The Nwetwe Pan in Botswana is a part of the Makgadigadi pans ecosystem, and is one of the best places in the world for photographing Meerkats. The video is from our evening at Nwetwe Pans with a mob of 12 meerkats, some of whom got too close for our comfort. This is one of the many stories my friends and I have from Botswana. More videos from this epic adventure on this playlist -    • Botswana   After navigating our way from Kubu Island to Gweta through dusty pans, we arrived at Planet Baobab. A guide from Planet Baobab drove us to a family of meerkats that habituated to the presence of people. Meerkats are very skittish animals, so it is important to find a habituated mob for photography. The process of habituation, which can take up to 18 months, has made these meerkats more accepting of human presence. This access wouldn’t be possible without the Planet Baobab team, and especially Pogiso (PD), who patiently builds trust with the mob day by day. Meerkats live in tightly knit mobs. They have a strong social structure where the alpha male and female lead the group. They are skilled foragers, always in search of insects, roots, and small prey like scorpions. While they are adept hunters, they are also prey. Watching the ‘sentry’ behaviour of meerkats, where they stand on their hind legs to scan for predators, was on my list since the first time I heard about them. and I am thrilled with the photos we made. Our evening ended with a cozy camp setup under the stars at the Ntwetwe Pans, organized by the kind folks at Planet Baobab.

Our month-long overlanding adventure in Botswana reaches the end as we explore the rich wildlife at the Khwai COmmunity Concession—one of the Delta’s corners.In this video, I’ll take you on immersive game drives along the Khwai’s slow, winding channels, from sun-drenched afternoons watching elephant herds, to magical camp evenings spent beside hippo-filled waters. We set up camp at the Khwai Magotho, which is also a favourite hangout spot for Khwai’s wild elephants. Highlights include:

• Epic encounters with elephants and hippos, both at water and wandering through camp

• River crossings and learning hard-won lessons about self-driving in Botswana

• Special moments with antelope, raptors, storks, crocodiles, and the elusive sable

• Rare behaviour encounters of hippos and elephants

• Magical sunsets and intimate mornings—moments that turn the daily grind of packing, camp chores, and long drives into an unforgettable experience

• Camp reviews, tips for picking the perfect Khwai site, and real talk about safari routines, backups, and the rhythms of wildlife photographers in the field

Be it tricky water crossings or quiet mokoro rides through lily-choked channels, every day in Khwai brought us new sightlines, surprises, and reminders of just how much this wild land gives. Whether you’re planning your own African safari, looking for Botswana travel inspiration, or chasing the magic light with your camera, I hope this story brings you as close as possible to the Okavango’s wild heart.

Experience Botswana’s wilderness like never before, as we leave the bush for a boat and journey down the Chobe River—where Namibia lies on one bank and Botswana on the other. This story captures our final day in Botswana, after a month-long adventure traversing deltas, pans, and woodlands. Epic Wildlife Encounters: We spend our last day photographing elephants, hippos, buffalo, and a number of birds from the unique vantage of a specially-designed photo boat on the Chobe River. Birding Rush Hour: Witness the morning come alive as we spot Malachite Kingfishers, African fish eagles, grey and Goliath herons, and more, capturing dramatic scenes as nature’s best hunters strike. Close-Up with Giants: Watch as we drift next to herds of cape buffalo and stumble upon the world’s largest heron. Later, we catch elephants arriving to drink, bathe, and socialize at Elephant Bay—a scene like no other. Extraordinary Animal Behavior: See wild elephants swim across the river, mothers guiding adorable calves, and fascinating moments like baboons digging through elephant dung for seeds. Discover how every herd, bird, and baboon has its own ritual along these floodplains. Photography Insights: Go behind the scenes on our specialized photography boat, designed for stability and flexibility with full-swivel gimbal chairs, making it possible to use heavy lenses and capture unique perspectives from the water. Elephant Bay: Every evening, multiple herds descend for water, sand baths, and playful meets. The scene is orderly yet social—herds taking turns, calves learning from elders, and the occasional matriarch guiding a lone family. The Unexpected: Not just elephants—impalas, guinea fowl, waders, and baboons gather for their own reasons. Baboon troops capitalize on the wealth of undigested seeds in elephant dung, while roots and shoots in the soft riverbank become lifelines during the dry season.

