out their luggage and recheck it back in for their two-hour flight to Maun, Botswana. They made it just in time, with only a small amount of airport drama (four gate changes and 4 miles of walking through the airport).
Thirty-six hours of travel later, Wina picked the team up at Maun International Airport in our completed Land Cruiser. And it was worth every second. Check out a little bit about how we made it to Maun on our Getting Here page.
LC 1 and LC 2
LC 1 and LC 2, as we affectionately refer to our two Toyota Land Cruisers, were crazy to see in real life. LC 1 is almost completely done and ready for customers. She’s a beauty! The garage did an amazing job transforming her into a comfortable safari vehicle, and she’s better than we could have imagined.
There are even a few unexpected features that we think we adventure guests are going to love!
- Each row will have two USB ports (one per person) to use while out on safari! So if there’s a charging emergency or you’re draining a battery faster than expected, you won’t have to panic. This is a feature typically only available in photography vehicles, but we’re including it in all of ours.
- We also have a cooler in the front row. This battery-powered cooler will keep your drinks and snacks ice-cold while out on your all-day game drives. The cooler is large enough to easily hold water, beer, soda, juice, and even white wine during your game drives.
- A luggage rack in the back makes air strip pick up super simple. We’ll strap your bags down on the back of the Land Cruiser, covering them securely with a tarp, and keep your bags safe as we go out on your afternoon safari drive before heading back to camp for dinner. This means you won’t miss a minute of your safari to drop off luggage at camp.
There’s so much more to talk about when it comes to our Land Cruisers. For now, enjoy some pictures of LC1 and LC2.
Heres LC1 ready for game drives!
LC1 VS LC2 (in white). Just 12 weeks in the shop separate these two vehicles.
We made LC1 official by adding our logo right before our first game drive!
Between the first two seats, we added a cooler for ice-cold drinks and food on every game drive.
4 USB ports per row in our safari game drive vehicles.
Shopping and Item Delivery for our Botswana Safari
One of the most important things that happened during this trip was that we got everything we needed for camp. Wednesday morning (July 3), our huge shipment from South Africa arrived at the office. We received all the tents along with power, lamps, furniture, cooking supplies, and more. Basically, everything we need to create a comfortable, luxurious, and amazing adventure safari experience. Thanks, Livingstone Supply Co.
However, some of the small details we purchased in Botswana. When we decorate your tents, we want items from local artisans, which is why we hired a bushman based in Maun to create the wooden kists, wooden shower platform, and toilet platform. We love that these items were crafted by a local and we think he did an amazing job. You can check out pictures of our camp on our updated Your Camp page.
Special delivery of all our camp supplies! It was a long day but well worth the time and heat.
First Time Out
At the end of the week, Brave Africa embarked on our first Botswana safari in Khwai. A team-only trip, we tested out all of our supplies to ensure that the Brave Africa safari experience is exactly what we want for our guests. It was the first time we set up a guest tent in the bush, our main tent, and took LC1 out on a short, two-hour game drive. We were in the bush for less than 24 hours in the end, but boy did we get a lot done in that time. We also had some incredible encounters with wildlife in just that short trip, which was a great reminder of why we are doing all of this and why Brave Africa is such a magical experience. We’ll talk about our game drive in the next blog.
For now, check out these camp photos!
Our team setting up our very first guest tent in the Khwai bush. Look at that view!
The tent is all ready to go.
The main tent area set up for breakfast service.
You can’t have a camp without a fire.
