Okavango to Makgadikgadi - wonders of Kalahari

Tour Highlights

Private wilderness experience with only seldom vehicles around
Predators of Okavango during green season
Green season with a peak of zebra migration in Makgadikgadi
Unique and amazing experience with meerkats of Makgadikgadi
All other species typical for the Okavango and Makgadikgadi
Nocturnal species during night drives
Countless opportunities to capture unique photos from vehicle and the ground level
Two fantastic photography guides creating unqiue opportunities for your shot of a 'lifetime'

Who should consider?

Anyone who would like to experience a bespoke, wildlife behaviour-focused safari with carefully selected, proven and comfortable accommodations led by a passionate guides.

Wildlife enthusiasts who would like to see some of the most iconic habitats in Africa during a green season.

Anyone who values unsoiled and remote wilderness to be experienced with a very few vehicles and people around.

Enthusiasts of photography who would like to capture incredible wildlife moments on camera and media to share and remember for years to come.

What to Expect?

Everyone should be prepared for a maximum of wilderness with a minimum of visitors – we may be alone on sightings most of the time.

We plan to spend a maximum amount of time in the field, looking for great sightings, understanding animal behaviour, spending time with wildlife rather than ‘chasing’ species.

We will leave our camps before sunrise, after coffee, and may return for lunch or as needed – flexibility in our schedule will be a key. We will come back well after sunset and a sundowner in the field. It is not a bootcamp, but we also don’t won’t to miss amazing sightings.

We will ensure that both, novice and advanced fans of photography, as well as the ‘iPhone shooters’ will have opportunities to capture amazing pictures and video clips.

Inclusions & Exclusions

Inclusion

All local air transfers from Maun to camps and return
Accommodation on shared or single basis in excellent camps
All meals, drinks incl. alcoholic beverages and laundry
Exclusive vehicle(s) for our group (1 row per photographer)
Unrestricted game drives
All tourism levies, relevant taxes, park fees
Professional guiding and photography tutoring
Online support, travel and preparation advice ahead of the trip

Exclusion

International flights from home to Maun, Botswana
Visas (if needed)
Travel insurance
Gratuities and tips

Destinations and Wildlife at a Glance

We will sample some of the best that Botswana has to offer during a green season – the Okavango delta and Makgadikgadi salt pans.

In the Okavango Delta the key species that we focus on include painted dogs, big cats (lions, leopards, cheetah), buffalos and elephants. However, these areas offer antelopes with large herds of red lechwe in marsh areas, and the general games such as giraffes, zebras, impala and wildebeest found behind ‘every corner’. Nocturnal ’regulars’ that are spotted during evening drives include civet, genet or African wildcat. We will also have opportunity to spend couple sessions with hippos and elephants creating unique opportunity to capture some amazing photos or films.

The Makgadikgadi will provide opportunities to focus on semi-desert species such as elusive brown hyena, bat-eared fox or meerkats. We will spend two sessions with meerkats, following them on their activities from the morning stretch to a mid-day siesta. We will also try to find large flocks of flamingos which gather at that time of the year around. At Meno-o-Kwena we will focus on photographing zebra migration from land and water, along the Botteti river.

Your guide

Artur Stankiewicz

Is a seasoned organizer of bespoke nature and wildlife adventures, with a solid knowledge of the African continent and wild animal behaviors that he will share during the trip. He is also a passionate wildlife photographer who’s work has been recognized in many international wildlife photo contests and published in various media. Artur offers photo tutorials during the trip on as required basis which he adjusts to everyone’s needs and desires.

Other guides

Mateusz Piesiak

Mateusz is a very accomplished wildlife photographer based in Poland. Fascinated by nature, he has been documenting unique moments of animals for over 15 years experimenting with light and composition, trying to capture images that inspire.

In his work he spends hours of preparation, observation and learning about animals – to be able to sneak into the world of nature and document unique behaviors, and extraordinary moments that often last only a fraction of a second.

His works have been awarded in numerous competitions, notably the Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Siena International Photography Awards, GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year and published in magazines such as The Guardian, BBC Wildlife Magazine.

For more of Mateusz’s works visit his website www.mateuszpiesiak.pl.

Social media:

Instagram: mpwildlife
Facebook: Mateusz Piesiak Wildlife Photography
TikTok: @mateuszpiesiak

Accommodations and Vehicles

1/3

Okavango

In the Delta we will stay in the private concession on the south of the Main Channel. Camp selected is very comfortable offering not only phenomenal wildlife viewing but also impeccable service and accommodation. Area is regularly used by BBC and NatGeo for filiming.

