Afro Trek Safari - Safety

Safari Briefing – Safety 1

Whether you are staying at a lodge in the Okavango Delta or on mobile safari with Afro Trek Safari, safety is always concern number 1. Everyone has to realize that when you are on safari in the game reserves, you really are inside the zoo.

The pre-trip briefing, by your professional guide, is extremely important. It is your responsibility to understand and closely follow the safety guidelines. Make sure your fellow travellers understand the guidelines. Make sure your safari of a liftime is memorable for all the right reasons.

Your guide wants to get you as close to the big game as possible, in a safe manner. 99.9% of safaris run smoothly. Make sure you are not that 1 in a 1000.

Safari Safety - Introduction

Safety First Safaris – Campfire Stories:

After a day on safari exploring for big game and a great dinner in the bush, it is not unusual to sit up for awhile around the campfire. Often, the guides and guests share some great stories. Often the stories are about near accidents or narrow escapes. The themes often come back to safety. Some stories may be fanciful - many are not.

1. Bending over the side of a boat to free a fishing line as a crocodile jumps from a nearby bank and passes just over the startled person…

2. Escape by jumping over a log to get away from a charging hippo…

3. When a lion attacks, keep staring the lion straight in the eyes – it will stop. Your heart may also stop, but that is another story.

4. A guest video taping his own death, walking toward a buffalo herd…

5. Last but not least – hyenas. Often they are around camps at night. Their yup – yup sound is distinctive and yup, they can be very dangerous. Follow you guides advice about staying inside your zipped-up tent.

Request For Information - Afro Trek Safari

Afro Trek Flexibility

Afro Trek Safari has been busy during October and November. There have been day and overnight trips into Moremi Game Reserve. Other safaris have taken Afro Trek to Chobe Game Reserve, Savuti and Nxai Pan.

The annual rains are only just beginning in Northern Botswana. Trip plans for December to February will have to be flexible, with possible adjustments because of weather conditions. Not to worry, campers are a hardy group and the rain showers are often short and the skies exceptionally beautiful.

Remember, on the edge of the Kalahari Desert – life is all about water.

Botswana"s Best Books

The Perfect Christmas Gift

There are two books of note in the right hand column of this page. If you have a friend or family member who likes stories about safaris or Botswana - consider these books.

Horn of the Hunter was written over 50 years ago and over 2,000 copies are still being printed yearly. It is a classic of the safari genre and highlights some of the early safaris by Maun's own Harry Selby.

Culture and Customs of Botswana is the other extreme. The book launch was just last week. Hopefully, 50 years from now it will still be in-print. Ideal for anyone planning a trip to Botswana in the New Year of for that special someone who has already visited and would like to learn more. Phenyo Thebe is currently working on his second book. For more of a description of the content click on Maun Blog.

Les Francaises on Safari - Le Professor

Excursion à Moremi

Un Game drive est toujours plein de surprises. Ce fut le cas. Départ très matinal : 6h
Nous sommes 16, il faut donc 2 4x4. Sur les banquettes nous gelons pendant le trajet que durera 2h jusqu’à la première entée. Petite pause d’une ½ h avec café et biscuits. Déjà quelques observations de gazelles et girafes aussi que d’oiseaux. L’excursion commence vraiment après la 2 eme entrée quand les plans d’eau apparaissent. La piste est plus étroite et plus route.

Observations réalisées :
1) Mammifères :
Girafes +de 20, Eléphants + de 100, Singes verts 10, Hippopotames 20, Gazelles et antilopes +200, Cobe défassa, Cobées rouges, Steenboks, Impalas en grand nombre, 2 lions au repas ainsi qu’une lionne
2) Oiseaux :
2 cormorans africains, 3 hérons cendrés, 1 aigrette ordoisée, 2 aigrettes ….., 3 ombrettes, 2 tantales, 1 cigogne blanche, 5 lois sacrés, 10 oies d’Egypte, 3 oies de Gambie, 2 aigles pecheurs, 1 aigle bateleur, 150 francolins à bec rouge, 30 pintades, 1 grue conanculee, 1 outarde, 25 jacanas, 40 vanneaux armés, 100 tourterelles du Cap et à colliées, 5 tomeras ……., 10 grepeurs en …., 5 rolliers à longs brins, 80 calaas à bec rouge, 2 hiromdeles, 1 gonolek rouge et noir, 50 …….. Flèches, Vols de tisserins travailleurs à bec rouge, 30 étourneaux métalliques, 10 étourneaux d’Alexandre, 30 fraque-boeufs, 5 corbeaux, quelques coucon et 1 vanran

Le pique-nique est délicieux : (salade, poulet sandwiches), jus de mangue ….Fruits ( banane poires). Le retour commence à 15h30 après observation finale de lions. Poussiéreux nous rentrons vers 18h45 plein d’émerveillements.

