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BIG CATS of BOTSWANA Prepared for the Field Museum with Bruce Patterson December 7-20, 2012

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BIG CATS of BOTSWANA Prepared for the Field Museum with Bruce Patterson December 7-20, 2012 BIG CATS OF BOTSWANA Prepared for the Field Museum with Bruce Patterson December 7-20, 2012 Located in the landlocked heart of southern Africa, Botswana is an unspoiled place of eternal beauty: glimmering salt pans, deserts of rust‐colored sand, lush floodplains, sprawling grasslands, and rock outcrops sculpted by wind and rain and time. One of the most stable and fully democratic countries in Africa, this peaceful nation boasts almost all of Africa’s big game, the continent’s largest population of elephant, and an astounding array of bird species—thanks in large part to a strong commitment to wildlife protection and sound environmental stewardship. Along with spectacular scenery and world‐class game viewing, Botswana is home to intriguing indigenous cultures. One of Africa’s most successful nations and one of the continent’s most exciting safari destinations, it remains a sparsely populated and relatively little visited jewel of a country. Across Africa, lions are disappearing as human conflict takes a heavy toll. In the past fifty years their numbers have plummeted from 450,000 to 20,000. Retaliation, safari hunting and commercial poaching for bones and skin, along with the disappearance of habitat and prey, have decimated this iconic animal. Viable populations remain in very few places, and if the current rate of decline continues, there is the disturbing possibility that within ten years lions could be extinct in the wild. In both the Selinda Reserve in Northern Botswana and Duba Plains in the Okavango Delta, located in the sprawling, primeval wilderness of Botswana, the continent’s most majestic hunter still roams as it has for countless eons. Watch pulse‐quickening chases as these muscle‐packed predators lunge toward their prey. Witness the epic struggle between lion prides and the herds of buffalo that sustain them. Observe lions lounging in the shade of ebony trees as they rub, lick and purr. Listen to their roars shatter the silence of the night. Come experience the gorgeous power of Africa’s big cats and learn about their desperate plight. “The Last Lions” is a National Geographic production that award‐winning filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert produced and shot on Duba Island over the past 4 years. Accompanying the group is Dr. Bruce D. Patterson who joined the Field Museum staff in 1981, where he has served as Chairman of Scientific Support Services, Head of the Division of Mammals, and is currently MacArthur Curator of Mammals in the Department of Zoology. A member of the Committee on Evolutionary Biology at the University of Chicago and an adjunct faculty member at three other universities, he has been President of both the Society for the Study of Mammalian Evolution and the American Society of Mammalogists. He has been the recipient of 44 research and facility grants, including 16 from the National Science Foundation, totaling more than $3.8 million. Until 2009, he led the Lions of Tsavo project which brought 542 volunteers from 41 different countries to East Africa. Bruce has published more than 140 scientific and popular articles and 5 books. His research focuses on patterns and processes of biological diversification, especially concerning mammals of the Southern Hemisphere. His book ʺThe Lions of Tsavo: exploring the legacy of Africa’s notorious man‐eatersʺ is the definitive work on Kenyaʹs infamous man‐eating lions. He has led previous Field Museum Tours to South America, Oceania, Antarctica, and to nine countries in Africa, including Botswana. ITINERARY Friday, December 7 NEW YORK / INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT TO JOHANNESBURG Today you board SAA #204 departing New York JFK for Johannesburg, South Africa at 11:15AM (or other arrangements). Saturday, December 8 JOHANNESBURG / PARK HYATT HOTEL Upon arrival in Johannesburg in the late afternoon you are met and transferred to the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The Hyatt Regency Hotel (35 minutes from the airport) is located north of Johannesburg in the leafy, cosmopolitan suburb of Rosebank, one of Johannesburgʹs most important social and business districts. Characterized by a unique blend of elegance, modernity and inspiring regional works of art, the Hyatt Regency Hotel provides you with a luxurious haven. Tonight you will have a welcome dinner at the Park Hyatt. Sunday-Wednesday, December 9-12 OKAVANGO DELTA / DUBA PLAINS CAMP On the morning of December 9 you board Air Botswana #212 to Maun departing at 10:10AM. Upon arrival at 12:10PM you are met and chartered to Duba Plains Camp, one of the most remote camps in the Okavango Delta. The Okavango Delta is one of the most intriguing and beautiful environments on Earth. Hundreds of tiny islands are formed as the Okavango River fans out over