September has gone by so quickly and the festive season is upon us, we would like to share with you some of the exiting things that have taken place at Tuningi in the Madikwe area.

-Big Pack of Wild Dogs had 11 puppies and I am happy to inform you that we saw them at Tshukudu dam in the east 2 weeks ago. All the youngsters were still there and very healthy, since they ate a kudu that morning. When we arrived all the dogs were still sleeping and we struggled to view them properly in the long grass. We decided to go for drinks and waited for the temperature to drop a bit.

-The 3 female lionesses that had the 8 cubs are well and all still healthy. The youngsters are always fed and growing by the day.

-The most mentionable was when we had a boma dinner close to the watering hole. Just as the guests sat down to start their delicious 3 course meal the show started. A whole group of Ellies showed up and had a great time playing and bathing in the watering hole.

Then as the last people were making their way to bed the grand finale appeared, a leopard slowly made her way to the watering hole and spent 5 minutes quenching her thirst. But that was not the end, not long after her a big male leopard made his appearance and also enjoyed a sip at the watering hole. Yip that night was pretty amazing.

Contact Adventure Safari Lodge to make bookings at Tuningi Safari Lodge : advensaf@global.bw

Adventure Safaris has just received a new consignment of new wildlife and Botswana related books for sale.

Creatures Of habit, Guide to Greater Gaborone, Edible & Medical Flowers, Begginners Guide To Birds
are just a few. We are also selling maps of the Okavango Delta, Moremi & Chobe area’s.
Limited stock. Don’t miss out!!! Contact us

A yellow fever vaccination needs to be completed no less than 10 days prior to travelling. Please also be aware that all transit passengers between the two destinations, irrespective of the transit time period, will require proof of vaccination.

 Passengers travelling directly between Europe and Zambia without passing through South Africa will not be required to have a yellow fever certificate.

You can’t say you know Chobe National Park until you’ve seen the Park’s most esteemed residents – the elephants. Catching a glimpse of them shouldn’t be too hard, not least of all because they’re such big animals, but mainly because, at 120 000 individual animals, they represent the largest elephant population on the African continent.

They roam the Park like royalty, migrating to watering spots and the areas that provide the foraging that they enjoy so much. The elephants migrate up to 200km on a seasonal basis. During the dry winter months they congregate on the rivers of the Park, the Chobe and the Linyanti, while in the rainy season they move to the south-east zone of the Park, although they also move as far a field as the north-west of Zimbabwe and the east of Namibia. There cannot be many sights as impressive as a herd of elephant rambling through the veld, their feet pounding the ground and their trunks swinging to the rhythm of their marching.

Scientifically speaking, the elephants of Chobe are known as Kalahari elephants, and they have the largest body dimensions of all elephants in the world. However, you shouldn’t expect to see too many large tusks. The ivory of the Chobe elephants is more brittle than that of other elephants, possibly because the soil of the region contains relatively less calcium, and their tusks are relatively short. This may be why they have been able to survive the scourge of poaching – while other elephant populations elsewhere in Africa have been decimated in recent decades by poachers, the elephants of Chobe have been increasing steadily in number. Starting with a few thousand animals about a hundred years ago, they now dominate the region, as masters of the bush, respected by the other animals, and hopefully also by the people who come to see them.

I say hopefully, because the elephants represent a majestic and ancient part of the natural heritage of the Southern African region. It is worth keeping in mind that they have been here for a long, long time. Even though they behave like they own the veld, and sometimes cause extensive damage to vegetation, we should keep in mind that this is their natural habitat, and that their prehistoric migration routes have been disrupted by human fences and activities. This disruption has led to a high concentration of elephants in the Park.

One of the best ways of viewing the elephants is to catch them in the water. The elephants don’t feel threatened by people in boats, and as long as you don’t sail right up to them, you can get very close. (It’s a different story when approaching them on land, however.) Watching them play in the water, one is reminded that despite their immense size, and their stature in the food chain of the Park, they remain children at heart, like the lords and ladies of the realm, out for a splash in the pool.

Chobe National Park is an immense area of natural diversity. Covering roughly 10 000 square kilometres, it is the stamping ground of the largest elephant population on earth, numbering approximately 120 000 individual animals. But besides such large and esteemed residents being present in such large numbers, there is also a great variety of other game to be seen, such as buffalo, antelope, and beasts of prey. And let’s not forget about the birds, some of which are migrant and only make an appearance in the summer months, from November to March.

Geographically, the park is huge, extending from the border with the Chobe River to the Savuti Channel (in which the river is no longer flowing), and on to the Okavango Delta border region to the west. Situated in the far north of Botswana, the park can be divided into four distinct topographical zones. Situated around the central dry region are the Savuti Marsh to the west, the lush vegetation and wooded areas of the Chobe river zone to the north-east, and the Linyanti Swamps to the north-west. This makes for a very varied safari experience, and you are sure to see something worth remembering during your stay in the park.