Maun Safari Flashback

Birdwatching With Kelly Revisited

I received an email over the weekend from Hugh Kelly. He is thinking about bringing some family members to Maun and taking them on safari. It was fun to think back to the trip we did 6 months ago. Along with his reflections on our safari, Kelly also provided a more complete version of his pelican ditty:

'Regarding pelicans - funny old birds, as discussed around the campfire
after a few shots of Bells.'

" A funny old bird is the Pelican
His beak can hold more than his belly can
He fills up his beak
With enough food for a week
But I'm sure I don't know how the hell he can"

San Diego Reader - Breaking News

Afro Trek Safari, Botswana Breaks Through!

For stories about Botswana, the Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve click and go to the San Diego Reader. This weeks story is the second of five stories to be published during the month of November. You can read the first short story by clicking 'previous blogs' after the end of this story.

Diva Barbarella was gracious enough to contact Delta Dave about two months ago, requesting Botswana stories for her newspaper. It has been fun writing the stories and has helped me focus on what I really like about Botswana. Hope the readers of the Afro Trek blog enjoy them.

Wildlife Magic On Safari, Botswana Part 2

Trevor's Safari Continues - From The Daily Post, Liverpool

To read Trevor Peake's review of Sedia Riverside Hotel click this link.

"Herds of impala, zebra, and wildebeest abound in the Delta. Giraffe are encountered alone or in small groups, as are elephant, the Greater Kudu, a large browsing antelope, and Red Lechwe, another antelope with raised hindquarters and deeply splayed hooves which allow it to run swiftly through the shallow waters."

"Warthogs, wild dogs, mongoose and baboons are frequently spotted, but the sight of a leopard or any other member of the cat family is a rare treat, one denied us apart from the fairly comotose lions. But there is always an abundance of multi-coloured birdlife, with species too numerous to mention."

"A must during my stay though, was a mokoro trip. A mokoro is a native dug-out canoe, poled through the shallow waters of the Delta in almost total silence, which leaves the birds undisturbed to put on a display as they go about their business."

Wildlife Magic on Safari, Botswana

Trevor Peake Enjoys A Trip To Botswana, Part 1

From the pages of the Liverpool, Daily Post in Trevors own words -
"Hundreds of buffalo leisurely grazing their way across the savannah as dusk fell will be my abiding memory of a few days in the Moremi Game Reserve, part of the vast Okavango Delta, in northern Botswana."

"Our guide Shylock spotted what we thought was just a small group, but after expertly circling round through the bush he found the front of what turned out to be a vast herd of Cape Buffalo. We could only watch in wonder for over half an hour as they strolled by, the odd magnificent bull giving us the once over as we observed them from the safety of our safari truck 30 yards away."

"An hour earlier, we had been even closer to a male lion, which showed the scars of a recent skirmish. Such splendid sights are what makes a safari the magical experience it is.:

Afro Trek Country, Botswana

I cannot remember where the map comes from, but it's a good one. It hightlights Moremi Game Reserve and a number of the camps and lodges around the Okavango Delta. Afro Trek does regular trips to the Tsodilo Hills in the north west all the way over to Chobe National Park in the east. Moremi Game Reserve remains our most popular destination area.

Right now, the Delta is about as full of water as the map shows - rare for this time of year. Usually the Delta is receding back upstream or drying out - at least from Maun and north. The rainy season is approaching and it will be interesting to see how long water levels can stay at current peaks. It is one of the best years in a long time for using the river. Mokoro Trails is also enjoying the year round water we are experiencing. They are continuing to receive a steady stream of mokoro travellers.

Maun Safari Choices

July, August and September is the peak season for mobile safaris. Shylock was back in Maun this weekend. He has travelled much of Botswana, showing his guests the parts of the country he loves best. Much of the time he has been in Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe National Park.

Shylock likes trips of all sizes and durations. For a one day trip, an early start is key. Much of the trip into Moremi is a game drive. Bird lovers do best in the morning and sighting are plentiful. After a good lunch and short rest the guests are ready for a game drive that turns in our return trip. By the time we return ar dusk, enem the big game viewers are happy. From Shylock's perspective, "A guides best friend is an interested guest. They make it happen for everyone on the mobile safari."

