Dates: July 1 to July 13, 2025
Short Description: This workshop starts in Maun, Botswana and travels through four distinctly different ecosystems in and around the Okavango Delta. This year's trip is scheduled for the coolest time of year in Botswana, when the predators tend to be active longer during the day. I've completely rethought the itinerary and reversed our trip for 2025. After a day of focus and wildlife training at the Thamo Telele game farm in Maun, we'll hop on a plane and fly to the predator-heavy Savuti National Park. We'll be on safari pretty much from our arrival; I've squeezed in an extra safari drive on this trip to compensate for the higher pricing. Savuti is the end of the delta water push in this area, and what we'll do over the rest of the trip is slowly work our way deep into the delta itself. We'll hit the Savuti, Khwai, and Moremi areas before eventually hopping onto a boat using the delta waters to get to its heart, at Camp Okavango. That lodge will be our last destination on this trip, but we have plenty of exciting activities planned there, including a safari walk and lots of time patrolling the shore waters looking for crocs, monitor lizards, birds, and the rare Sitatunga. Most of the trip will be spent in our mobile tented camp, which moves with us, but by ending at Camp Okavango you'll have plenty of hot water and Wi-Fi access to get you ready to head back into civilization. We fly from Camp Okavango back to Maun in time for your flight home.
This itinerary has some of the most wide-ranging animal and bird populations you’ll find. We typically encounter over 150 bird species and virtually every mammal and reptile you'll see in the delta.
We generally only put three students in each of our three vehicles, so there's plenty of room for your gear. Every vehicle has a very experienced driver guide, and Thom will be in the front seat of one vehicle, while Thom's teaching assistant Tony Medici will be in another. In other words, you'll have top-level help both photographically as well as in spotting and identifying animals and birds throughout most of this workshop. We travel with laptops, projector and screen on this trip, so even in our downtime Thom and Tony are teaching pretty much every day. This isn't a short workshop with a photo tour afterwards. It's a full-on multi-week workshop.
Cost: Africa is not inexpensive. We provide first class food, lodging, and facilities throughout, as well as top-level instruction and guiding. We’ve worked hard to keep our prices from experiencing the same inflation you’re probably encountered at home. US$17,395, plus US$595 in park entrance fees and US$850 in internal flight costs.
Other: This workshop is limited to nine students. Only one single tent is available at an extra cost; all other tents are shared.
Signups: Call Lisa Laferte at Wilderness Travel (800-368-2794). Now taking signups.