2/3

Makgadikgadi

In Kalahari we will stay in a very comfortable Meno-o-Kwena and Camp Kalahari, an understated and affordable base on the edge of Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and adjacent to the Makgadikgadi-Nxai Pans National Park. Camp Kalahari is set amongst the waving palms and acacia trees of Brown Hyena Island, and offers accommodation in 12 Meru tents. One of key attractions are ‘habituated’ meerkat colonies, which provide countless photographic opportunities. MoK camp is set on the bank of Botteti river with an immediate access to areas where zebras regularly drink during the day.

3/3

Vehicles

Vehicles that we will be using are completely open offering a full, unobstructed, 360 degree viewing. On our photographic safaris we allow max. 3 person in the vehicle (couple or partners sharing only one row and singles having a full row available). NOTE: Vehicle on the photo is an example and not the actual car.

Itinerary

International arrivals to Maun - mainly from Johannesburg. Early afternoon flight to our first camp in one of the best, private concession in the Delta. Check-in and late afternoon safari.

Early morning wake-up, light breakfast by the fire and departure in search of amazing wildlife. Breakfast in the field with return to the camp for the mid-day lunch and siesta. If weather and sightings require we will stay in the field all day with lunch delivered to our location. Afternoon safari drives with a sundowner in the field and night drive back for dinner, and the overnight.

Morning safari and transfer to our next camp via local flight. Afternoon observation of zebras from a deck along the river and the overnight in our new camp.

We will focus on exploring areas along the Botteti from land and from the boat - decisions will be made onsite. Key focus will be thousands of zebras coming to the river

After morning activity along Botteti the mid-day air transfer to Makgadikgadi. Lunch and afternoon/night activities in our new camp in Makgadikgadi.

These two days will be divided between early morning drives and/or activities with meerkats; we may have afternoon session with meerkats as well. One day in search of flocks of flamingos. Lunches and short siestas in the camp or in the field.

Last morning drive in Makgadikgadi, brunch, packing and departure back to Maun for our international connections back home.

Price list

Price per person sharing (its possible to have single without supplement)

Price:

$12250

Deposit:

$3500

Single supplement:

$500

Gallery

Bat-eared fox at sunrise in Makgadikgadi

Brown hyena cubs around a den in Makgadikgadi

African wild dog looking at potential prey in Okavango

Cheetah cub on the termite mound in Okavango

Portrait of a male lion after sunset in Okavango

Pregnant lioness drinking from a pool in Linyanti

Lions couple interacting at dusk in Linyanti

Female leopard under the log with the flies swarm over his head in Okavango

Elephant with broken tusks standing on a grass on the background of a blue sky in Botswana

Male leopard waiting above warthog den in the Okavango

Old male leopard sleeping on a tree in Linyanti

Little lion cub playing on a log in Linyanti

Cheetah male scanning the grassland for pray in Okavango

Male lion drinking water at sunrise in Okavango

Portrait of the Cape Buffalo in Okavango

Leopard male resting on a tree in Okavango

Spotted hyena among the dry grass in Okavango

Testimonials

“Looking for the ultimate safari experience? You’ve just found it.

My last trip to the Okavango Delta with Artur and Mateusz was a deep and thrilling adventure. We had countless sightings, some of which were incredibly unique. It felt almost like a self-fulfilling wish list, ticking off boxes nearly every day.
Leopards? There you go. Looking for a Pel’s Fishing Owl? No problem. What would you like to see next?
Overall, the trip was perfectly organized, safe, and both busy and relaxing at the same time. We also enjoyed each other’s company on and between the game drives, always finding moments for jokes or little chats.

Almost forgot to mention: Artur is a seasoned trip organizer and an excellent photographer, yet he hasn’t lost any of his passion for the wild, beating heart of the African continent.”

Krzysztof

Hannover, Germany (Dec 2025)

“Artur is an extremely knowledgeable guide who knows the best spots to observe and photograph wildlife in iconic African scenery. He took us to places where sometimes we were the only group to witness leopards climbing out of trees to hunt, lion cubs roughhousing with each other, and cheetahs pursuing antelopes over the grasslands. Migrating wildebeests and zebras surrounded us at times in massive herds that stretched to the horizon. We saw the Big Five, the Ugly Five, and everything in between as Artur tailored each day’s activities to requests from the group, including a visit to the Olduvai Gorge museum of early human fossils and footprints. I highly recommend this trip to anyone interested in Serengeti animals and habitats.”

Dallam Masterson

Houston, Texas, USA (March 2022)