the flat Kalahari sands of Northwestern Botswana, creating a verdant Eden‐like utopia for wildlife. The delta covers an area of up to 12,470 square miles. The Okavango River starts in the Angolan highlands, where the rainfall ranges from 47 to 80 inches per annum. It then flows more than 800 miles, bringing the lifeblood to the Okavango Delta. The camp is built on an island shaded by large ebony, fig and garcinia trees and surrounded by expansive plains that are seasonally flooded. It offers a variety of activities; the focus depends on how much water is in the area. You may choose between game drives in open 4x4 vehicles, mokoro excursions (best from May to October) and walking safaris. The night drives often provide opportunities to photograph Africaʹs elusive nocturnal animals in action. The wildlife at Duba Plains is fascinating. The island is home to several prides of lions and just over a thousand buffalo. The interactions that happen each day are intense as the prides compete for prey. But far from being a one‐sided relationship in which lions hunt from the herd, a battle has developed between the species, with lions often being chased and occasionally killed as well. Witnessing these battles is a rare opportunity to experience what makes Africa so fascinating to us: the chance to see life so clearly on the edge and to think about why we are so fascinated by nature’s extremes. On a quieter side, lechwe, sable and other numerous species of plains game dot the savannah and elephant feed on the islands. Hippo concentrate in the deeper channels and leopard are found on the forested islands. Most of the deltaʹs birdlife is found in the area as well. Six large tented rooms accommodate a maximum of 12 guests. Each tent has an attached bathroom with shower and flush toilet facilities, as well as a verandah overlooking the floodplain. The dining room and pub are raised on decking under large riverine trees. There is a small pool as well. Thursday-Saturday, December 13-15 SELINDA RESERVE / SELINDA ADVENTURE CAMP On the morning of December 13 you are driven, with game viewing along the way, to Selinda Adventure Camp. Each spacious and comfortable Meru safari tent has two beds with linens and an attached bathroom with long drop toilet and bucket shower (hot water on request). All the comforts of a lodge are provided—but in total privacy. While in the mobile camp, one can experience the wonderful night sounds of the African bush and enjoy true wilderness! This mobile camp is moved seasonally, but during your stay it is likely to be in the southwestern section of the private Selinda Reserve, a seasonally‐flooded portion of the greater Okavango Delta. The ecosystem in the region is highly diverse, ranging from forests of mopane and hardwoods to open plains to seasonally flooded channels. Resident populations of plains game, including giraffe, zebra, tsessebe and lechwe, provide ample prey for lion and leopard. Although rare throughout Africa, the roan and sable antelope are frequently seen here. Large herds of elephant and buffalo are known to migrate across this region throughout the year, feeding on and cropping mopane stands. The combination of wet and dry habitats makes for a highly productive system boasting strong flora and fauna diversity and density. Walking opportunities abound, offering a more in‐depth look at the intricacies of the area. Sunday-Tuesday, December 16-18 SELINDA RESERVE / SELINDA CAMP On December 16 you are driven to Selinda Camp, a luxury tented safari camp situated on the banks of the eastern Selinda Spillway—a waterway linking Botswanaʹs Okavango Delta to the Linyanti Swamps. The shaded camp offers splendid views over the spillway and open floodplain savannah with its characteristic palm islands. The campʹs luxurious tents are under thatch with en‐suite facilities that include a wonderful and romantic bath, a shower, hot and cold running water, and flush loos. From the rooms, guests can look over the expansive floodplains and savannah and enjoy the view from the cool veranda. The main area is a thatched double‐tiered building that incorporates a dining room, lounge and bar. Daily activities are focused on the areaʹs incredible wildlife. This is one of the best areas in Botswana for predators and their prey; activities include morning, afternoon and night game drives with experienced professional guides in custom‐built 4 x 4 Land Cruisers. Short walks from camp accompanied by an armed guide are encouraged. The Selinda area is well known for its lion, cheetah, wild dog and, if you’re lucky, a leopard on your night drives. Sightings of plains game such as giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, impala, lechwe, tsessebe and elephant are common. In addition, there is the added excitement of night predators such as hyena, jackal, bat‐eared fox and small cats. Game viewing by boat on the Zibalianja Lagoon is available depending on the water levels at the time. Bird watching is excellent, and many owls can be spotted on night drives.
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