Chobe & Okavango Delta Photo Safari

Chobe & Okavango Delta Photo Safari

Prices From £8,477pp
Year round | 7 nights

Chobe & Okavango Delta Photo Safari

SMALL GROUP - MAX 8 PERSONS

Designed for wildlife photography enthusiasts of all levels, this small-group Botswana journey combines the Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta, two of the country’s most rewarding safari regions. With expert guidance throughout from a dedicated Pangolin Photo Host, it is an immersive experience that blends exceptional wildlife encounters with practical photographic tuition, helping you return home with incredible images and greater confidence behind the camera.

Begin with three nights at Pangolin Chobe Hotel, where river-based photography along the Chobe offers superb opportunities for elephants, buffalo, birdlife and more, before flying into the Okavango Delta for four nights at Shinde Footsteps. Here, game drives, night drives and a thrilling aerial photography experience reveal a different side to Botswana’s wilderness, with the chance to photograph lions, leopards, wild dogs, antelope and the Delta’s ever-changing landscapes from both ground and air.

Highlights

  • Enjoy a small-group Botswana photo safari with no more than eight guests
  • Experience expert guidance and personalised tuition from a dedicated Photo Host
  • Discover the wildlife-rich waterways of the Chobe River by boat
  • Photograph elephants, buffalo, birdlife and other iconic safari species
  • Explore the Okavango Delta on expertly guided game drives
  • Seek out lions, leopards, wild dogs and plains game in a private concession
  • Take to the skies on a thrilling helicopter flight for aerial photography
  • Stay in two characterful camps in beautiful settings in Chobe and the Delta

What's Included

  • 3 nights The Pangolin Chobe Hotel with all meals and drinks included
  • 4 nights at Shinde Footsteps with all meals and drinks included
  • Charter flights in and out of The Okavango Delta
  • Photographic tuition and advice throughout by a Pangolin Photo Host
  • Use of a Canon Mirrorless camera and telephoto lens (if required) incl. memory cards
    30-Minute “doors off” helicopter flight
  • Twice daily activities in the Chobe National Park on a Pangolin photo boat or game viewer
  • Twice daily game drives in The Okavango Delta (maximum four per vehicle)
  • All park, landing and concession contributions
  • Airport meet and greet

Our popularitinerary Suggestions

All our itinerary holidays are fully customisable

Kasane - Arrive & Transfer
1Day

Kasane - Arrive & Transfer

Arrive independently into Kasane Airport, where a tour representative will be waiting to transfer you to Pangolin Chobe Hotel, just a few minutes away. Guests coming from Victoria Falls can also be collected and brought directly to the lodge. Set on a raised position above the Chobe River and Caprivi floodplains, this intimate, 14-room hotel makes a memorable first impression, with its striking design inspired by the world of wildlife photography.

Once settled in, take time to explore the property, from its impressive photo gallery and editing room to the underground hide and spacious deck overlooking the plains below. Meals, drinks and refreshments are included throughout your stay, with plenty of opportunities to relax between activities. Later, meet your fellow guests and your Pangolin Photo Host, who will accompany the group throughout the safari, offering guidance, tuition and support for photographers of every level. With a maximum of just eight participants, the experience remains personal and hands-on from the very start. For added flexibility, use of a Canon mirrorless camera and telephoto lens is also included, ideal for anyone wanting to travel lighter or try a second setup.

Accommodation: 3 nights at Pangolin Chobe Hotel with all meals and drinks included

Included Activities: Twice daily activities in the Chobe National Park on a Pangolin photo boat or game viewer

Exploring & Photographing the Chobe
2 - 3Days

Exploring & Photographing the Chobe

Spend the next two days exploring the rich wildlife habitats of Chobe, with the emphasis on water-based photography along the Chobe River. Morning and afternoon outings offer excellent opportunities to capture some of the area’s most iconic species, from vast herds of elephants and buffalo to crocodiles, fish eagles and an abundance of waterbirds. The riverbanks also attract a variety of plains game, and with luck, perhaps even a lion or leopard making a fleeting appearance at the water’s edge.

Between activities, return to the hotel for image review sessions with your Pangolin Photo Host, who will be available to help refine your technique both in the field and during editing discussions. Guidance is tailored to each guest, whether you are just beginning your photography journey or already have considerable experience behind the lens. Although this is a photography-focused safari, it remains a wonderful all-round wildlife experience, and non-photographer companions are equally welcome, with loan cameras available for anyone keen to join in.

Fly to the Okavango Delta
4Day

Fly to the Okavango Delta

After breakfast, we transfer back to Kasane Airport for your light aircraft flight into the Okavango Delta. The journey takes around an hour and offers wonderful aerial views as you leave the Chobe region behind and fly into one of Africa’s most extraordinary wilderness areas. Extra luggage allowance is included for photographers, allowing a little more space for camera equipment, provided everything is packed in soft-sided bags.

On arrival in the Shinde Concession, continue to Shinde Footsteps, your base for the next four nights. This small and exclusive camp sits beside a lagoon in a beautiful tree-lined setting and accommodates only a handful of guests, creating an intimate safari atmosphere. The surrounding concession is known for its excellent predator sightings, including lion and leopard, while wild dog, giraffe, red lechwe, wildebeest and a rich variety of birdlife may also be seen. As this is a private concession, off-road driving and night drives are permitted, giving you added flexibility for photography and the chance to position vehicles carefully for the best possible images.

