7 Day Best of The Chobe Photo Safari

Please note that on some dates the group may start in the Pangolin Chobe Hotel and then end on the Pangolin Voyager Houseboat. Otherwise, the itineraries are identical. This version below assumes the houseboat is first.

When you arrive in the Chobe you will be met and briefed by your dedicated photo host who will be escorting you throughout your time with us. Generally, clients either arrive at Kasane Airport or are transferred from nearby Victoria Falls. The transfer from Victoria Falls will incur an extra transfer fee. You will meet up with the group and then make the short transfer across the river (to the Namibian side) to board our floating Lodge – The Pangolin Voyager.

The Pangolin Voyager cruises up and down a long stretch of the Chobe river with three dedicated mooring points at which you will spend one night. The order in which we visit the mooring points depends on water levels and the conditions of the river.

The houseboat is built over three floors with the 4 cabins at the bottom, a lounge and dining area in the middle and a glorious sun deck on the top floor – a beautiful place for an early morning coffee, mid-afternoon relax with a good book and to admire the African night sky after dinner.

The Cabins
Each of the cabins can be configured as either one double bed or twin beds. There is an ensuite shower and toilet as well as air conditioning, plug points and storage space. The lounge and dining area doubles as an editing suite during the day where you are free to attend image review sessions with the photo host.

The order of the day is very relaxed. We get up early and have a coffee and a snack before heading out on the 8-seater photo boat which is moored alongside the houseboat. Everyone has their own seat which rotates 360 degrees and has a camera mount built into the chair. Watch a video about how the boats look like here. The boats are very wide and stable and this allows the photo host to interact with every client to help them with their photography. Whether you are just getting started in wildlife photography or are more accomplished the photo host is able to tailor his or her tuition to suit your requirements.

After the morning cruise looking for subjects along the river, we return to the houseboat for a well-earned brunch as we set sail for our next destination along the river. We encourage our clients to keep their cameras ready and accessible as we often come across photo opportunities during these cruises.

After brunch, you are free to relax in your cabin, the lounge, the sun deck or join the photo host at the dining table for an image review of the pictured you have taken so far. these sessions are less about post-production and editing and more about analysing your images and seeing how we can help you improve on your techniques. We do not have computers or laptops for you to use so please bring your own to join in these sessions.

A couple of hours before sunset we head out again from our new mooring pint to see what we can find to photograph leading up to the “golden hour” at the end of the day. On all our cruises we take refreshments with us to keep you well hydrated – especially for Sundowners!

The dinner is a three-course meal taken around the dining table lovingly prepared by the galley staff from fresh local ingredients. All meals and drinks are included in your package at both properties. With the National Park on the other bank you can often hear the call of lions and hyena at night! Truly Africa

On the fourth day, after brunch, we will disembark and head back into Botswana to The Pangolin Chobe Hotel for the next part of the safari.

The Pangolin Chobe Hotel sits on the plateau overlooking the Chobe River and the Caprivi Floodplains below. Completed in 2018 the hotel has 14 rooms and is designed around a wildlife photography gallery featuring inspiring images from Africa and beyond.

Activities
Being on the Botswana side we have access to the Chobe national park for game drives as well as the Southern Channel which is inaccessible from the Namibian side. We will divide our time between game drives and a couple of cruises on the channel so that you get to experience the river in its entirety.

By this time you will have improved your photography and will be feeling confident shooting on the manual camera settings. This will allow you more creative control over your images and we spend more time at sightings perfecting various photographic techniques.

The vehicles that we use in The Chobe National Park also seat all eight guests with everyone having a window seat and camera rest to support the lenses. Again you will be accompanied on the activities with the same Photo Host.

In between the activities you can relax at the eco-pool or make use of our air-conditioned editing room at the end of the gallery. Your photo host will be on hand during the day to help you with image review sessions. Access to computers is limited in the Chobe so we suggest that you perhaps bring a laptop with you for image review sessions. Otherwise, we will give you plenty of memory cards to fill throughout the safari to take your images home with you.

Meals are taken as often as possible out on the deck or the inter-leading dining room with our fabulous chefs dishing out wholesome meals with locally sourced ingredients wherever possible. The evening meals vary from Braai (Barbecue) Nights to gourmet pizzas cooked in our wood-fired oven. Most dietary needs can be catered for.

The Pangolin bar on the upper floor has spectacular views and the best cocktails in Kasane and is a great place to relax after dinner with your fellow travellers. Alternatively, the sunken fire pit is always a hit!

By the end of this safari, you will be a far better photographer than when you arrived. You will have a full understanding of the camera functions and how to employ them in different situations for maximum creative effect. Not only that but you will also have a fistful of memory cards full of beautiful images and memories that you will treasure forever. All of the photographic skills you will learn will be applicable to all photo situations going forwards even away from the wildlife. If you always meant to sign up for a photo course and never found the time then this is the perfect safari for you.

On the final day, we can either transfer you to Kasane airport if you are heading home or we can arrange extensions at any of our partner properties in The Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls and even Cape Town, South Africa to carry on your photo adventure. Please chat with your safari planner about options.