Birds of Botswana
Spectacular birding can be found in Botswana’s great wilderness areas.....
- the bird-rich Chobe River, Chobe National Park and surrounding forests
- the world-famous Okavango Delta, the finest wetland in Southern Africa
- the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and Kalahari Desert
- Central Kalahari Game Reserve
There is a strong possibility that guests will also see big game, as the top birding areas are in game country too. There are many specialist bird guides in Botswana to escort guests on a birding safari. Many various modes are available for birding safaris in Botswana, namely by boat, by mokoro, on foot and in 4x4 safari vehicles.
577 bird species including over 500 regularly occurring species are found in Botswana, so this country is a `must see` on any birders itinerary.
There are no endemic bird species in Botswana, but populations of globally threatened Wattled Crane and Slaty Egret are of international importance.
East of the Makgadikgadi Pans, lies Sowa Pan and when flooded attracts significant numbers of Lesser and Greater Flamingos.
The most productive time of the year in which to see birds (when the number of bird species is at its highest with migratory species having arrived in Botswana and resident species are in breeding plumage) is late November to March. Over 150 different species may be recorded in a day at this time.
Birding in the dry months is still good as certain species of woodland birds, in particular the passerines, having completed their breeding during the rainy season, form multi-species “bird parties” which forage together.
Twelve Important Bird Areas (IBAs) have been designated in Botswana which cover over 25% of the land surface of the country. IBA’s include all of the National Parks, a transfrontier park and the larger Game Reserves e.g. large reserves such as Chobe, Kgalakgadi, and Central Kalahari including Kutse and small areas such as Mannyelanong Hill. Part of the Okavango Delta is a Game Reserve (Moremi Game Reserve) with other parts being Wildlife Management Areas.
