Botswana’s Premiere Wildlife Photography Destinations with Penny Robartes
I have just concluded what can only be described as a hugely successful,wildlife photo tour to the Botswana’s Chitabe Camp in the exquisite wildlife-rich Okavango Delta, and Mashatu Game Reserve which is intself, a land of contrasts. My repeat guests’ Private Botswana – Chitabe & Masdhatu Photo Tour began on the 23th July, and for the following 8 nights, my guests and I were treated to beautiful and intimate wildlife experiences and photographic opportunities thereof on every single game drive and safari activity we partook in.
My guests were a family of 3, with the son and father being the two interested in photography, and the mother capturing videos and drinking in the pleasure of being in the African bush. This is a family extremely passionate about wildlife, with predators, specifically Leopard and African Wild Dog, being their top animals to see, spend time with, and photograph. The first time this wonderful family travelled with me was last year, and this year, we continued building up on the technical knowledge that I had focused on, as well as exploring creative opportunities. The son, an enthusiast wildlife photographer, is out to learn about himself and his photography, finding where his photographic voice sings the best, what he intuitively seeks out at wildlife sightings, and looking to learn, explore and establish his storytelling through the medium of photography.
The Okavango Delta stands as one of Africa’s most unique and incredible ecological areas – a wilderness that feels completely raw and untamed. Unlike more romanticised and “easy” wildlife areas, the Delta pulses with an electric, wild energy that you feel the moment you arrive. This is Nature its its form – uncompromising, authentic, and deeply moving.
The Delta’s magic lies in its counter-seasonal flooding. While the rest of southern Africa turns variations of brown and gold in the dry season, the Delta comes alive with floodwaters from Angola’s highlands, creating a sprawling oasis when wildlife needs it most. This phenomenon transforms vast areas into a mosaic of permanent waterways, seasonal floodplains, islands, and woodlands – each habitat supporting different species and creating the incredible wildlife density that makes every game drive a thrill brimming with possibility.
The Chitabe area represents everything that makes the Delta so well-established for predators like Leopard, Lion, and African Wild Dog. The concession’s 30,000 hectares encompass that perfect combination of dense riverine vegetation, open floodplains, and permanent water sources that creates ideal hunting grounds and abundant prey.
For Leopard enthusiasts, Chitabe is a destination to focus on. The riverine forests provide the perfect stalking cover, while the incredible diversity of prey – from impala and lechwe, Steenbok to various antelope species – leaves these spotted beauties with a lot of prey options. From our first afternoon/evening game drive, we were witnessing intimate behavioural moments, we tracked drag marks and Leopard tracks to a tree where we found a kill the following morning. That afternoon, we went back to the tree and there was the Leopard. We spent long stints with individuals as we watched in silence, photographed, and was happily in their presence. Capturing the spirit of what makes these cats so compelling was the main objective as, where possible, we moved away from documentary captures alone.
Lions in the Delta have adapted to this unique environment in fascinating ways. The prides here hunt both on land and occasionally take to water, creating photographic opportunities that are iconic to this area. While we did spend some time tracking Lions one morning, we inevitably got caught up in Africa Wild Dog sightings, as well as more Leopard, so those two species took preference.
The endangered African Wild Dogs find their eden in Chitabe’s open floodplains. The pack dynamics, the hunting strategies across different terrains, the denning behaviors – it’s all here, and you can spend intimate time with these incredible predators without the pressure of crowds hustling for position. We were so blessed that a pack of Dogs was denning on Chitabe’s property. No one had seen the pups yet, but one morning in the later hours, we waited at a sensitive distance to the den site as we waited the return home of the individuals that were still out hunting. We could see that the alpha female and male where there and we were able to photograph the female before she went into the thickets that hid the den. Then we heard the little chirps. Repositioning to where we could potentially get a glimpse, I saw the youngest Wild Dog pups I have ever seen! They even had the tips of their ears turned down like you see with Shepherd dogs. This was something I had never seen before or even knew of!
This is what makes Mashatu so addictive for wildlife photographers – the sheer diversity of environments within a single destination. One moment you’re deep in riverine forests with Leopards hunting through their exquisite domain, the next you are photographing Elephant coming to drink at the Matebole hide, providing eye-level images of the Giants of this land. Cheetah are around although not as commonly seen due to the high numbers and foot-traffic of Leopard and Lion, but they are around.
For any wildlife photographer with a specific focus on Leopard, Lion, Elephant and at times, Cheetah, I most highly recommend adding Mashatu to your safari itinerary. The Leopard here thrive, and with the land being so rich, there is a lot of territorial competition between these cats The riverine corridors provide perfect territories with abundant prey, from small antelope to larger ungulates. The dense vegetation offers ideal stalking cover, while the permanent water sources, although few and far between in the winter season, ensure prey is always available.
But what makes Mashatu exceptional for Leopard photography isn’t just the wildlife – it’s the intimacy of the experience. Like Chitabe, you can spend quality, uninterrupted time at sightings. No crowds, no hustling, just you, your camera, and these magnificent cats going about their lives naturally. You witness behaviours, capture stories, and develop that deep connection that transforms photography from documentation into art. Of course, we work together with the camps vehicles and other guests, all ensuring everyone has time spent at sightings should they wish to be there. With predator sightings limited to 3 vehicles, it is the ideal way to be in the company of wildlife.
What both Chitabe and Mashatu share is that completely opposite feeling from more commercialized areas. They feel raw, wild, and romantic in all the right ways. There’s an energy here that’s different – more authentic, more connected to what wild Africa truly represents. You’re not just observing wildlife; you’re experiencing it, feeling it, connecting with it on a level that creates lasting transformation. While Mashatu does have more camps on its property, and therefore more guests and vehicles traversing, you don’t feel like. You don’t feel crowded, and often, you may not even see another vehicle while on game drive due to how large the property is.
For photographers seeking to explore creative opportunities, establish their storytelling voice, and spend intimate time with the predators they’re passionate about, these destinations offer everything needed. The technical opportunities are endless, the creative possibilities limitless, and the deep connection with wildlife and environment becomes the foundation for meaningful photography.
This is safari as it should be – electric, rewarding, and completely consuming in the best possible way.
Stay passionate, and go where you feel most alive
Penny Robartes, your Professional Photo Tour Leader (link to bio)
For information on my scheduled photo tour departures, please email [email protected]
For information on my private photo tour departures, please email [email protected]
