Birding Safari Itinerary - Nov 16 to 26th 2007
With Ian Michler

Okavango Horse Safaris is offering a specialized safari this year focusing on birding. Ian Michler has been invited to host the safari, ensuring that no LBJ's go unidentified!

IAN MICHLER

Ian Michler has sixteen years of experience as a specialist guide and photo-journalist operating throughout Southern and East Africa. His guiding experience, mostly in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania covers big game, photography, birding and adventure safaris. Since 1998 he has been leading birding trips to Southern and East Africa for Africa Birds & Birding magazine and Africa Geographic Expeditions. As a photojournalist, he writes predominately for Africa Geographic and Africa Birds & Birding covering topics on conservation, wildlife management and travel, and has been writing a monthly column for Africa Geographic since 2001.

Ian is the author and photographer of six books - This is Mozambique, Mozambique; A Visual Souvenir, Botswana - The Insiders Guide, Zanzibar- The Insiders Guide and Kenya and Tanzania - The insiders Guide and Victoria Falls - The Insiders Guide and is a past winner of the bird category in the Agfa Wildlife photographic competition. He has also worked as a researcher and field coordinator on various natural history television documentaries for international broadcasters. The Botswana species list is over 525 and while over 400 have been recorded in the Okavango Delta, we can expect to see somewhere between 200 and 240 species on a 10 day trip. The early summer months is the peak birding season as all the migrants have arrived and because of the receding floodwaters, feeding conditions for most of the waterbirds and waders are at optimum levels.

While the Okavango Delta has no endemics, the region offers great opportunities for sightings of some of Southern Africa's special and rare species. Amongst others, these include wattled crane, slaty egret, Pels fishing owl, white-backed night heron, western banded snake eagle, lesser jacana, black coucal and long-toed plover. The Okavango is also the most southern range for the coppery-tailed coucal, swamp warbler, swamp boubou, Hartlaub's babbler and brown firefinch.

This safari will cover four different habitats in the Delta. Starting at Kujwana Camp with its richly forested islands, we will move southeast to Qwaapu where large dry woodland islands are interspersed with rain pans and the remaining pools of the now drying Qwaapu River. The region is ideal for many of the woodland and waterfowl species. We then head northwest to the wide open floodplains of Moklowane camp and will end this section of the safari amongst cranes, storks and waders. On the eighth day of the safari will fly to the north of the delta to Nxamaseri Lodge for the last 3 nights. Situated in the panhandle of the delta this exceptionally beautiful area will offer species more suited to permanent water and papyrus. Opportunities to fish are also available here.

The cost of this safari is GBP 4,005.00 per person fully inclusive, all activities, accommodation, meals and bar. This cost also includes all flights Maun to Maun, and specialized guide, Ian Michler.

Please contact us at safaris@okavangohorse.com for further information

This is a sample itinerary, which may vary according to water levels and game movements.

This safari is aimed at riders who have a specific interest in birds. The idea is to use the horses to access various areas using the advantage of a quiet approach and height. Some areas are not accessible by vehicle or boat, but the horses have the advantage of traversing through both.

Day 1 Kujwana Camp.
You are met at Maun Airport by our representative & transferred by light aircraft and helicopter to Kujwana camp. Lunch and an introduction talk with demo on tack advice and game viewing and birding from horseback. Introduction to Ian Michler. This is followed by an orientation ride for approximately 1 - 2 hours.

Day 2 Kujwana Camp.
Morning game ride in the Xudum area. Wake up is 1 hour before dawn to ensure best game and bird viewing. Wade through lush green malapos that lead you from island to island where we may surprise a timid bushbuck out of his dense cover on a heavily wooded island, or simply enjoy the herds of Lechwe & Zebra moving through the open spaces. Return to camp for lunch. Siesta. Afternoon game drive with sunset drinks & evening night drive with a spot light.

Day 3 Xwaapu Camp.
Ride east towards Beacon and Lion Island. These are two very large islands in the area which are cut off from Kujwana by the Xwaapu River. The area is criss-crossed with game paths leading you through a chain of rain pans. This is a great contrast to the open flood plains. Mopane forests and Acacia woodlands offer a good variety of food for Kudu and Giraffe. Breeding herds of elephant enjoy the security of the dense forest and should the pans be holding water, zebra, wildebeest and buffalo will also be found. Animal tracks abound telling you of what has been and gone - or what you might still find. Afternoon bird walk.

