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Photograph Botswana's best-loved wildlife including lion, elephant, buffalo and wild dog and their rarer, nocturnal residents such as honey badger and African civet on this dedicated 12-day Okavango Delta photography special.

We spend six nights in luxury mobile camping tents where we enjoy day and night drives, before heading to Mma Dinare Lodge where we have the option of more drives, but also alongside mokoro boat trips and even walking safaris. This combination will provide us with a fantastic range of settings, target species and perspective to photograph. Your photographic guides - Emma Healey & Neil Aldridge - will always be on hand to provide advice and guidance on how to capture wonderful images whether you're a beginner, or more experienced photographer. 

Staying in two of the Okavango Delta's finest wildlife concessions we will be afforded with plenty of photographic and wildlife opportunities. Some of the species that we hope to see and photograph include lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant herds and wild dogs. Botswana is home to a wide variety of birds including lilac-breasted rollers, saddle-billed storks, openbills, glossy ibis, secretary birds, a variety of vultures, bateleurs, tawny and martial eagles. As you embark on night safaris some of Botswana's more elusive mammals begin to emerge including African civet, large-spotted genet, African porcupine, lesser bushbaby and perhaps African wild cat, honey badger or serval. Each of these animals will be fantastic subjects for us, as we get to grips with the intricacies of night photography.

The light at this time of year should provide us with glowing colours and the iconic sunrises and sunsets for which Africa is well known. With photography in mind, the guides are well experienced in positioning the vehicle to ensure that the light is favourable for photography. When necessary Emma & Neil will explain methods to successfully photograph in low light and even work with you to capture some images of the extraordinary African night sky.

In addition to this dedicated photo safari we also have our Okavango Delta Safari which is perfect for those who would prefer less emphasis on photography.

Typical Itinerary

  1. Day 1: Depart UK

  2. Day 2: Arrive Maun & transfer to Moremi Game Reserve

    We arrive in Maun early afternoon, where our guide will be waiting to meet and assist us with our onward light aircraft flight over the Delta to our first campsite in the Moremi Game Reserve

    Once we arrive, we are met by the crew who will be accompanying us for our first six nights. There's time to settle in and unpack before a late afternoon safari and then enjoying dinner under the night sky.

    Accommodation: Fully-serviced Mobile Camping, 3-nights

  3. Days 3-4 : Morning & afternoon wildlife drives in Moremi Game Reserve

    During our time in Moremi Game Reserve - one of the most beautiful and unspoilt reserves in Africa, we can expect to photograph a range of species including a resident herd of several hundred buffalo, at least four prides of lion and breeding herds of elephants. With multiple animals gathered, it allows us to play with group composition shots and methods to capture the interactions and behaviours with our cameras. As you adjust the focal points and aperture, Emma & Neil will be available to help you achieve the technique or image you have in mind.

    Other subjects we hope to photograph include wild dog, leopard, red lechwe, Burchell's zebra and impala. Moremi is home to a variety of birds, and we can expect to see long-toed and wattled plovers, white-faced whistling duck, African fish eagle, rosy-throated longclaw and goliath heron.

  4. Day 5: Transfer to Mababe Private Reserve

    Today we take a slow wildlife drive through Moremi Game Reserve north-east towards the Mababe Private Reserve. On this moving day, we stop to enjoy a mokoro excursion in the calmer back-waters of the Khwai and Mbudi channels as well as the Dombo hippo pools, where we hope to capture eye level photographs of hippo, elephant and a range of other wildlife. We pass through mopane woodlands where various predators hold their territories, and various large game can be seen on the open plains. We arrive at our new camp in time for dinner and a night drive. 
  5. Days 6-7 : Morning, afternoon & night drives in Mababe Private Reserve

    We enjoy two full days of wildlife drives in Mababe Private Reserve, starting after breakfast before returning to camp mid to late morning where we have free time until the mid-afternoon, when we set out again on another wildlife drive. Our guides will have complete flexibility over our itinerary, dictated by latest wildlife sightings, and we may be able to stay out longer, or spend all day on drives, allowing us to cover more of the Concession.

    Heading out on night drives offers a unique perspective to Botswana's wildlife owing to the amount of its nocturnal mammals. We hope to see African civet, honey badger, lesser bushbaby, crested porcupine, common genet, white-tailed mongoose, scrub hare and spring hare, and if we're lucky, serval.

    We will also have the opportunity between our drives to speak to Emma & Neil, who can provide photography feedback and advice should you wish.

  6. Day 8: Transfer to the Dinare Concession & afternoon game drives

    We leave Mababe for the Dinare Concession, with our transfer another opportunity for wildlife watching and photography. Once arrived, we can enjoy lunch before heading off for an afternoon game drive.

    Accommodation: Mma Dinare Lodge, 3-nights

  7. Days 9-10 : Mokoro, walking and off-road safaris

    We have exclusive use of the camp, which allows us to choose our own activities over the next couple of days. Depending on water levels, we can take a trip in a mokoro canoe - one of the most tranquil ways to explore the delta that offers a completely different perspective of the landscape and wildlife. Whether it is the close up photograph of the beautiful long-nosed reed frog which we pass quietly, or the water level photograph as you level the camera at a breaching hippo. Crocodiles, elephants and a host of water birds will also make an appearance.

