3 premier Destinations
Botswana is one of the most sought-after premier wildlife photographic destinations in Africa. This safari has been meticulously planned to cover three of the best wildlife locations; the Okavango Delta, Savuti, and the Chobe River, giving you the most diverse environments and the best variety of wildlife photographic opportunities in Botswana. We have selected each location for its uniqueness; you will have the opportunity for night photography, driving off-roads without restrictions, photographing out of but near the vehicle for incredible perspectives, and at eyelevel with the wildlife on the banks of and it Chobe River.
While on land, we will use private, custom open vehicles; you will have your own row to spread out all your gear to have it ready at a moment’s notice and an unobstructed view from both sides of the vehicle. You will NOT have to shoot over or around another photographer, who would be sitting next to you on most other safaris offered. On the Chobe River, we will use custom photo boats with innovate customer features, such as seats with a custom designed mount for your big lens that rotates a full 360 degrees.
THE LOCATIONS
The Okavango Delta is one of the most spectacular natural wildlife phenomena on the planet, supporting an ecosystem that sustains one of the highest concentrations of large game animals in Africa. Remarkably, it is a matchless wetland paradise in the arid Kalahari Desert. Our luxury accommodations are waterfront with some of the best opportunities to see a pack of wild dogs, lions, leopards, hyenas, elephants, buffalos, and more. We can drive off-road, enabling us to follow predators and improve our vehicle positioning for photography. Since we are just outside the Moremi National Park with no gate restrictions, we can extend our game drives well into the evening when the big cats are on the move for an excellent chance of dramatic night wildlife photography.
Savute achieved international fame from documentaries, such as Eternal Enemies by Dereck and Beverly Joubert, with unbelievable lion and hyena interactions, and the numerous documentaries filmed in the area by the BBC. This semi-arid area harbors one of the densest dry-season concentrations of elephants in Africa. Due to drought conditions in the past few years, the canal is dry, but water is pumped into a few select areas, drawing all the animals across this dusty environment. Imagine all the drama that is certain to unfold as all the animals cross the expansive savannahs to gather at the same water hole. The dust and light will make spectacular photographs, images that get to one’s soul.
The Chobe River is one of the most incredible wildlife experiences offered on the continent, where animals congregate along the river to drink and to feed on the lush greenery. The custom photo boats we will use have a shallow draught, enabling us to access shallow water to make near-silent, drifting approaches to our subjects, getting eye-level perspectives that are much more difficult to achieve on land. Don’t be surprised when you are face to face with battling hippos and elephants swimming! Elephants will not only come to drink from the river, but will also swim across it; if we are lucky, they will stop in the middle to play, which is an unbelievable sight. This is also a birder’s paradise with a wide variety of species, including African fish eagles, colorful Malachite Kingfisher, the largest heron in the world – the goliath, skinners, kingfishers, and colorful bee-eaters. With our custom photo boats, these birds are more approachable on the Chobe River than anywhere else in Africa.
Itinerary
THE ITINERARY
August 18, 2026
Arrive in Maun, Botswana, before 2:00 pm to catch a flight to Khwai. The Okavango Delta rarely needs an introduction, as it is one of the most sought-after wildlife destinations in the world. It is a unique environment of floodplains and woodlands filled with diverse exotic wildlife. We will be here during the dry season when the animals move south from the huge Mopani Woodland area in search of water.
Nestled in a riverine tree line, our small traditional luxury safari camp offers spectacular river views and excellent food – enveloped in a layer of warm hospitality. Inspired by the authentic spirit of a safari, the eco-luxury canvas tents provide the romantic ambience of a true explorer and the comforts of a modern-day citizen of the world. Its exceptional location makes it a regular host to elephants, buffalos, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and wild dogs. As we are staying outside the reserve, we will also be able to drive off roads and do night game drives.
Afternoon game drive.
Accommodations: Machaba Camp ( D Beverages)
August 19 & 20, 2026
Morning and afternoon game drives.
Accommodations: Machaba Camp (B, L, D Beverages, Laundry)
August 21, 2026
After our morning game drive, enjoy breakfast, and we will fly into Savuti, an arid, dusty environment with skeletal trees that make for some striking photographic opportunities in the dry season. The area is renowned for its sightings of lions and hyenas, as well as supporting a large population of bull elephants. Cheetah can often be seen on the plains around the marshes, and the many rocky outcrops mean that leopard is common. If we are lucky we should see the wild dogs.
