Chobe & Okavango
Photo Safari
US$ 13,000 per person sharing
US$ 3,000 single supplement
Chobe & Okavango
Photo Safari with Laura Dyer
Covering the incredible Chobe River and the stunningly beautiful northern Okavango Delta, this photo safari is a fantastic opportunity to see two of Botswana’s top wildlife and photographic destinations in one.
From amazing water-based photography on the Chobe from the customised Pangolin photographic boats to to land-based (and aerial) photography in the heart of the flooded Okavango Delta, this photographic safari promises wildlife photography experiences like few others.
The safari takes in 3 nights at the award-winning Pangolin Chobe Hotel in Kasane along the Chobe River and 4 nights at Kerr & Downey’s Shinde Footsteps camp in a private concession in the Northern Okavango Delta.
Tour Summary
Where: Chobe Pangolin Hotel & Shinde Footsteps
Nights: 7 (8 days)
Group Size: 4
(guests will be offered to confirm at a higher rate if 4 is not reached)
Dates & Prices
June 2027: 28 June - 5 July 2027 - Spaces available
$13,000 per person sharing
$3,000 single supplement
Tour Date Notes
June/July: Temperatures are cooler and in the mornings and evenings extra layers are definitely needed, particularly when cruising on the Chobe River. This is peak season in Botswana. The Chobe will be drying out with the river level falling allowing nesting kingfishers and skimmers to begin breeding. It also means elephants will be coming for water regularly as the river becomes the only source.
The Okavango is probably at its most beautiful during this time as the grass has died down a bit since the rains of December to April and the animals enjoy the bounty that the annual flood brings. With such abundance, wildlife is flourishing and everything from mokoro journeys to boating, and helicopter flights is at its aesthetic apex. Photographically, the landscape is incredible and the light is lingering and golden through these winter months.
Safari Highlights
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The safari begins in Kasane where you will be met by a driver and transferred to Pangolin Chobe Hotel where Laura will meet you.
After the last morning activity we will depart from Kasane via a Mack Air flight to the Okavango Delta and the Shinde Airstrip where our guide will meet us and transfer us to Shinde Footsteps camp.
After our last morning drive at Shinde we will take a short flight from Shinde to Maun making sure to coordinate with any onward travel plans you may have.
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We will have our own private boat at Chobe and vehicle at Shinde ensuring we can maximise quality time with the wildlife we encounter.
At Shinde we will have access to our own exclusive-use vehicle and guide limited to our 4 guests so there will be enough space for our gear. The camp is on a private concession meaning we can also off-road at special sightings for the best photographic positioning with limited vehicle numbers.
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Airport meet and greet at Kasane
All conservation and park fees
3 nights at the award-winning Pangolin Chobe Hotel in Kasane
Twice-daily activities by boat
4 nights at the small, intimate Shinde Footsteps Camp in the northern Okavango Delta
Twice-daily activities by safari vehicle (max 4 per vehicle)
One 30-minute ‘doors off’ helicopter flight over Shinde
All food and beverage (excl premium brands)
Laundry (for cultural sensitivity, ladies underwear will not be laundered but washing powder is provided in every room for this purpose).
5kg excess baggage per person
Internal flights from Kasane to Shinde and Shinde to Maun
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International flights
Premium drinks
Tips and gratuities for staff (optional)
Visas and/or any vaccinations
Additional excess baggage charges
Meet your guide
Laura is an award-winning wildlife photographer with many years' experience exploring Earth’s wildest places from the plains of Africa to the frozen ice of the polar regions. Having grown up in South Africa, she spent all her free time in the bush and has an extensive knowledge of wildlife behaviour. With 20 years of safaris under her belt she knows how to anticipate, visualise and capture the perfect shot.
“I love teaching guests how to capture those perfect moments on safari and seeing their faces light up when using a new technique or nailing a shot for the first time - creating memories that last a lifetime. It is a real privilege for me to see and be a part of these experiences and I absolutely love it.”