    There is also the option to go on walking safaris, examining the tracks, scat and flora of the environment to better understand how the species co-exist and the role that each organism occupies in the ecosystem. Being on foot and photographing a variety of mammals at distance provides a more intimate and dramatic experience to that of a typical vehicle safari.

    Access to the concession means we are not restricted by closing times, and our drivers can go off-road if necessary to provide us with even better sightings. We can also participate in extended night drives should we wish. All activities during our time here are optional, and should you wish to simply sit back and enjoy the confines of the lodge, you are very welcome to do so. The lodge is ideally positioned overlooking the Gomoti River, which attracts a wide variety of bird and mammal species. It’s the perfect place to set up your camera and relax.

    On one of the days we will also hear from J.W. (‘Tico’) McNutt, Founder and Director of Botswana Predator Conservation, about the invaluable work that his team are undertaking in the area.

  8. Day 11: Depart

    Sadly this morning we must bid farewell to the team at Mma Dinare and return to Maun where our early afternoon flight to Johannesburg awaits.

  9. Day 12: Arrive UK

Key info

  • Duration and price including flights from/to UK: 12 days from £8,195 pp
  • Duration and price excluding international flights: 10 days from £7,195 pp
  • Single supplement: From £170
  • Trip type:
    Group Tour
  • Group size: 12
  • Group Departures:
    Make a booking request.
    1. Book
  • Included in the price/package:
    • Accommodation as shown
    • Meals as indicated
    • Transfers
    • Guided activties
    • Photography tuition
  • Activities available:
    • Birdwatching
    • Boat trip
    • Photography
    • Walking

Expert leaders

Emma Healey

Photo of Emma Healey

Emma is a popular and experienced wildlife photographer and tour guide, whose images have been printed in wildlife photography magazines.

Emma has led workshops on camera settings, getting the best shots in the field as well as post production, to making sure clients can achieve their best images. Having had a passion for all things nature since she was very young, Emma travels across the globe to capture the wildlife in each area, and often supplies international agencies with photographs. With a love for primates, she is captivated by any living things from large mammals to tiny insects and macro photography.

View all tours led by Emma

Neil Aldridge

Photo of Neil Aldridge

Through his films and photography, Neil has dedicated his life to wildlife conservation. As a cameraman, he has filmed for the BBC but specialises in working with NGOs and frontline projects to create short films that make a difference.

He has also published three books and contributed to the collaborative 'Photographers Against Wildlife Crime and Remembering Wildlife' series, with his engaging portrait gracing the cover of 'Remember African Wild Dogs'. His photo stories on endangered species have been published by National Geographic and BBC Wildlife magazine, and his images have won global awards, including World Press, two British Wildlife Photography Awards and the overall title of European Wildlife Photographer of the Year. 

Having grown up in South Africa, Neil learnt his craft photographing Africa’s iconic species and trained as a professional guide. Now, based near Bristol, he focuses much of his attention on wildlife closer to home, leading trips in the UK and Europe alongside tours to Africa.

View all tours led by Neil

Tour Reports

Find out more about the day-to-day sightings and wildlife activities on our group tours from our expert naturalist leaders.

Featured locations:

Okavango Delta

This 1.6 million hectare wildlife paradise is a vast tapestry of crystal clear water channels, lagoons and small islands, and is known for its concentrations of large wildlife and birds. Outings by boat or on land, at day or night, yields fantastic sightings within the private concessions of exclusive accommodation. Find Out More about {acc:title}

  • Where: Northern Botswana
  • Ideal for viewing: hippo, Nile crocodile, red lechwe, sitatunga, tsessebe
  • Excellent for: Walking safaris, Vehicle safaris, River safaris, Birdwatching

Moremi Game Reserve

Moremi is an unspoilt and stunningly beautiful reserve, considered to be one of Africa’s finest sanctuaries. Its 3,000 sqkm of woodland, floodplain and reedbed includes the waters of the Okavango Delta, attracting high concentrations of plains game and predators which can be viewed by river or on land. Find Out More about {acc:title}

  • Where: Northern Botswana
  • Ideal for viewing: Pel’s fishing owl, red lechwe, sitatunga, fire-crowned bishop, scops owl
  • Excellent for: Walking safaris, Vehicle safaris, River safaris

Mababe Private Reserve

This private reserve is situated in the Okavango Delta, allowing visitors to venture off-road and enjoy night drives to watch some of its rarer inhabitants. Wildlife highlights include lion, leopard, wild dog, spotted hyena and a rich variety of birdlife such as African jacana and secretarybird. Find Out More about {acc:title}

  • Where: Northern Botswana
  • Ideal for viewing: lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard, spotted hyena
  • Excellent for: Wildlife photography, Vehicle safaris
Featured accommodation:

Mma Dinare Lodge

Mma Dinare Lodge is located in a private concession on the edge of the Okavango Delta. The camp has nine en suite tents with views of the Gomoti River and surrounding landscape frequented by birds and other wildlife. The camp has a contemporary style with modern solar technology, a bar, lounge and pool. Find Out More about Mma Dinare Lodge