e had a front-row seat for one of the wildest encounters in Botswana’s Khwai Community Concession—where a leopard and two lions engaged in an epic standoff that redefined my perspective of the African bush. Warning : this video has footage of a leopard feeding on a warthog . I recently spent nearly a month exploring the deserts, deltas, and forests of Botswana, chasing stories, light, and unforgettable wildlife moments. The second half of our adventure brought us to Khwai, a region that sits at the threshold between the pans and the Okavango Delta, renowned for its thriving big cat populations and managed by the local community through the Khwai Development Trust. Our days at Khwai began with anticipation and ended with awe. The Khwai River, with its endless herds of elephants and antelope, set the stage for predators to thrive. Yet, despite five game drives filled with elephants, hippos, and the promise of big cats, the leopards and lions remained elusive. On our fourth day, armed with optimism (and a lucky hat), we set out before dawn, determined to be the first at a rumored leopard sighting. After a series of twists, turns, and unexpected lifers (hello, sable antelope!), we finally found our prize: a leopard high in a camel thorn tree, guarding her kill with the poise only a true queen of the wild can muster. What followed was a masterclass in predator strategy and resilience. The leopard, framed by golden light, navigated the delicate balance between feasting and vigilance. Her kill, stashed high on a slender branch, was safe from all but the most determined rivals. The day unfolded in waves—photographing her from every angle, marveling at her strength, and soaking in the serenity of the Khwai marshes. But the real drama began when two lionesses entered the scene. Drawn by the scent of the kill, they circled the tree, testing its branches and the leopard’s resolve. In a moment that felt straight out of a nature documentary, the leopard refused to flee. Instead, she perched higher, then descended to the base of the tree, holding her ground as the lions lounged nearby. The standoff was tense, silent, and utterly mesmerizing—a testament to the quiet power plays that shape life in the wild. Between these intense moments, Khwai continued to surprise: a rare white frog (the grey foam nest tree frog) clung to an anthill, giraffes watched the drama unfold, and the landscape shifted from golden hour to deep dusk. As the lions eventually lost interest and wandered off, the leopard reclaimed her kill, and we were left with memory cards full and hearts fuller. This day was a reminder that not every encounter in the wild ends in chaos—sometimes, it’s about patience.

We spent six days at Nxai Pan, Botswana in September 2024, and enjoyed the quintessential Southern African wildlife safari and overlanding experience. This video has our itinerary by day, and some amazing wildlife sightings. The Nxai Pan National Park, located in the heart of Botswana, is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers alike. During the dry season, the park's waterhole becomes the lifeline for the animals, attracting a diverse array of species that come to quench their thirst. The waterhole is a hub of activity, with the constant ebb and flow of animals creating an atmosphere that is both tranquil and tumultuous. As the only source of water in the area, the waterhole is a magnet for wildlife. This video helps uncover what self-driving and camping in Nxai Pan really entails. One huge advantage of self-driving is the freedom - we can explore the areas we want, spend as much time at the sightings we like, and return back to camp whenever we feel : the schedule is entirely on us. We made the most of it, and almost all days, we were the first car in, and the last car out. We also stayed with a lioness for 14 hours on the day she made the kill. But with great power comes great responsibility - though we can be anywhere we want, we can only be at only one place - so as we learnt, choosing the right place, and staying put, is the right way to go about wildlife exploration. A downside to self-driving is that we have to come back to camp for housekeeping, such as laundry or image back-up, and this video has examples optimizing our time for each. We stayed at South Camp, which is the best positioned camp to access the waterhole. There’s a detailed review of the camp facilities. We also had some amazing wildlife sightings : I saw elephants dig out ground water in the middle of a desert, this is the closest I’d been to bat-eared foxes in all my trips to Africa, and we saw an aardwolf - the first time ever for me.

This video is about wildlife watching at a waterhole in Nxai Pan, Botswana, where the harsh yet majestic landscape of the Kalahari desert serves as a backdrop for the most incredible gatherings of wildlife. This has been shot over our five day stay at Nxai Pan in October 2024. The Nxai Pan National Park, located in the heart of Botswana, is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers alike. During the dry season, the park's waterhole becomes the lifeline for the animals, attracting a diverse array of species that come to quench their thirst. The waterhole is a hub of activity, with the constant ebb and flow of animals creating an atmosphere that is both tranquil and tumultuous. As the only source of water in the area, the waterhole is a magnet for wildlife. Among the many species of antelope that visit the waterhole are the impala, kudu, and springbok, all of which are well adapted to the harsh conditions of Nxai Pan. The impala are often the first to arrive at the waterhole, cautiously approaching the water's edge as they scan their surroundings for potential threats. The kudu, one of the largest antelopes in Africa, typically arrive in small harems, led by a dominant male, and are known to be skittish and alert, always on the lookout for predators. The springboks are perhaps the most iconic of the three, and their large herds can be a sight to behold. The springbok bucks often broke into a spar, adding to chaos at the waterhole. Dust storms, which can be a regular occurrence in the area, bring with them a unique set of challenges and opportunities. Ostriches are well equipped to handle the dust and wind, and they can often be seen roaming the landscape in search of food and water. They dust bathe, a behavior that helps them to regulate their body temperature and remove parasites from their feathers. As the day wears on, the waterhole continues to be a hub of activity, with zebras and wildebeest arriving in large numbers to drink and socialize.The zebra migration in Botswana is a fascinating phenomenon. Every year, thousands of zebras migrate from the Chobi River to Nxai Pan, a journey of over 250 kilometers, in search of food and water. The wildebeest also arrived in large herds. As they gather at the waterhole, they seem to be at ease, drinking inside the waterhole. The zebra migration in Botswana is the record for the longest migration of zebras. One of the most imposing species to visit the waterhole, however, is the Cape buffalo. These large and powerful animals are a force to be reckoned with, and their arrival at the waterhole is a dramatic affair. We saw a herd of over 300 buffaloes at the water hole once. The large bulls are the first to enter the water, followed by the cows and calves, and they seem to take their time, drinking and wallowing in water, without a care in the world. Finally, the elephants are the true stars of the show at this waterhole. They seem to live for water. As they approach the waterhole, their purposeful strides pick up pace, and they seem to cherish their arrival to the water hole. Whether they are drinking, bathing, or simply socializing, the elephants are a constant source of entertainment. As the sun sets over the Kalahari desert, we made some beautiful silhouettes of elephants against the setting sun.

