Botswana Birding Information

November to February are not just the hottest, but also the wettest months - and the best time for a birder to visit Botswana since most of the intra-African and Palearctic migrants are present and resident species are in breeding plumage.

The Okavango Delta System at 6,864,000 ha. in area is one of the world’s largest Ramsar’s sites. Bordering Namibia, it is the only inland delta in sub-Saharan Africa and one of the world’s ultimate safari destinations. Vast herds of animals cross the plains of the Kalahari to the Okavango Delta, the Chobe River swamps and floodplains and the salt pans of Makgadikgadi - a unique range of ecosytems in which bird, plant and animal life flourish.

From a birder's perspective, the habitat is ideal for many species including Dwarf Bittern Ixobrychus sturmii, Slaty Egret Egretta vinaceigula, African Pygmy Goose Nettapus auritus, Western Banded Snake Eagle Circaetus cinerascens, African Crake Crex egregia, Allen’s Gallinule Porphyrio alleni, Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculatus, Lesser Jacana Microparra capensis, Greater Painted-snipe Rostratula benghalensis, Long-toed Lapwing Vanellus crassirostris, Black Coucal Centropus grillii, Pel’s Fishing-owl Scotopelia peli, Greater Swamp Warbler Acrocephalus rufescens and Brown Firefinch Lagonosticta nitidula.

The Gaborone area provides the birder with a variety of species and habitats to explore and gives an opportunity to see many of the typical bushveld species as well as numerous Kalahari specials. From 1989 to 1999, 430 bird species were recorded in and around Gaborone. Depending on rainfall, a full midsummer day birding could yield anything up to 230 species. An early start to any birding day is essential, especially in Gaborone where mid-day summer temperatures often climb into the forties (°C). The following places are known to be productive and may be worth a visit if you are passing through or have a day to spend in Gaborone.

South-east Botswana Grasslands IBA is an extensive site which includes the Pitsane grasslands (32 km south of Lobatse) as well as mixed savanna, low rolling hills and farmland stretching north from Ramatlabama on the South African border to Gaborone, north to Bokaa, west to Moshawong Valley and south through Thamaga and Kanye down through Mokgomane and into the Pitsane grasslands. The main reason for its status as an IBA is because the site holds over 50% of the global population of Short-clawed Lark Certhilauda chuana which are widespread and locally abundant in the area. Other species of interest are Black Stork Ciconia nigra, Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres, Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus, Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni, Secretary Bird Sagittarius serpentarius, Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus (regularly seen at Kgoro Pan, possible breeding), Orange River Francolin Francolinus levaillantoides, Kori Bustard Ardeotis kori, Cape Longclaw Macronyx capensis and Long-tailed Widowbird Euplectes progne.

Bird Watching Holidays