MAX
Group Size
MIN
Group Size
Days Away From Home
4
4
12
Why Travel With Us To
Northern Botswana?
FOW's "The Best Of Botswana" |
Moving safari in prime wildlife areas |
Small photography-focused vehicles |
Entire row in vehicle for yourself |
Sleep in lodges (no camping) |
Dedicated photographic guidance |
Time to observe and compose |
The Differentiating Factor:
This tour is built with photography as the priority from the very start. You’ll have a full row of seats to yourself, giving you space and freedom to shoot out of both windows without restriction. The vehicle roof has also been specially modified, allowing you to photograph from an elevated angle when the opportunity calls for it.
In Botswana, most safaris tend to lean one way or the other. Some favour deep wilderness access but sacrifice comfort, while others offer luxury yet miss out on truly immersive wildlife encounters. This safari strikes a balance between the two.
It’s an “on the move” experience, designed to follow wildlife concentrations rather than stay fixed in one place. At the same time, you return each day to proper beds and the comfort of a lodge, so you’re not compromising on rest or quality.
With a strong photography-first approach and award-winning guides, you’re consistently positioned for the best light and behaviour, especially during the golden hours. It’s a level of flexibility that is unbeatable.
Basic Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Maun, meet at airport
Day 2: Game drives in Khwai region and mokoro excursion
Day 3: Game drives in Khwai region
Day 4: Travel day and game drives in Mababe
Day 5: Game drives in Mababe
Day 6: Game drives in Mababe
Day 7: Travel day and game drives in Chobe
Day 8: Game drives in Chobe and boat cruise
Day 9: Game drives in Chobe
Day 10: Safari ends, drop off at Kasane airport
What's Included
Comfortable accommodations in standard rooms at guest houses and lodges
All transfers and activities as outlined in the itinerary
Meals as specified (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner)
Drinking water
Services of a professional local guide with expert knowledge of the region
Services of a professional photographic guide with extensive experience of Southern Africa
All park fees in Botswana for activities included in the itinerary
What's Not Included
International flights to and from Botswana
Travel, medical, or camera equipment insurance
Insurance for cancellation and curtailment, medical coverage, baggage loss, and emergency evacuation
Visas, airport transfers, tips, and curios, unless specifically mentioned as included
Optional activities at the lodges (such as helicopter transfers etc.)
Beverages (including alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks)
Any increases in National Park fees or government levies.
What We Recommend
DSLR or mirrorless camera
Telephoto lenses 300–600mm, plus a shorter lens for landscapes or astronomy
Plenty of memory cards, spare batteries, and charging equipment
Neutral-coloured clothing for warm days and cooler mornings
Light jacket or fleece for early mornings and evenings
Comfortable closed shoes and footwear
Binoculars for observing behaviour between photographic moments
Personal medication
Comprehensive travel and photographic equipment insurance
Insurance Requirements
All participants are required to have both travel and equipment insurance for the duration of the tour. This ensures protection for yourself and your gear, giving peace of mind while in the field. Insurance is the sole responsibility of each participant and must be arranged prior to departure, as Focused On Wildlife does not provide coverage.
Focused On Wildlife, however, is fully covered under the UK Package Travel Regulations against financial failure, giving participants reassurance that all bookings are financially protected.
Your Journey Through Wild Botswana
This is a proper journey through Northern Botswana, moving from the waterways of Khwai through to the quieter Mababe area, and finishing in the elephant-rich landscapes of Chobe.
Rather than staying in one place, you’ll experience a real cross-section of Botswana — different habitats, different wildlife, and different photographic opportunities along the way.
The Journey & Experience
Your safari begins in Maun before heading straight into the Khwai region, where you’ll spend the first few days settling into the rhythm of the bush. This area is well known for its strong wildlife sightings and a good mix of species, making it an ideal place to get started.
One of the highlights here is the mokoro excursion. It's a slow, quiet way to explore the waterways. It’s a completely different pace to game drives and offers a fresh perspective for both wildlife and photography.
From Khwai, the journey continues to Mababe. This is a quieter, less pressured area, which often leads to more natural sightings. With three nights here, you’ve got the time to really get into the flow, returning to sightings, working the light, and making the most of the space and lack of crowds.
The final part of the safari takes you up to Chobe. As you move north, the landscape opens up and wildlife numbers increase, particularly elephants. A boat cruise on the Chobe River is a standout experience, giving you low-level angles and fantastic opportunities for photographing animals along the water’s edge.
The safari finishes in Kasane, leaving you with a real sense of having travelled through Botswana rather than just visited one small part of it.
What You’ll Photograph
Because of the route, you’ll get a strong mix of subjects and environments:
Elephants throughout the journey, building to large numbers in Chobe
Predators such as lions, leopards and hyenas, particularly around Khwai and Mababe
River and wetland species during the mokoro and boat experiences
Birdlife across all regions
A mix of landscapes, from waterways and floodplains to more open bush
It’s not just about single sightings, it’s about building a varied and well-rounded portfolio.
A Typical Day
Days follow the natural rhythm of safari life. Early starts to catch the best light and active wildlife, followed by a relaxed break during the middle of the day, then back out again in the afternoon.
Travel days between locations are never wasted and can be some of the most rewarding sightings days. They’re effectively extended game drives, often producing some of the best unexpected sightings of the trip.
Guiding & Support
You’ll be guided throughout by experienced local guides and photographic experts, who know these areas inside out. They understand how to read wildlife behaviour, track animals, and position you properly for sightings.
There’s a strong photography focus during this safari, helping you make the most of each situation. Whether that’s working with light, adjusting settings, or thinking about composition, we will guide you all the way.
Lodge-Based Comfort
This is a lodge and tented camp safari, so you’ve got a good level of comfort throughout. Proper beds, well-run camps, and everything taken care of for you.
Meals are provided along the way, and the overall feel is relaxed and well organised, without losing that proper bush atmosphere.
Small Group, Proper Photography
We keep this to just four guests. Everyone has their own row in the vehicle, so there’s no crowding and no compromise on space.
This is a dedicated photo safari so we don’t rush, and we don’t just tick off sightings. We stay with good opportunities, work the scene, and give you the time to create strong, thoughtful images.
Who It’s For
This is ideal if you:
Want to experience different areas of Botswana in one trip
Prefer a small group with plenty of space
Are keen to focus on photography without pressure
Like a balance of comfort and proper time in the wild
All levels are welcome and you don’t need to be an expert. In fact, you don’t need to be a photographer at all. We’ve had guests join as complete beginners who quickly got into it and really enjoyed the process. It’s simply a different way of experiencing the bush, helping you slow down, look more closely, and get more out of every moment.
What You’ll Leave With
By the end of the journey, you’ll have a varied collection of images that reflect your full experience, not just wildlife, but the environments and the story of the trip itself.
You’ll also come away more confident with your camera, better at reading behaviour, and more aware of how to use light and timing to your advantage.
This isn’t a static safari. It’s a moving, evolving journey through Northern Botswana, and that’s exactly what makes it so rewarding.
We keep things small and personal, on this adventure in Botswana, with just four guests on each trip. Everyone gets their own row in the vehicle, so you’ve got plenty of space and a clear view for photography. It’s a proper guided photo safari too by local, regional and photographic experts. During this unforgettable excursion, we take our time, focus on the light and behaviour, and make sure you get the shots you’re after.