Botswana
Botswana is dominated by the Kalahari, a vast region of semi-arid savanna, grassland and sandy plains covering most of the country. In striking contrast, the Okavango Delta spreads across the northwest as one of the world's largest inland deltas, creating a complex mosaic of permanent channels, seasonal floodplains, reedbeds and islands. The northeast includes the Chobe River and associated wetlands, while large salt pans such as Makgadikgadi periodically transform after heavy rains. Rainfall is strongly seasonal, producing dramatic changes in landscapes and wildlife concentrations.
Overview
Botswana is one of southern Africa's outstanding destinations for wetland, savanna and Kalahari birding. The Okavango Delta supports spectacular numbers of herons, storks, kingfishers and raptors, with specialties including Slaty Egret, Wattled Crane and Pel's Fishing Owl. Chobe offers excellent riverine birding, while the Makgadikgadi Pans can attract enormous concentrations of Greater and Lesser Flamingos after suitable rains. The Kalahari supports Kori Bustard, Secretarybird, sandgrouse, coursers and numerous raptors. Botswana has a highly developed safari industry with excellent guides and lodges, particularly in the Okavango and Chobe regions. However, many premier areas are remote and expensive to visit, often requiring 4WD vehicles, light aircraft or boat transfers; seasonal flooding also strongly influences access and bird distribution.
Top 10 target species
| Species | Annual frequency | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola | 48.6% | 48.1% | 50.4% | 46.7% | 55.3% | 46.6% | 45.3% | 50.1% | 43.8% | 48.3% | 48.5% | 48.2% | 52.2% |
| Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus | 45.2% | 44.3% | 40.2% | 39.4% | 46.7% | 45.8% | 47.3% | 48.8% | 46.3% | 45.3% | 43.0% | 48.9% | 46.4% |
| Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis | 41.0% | 37.3% | 36.5% | 38.0% | 46.8% | 43.7% | 43.6% | 50.8% | 41.7% | 39.8% | 39.1% | 36.5% | 38.3% |
| Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus | 37.0% | 33.8% | 30.1% | 33.6% | 39.2% | 40.7% | 39.6% | 40.3% | 38.7% | 36.5% | 34.7% | 39.2% | 37.3% |
| Gray Go-away-bird Crinifer concolor | 36.2% | 34.7% | 36.6% | 33.6% | 41.3% | 35.2% | 34.9% | 38.4% | 36.4% | 35.9% | 36.3% | 34.7% | 35.9% |
| African Fish-Eagle Icthyophaga vocifer | 33.6% | 26.2% | 29.9% | 28.3% | 35.2% | 32.8% | 34.0% | 37.6% | 35.5% | 37.5% | 34.8% | 39.2% | 32.4% |
| Southern Red-billed Hornbill Tockus rufirostris | 33.3% | 30.6% | 27.4% | 27.7% | 38.0% | 38.0% | 40.3% | 40.4% | 34.4% | 32.4% | 28.3% | 29.8% | 31.9% |
| African Jacana Actophilornis africanus | 31.1% | 24.8% | 31.3% | 26.2% | 28.2% | 28.3% | 30.4% | 32.8% | 34.3% | 34.0% | 33.2% | 37.3% | 32.8% |
| Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca | 30.7% | 33.3% | 31.5% | 26.0% | 32.6% | 29.7% | 27.6% | 31.8% | 28.3% | 27.7% | 29.5% | 34.1% | 36.1% |
| Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata | 29.9% | 36.9% | 35.1% | 30.4% | 31.8% | 26.4% | 20.6% | 27.1% | 24.8% | 27.7% | 28.1% | 31.5% | 38.4% |