Botswana National Bird?

In an earlier blog I mentioned that the Lilac Breasted Roller was the national bird of Botswana. A member of Birdlife Botswana has commented that Botswana does not have a national bird. I defer to his far more knowledgeable perspective and would like to set the record straight.

I was talking about the lilac breasted roller this week with a local guide and he expressed surprise. In the end we recognized it may be one of the great bird mysteries of Botswana. Where did the misconception start? Perhaps the lilac breasted roller should be made the national bird of Botswana and take it's place proudly alongside the zebra. It would look good on the coat of arms for Botswana.

You are encouraged to click on the Birdlife Botswana link above to find out what is happening with birds in Botswana. To go to the source of the photo please click here. I am so slow with a camera it would take me forever to get a photo of this beautiful bird.

Maun and 'The Gates of Eden'

Sunday morning, my friend Ernest and I start out from Sedia Riverside Hotel on a trip up the Boro River and into Moremi Wildlife Reserve. To get from the Thamalakane River to the Boro you have to travel under two bridges - the water levels are now high enough to navigate all the way upstream by boat. Like Jacques Cousteau, alot of our outing is about research is about water.

The current is pushing downstream and the flood peak could still be a month away. Going up the Bore to the buffalo fence is about 12 km. You see domestic animals, birds and a variety of farming and garden plots along the river. The buffalo fence is the boundary of the Moremi Wildlife Reserve. Here, everything changes.

Now you enter the 'Gates of Eden' or as close as I am going to get in this lifetime. You don't go too many kilometres before you see wildlife. You feel like you are on a wet safari - cape buffalo, giraffe and elephants are not uncommon. The narrow river channel arcs and bends in front of you. The panorama is wonderful.

Today we spend about half an hour watching elephants have their morning bath and eat brunch. Their brunch is a combination of river grasses and stripping branches from bushes. We have our lunch at a lagoon futher up stream and try some fishing. The lunch was satisfying and the fishing disappointing. Changing lures, adding small chunks of ham and even spitting on the lures didn't work. Fishing stories will have to wait for another trip

In Search of Baobab Beauties

We all know why visitors come to Botswana - lions, elephants. hippos, birds, desert, culture, friends... What about trees? Less than two weeks ago, seven of us camped overnight in the Gwebe Hills, about 180km from Maun. Along with climbing two of the hills to enjoy the views, seeing eight kudu spring across an open plain and keeping intouch with the group, I keep looking at these amazing Baobabs.

There are more famous places in Botswana for viewing baobabs, like Kubu Island in the Makadikadi Pans. For pure numbers, the Gwebe Hills are hard to beat. My guess, from one visit, is there are more than a 1,000. All configurations are there - the lone baobab, the entertwined couple and the family groupings.

Hard to forget the old baobab once you see one. The kind of look upsidedown, with a bad hair day. The age of an individual tree is a good discussion for around the campfire, after dinner - 1,000 years sounds like a minimum for a big baobab. They are so fat because they store water for the periodic droughts that occur.

At the end of the day, for me, the baobab is mystical - they just give me a special feeling and sense of reverence. Of course I feel that way about all big trees and also like the local jackelberry tree. Once it takes more than 4-5 people to stretch around a tree, your into something special.

A Bird's Eye View - Part 2

Visitors love to take mokoro trips and have the opportunity to silently move through the Okavango Delta and see the wide range of wildlife available. The traditional dug-out canoe, or 'Mokoro' was originally introduced into the Okavango Delta by the Bayei tribe who moved into the region, from the Zambezi River area, after the 1750's. The presence of the tsetse fly meant that pastoralism was not possible and instead they relied on hunting and fishing for subsistence.

Trees that were favoured, by the Bayei people, for the construction of mekoro were the Mukwa, Jackal Berry and Sausage Trees. A tree might take well over a century to attain Mokore size - but the lifespan of the Mokoro would typically only be about 5 to 8 years.

In the interests of conservation and the protection of the trees and ecology of the Delta, most of the mekoros used for visitors today are made of fiberglass reinforced plastic - the shape has stayed the same. The pole or 'nashi' that is often used to push the Mokoro is the Mogonono tree. When you start your Mokoro trip you may well hear expressions of 'Tsamaya Sentle' - Travel of Go Well. Your Polers will give you more stories and cultural background during your breaks from game spotting.

