Unlike the dense Amazon rainforest, the Pantanal is more open and flat, making wildlife easier to spot. Over 650 bird species, including hyacinth macaws, Toco Toucans, Greater Rhea, jabiru storks.
Jaguars (we saw Three!) We also saw Capybaras, giant river otters, caimans, tapirs, Coati, Howler and Capuchin Monkeys, Azara’s agouti, tamandua, Crab eating fox to name a few!

Wildlife Tours in Botswana
Botswana Safari Holidays
Botswana Safari Highlights
Thanks to the country’s stable government and progressive social policies, Botswana is now one of Southern Africa’s hottest safari destinations. Here are four great places to visit in Botswana for animal lovers.
- Central Kalahari Game Reserve: The second largest wildlife reserve in the world (20,000 square miles), the Kalahari Desert is the ancestral home of the Bushmen people. Its diverse array of animals includes Lions, Leopards, Hyenas, Wild Dogs, dozens of Antelope species, and many more. The area’s annual Zebra migration is spectacular, but little-known.
- Chobe National Park: Chobe is home to over 120,000 Elephants– about 1/3 of the continent’s total population. The park offers lots of different ecosystems to explore, including savannah, swamps, floodplains, and mopane woodlands. Besides Elephants, Chobe National Park is a great place to see big cats, which are largely found in the Liyanti Marshes.
- Makgadikgadi Pans: These are the world’s largest salt pans in the world. When flooded, the area is visited by thousands of Zebras, Wildebeest, and Flamingoes. But even when they’re dry, the Makgadikgadi Pans are worth a visit for their surreal beauty. Visit at sunset to get stunning photos framed by the silhouettes of ancient Baobab trees.
- Okavango Delta: The most famous of Botswana’s many ecotourism attractions, the Okavango Delta’s 5791-square mile wetland area earned UNESCO protected status in 2014. In the winter its myriad canals and swamps attract some 200,000 large mammals (Cheetahs, Lions, Elephants, Rhinos, Wild Dogs, etc.) and over 400 bird species, including the Crested Crane, Hammerkop, and Sacred Ibis.
sophie moran Pantanal – Land of the Jaguar
Christine McLean Botswana & Zimbabwe Lodge SafariA terrific experience of seeing wonderful animals close up in their natural environments and enjoying the hospitality of so many people so proud to show their countries to best advantage.
Lesley Courcouf Botswana & Zimbabwe Lodge SafariA terrific journey taking in different national parks, animals galore, Vic falls and a wonderful wild camping experience
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