Northern Botswana Highlights Safari

If you're a keen mammal-watcher, visiting Okavango and Moremi will be an absolute bonanza for you and birders too.

While exploring along the waterways, keep an eye out for sought-after species such as the rare and spectacular wattled crane and slaty egret. This is in addition to the more widely distributed iconic African wetland birds that include goliath heron, saddle-billed stork, African fish eagle, African skimmer and African and lesser jacanas.

Depart in a north easterly direction for the Mababe and Khwai Areas, a journey which takes about three-to-four hours. On this moving day, you'll experience a mokoro in the calmer back waters of the Khwai and Mbudi channels.

Once you arrive at your newly set-up camp, you'll stay in this area for three nights with morning and afternoon game drives stretching into the evening. During this time, the spotlight offers the opportunity to see some of the many, fascinating nocturnal animals which find a home here.

We rate Botswana as one of the most rewarding destinations in Africa if you're keen on spotting nocturnal wildlife. There's plenty to see, including the likes of African leopard, African wildcat, African civet, spring hare, Cape porcupine and - if you're lucky - you may see an aardvark.

Nocturnal birds most often seen include giant eagle owl (Africa's biggest owl) and the fiery-necked nightjar.

Enjoy the opportunities to take guided bush walks as well as activities by mokoro, the traditional dugout canoes used to explore the winding waterways in Okavango (which is one of the world's natural wonders).

The area is renowned for its healthy populations of African elephant, African lion, African leopard and a variety of ungulates, including tsessebe, sable and roan antelopes.

With only a max of 20 vehicles allowed on this concession at any given time, the campsite feels more exclusive. Being outside of the Moremi Game Reserve itself means that walking and night drives are both possible.

If you're a keen mammal watcher, you'll be constantly busy. Or, if you're a birder, you'll be in your element, with noteworthy species including raptors such as bateleur and the majestic, endangered martial eagle.

This wilderness area is appreciated for, among others, excellent lion and elephant sightings. The largely flat Savuti has sizeable outcrops of volcanic rock that claw up out of the Kalahari sands.

The marsh has always been a great attraction for wildlife enthusiasts, as the channel links up with waterholes creating a much-utilised meeting point for a wonderful assortment of animals seeking water.

Embark on an early departure for the Chobe River, with picnic lunch en-route. The journey takes about five hours in time for your onward return overnight flight to London Heathrow via Johannesburg.

We suggest you continue to Victoria Falls or spend an extra few nights in the Chobe. You may perhaps want to start with a desert experience in the Kalahari/Makgadikgadi.