Accommodation: 4 nights at Shinde Footsteps with all meals and drinks included

Included Activities: Twice daily game drives | 30-Minute “doors off” helicopter flight

Exploring & Photographing the Okavango Delta
5 - 7Days

Exploring & Photographing the Okavango Delta

The next three days are dedicated to exploring the Shinde Concession on expertly guided game drives, with just four guests per vehicle for plenty of space and flexibility. Your Pangolin Photo Host will rotate between the two vehicles, offering individual guidance and helping you make the most of every sighting. With only a small number of vehicles operating in this private concession, encounters feel exclusive and unhurried, and the guides work closely together to position you for the best photographic opportunities.

This is superb country for predators, and these days may bring sightings of lion, leopard and, with luck, African wild dog. The open floodplains and woodland also support giraffe, wildebeest, red lechwe and other antelope, while the Delta’s rich birdlife adds even more variety for photographers. On one morning, an included helicopter flight adds a thrilling new perspective, with doors removed for a memorable aerial photography experience above the waterways and islands below. Back at camp, Shinde Footsteps provides a comfortable and characterful retreat, with a classic safari feel that perfectly suits its remarkable wilderness setting.

Fly to Maun - End of Tour
8Day

Fly to Maun - End of Tour

After a final morning in the Delta, transfer to the airstrip for your light aircraft flight to Maun, where your safari arrangements come to an end. From here, connect onward for your journey home or continue to another destination within southern Africa. Even the departure is memorable, with one last aerial view over the shimmering channels, islands and floodplains of the Okavango.

For those wishing to extend the adventure, there are plenty of tempting options to consider. Stay in Botswana and continue to the Kalahari for a contrasting desert experience, or head onwards to South Africa’s Madikwe for the chance to see species such as rhino that are less commonly encountered in Botswana. Alternatively, finish with a few days in Cape Town, combining dramatic scenery, excellent food and a very different perspective on the region.

A view from Above

Accommodation Options

Pangolin Chobe Hotel

Operated by renowned photo safari providers Pangolin, the Pangolin Chobe Hotel sits on the plateau overlooking The Chobe River and Namibia’s Caprivi floodplains which stretch out to the far horizon. Located just a few hundred meters away from the Chobe National Park boundary, guests to this beautiful and innovative hotel will likely be the first through the gates each morning. Activities here are predominantly based around photographing the incredible wildlife and beautiful scenery here, with daily game drives and photographic boat cruises included in all stays.

The hotel offers 14 welcoming guest bedrooms which have been finished to a very high standard and have been designed with photographers in mind, including lots of counter space and charging points for cameras and equipment. Each room features an en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, tea/coffee making facilities, and a private furnished balcony.

Delicious breakfasts, lunches and dinners are served with impeccable service, with dinners usually enjoyed out on the beautiful pool deck under the African night sky. Drinks are included during your stay and can be enjoyed around the sunken fire pit, by the pool or in the cosy Pangolin bar which stocks a wide range of wines, beers, spirits and soft drinks and serves refreshing cocktails overlooking one of the best views of the Chobe River and Caprivi Floodplains in the region. The centrepiece of the building is the stunning wildlife photography gallery and a fantastic editing suite for post-production sessions.

Shinde Footsteps, Okavango Delta

Situated in the private Shinde Concession, one of the most diverse regions of the Okavango Delta, Shinde Footsteps is an intimate and comfortable bush camp which was recently rebuilt to provide a true safari experience. Accommodation is provided in two very comfortable and well-equipped twin tents, and one family tent. The main camp features an under-canvas dining area, a viewing platform and a campfire area where guests can enjoy relaxing evenings under the stars sharing stories of their day in the wilderness. Activities offered here include game drives, mokoro excursions, guided walking safaris and motor boating.

Too much to choose from? This is where we come in

Take advantage of our vast experience, passion and expertise to help you hand craft the perfect Botswana adventure for you.

Michael Gardiner Senior Travel Expert

Mike lives and breathes adventure travel and has a wealth of experience in some of the most exciting and inspirational destinations in the world. His expertise and first-hand experience afford him the skills to help build holidays to remember.

Sheena Ogley Senior Travel Expert

Sheena’s abiding love of adventure travel has taken her to some of the most incredible wildlife-rich places on Earth. Her vast experience and genuine desire to share her knowledge makes her an outstanding and invaluable person to help you organise your wildlife adventure trip.

Simon Rowland Senior Travel Expert

With a lifetime of unforgettable nature and adventure based travel under his belt, Simon shares his passion, enthusiasm and hands-on experience to help create the perfect itinerary for every client.

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Outside the uk
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Call us
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Ready to start planning youronce in a lifetime trip?

Call us - 0800 195 3385
Outside the uk? + 44 1625 5811 43
+ 44 1625 5811 43 Call us - 0800 195 3385

Chat Now

Fill in our
Enquiry form

Book Consultation

Book a
Consultation

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