The park was declared a National Park in 1967, making it the first National Park in Botswana. However, as early as 1932 it was designated a non-hunting area, although at that stage it measured roughly 30 000 square kilometres. The Park was originally inhabited by San people, known locally as the Basarwa, a hunter-gatherer population who moved nomadically from place to place in search of game and edible plants.

Courtesy of Photos Ecosse

Moving to the animal population, we cannot avoid mentioning the elephants. At the turn of the twentieth century, the elephant population numbered only a few thousand. The fact that the population exceeds 100 000 today is testimony to the sensible management of the park, in an era of rampant poaching of wildlife in other parts of the continent. The elephants form a living monument, an invaluable natural heritage in a time in which such things are being exploited and stolen. If you want to see the elephants, it is advisable to inquire from a guide as to their exact whereabouts, as they are migratory.

Besides elephants, there are also zebra and buffalo on the Chobe river, particularly during the dry winter months, as well as antelope and impala in the wooded areas. As mentioned previously, there are many species of birds in the park, including pelicans on the water. It would not be possible to enumerate the vast diversity of birdlife to be found in the park in this article.

They say that an elephant has a particularly long memory. Perhaps you also will take home some very happy memories from Chobe Park, memories to last you a long, long time, serene sunsets on the plains, or long rambles in the Chobe forests. And then you will come to experience why this place on earth is so very special, and why so many elephants seem so happy to call it home.

We were in the privileged position to spend a night at the newly opened Phakalane Golf Hotel on the Golf Estate. Although the hotel is situated quite close to the main area, it blends in really well with the overall design. Our reception was welcoming, warm and efficient. The clean lines and serenity of the reception area reflects throughout the hotel. Views from the hotel, facing the Golf course, are quite spectacular, a pool, greenery and hills in the distance .

The rooms are well appointed and roomy with sophisticated touches like a wardrobe that lits up when opened, and a dim light in the bathroom so you don’t loose your way at night. White crispy linen and white fluffy towels are a given. No request is to big or to small for the attentive staff, there are even a Golf cart to take you the short distance to the main restaurant area. If you are looking for tranquility, and a feeling of the country, this is the place to stay, and of course if you’re a Golf fanatic. The rates are excellent and the estate is close enough to commute into Gaborone. The hotel also offers excellent conferencing facilities.

The scientists call it Panthera pardus. The Setswana, ‘Nkwe’. One of the fascinating creatures making up the Big Five, the leopard is shy, elusive and secretive but it is also a powerful, agile and dangerous killing machine.

For safari goers, one of the most sought after sights is that of a leopard. This is probably because, for many, spotting a leopard is a rare occasion. They don’t hang out in groups and they camouflage themselves in dense bush, shady trees and rocks. However, sometimes, when you least expect it, the leopard comes out of its hiding place, showing off its beauty for all to see. Seeing a leopard is an unexpected, thrilling event and if you’re fortunate enough, you will be one of the spectators to whom this majestic beast chooses to reveal itself.

Getting to know the leopard

The leopard is the smallest of a certain cat family that includes the tiger, jaguar and lion. As the number of leopards remaining in the world has decreased over the years, it is listed as a ‘near threatened’ species but the world’s biggest leopard population can be found in sub-Saharan Africa.

Leopards have relatively short legs, long bodies and large skulls. Their basic body colour varies from almost white to orange-russet. Their legs, heads, sides and hindquarters are covered with solid black spots while the rest of their bodies are covered with rosettes. Their tails are also covered with rosette spots and have white tips. Their round ears are also white-tipped.

Leopards are solitary animals, interacting only with others of their kind during mating or aggressive encounters.  These independent animals will defend their territory from members of the same sex. Territories vary in size, depending on the availability of food. They can be anything from 10 to several hundred square kilometres. Leopards will mate with a number of females, who will form a part of their territory. Territories are marked by urine, droppings and tree-scratching points.

A leopard can change its spots

These secretive animals are able to adapt to changing environments and feed on a wide range of prey species, which means that they can often be found in the most unlikely of places. They are able to tolerate various habitats, such as open grassland, riverine woodland and rocky hill country. In Botswana, leopards are found anywhere from the driest parts of the country to the well-watered, higher rainfall areas such as the Chobe National Park and Okavango Delta.

So when is the best time to spot a leopard?

Leopards behave differently in different environments. They may be active at different times of the day, depending on their habitat and the type of prey available to them. Although they are mainly active at night, they can be seen moving around during cooler parts of the day in areas where they are not disturbed.

Leopards are nocturnal so are usually active and hunting at night. In the open savannah common in Africa, leopards usually hunt between sunset and sunrise. However, they have been seen to hunt during the day in areas of dense bush or when it is cloudy as it helps them to hide from their prey. Many sightings of leopards have occurred when they are resting in trees during the day, a carcass often hanging nearby for their second helpings. If their meal isn’t hanging in a tree, they might hide it in dense vegetation, amongst rocks or anywhere out of the reach of other predators. They will readily feed from rotten carcasses.

What gets a leopard’s mouth watering?

