Experience the excitement of birdwatching in Botswana

There is a lot to recommend about birdwatching in this African country! Botswana is an ideal place to escape the crowds and, at the same time, indulge in some of the best game-viewing and birding that can be experienced anywhere. Large portions of the country are arid, or even desert, while other areas are covered in swamps and pans. In-between there is a variety of woodland. These different habitats go a long way to explain why the country’s bird checklist is so long.

One must be prepared for very hot, and very wet in some areas, summers with winter being a lot milder. When travelling by car one must be prepared for a variety of obstacles. Decent roads are few and are mainly found in the more densely populated areas in the south and south-east of the country. A 4X4 vehicle is highly recommended and, in some areas, it is best if you travel in convoy with another vehicle or vehicles.

There are numerous places to go birdwatching in Botswana and a few have been highlighted in this article.

Chobe National Park

The Chobe National Park is in the north of Botswana and has the Chobe River as its northern boundary. It is a large reserve covering some 11,700 square kilometres. Although the reserve can be accessed from the north-east and south you need a 4×4 to navigate the rough roads when accessing it from the south. The weather ranges from mild in winter to very hot in summer. The wettest months are January and February.

Before talking about the abundant birdlife, it is only fitting to mention the large herds of mammals that occupy this reserve. These include Cape Buffalo, African Elephant and Burchell’s Zebra. Elephant are super abundant at times with over 100,000 being present in the park at times. Other mammals that are present include Puku, Greater Eland, Giraffe, Roan Antelope, Southern Reedbuck, Impala and many more.

The checklist of birds that may be found in the Chobe National Park tops 450. The Chobe River attracts numerous waterbirds as does the Mababe Depression. Birds to look for include African Darter, Reed Cormorant, Slaty Egret, Rufous-bellied Heron, Saddlebilled Stork, Wattled Crane, African Jacana, Lesser Jacana, Pygmy Goose and both White and Pink-backed Pelican. Other herons include Black-crowned Night Heron and Squacco Heron. The magnificent African Fish-Eagle is also likely to be seen. If possible, one should try and take a boat trip on the Chobe River as this will reward you with unforgettable sightings of both birds and game. This is the best way to see Rock Pratincole and African Skimmer.

The rest of the reserve also provides excellent birding and is particularly good for raptors. Some raptors you might see include Ayres’ Hawk Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Bateleur, Red-necked Falcon, African Hobby, Dickinson’s Kestrel and Bat Hawk. Owls are also well represented with Giant Eagle Owl, Wood Owl, Pearl-spotted Owlet, African Scops Owl and Pel’s Fishing Owl being recorded. Western Banded Snake-Eagle is one of the specials to be found.

In the grassland and bushveld look for Rosy-throated Longclaw, Bradfield’s Hornbill, Southern Ground Hornbill, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, White-bellied Sunbird, Marico Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird, Long-tailed Starling, Burchell’s Starling, Hartlaub’s Babbler, Collared Palm Thrush, Chirping Cisiticola, Arnot’s Chat and the list goes on and on!

There is a variety of accommodation available in and around the park. These include lodges and camp sites. Be aware that the park has many potentially dangerous mammals such as Lion, Elephant, Spotted Hyena, Cape Buffalo and Hippo so one must be vigilant. The reserve is located in a malaria area, and it is strongly recommended that you take precautions against it.

Makgadikgadi Pans

The Makgadikgadi Pans are fed by the Nata and Boteti Rivers and have an average depth of only a few centimetres, and they may often be totally dry. The entire pan system is over 16,000 square kilometres in extent. The Makgadikgadi Pans National Park is 3,900 square kilometres in extent. The neighbouring vegetation consists of grasslands, acacia trees and mopane woodland. At times huge numbers of Blue Wildebeest, Burchell’s Zebra, and Springbok are present. Other mammals include Greater Kudu, Impala, Common Eland, Giraffe, Red Hartebeest and Steenbok. Over 230 species of birds have been recorded.

Sua Pan is a great spot for birding and one can easily tick off an extensive list of waders, desert species and raptors in a day. At times large numbers of Greater and Lesser Flamingo breed in Sua Pan. Four species of Sandgrouse can be ticked. Other waterbirds include White Pelican, Pink-backed Pelican, Pied Avocet and Black-necked Grebe.

The more arid areas around the pans are home to several species of larks including Monotonous Lark and Clapper Lark. The grasslands are home to many interesting species such as Red-billed Spurfowl, Ostrich, Kori Bustard, Double-banded Courser, Spotted Thick-knee, Orange River Francolin and Black-bellied Korhaan.

The surrounding bush gives you opportunities to tick off Meyer’s Parrot, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, and various Owls such as Barn Owl, Giant Eagle-Owl, Spotted Eagle-Owl, African Scops Owl and Pearl-spotted Owlet.

Travel in this region is best done in a 4×4. Make sure that you carry sufficient water, fuel and food as there is nothing available. There is no accommodation in the Park but camping is permitted. Remember that the abundant wildlife attracts predators and campsites aren’t fenced so be on your guard!