We will be staying at the 5-star Savute Elephant camp with 12 luxurious rooms raised on wooden platforms, each with an outdoor lounge shade by a traditional thatch roof.
Afternoon Game drive.
Accommodations: Savuti Elephant Lodge (B, L, D, Beverages, Laundry)
August 22 – 23, 2026
Morning and afternoon game drive.
Accommodations: Savuti Elephant Lodge (B, L, D, Beverages, Laundry)
August 24, 2026
After our early morning game drive and breakfast, we will fly to Kasane, where we will be met by our ground team and transported to our photographic lodge with a view of the Chobe. We will be spending one night here so that we can have access to one afternoon and one morning photo boat excursion through the channel.
Accommodations: Pangolin Hotel (B, L, D, Beverages, Laundry)
August 25- 26, 2026
After our early morning photo boat and breakfast, we will be transferred to our exclusive luxury houseboat on the Chobe River. Our houseboat is spread over three levels with multiple decks. The lounge and dining area, located on the middle deck, can be opened on three sides, with stunning panoramic views. The upper level hosts a viewing deck equipped with a table, chairs, and sun loungers, perfect for relaxing as we drift between our private mooring points. The lower deck features five en-suite cabins decorated with solid African rosewood furnishings.
We will spend the next three days cruising along the Chobe River in search of incredible photographic opportunities. During the mornings and afternoons, we will go out on our own private, custom-built photo boat with fully rotating chairs and fitted with state-of-the-art camera mounts. We will have highly specialized guides with an encyclopedic knowledge of the river and its inhabitants, who will seek out any specific photographic subjects we request. These boats are available at any time during our four days on the boat and are moored alongside, should any photographic opportunity present itself as we cruise along the river. Staying on the river also gives us extended hours on the water before sunrise and after sunset.
Afternoon photo boat.
Accommodations: Luxury House Boat (B, L, D, Beverages)
August 27, 2026
We will have one last morning boat drive along the shores of the river. After breakfast, we will be transferred to the shore and the Kasane International Airport. Flights can be booked after 1400hrs/2:00 pm
(B)
Important Details
The Price
The price of this premier wildlife photographic safari is $18,495.00. This price is based on double occupancy.
There is only one single room available. Once the trip is sold out, this room will be confirmed, and the other rooms will be allocated. If you must have single accommodations, please make an inquiry prior to registration. Priority for a private room will be based on the order the deposit is received, with the request for a private room on the registration. (There may be single rooms available except on the houseboat)
The cost of private accommodations is 4,495.00
***The cost of this safari is based on a minimum of 7 participants. If there are less than 7 participants a supplement feeof 1,595.00 will apply.
A USD $6,000.00 Non-refundable deposit is due at the time of registration to secure your spot. We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance to cover your deposit and trip payments.
Payment Terms
- USD $6,000.00 non-refundable deposit to confirm your place on this safari
- 2nd payment of USD $7,500.00 is due November 15, 2025
- Final payment/balance is due May 30, 2026
- We highly recommend trip and cancellation insurance.
Price Includes:
- Three In-country flights with extra weight allowance (Total of 70lbs)
- Airport transfers
- 9 nights’ accommodations as stated in the itinerary
- 2 private vehicles
- All National Park fees, Game reserve entrance fees, and taxes
- Custom photo boats
- All meals except on arrival and departure days (Dinner Sept 18 – Breakfast on Sept 27)
- Water, soda, coffee, tea, domestic beer, and wine at lodges and camps
REGISTRATION AND DEPOSIT
If you are excited to join this safari, now is the time to secure your spot. Use the buttons below to fill out your online e-registration form and to make your deposit. We must receive your completed registration form and deposit/s to confirm your spot.
Registration form –
Please complete all the required fields. At the end of the form, you will be asked to confirm your email address, which will complete the registration. A copy of your registration will be emailed to you and to Piper Mackay Photo Safaris.
Deposit–
Click the deposit button under the registration button to make your deposit. You do not need a PayPal account to use this payment service. You may make more than one deposit at a time by changing the quantity on the purchase details that will come up once you click the deposit button.
