The camps you described are all located in the Okavango Delta oasis in the Kalahari Desert.

I believe I can give you some helpful insight even though I have traveled there only once. We booked our African trips with A&K one of the oldest and largest companies. They were featured in a 1990s Visa "And they don't take American Express" ad. They use contract guides in addition to some that are direct employees. On the trip to Botswana and Kruger we were lucky to have Trevor Carnaby https://www.beataboutthebush.co.za/about.html as our guide. He is not only a great guide but he trains and certifies guides and consults in the design of camps and programs. We learned a lot about the business during after dinner chats.

On the other hand it has been 12 years and we were there in June when the water is the highest and you are going when the water is at its lowest. But here goes my take.

Do to the flood cycles the Delta is a lush area with an ample supply of water to attract a variety of wildlife. And Botswana has aggressively sought to eliminate poachers and protect wild life. Elephants are more plentiful in Botswana and the only cat missing was the cheetah. I was told they're disappearing all over Africa. Sad, they are the only cat that hunts in the middle of the day.

During high water season the roads are flooded so the photo below was taken on the main road between the air strip and the camp. So much for too much dust in Africa. But don't put your camera bag on the floor! And don't hesitate to raise your feet. This is typical of the vehicle use throughout South Africa. Some were Toyota Land Cruisers and others were Land Rovers. Brand depends on closest dealer with a diesel mechanic. In East Africa the common vehicles were closed with a "sun roof" which makes a better shooting platform with a bean bag. Our family party was myself, my wife. daughter, son in law and my son who is in a wheel chair. Since our guide was trusted to drive in most locations my son sat in the front seat where it was easy for him to get in. Actually, a driver would just pick him up an put him in there. So everybody had a window seat in back. We had two cameras, my D70s with an 18-200 lens always mounted in the bush and my daughters D300s with a borrowed 70-200 f/2.8 and a borrowed 1.7X telextender (different lenders). With three shooters and two cameras we just passed the cameras around to whoever had the best angle. Although the 70-200 looks like a 180-510 f/4.8 with the Dx and 1.7x multiplier I would have been happy with the larger 2.8 aperture since the animals are most active at dawn and dusk.

We would be awakened by a tent boy with coffee and biscuits (AKA cookies) in time to get out to the vehicles by 7:00AM (earliest allowed starting time) game drive. I agree with the observation that in a desert it is too cold without jacket of sweater until the sun warms things up.

I am jealous.

Hello Everyone. Been AWOL during Covid. Probably no one noticed. Anyways, I'd like to get back in the swing of the forum.

Going on a Photo Safari to Botswana and Zambia. I have never shot any wildlife images to speak of so I could use some tips.

I am renting a D850 Nikon and a 200-500mm Nikon lens. Supposed to have pretty good VR system. Will likely be using beanbag support while in the Jeep. As a backup I'm taking my D810 and my 24-70 2.8E. Any suggestions as to the ISO and default fStop? Any other tips would be welcome, since experience teaches a hard school, but fools learn in no other [B. Franklin] Due to weight restrictions, may not take tripod, but maybe my monopod.

Also any tips in general about safari life? We will be going in early November for 2 weeks. Visiting three separate areas. I can provide the names of the areas if that will help you help me.

Thanking you in advance as always.

One night will be on some sort of elevated platform to hear the African sounds at night.

Greymule (Rick)

Sorry. I can be pretty clueless most of the time. Pretty un-semi habituated if he's got his trunk on your shoulder. Duh.

When we were in Thailand, we went on a small group (four of us) tour. While we were out in the jungle, there was a rogue elephant on a rampage. Apparently if a male elephant doesn't get laid during mating season, he loses his mind and starts tearing down large trees, attacking vehicles and generally raising mayhem. The guide yelled at the four of us to take cover behind some large trees. When I saw the elephant emerging from the brush into a clearing, I lost my mind and ran toward him to get a picture. Our guide went nuts yelling at me. Attached is the photo of the elephant. Slide digitally scanned. The pink area on his forehead has been rubbed raw during his rampage.