The emphasis of this trip is both learning in the field - where Laura has many years of experience under her belt. In understanding animal behaviour as well as how to photograph wildlife, she will spend time explaining the process and settings needed for excellent photography.
Between drives the small group means ample time for individual attention - learning new skills as well as one on one time to edit images and discuss any subjects you would like on an Indian basis . The goal is for you to leave both a stinger photographer, and with a beautiful portfolio of images to illustrate the Okavango, as well as a greater understand of the wildlife that calls it home
Details
Days 1-4: Pangolin Chobe Hotel
A member of the Pangolin team will meet you from your international flight and transfer you to The Pangolin Chobe Hotel which is a five-minute drive from Kasane Airport. On entering the hotel you will walk into a double-story wildlife photography gallery illustrating the incredible images that can be captured here. At the end of this gallery, you will find the editing room as well as the entrance to the underground hide. Along with the waterhole, the front of the hotel features a large deck with incredible views as well as an eco-pool for cooling off in the midday sun.
The hotel is sat up on a plateau overlooking the Chobe River and Caprivi floodplains stretching out to the horizon below. The boats are moored on the river directly below the hotel and it’s a quick five minute transfer to get to them and then straight into the park.
Each of the rooms have been designed to maximise the space and provide plenty of surfaces (for cameras and laptops etc) and charging points. They are all en-suite and air-conditioned with safes and tea/coffee making facilities.
Our Focus
Whilst here we will focus on the Chobe River and photography from the boat as there will be plenty of game drives at the next camp. On the river, you will usually see plenty of elephants, buffalo, crocodiles, water birds, fish eagles, plenty of plains game and on occasion a big cat sneaking down to the river to slake its thirst! Big cats are more regularly seen in the Delta – our next destination – but we have had some incredible sightings of lions and leopards from the photo boats too, which is very special. Kingfishers are very prolific along this stretch of river with many of the Southern African species being found daily. Skimmers and white-fronted bee-eaters should also be nesting along the banks making it an inspirational area for bird photography,
Our group will have a boat to ourselves which means there will be plenty of space, as each boat has capacity for 8 guests so we will be able to move around freely with our gear. The boats are custom-designed for photography and come rigged out with support for your kit and are weighted to ensure maximum stability on the water.
We will do one morning and one afternoon activity with an optional image review and editing session in between where Laura will be on hand to provide personal assistance and help you learn to edit your photos, or discuss new skills or techniques learnt or practiced during the morning activity.
Days 4-8: Shinde Footsteps Camp
On Day 4 we will check out of the hotel and head to Kasane Airport to meet our charter flight into The Okavango Delta. Our charter airline of choice is Mack Air, and we have built in an additional 5kg of luggage allowance into your ticket, so you don’t need to worry about heavy camera gear exceeding the 20kg limit. Your new limit is 25kg in soft-sided bags only, please.
The flight to The Delta takes around an hour and is a beautiful scenic flight, landing at the airstrip in the Shinde Concession. This 30,000-ha piece of paradise is our home for the next few nights at the wonderful Shinde Footsteps camp. This private camp in the north of the concession has only five tents built on the edge of a lagoon and it features a lounge, a dining tent, and a small editing tent for those afternoon image review sessions.
As the safari draws to a close on day 8 you will fly out to Maun for a connecting flight home.
Our Focus
The concession is an excellent environment for big cats such as lions and leopards and occasionally, a pack of wild dogs will spend time in the area, as well. There are also lots of plains game like wildebeest, red lechwe and giraffes, as well as several hundred bird species that call The Okavango Delta home.
Being on a private concession means we are able to off-road at special sightings allowing us to manoeuvre into the best positions for photography. The Shinde guides are well-versed in photography and understand the needs of photographers on the vehicle.
There is also opportunity for a 30 minute helicopter flight in the morning on one day of your stay where two guests at a time will be able to get up in the air for some incredible aerial photographic opportunities.
Pairs well with
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