Tours & Workshops

Tour Description: This safari will be the seventh consecutive year that Roy Toft has escorted a group of serious photographers to Botswana!

The itinerary has been designed to provide the photographer with an opportunity to explore two different habitats in northern Botswana. Our adventure begins in the heart of the Delta, which offers one of the finest nature and game photo opportunities in Africa. We also visit the Linyanti area, where we will photograph during early morning, late afternoon, and evening drives. Besides your normal plains game, these areas have good concentrations of lion, leopard, cheetah and wild dog. Large herds of elephant also move through the area.

Our safari will include day and night game viewing in open 4x4 vehicles, and excursions on the scenic waterways of the Okavango Delta. Another bonus to this year's Botswana Wildlife Safari is the option to spend three nights in the Makgadikgadi Pans Game Reserve at Jack's Camp!

As an added bonus, we will put no more than four photographers in a Land Rover. In addition, your photographer escort will rotate between the vehicles on game drives.

View March 2010 Recent Trips Page

Our Itinerary Friday, 09 March 2012 JOHANNESBURG Arrive in Johannesburg. Transfer to hotel.

The Safari Club (B)

Saturday - Tuesday, 10-13 March 2012 JOHANNESBURG - MAUN - THE OKAVANGO DELTA We depart today for Maun and continue by chartered flight to the heart of the Okavango Delta. The Okavango Delta is formed from rains that fall over 600 miles away in northern Angola. This life-giving moisture travels down the Okavango River and spills out onto the Kalahari Desert creating the world's largest inland delta. A rich tapestry of channels flowing with crystal-clear water, the Okavango Delta stands as an oasis within a surrounding desert landscape. Over 1100 species exist in this beautiful and exceptional wilderness. We have four days to photograph in the Okavango Delta.

Our camp is located in the remote northern part of the stunning Okavango Delta within the private Kwara concession. The camp fronts onto a huge floodplain, adjacent to the permanent water of the Delta and is backed by extensive bush. It is a magnificent wilderness area in excess of 650 square miles, bordering the Moremi Reserve. No trip to Botswana is complete without a visit to the Delta, the shimmering and unique watery jewel in the middle of the Kalahari Desert. Kwara encompasses a wide diversity of habitats, ranging from the clear Delta waters with reed-lined lagoons and channels, to open grasslands, mopane woodlands and palm-fringed islands.

Our eight luxury safari-style tents are built on raised decks, within a grove of huge and ancient African Ebony trees. Resident hippos will generally serenade you year round from the water on the floodplain in front of the camp. Each tent has its own viewing deck, private en-suite facilities including hot and cold running showers, flush toilets and modern amenities.

The forested island on which the camp sits is typical of those encountered throughout the vast 4 million acres of the Okavango Delta. At Kwara, you will discover why the Okavango is considered one of the ecological wonders of Africa and indeed the world. It is mysterious, calming, unpredictable and very wild.

Kwara Camp (BLD)

Wednesday - Friday, 14-16 March 2012 THE OKAVANGO DELTA - LINYANTI This morning we fly north. This area is best known for its enormous herds of Elephant, which move down to the Kwando River at the start of our winter months and only retrace their steps inland once the main rains arrive. Sable and Roan Antelope occur, as well as Lion, Leopard and Wild Dog. The marshes are home to Red Lechwe, Sitatunga, Hippo, Crocodiles and wonderful bird life. Moving along the fringes of the waterways, guests can see Kudu, Zebra, Buffalo, Waterbuck and Impala. We will have exclusive use of this deluxe 8 tented camp for the next three days.

Lebala Camp (BLD)

Saturday - Monday, 17-19 March 2012 LINYANTI

This morning we take a morning game drive with our luggage and end at our next camp. This area is best known for its pack of Wild Dogs, although there are no guarantees on safari!

Lagoon Camp lies on the shady banks of the Kwando River among tall and ancient African Ebony and Marula trees, under the watchful gaze of the resident Hippos. Over the years, many of guests have commented that Lagoon Camp stands out as one of the most beautiful settings of any safari camp. Morning and night game drives are conducted by our specialist guides and trackers in open safari vehicles.

The shady, treed environment of the camp hosts a great variety of birds and squirrels that visit daily. A family of Hippo and an elephant or three are regularly sighted from the tents. This contributes to the relaxed calm that prevails at Lagoon. The predators are also well represented by Lion, Hyena, Leopard, Cheetah and Wild Dog. This camp has been the denning site for a pack of Wild Hunting Dogs for the past several years. These animals are generally very relaxed in the presence of vehicles, meaning the sightings are usually at close range. Boat cruises along the Kwando River provide excellent opportunities for birding and also seeing Hippos walking on the bottom of the river. Lagoon's staff is there to look after you quietly and efficiently, so as to ensure a relaxing, peaceful stay.

Lagoon Camp (BLD)

Tuesday, 20 March 2012 LINYANIT - JOHANNESBURG Today, you have the option to fly to Johannesburg and home.

Photo Expedition Price (Per Person, Double Occupancy)

• Photographer Price: $7,495.00 per person
• Single Room Supplement: $1,200 per person
• Deposit to Reserve Your Participation: $1,500.00 per person
• Deposit is non-refundable
• Final payment due by December 31, 2012

Your Photographic Safari Price Includes:

• Accommodation as stipulated in the itinerary
• Transport in custom built safari open Land Rover
• Game viewing drives and parks entrance fees as per itinerary
• Services of English speaking driver/guide
• All Government taxes and levies
• All meals as indicated
• Laundry
• All beverages
• Charter flights as indicated in the itinerary
• All tips to drivers/trackers and lodge staff

Not Included: Not included is international airfare from home city to Africa, as well as the international flights Jo-Burg to Maun R/T within the continent of Africa (around $795). Chartered flights that are part of your safari are included. Also, not included are personal expenses such as personal insurance, excess baggage fees, phone calls, airport departure taxes (none currently), visa fees (none currently for Botswana) and any additional nights not noted in itinerary.

International Air Transportation: Toft Photo Safaris does not arrange domestic or international air transportation. If you need assistance in booking your international air to Africa, many of our clients have been very satisfied with the services provided by Shannon Sullivan with Altour at (818) 578-8638, travelagentshannon@gmail.com. To assist you, we have provided you with the airport codes and the dates you need to arrive or depart.

Arrival Airport Code: (JNB) by 09 March 2012
Departure Airport Code: (JNB) on 10 March 2012
Arrival Airport Code: (MUB) on 10 March 2012
Departure Airport Code: (VFA) for Johannesburg (JNB) on 20 March 2012
Departure Airport Code: (JNB) on 20 March 2012 for home

Optional Extensions Makgadikgadi Pan Game Reserve - FULL
Duba Plains Camp - FULL

Questions? Roy Toft (760) 788-6033

Registration Form - PDF
Terms & Conditions - Rich Text File

Toft Photo Safaris - Botswana Wildlife Photo Tour from Roy Toft on Vimeo.

Botswana Participant's Comments

I've finally posted my images from that great trip to Botswana...I wanted to thank Roy again for leading this interesting group and for all the pro tips I learned from him. He could set up for any shot and fire off many images ten times faster than it took me to change the settings on my D300. All of you know how much I love the wilderness and its magnificent creatures. The biodiversity in Botswana was fabulous. Thanks again, Roy and group, for such a fine experience.

Charley Kohlhase

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Pictures from the (Toft Photo Safaris - 2010 Botswana Wildlife Safari) amazing tour! I hope you enjoy

David Monsonego