BOTSWANA SPECIES CHECKLIST InCLudes VICTORIA Falls/LIVIngstonE AFRICA VEGETATION MAP BIOMES Desert (namib; Sahara; danakil) Semi-desert (Karoo; Sahel; Chalbi) Arid savannAH (Kalahari; Masai Steppe; Ogaden) Grassland (Highveld; Abyssinian) SEYCHELLES MEditerranean ScruB / FYnBOS East African Coastal Forest & ScruB Dry WOOdland (including Mopane) Moist woodland (including Miombo) Tropical RAInforest (Congo Basin; upper guinea) Afro-MOntanE Forest & Grassland (drakensberg; nyika; Albertine Rift; Abyssinian Highlands) Granitic IndIAn Ocean IslandS (Seychelles) INTRODUCTION Welcome to the wonderful wildlife of southern Africa. The idea of this booklet is to enable you, as a Wilderness Safaris guest, to keep a detailed record of the mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians that that you observed during your travels. It also serves as a compact record of your African journey for future reference and enjoyment that hopefully sparks interest in other wildlife spheres whether in your home country or abroad. Although always exciting to see, especially for the first-time Africa visitor, once you move beyond the cliché of the ‘Big Five’ you will soon realise that our wilderness areas offer much more. Africa’s large mammals are certainly a big attraction that one never tires of, but it’s often the smaller mammals, diverse birdlife and incredible reptiles that draw one back again and again for another unparalleled visit. Seeing a breeding herd of elephant for instance will always be special but there is a certain thrill in seeing a sitatunga, a serval or a Pel’s fishing-owl – to name but a few. As a globally discerning traveller, look beyond the obvious, and challenge yourself to learn as much about the wildlife and ecosystems through which you will travel on your safari. Enjoy your journey! BOTSWANA BIODIVERSITY OVERVIEW Botswana’s most renowned conservation area is undoubtedly the Okavango delta – a green and blue wetland rightly considered Africa’s most incredible wildlife sanctuary and the largest inland delta system in the world – 15 000 km2 of verdant channels, lagoons, swamps and islands. This dynamic waterworld contrasts with the cathedral mopane woodlands of the Linyanti and Selinda region to the north of the delta, while to the south lies the Kalahari desert. This desert is rarely lifeless and harbours mythical destinations such as deception Valley in the Central Kalahari. While the emphasis of a Botswana safari is often on the large mammals (and rightly so with 75 larger mammal species), there are many other facets of the local fauna to be enjoyed; 593 bird species have been recorded and the diversity and density of waterbirds found in the Okavango delta is simply staggering. The country also supports equally impressive reptile diversity and, as the Okavango is so well watered, amphibians are abundant. The ancient fossil riverbeds and associated pans of the Central Kalahari are the playground of desert-adapted wildlife including a wide range of ungulates and predators. The Kalahari as a whole, with its striking contrast to the Okavango and Linyanti Regions, adds significantly to Botswana’s already overwhelming diversity. LIVINGSTONE (VICTORIA FALLS) BIODIVERSITY OVERVIEW As many of our Botswana safaris also include the Livingstone/Victoria Falls area, this region has been added to the Botswana Species Checklist. Zambia’s Mosi-oa-Tunya national Park, a short distance from the Victoria Falls, comprises mopane and teak woodlands with luxuriant riverine forest along the banks of the Zambezi River. On the Zimbabwe side, Zambezi national Park protects similar habitat types with a rich riverine fringe and woodlands dominated by Zambezi teak and mopane. Visitors to the Victoria Falls can either stay on the Zambian or Zimbabwean side of the Falls – for most of the year there is little practical difference, although the Zimbabwe side features better viewing during the driest months of October through december. 1 KINGS POOL DUMATAU OUR BOTSWANA CONCESSIONS SAVUTI MOMBO CONCESSION 45 000 hectares, located on Chief’s Island, Moremi game Reserve, central Okavango. In the interior, mopane woodland is interspersed with belts of Kalahari sand and acacia. Towards the VUMBURA PLAINS edges of the island, regular seasonal flooding creates shallow floodplains dotted with wild LITTLE VUMBURA date palm islands and riverine forest. Mombo BANOKA harbours prolific concentrations of general BUSH CAMP game such as giraffe, zebra, warthog, red lechwe, tsessebe, wildebeest, kudu, elephant, KWETSANI buffalo and impala. Abundant predator PELO MOMBO & LITTLE MOMBO JACANA sightings include lion, spotted hyaena and TUBU TREE & LITTLE TUBU JAO leopard. Chief’s Island is also home to the only white and black rhino found in the Okavango SEBA XIGERA