The Kubu Island, situated in Botswana’s vast Makgadikgadi Pans, is an extraordinary destination for landscape and astrophotography. This remote area, surrounded by the sprawling Sowa Pan, offers a unique combination of ancient baobab trees and breathtaking night skies, making it a dream location for astrophotography and surreal landscapes. In this video, I take you on a journey through our two-day adventure at Kubu Island. The trip begins with a long drive from the Khama Rhino Sanctuary, navigating through sand and gravel roads. What seemed like a straightforward route soon turned into an unexpected challenge as we got lost in the wilderness near Orapa and Letlhakane. How not to get lost enroute Kubu : While traveling to Kubu from Khama (or from the A20), look for a town called Mmatshumo - from Mmatshumo, there is a marked gravel road leading to Kubu. We had Track4Africa and maps.me -both of which had incorrect routes that kept us going in loops in the wilderness around Orapa. We arrived at Kubu just around sunset, and started scouting for shots we could make at night. The island is not an island in the traditional sense but a granite rock formation in the middle of what was once an ancient lake, now a vast salt pan. The island has some of the largest baobab trees I’ve seen, some of which are over 2000 years old. The remote location offered some of the darkest skies we’ve ever experienced, perfect for creating star trails and nightscapes. Planning these shots was an intense process. We used apps ( sunsurveoyor and sunseeker) and to locate the Milky Way's position during the night and scheduled photos. We worked together to compose, light, and shoot the scenes. Tiring as the day was, it was rewarding and we were happy with the images we made The next morning, we returned to the spots we scouted the previous night to capture the soft morning hues and sunrise compositions. One of the highlights was photographing a lone baobab framed against the rising sun, with warm orange light bathing the surrounding granite rocks. As the sun climbed higher and the light grew harsh, we wrapped up the morning session and retreated to camp. We camped at the Gaing O community trust campsite (link : http://www.kubuisland.com/ ). The campsites are basic - this camp does not have ablutions or running water, so fill your water tanks up before heading towards Kubu.

The Khama Rhino Sanctuary is a 8,585 hectare reserve located in central Botswana, created to protect rhinos while providing an ideal environment for other wildlife to thrive. It is a 5 hour drive from Maun. Established in 1992, it has become a haven for both black and white rhinos.The sanctuary's setting—rolling bush with interspersed pans and grasslands—offers a perfect habitat for not just rhinos, but also common game such as zebras, impala, springbok, steenbok, duikers and wildebeest. During our visit, we stayed at the Mokongwa Campsite within the sanctuary, a comfortable and well-equipped space. Each of the 18 campsites are well shaded and provide essential amenities, including clean ablution blocks (common to 3-4 campsites), braai stands, a fire pit and running water at each camp. It offered the perfect blend of comfort and closeness to nature, allowing us to relax after each drive while still feeling immersed in the wild. We had some brilliant rhino sightings during our came drives during which we saw over a dozen white rhinos. Each of the sightings lasted a while, allowing us the time to photograph and observe animals. The standout moment for me was walking with our ranger, Lebopo. to track rhinos on foot. We were in thick bush with rhinos only a few meters away. While we didn't make any great photos during the walk, the experience was exhilarating - because when we're on foot, we see how large the rhinos really are.

My first stop in an epic journey across Botswana is an open-doors helicopter ride over the iconic Okavango Delta. The Delta is legendary—an oasis in the heart of the Kalahari Desert created by seasonal rains flowing from the Angolan Highlands over a thousand kilometers away. This unique river ecosystem is one of the few in the world that doesn’t reach the ocean, instead nourishing the earth and bringing life to the desert. In just 45 minutes of flight, my friends and I saw some spectacular scapes of the of the Delta in golden light, spotting hippos, crocodiles, elephants, giraffes, and an enormous buffalo herd of over 500. This experience connected back to my childhood memories of watching my first wildlife documentary on the Delta, sparking a lifelong interest for wildlife.