Botswana & Victoria Falls (Apr-May) 2026
We’ve just returned from an action-packed and unforgettable journey through Botswana’s Makgadikgadi, Okavango and Chobe regions before finishing off at the thundering Victoria Falls on the border of Zambia & Zimbabwe.
Following some of the heaviest rainfall in living memory, the region has been transformed. Areas that are typically dry have experienced nearly six months of consistent rain, pushing rivers to extraordinary levels and leaving vast expanses inundated with water. What is perhaps most remarkable is that the annual floodwaters from Angola have not yet reached this part of the Okavango. With water levels already this high, the months ahead promise to be truly spectacular.
Travel was challenging, but we still managed to see a ton of wildlife during this time of plenty: over 200 bird species, 33 mammals, incredible trees, and all sorts of other fauna and flora!
I’ve selected some images with captions of the highlights from the trip.
There is something magical about cathedral Mopani forests. Sundowners with our group from the University of Virginia
We arrived in Maun, the gateway to the Okavango, before a series of air transfers to the Makgadikgadi, Moremi, Chobe & a finally road transfer to Victoria Falls
I had the honour of hosting 11 guests from the University of Virginia on behalf of Classic Escapes as we travelled with Desert & Delta Safaris across three vastly different regions. First stop was three nights at Leroo la Tau, on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. With the Boteti River flowing for the first time in years, we had to use the ferry to get in and out of the park. Operated by hand and a rope, it was, if nothing else, an entertaining way to start our days!
We caught up with the very beginning of the zebra migration. It had rained a couple of days before, so their numbers were low, but we eventually found good numbers arriving down south in the vicinity of Nxai Pan. It is a full-day trip that allowed us to head into this region and spot, among others, many of the arid zone specialists. The Springbok and Oryx (Gemsbok) antelopes found in this part of the world have been here forever. This huge expanse of land still holds whispers of great migrations; it is truly wild. When you make this journey out to these parts, it has a way of resetting you and laying the foundations for an experience that is far greater than anyone could imagine.
We were unbelievably lucky to see a leopard this well in the Makgadikgadi! A very relaxed young boy who spends his time taunting guineafowls and all other potential meals along this small section of the Boteti. I wonder how long he will hang around?
Birds alerted me to this female Boomslang in the upper branches of a bush willow. Even so late in the season, there was a lot of reptile activity with all the breeding birds and movement of the smaller fry. If you don’t like snakes, don’t worry, we had to search hard to find them!
An impromptu meeting with the local chief at Khumaga. These village experiences here are not preplanned. They just happen. This isn’t a tourist trap; it is a meaningful relationship between the lodge, the land, conservation and community. We are finding solutions. I am excited to be part of the success. The new Chief has brought a fresh, promising perspective!
This deck right here is one of my favourite places in the Okavango. Sunrise coffee at Camp Xakanaxa looking across one of the greatest wetlands on earth. The dawn chorus, the distant roar of lions on the islands, ingredients that stoke excitement in anticipation of what the morning safari will bring….
And just like that…Wild Dogs! A quick glimpse, on the road before heading through some deep water!
We had quite a few mongoose sightings, but with so much plant growth, they tended to disappear before one could lock one’s lens on them! Was happy to capture this moment, though.
This is the glory of the Okavango…water lilies and water shields fill the quiet backwaters.
Angolan Reed Frogs. A real special of the area! They are found in so many different patterns and colour variations.
On the last morning, a King revealed himself! With the long grass, leopards gave us a few glimpses, but as for lions, it took much longer. Their tracks suggested they were around, but we worked the area until eventually our efforts paid off. It must be noted that at this time, 95% of the Moremi is underwater. We could only, with some difficulty, operate between Xakanaxa and the airstrip and across to Jessie’s Pools. To see leopard, wild dog, hyena and lion in this small area showed just how clumped the wildlife is at present.
Magnificent Okavango!
Woodland’s Kingfishers were still plentiful. They are normally gone by late April, and tend to be quieter and almost secretive if still around. This year, though, with all the water, they were still active. Our other avian friends were a treat to watch - species like Slaty Egret, Swamp Nightjar and African Rail all being recorded.
Any safari with me is designed to be more than just a journey — it’s an opportunity to learn, explore, and share knowledge along the way. I especially enjoy giving presentations on the Okavango while actually in the Okavango itself, as it allows guests to gain a far deeper understanding of the ecosystem and truly visualise the lie of the land and how this remarkable wilderness functions.
Sundowners after a memorable boat ride! Ask the guests to tell you…it’s their story!
From Xakanaxa, we once again boarded our Cessna 208 Grand Caravan, a 12-seater (pressurised cabin) that got us safely across to Kasane, the gateway of the world-famous Chobe Riverfront. Here we stayed in the only property within the park, Chobe Game Lodge - right in the middle of the action and front row seats to some of the best wildlife viewing in all of Africa!
We watched this Red-necked Falcon devour a small dove. It hopped across to another branch and gave us this quick moment before disappearing into the riverine forest. Raptor viewing along the Chobe was top shelf. Gabar goshwaks flashed by, including a melanistic individual, the colour morph being quite common in this region. Snake Eagles, a hunting Martial, Lanner Falcons, a kettle of Vultures and elegant Fish Eagles provided good morning entertainment before the day heated up!
It was the elephants, though, that endeared us the most. We watched herd after herd come and drink and play on the water’s edge. Wonderful to see so many fit, healthy elephants, a stark contrast to the late dry season of drought years. Add a good dozen giraffe, impalas and baboons by the hundred, displaced lechwe (high water), warthogs, pods of hippos and a lioness, we left the Chobe on a high. So much so that instead of a morning game drive once again, we decided to opt for the calm and magic of a sunrise looking out east over the only place where four countries meet…Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Giraffe viewing was up close and personal! They are 100% wild. Just relaxed and used to vehicles.
Somewhere on our safari, we caught up with this Black Rhino. Amazingly, this female is 44 years old! Right at the top end of a rhino’s life span. We certainly had a bit of (deserved?) rhino luck. Of the 11 vehicles working the area, we were the only ones who managed this glimpse. She had her son with her. He is 6 years old and still hanging around mom, probably because she will never have another calf again. Aside from this a leopard snuck across the road in front of us and while many Bronze-winged coursers were an avian treat, we also ran into a small buffalo road block.
From Chobe, we took a road transfer to Victoria Falls. Most of this journey continues through pristine wilderness where we had glimpses of a giraffe, elephants and kudu after an easy border crossing into Zimbabwe.
Some of our guests with Dr Chris Foggin, a legendary Zimbabwean. Here we learnt about the incredible work being done in the area, from anti-poaching to the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust also a leader in fighting wildlife crime in Africa. Exciting times and a worthwhile project that we support every year. Thanks to the guests for their significant pledge. It is great to be a part of a project that makes a big difference!
I have been lucky to visit the Victoria Falls Hotel for many years and can quite confidently say it is thriving right now. It is wonderful to see it in its full glory. What I also love is how the Zimbabweans have taken something colonial and added an African spark and made something good, great! We loved eating out on the veranda with the million-dollar view.
The view! What a wonderful way to end a journey across one of the most remarkable wild corners of the continent.