Day 4 Xwaapu Camp.
Full day ride exploring various pans which at this time of year hold exceptional bird life. Lunch with vehicle support.

Day 5 Kujwana Camp.
A full mornings ride returning to Kujwana camp, birding and game viewing. Afternoon birding by Mokoro (dugout canoe).

Day 6 Mokolwane Camp.
Move from Kujwana to Moklowane camp. This is approximately 30km ride heading North West. The route moves through open floodplains and scattered islands towards the Matsebe river system. A picnic lunch is served on a shady island 2 hours ride from Moklowane camp. Arrive sunset.

Day 7 Mokolwane Camp.
A full days ride from Moklowane to Kujwana with a picnic lunch along away. A 40 Km ride with 4 hours ridden in the morning and two hours in the afternoon. This ride moves through a variety of game areas fording the Xudum River at numerous hippo channels. Arrive Kujwana on sunset.

Day 8 Nxamaseri Lodge.
After a leisurely breakfast depart on a one hours drive to Xudum airstrip (game drive and birding) for light aircraft transfer to Nxamamseri. This is a 50-minute flight over the center of the Okavango Delta. Arrive Nxamaseri Lodge in time for lunch. Afternoon birding by boat. Ian Michler is very familiar with this area, having spent a number of years here.

Day 9 Nxamaseri Lodge.
Morning spent birding in the wet area, afternoon birding in the thorn scrub main land.

Day 10 Nxamaseri Lodge.
More Birding with an option to enjoy some fishing. Evening night drive by boat with a spot light, opportunity to view crocodile, Pels Fishng Owl and White Backed Night Heron.

Day 11
Guests leave after breakfast. Light aircraft transfer into Maun (1 hour flight)

NB. Okavango Horse Safaris reserves the right to alter the itinerary according to water levels and game movements. Mokoros (dugout Canoes) are offered as an activity depending on water levels.

KUJWANA CAMP
Kujwana camp is situated on the Xudum River south west of Chiefs Island in the Okavango Delta. The camp accommodates a maximum of 8 to 10 guests in spacious safari tents each with bathrooms en-suite. Fixed departure dates are published with a 5 and 10 night safari offering the opportunity to explore the three main river systems in this area, the Xudum, Matsebi and the Kiri River. An area of over 2500 sq. km, it offers a high diversity of fauna and flora. The areas between the three rivers offer a great contrast with each supporting a variety of game and bird species typical to its habitat.

MOKOLWANE CAMP
Mokolwane camp is northwest of Kujwana on the Matsebi River, which is the main feeder system for the well-known Lake Nagami further south. This camp is situated in the open flood plains with the floodwaters arriving roughly 3 weeks earlier than at Kujwana camp. The terrain consists of smaller palm islands scattered amidst wide floodplains. Mokolwane is also a 10-bedded camp. The tree houses (accommodation) are 10 feet off the ground and boast superb views, each with a private bathroom.

XWAAPU CAMP
Xwaapu Fly Camp is southeast of Kujwana camp. Situated on the Xwaapu River opposite a large heavily forested island, the area features rain pans, mopani woodland and groves of wonderful old knob thorn trees. The camp is a temporary one and the site is moved according to the water levels. The camp is more rustic and consists of Chobe tents (see fact sheet).

NXAMASERI ISLAND LODGE

Nxamaseri Lodge is a unique African experience as it combines the beauty and tranquillity of the Okavango's northern waters with the rare opportunity to be amongst traditional communities still living a near customary lifestyle. It is situated on a heavily-wooded island lying amidst the permanent waters of the Panhandle section of the Okavango Delta. Lying just over 2kms from the main channel, the surrounding wetland system is a mosaic of smaller channels, islands, lagoons and floodplains. A small, exclusive lodge, and one of the oldest in the delta, it has six double en-suite chalets, each secluded in indigenous forest and with a private deck overlooking the water and floodplains out front. Teak walkways link the rooms to the main area of the lodge and boats and traditional dugouts are accessed from the lodges' private jetty.

Okavango Horse Safaris Private Bag 23 Maun Botswana. Phone Botswana (267) 686 1671 Fax (267) 686 1672. e-Mail: safaris@okavangohorse.com. Site design by Websight