delta. The birding, a result of diverse habitats, ABU is equally attractive. CHITABE CAMPS: MOMBO CAMP, LITTLE MOMBO CAMP CHITABE LEDIBA KINGS POOL DUMATAU VUMBURA CONCESSION SAVUTI The Vumbura area comprises 60 000 hectares in the northern Okavango delta. This concession includes a diverse mosaic of habitats from permanent swamp with small palm islands to seasonally inundated floodplains, acacia woodlands, and extensive mopane and VUMBURA PLAINS Kalahari appleleaf stands. The area is known for its scenic beauty and diversity of wildlife. In LITTLE VUMBURA addition to large herds of elephant and buffalo BANOKA in seasonally varying degrees of concentration, BUSH CAMP majestic sable antelope are a highlight here and share the plains and woodlands with zebra, KWETSANI PELO MOMBO & LITTLE MOMBO wildebeest, tsessebe, impala, lechwe, kudu and JACANA giraffe. Healthy populations of lion, leopard TUBU TREE & LITTLE TUBU JAO and spotted hyaena occur, while wild dog are a particular feature and cheetah sightings SEBA XIGERA occasional. Birdlife is abundant – Okavango ABU CHITABE specials such as rosy-throated longclaw, black coucal and long-toed lapwing are present. CHITABE LEDIBA CAMPS: VuMBuRA PLAInS, LITTLE VuMBuRA CAMP 2 KINGS POOL DUMATAU OUR BOTSWANA CONCESSIONS SAVUTI Jao CONCESSION 60 000 hectares, close to the Panhandle in the delta’s north-west. The vegetation varies from the Jao Flats in the east to Hunda Island, covered in acacia and mopane woodland and VUMBURA PLAINS the largest dry area locally during the annual floods. Around the Flats, spectacular herds LITTLE VUMBURA of red lechwe are followed by their predators BANOKA – lion and leopard. Other game includes BUSH CAMP wildebeest, impala, tsessebe, giraffe, elephant, hippo and crocodile, spotted-necked otter and KWETSANI occasional sitatunga. The drier west harbours PELO MOMBO & LITTLE MOMBO JACANA similar species, with greater concentrations of TUBU TREE & LITTLE TUBU JAO zebra and wildebeest. Birding is exceptional: Vulnerable wattled crane, slaty egret, rosy- SEBA XIGERA throated longclaw, Pel’s fishing-owl, and lesser ABU jacana are found on the eastern side, with the CHITABE KINGS POOL western drier areas hosting crimson-breasted CHITABE LEDIBADUMATAU shrike, dickinson’s kestrel and Meyer’s parrot. CAMPS: JAO CAMP, JACAnA CAMP, VuMTSAnI SAVUTI CAMP, TuBu TREE, LITTLE TuBu, PELO CAMP XIGERA CONCESSION 6 000 hectares, in the heart of the delta. Situated on one of the Okavango’s key VUMBURA PLAINS waterways, it is surrounded by picturesque papyrus swamps and wooded islands and is LITTLE VUMBURA renowned for the highest density of the elusive BANOKA sitatunga antelope in the delta. not known BUSH CAMP for big game, mammal sightings do include red lechwe, spotted-necked otter, vervet KWETSANI PELO MOMBO & LITTLE MOMBO monkey, elephant, impala and tsessebe, with JACANA predators such as leopard, spotted hyaena, TUBUand TREE & LITTLE TUBU JAO occasionally lion. This concession is a delight for birdwatchers, many of the key swamp-dwelling SEBA XIGERA ABU specialists being present, notably Pel’s Fishing- CHITABE Owl, African skimmer, brown firefinch, greater swamp warbler, wattled crane, African pygmy CHITABE LEDIBA goose, Luapula cisticola and lesser jacana. Common species include a variety of kingfishers and other waterbirds. CAMPS: XIgERA CAMP 3 KINGS POOL DUMATAU SAVUTI OUR BOTSWANA CONCESSIONS ABU CONCESSION VUMBURA PLAINS 173 000 hectares, in the south-west of the delta. This scenically splendid concession varies from LITTLE VUMBURA seasonally inundated floodplains, channels BANOKA and palm islands in the north-east to the dryer BUSH CAMP Kalahari ‘Sandveld Tongue’ in the west. Here, trees like Kalahari appleleaf and silver terminalia KWETSANI PELO MOMBO & LITTLE MOMBO dominate, adding much contrast to this unique JACANA area. Big game is plentiful and includes frequent TUBU TREE & LITTLE TUBU JAO sightings of giraffe, buffalo, elephant, red lechwe, blue wildebeest, tsessebe, impala, SEBA XIGERA zebra, hippo and warthog. dominant carnivores ABU include lion and spotted hyaena with occasional CHITABE leopard and wild dog. For bird enthusiasts, CHITABE LEDIBA some 380 different species can be found. CAMPS: ABu CAMP, SEBA CAMP Linyanti CONCESSION The 125 000 hectare Linyanti Concession border Chobe national Park’s western boundary. Most of this wildlife-rich area consists of mopane woodland with floodplains and riparian forest along the Linyanti Marsh. Linyanti is also bisected by an ancient, acclaimed watercourse – the Savute Channel – which provides a year- round water source and attraction for wildlife. The area is famed for herds of elephant that reach very high densities in the drier winter KINGS POOL months. Other species are also abundant – DUMATAU Burchell’s