Leopards aren’t very picky when it comes to their prey and enjoy a diverse diet. However, their favourite meals include monkeys and ungulates (hoofed animals such as zebras and antelopes) but they will even eat dung beetles, rodents, reptiles, amphibians, insects, birds and fish. In Africa, leopards have a fondness for mid-sized antelopes, especially impala and Thomson’s gazelles.

The lean, mean killing machine

Once a leopard sets its sights on its target, it will stalk silently and pounce at the last minute, strangling its prey’s throat with a quick, lethal bite. Leopards rely more on their stalking and pouncing abilities than they do on running at a high speed, like cheetahs. This is not to say that they aren’t fast. On the contrary, leopards can run at speeds greater than 58km per hour.

Leopards are lean, mean killing machines. These agile, stealthy predators are excellent climbers, able to drag a carcass up to three times their own weight up a tree and hang them there. They can jump over 6m horizontally and up to 3m vertically. Not only are they powerful on land, but leopards are also strong swimmers.

What to listen out for

Keep your ears open for grunts, roars, growls, a sound as though a coarse saw is cutting wood and even meows. Don’t be fooled by likening a leopard’s ‘meow’ to your kitty cat back home however. These are powerful, dangerous animals and they don’t mind attacking humans, especially if they are injured or feel threatened.

There is no doubt that leopards can be difficult to find, but when one is granted the privilege of seeing this beautiful, lone predator as it moves majestically through the great African wild, the thrill and awe it inspires will prove to be worth the wait.

Botswana is a land known for its wild beauty and its wildlife. However, there is more to this country than its abundance of magnificent fauna and flora. When visiting Botswana, don’t leave before you float along Botswana’s jewel on a mokoro, admire the country’s stately landmarks, sip on a sundowner during a game viewing cruise, eat a squishy dish and watch an evocative dance.

Explore the Okavango Delta on a mokoro

Perhaps the biggest draw card for tourists to Botswana is its Okavango Delta. In the wet season, Botswana’s jewel is transformed into a water wonderland fringed by lush vegetation and is a source of sustenance for thirsty wild animals. The Delta presents visitors with a unique and unforgettable way to explore this corner of wild Africa. To truly get in touch with nature, this journey of discovery is best taken via mokoro – a handmade, dugout canoe.

Traditionally, the mokoro is made from a dugout tree trunk thus the size of the mokoro and how many occupants it accommodates, depends on the size of the tree. As with a gondola, one stands at the stern of the mokoro and pushes with a pole, propelling it through the water. These delicately crafted boats not only offer tourists an exciting and original way to view Africa and its wild, but are also transport for residents.

Mokoro trips are dependent on the water levels of the Okavango Delta, so visitors are advised to book accommodation at a water-based lodge if they are uncertain as to whether it is in flood or not.

Stay at Planet Baobab and get to know one of Botswana’s landmarks

Botswana is famous for its baobab trees. Planet Baobab allows visitors to get more acquainted with these old, giant trees while staying in unique accommodation. Situated in the renowned Makgadikgadi salt pans, Planet Baobab lies next to the baobab capital of the world, where the baobab’s average age is 4 000.

Planet Baobab offers various types of accommodation including traditionally styled Bakalanga huts, the largest pool in the Kalahari, and a funky bar and restaurant. Guests can gaze at elephants from camp as they approach the paddling pool, tour the local village, visit the ancient Nxai Pan, quad bike across Makgadikgadi Pans (dry season), witness the zebra migration (wet season), visit the famous Green’s Baobab or stroll through a baobab forest.

Cruise the Chobe River at sunset

A vital link in the complex water system of northern Botswana, the Chobe River is famous for its elephant sightings, especially during the dry season (April to October), when animals creep out of the parched woodland to visit the river that will quench their thirst.

The winding Chobe river is rich in plant life, home to an abundance of hippos and crocs and a sanctuary for leopards, baboons, bushbuck, cheetah, lechwe, reedbuck, impala, the rare puku, buffalo, lion, kudu, sable antelope, roan antelope, a vast array of bird species and more.

Chow mopane worms

One of Botswana’s traditional dishes is the Phane Stew, consisting of dried mopane worms (caterpillars of the mopane moth), cooked with onions and bell peppers and topped with a tomato sauce mixture of chillies and homemade curry powder.

Mopane worms live in most of Southern Africa, are found on the mopane tree and are a major source of protein. This and other local dishes can be bought from local supermarkets and eateries.

Watch traditional dancing

Be mesmerised by the passionate dances of Botswana’s colourful cultural groups, including borankana, setapa, Kalanga hosanna, phathisi, ndazola, tsutsube, mokomoto, chesa, selete, huru and the San or Basarwa dance, which is the most famous. Botswana traditional dancing is rhythmic and expressive and used either for storytelling or for healing.

There are two distinct, well-known styles of the San dance. There is the trance dance, part of a religious ritual for healing, used by the Basarwa to celebrate good hunts, and a hunting and gathering or rain dance used by the Tswana to bring about rain. There are various festivals that occur in Botswana throughout the year which are worth seeing in order to gain a deeper understanding of Botswana’s traditional dances.