Bird Watching With Kelly.

Shylock starting out on a mobile safari.

We rise and shine just before 6 am and down some coffee, toast, jam and boilded eggs. With a thermos filled with boiling water for our mid morning tea, we head off in search of game. Shylook takes us around the edges of flood plains that are filling up with the flood water from Angola. We move off, down stream from the Kwai River Bridge in the Moremi Wildlife Reserve.

Along the way we view some impala, kudu and baboons. Two elephants are spotted foraging for their breakfast. Fresh lion tracks get us excited, but prove elusive. Vehicles are not permitted off existing paths.

The highlight of the morning is stopping near a 30 metre round pool of water, left over from our recent rainy season. The menagerie of birds co-existing peacefully during their morning feeding is impressive. Black Crake, Marabou Storks and Grey Herons mix with Sacred Ibis, African Jacana and 2 Great White Pelicans.


Kelly, one of our fellow travellers from Australia and a bird lover, spots 2 Wattled Cranes flying over our vehicle. After some discussion about their endangered species status and recent migratory bird counting activities, Kelly starts to hum to himself and soon recites bits and pieces of something like: "A funny old bird is the Pelican; His beak holds more food than his belican..."

Before we return to camp for midday feed and some rest, there is one more treat. The Lilac-breasted Roller - Botswana's National Bird is spotted. With good natured talk of our luck and spotting skills, we arrive back at basecamp.

Gliding Through Nature - A Bird's Eye View.

A very popular activity is a 1 or 2 day mokoro trip - complete with poler and guide. You can see the abundance of nature the Okavango Delta has to offer. Bird lovers and photographers, in particular, love the silent way you can enter into different habitats - capture what is happening and move on.

Afro Trek partners with Mokoro Trails, a local community trust - delivering and picking up visitors. Mokoro trips are an eco-tourism activity that gives the visitor a snapshot view of a traditional mode of transport. Motswanna have for centiries been navigating for the maze of channels that is the Okavango Delta.

Along with birds you are likely to see various antelope, elephant, buffalo, zebra, giraffe and lion. Doing the Mokoro Trails and participating in this type of eco-tourism make a positive impact to the polers and their communities, without compromising our environment. Enjoy one of the largest inland deltas in the world - the feeling can be overwhelming. When you get home - your photos and videos will help you regain your composure.

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When Visitors are Fulfilled

Part 2: Professional Safaris Guide - Viewpoint

Shylock really likes people who come to Africa to see the differences from what they know back home. He believes "indigenous guides are best suited to help them explore the bush and the culture of Botswana." Shylock knows and loves Botswana. The same applies to being a Safari Guide.

Often he has to balance the different needs of guests interested in birds or big game. "Ideally, we move when customers are fulfilled with what they are watching." Some time each day needs to be spent reviewing what was seen and done.

Shylock Raborokgwe gets "excited when I spot a special animal, like a leopard, that a guest has never seen before." Knowing the particular habitat that supports an animal or bird is the skill he uses to find the game.

Professional Safari Guide - Viewpoint

Part 1:

“Knowing the beauty of your own country.” – Shylock Raborokgwe

Over 20 years as a Professional Guide has taken Shylock to all destination areas in Botswana. He’s been to Moremi and Chobe Game Reserves. He likes to combine trips to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and the Okavango Delta – “let guests see how dry the desert is, no water, no shower, dust; then go the Delta and travel for a few days with water everywhere. The contrast is the Botswana experience! The two ecosystems are terribly different. People coming to Botswana want to see the diferences”

Shylock has done trips to Nxai Pan, Linyanti, Kutse Game Reserve, Drotsky’s Caves and Tsodilo Hills. For him, “The Tsodilo Hills are a ‘different ballgame’ – you don’t see the obvious, your away from everthing and the paintings are something else. ”

In Part 2, we will find out what Shylock considers ‘a perfect trip.’

Harrys Botswana Experience

Visit Harrys Botswana Journal and see Ngamiland through the eyes of a 10 year old explorer. His original hand written journal is provided to give that 'on the road' feeling.

Harry is sitting on the roof, waiting for Shaka and Captain to check the truck.

The relaxed leopard was one of the highlights of the morning game drive. After 10 minutes with the leopard it was time for Harry and the rest of the group to have breakfast and talk about the mornings sighting.

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