The 10 Best Destinations for Photographic Safaris in Botswana

With its vast, varied array of untouched landscapes and rich diversity of wildlife, Botswana’s photography safari packages are bucket-list experiences for photographers from around the world. From floodplains shimmering under the sun to the dramatic silhouettes of baobabs at dusk, every corner of the country offers new compositions and fresh perspectives. Thanks to Botswana’s low-impact, high-value tourism model, photographers can capture these iconic scenes in peace – uninterrupted by crowds and surrounded only by nature’s rhythm.

If you’re comparing Botswana photo safaris for that perfect balance of wildlife and scenery, these 10 destinations deliver iconic subjects, reliable light, and room to work your shot. We’ll also keep important themes like Botswana landscape photography and broader landscape photography tips front-of-mind throughout.

1. Moremi Game Reserve

Situated within the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve is a landscape photographer’s dream – an ever-changing mosaic of floodplains, mopane woodlands, acacia forests, and lagoons that shimmer in the golden light. As dawn breaks, mist rises off the waterways, revealing elephants wading through the reeds and fish eagles gliding overhead. The diversity of scenery here allows photographers to experiment with scale and depth while capturing the intimate relationship between land and water that defines Botswana’s wild heart.

Containing a rich diversity of wildlife and birdlife, Moremi is an ideal destination for landscape photographers and wildlife photographers alike. Guided bush walks offer the perfect way to get closer to nature and snap that unforgettable shot. Because of its remote location, Moremi allows for a more authentic and intimate safari experience.

Wildlife: The Big Five (rhinos are very rare to see) and a huge variety of birdlife.

Best Time for “The Shot”: June-October (dry season) for concentrated game and clean, low-haze sunsets; May-August for dreamy water reflections.

Photographic Extra: Combine vehicle and boat for different angles; request time on channels for low-angle water work.

Recommended Stay: Camp Xakanaxa – a Moremi classic with year-round water and land activities.

2. Khwai River

Bordering the northeastern edge of Moremi, the Khwai River marks a transition between lush delta and drier savannah – and it’s where photographers find the perfect mix of movement and mood. The golden floodplains attract leopards, elephants, and vivid birdlife, while low-angled light plays across the water at sunrise and sunset. The community-run Khwai area also allows night drives, offering rare chances to experiment with nocturnal photography and creative lighting.

Photographic safaris here are especially rewarding during the dry season, when wildlife flocks to the floodplains and riverbanks. Take a mokoro safari if you get the chance – it’ll give you a unique perspective of the region as you explore the waterways.

Wildlife: The Big Five, hippos, crocodiles, and over 400 recorded species of birds.

Best Time for “The Shot”: June-October as water recedes and game crowds the riverbanks.

Photographic Extra: After dark, work with guides on spotlight positioning; by day, look for elephant crossings and oxbow pools for reflections.

Recommended Stay: Khwai Lediba – intimate and well placed for predators and birds.

3. Linyanti Concession

Remote and exclusive, the Linyanti Concession is one of Botswana’s best-kept secrets for photographers seeking solitude and scale. A network of shimmering waterways, thick woodlands, and open grasslands creates infinite visual contrast – perfect for storytelling through light and texture. In the dry season, elephant herds gather in their hundreds, dust hanging in the air as the sun drops low, while predators prowl the shaded fringes of the lagoon.

Situated in the northern part of Botswana, adjacent to the Caprivi Strip in Namibia, Linyanti Concession’s picture-perfect waterways and woodlands are home to a high concentration of wildlife. Its diverse ecosystems support an array of species, making the region an excellent choice for wildlife photographers.

You’ll be able to spot both predators and herbivores on game drives and boat safaris, with the added bonus of night drives. Some lodges offer interactive cultural experiences with local communities.

Wildlife: Wild dogs, elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, and hippos.

Best time for “The Shot”: July-October for elephants and dry-season cat activity; green season (December-March) for moody storm skies.

Photographic Extra: Ask about sunken hides in this region for eye-level perspectives on elephants.

Recommended Stay: Linyanti Ebony – excellent for families and serious photographers alike.

4. Chobe National Park

Few places deliver Botswana’s wild beauty in such abundance as Chobe National Park. Known for its dense elephant populations and vivid sunsets over the river, Chobe offers photographers front-row seats to some of Africa’s most dynamic wildlife scenes. Early-morning mist gives way to glowing afternoons on the water, where boat safaris allow for low-angle shots of elephants drinking, crocodiles basking, and kingfishers diving.

Easily accessible from the town of Kasane, the park features a variety of ecosystems, including the Chobe River floodplains, woodlands, and the Savuti Marsh. Game drives are conducted in open-sided safari vehicles for unobstructed views of the animals and landscapes. Boat safaris, night drives, and sunset cruises are all unique highlights for visiting photographers.

Wildlife: Elephants, lions, leopards, giraffes, hippos, and over 450 bird species.

Best Time for “The Shot”: August-October, when river levels and herds make for busy banks and soft, smoky sunsets.

Recommended Stay: andBeyond Chobe Under Canvas offers guests unforgettable photographic safaris on the Chobe River. You’ll hop on a custom-built boat complete with top-of-the-range cameras fitted to customised mounts. During this expedition, you’ll receive expert tips and recommendations on how to capture the most breathtaking images.

5. Okavango Delta

The Okavango Delta is the beating heart of Botswana landscape photography – a living, shifting canvas where light meets water in constant motion. Aerial photographers are rewarded with abstract geometry from above, while those on mokoro safaris can frame hippos and reeds from eye level. Each season brings transformation: mirrored reflections during high water and golden grasslands as the flood recedes.

With its ever-changing waterways, lush landscapes, and diverse ecosystems, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a dream come true for wildlife and avian photographers. Permanent wetlands, seasonal floodplains, and dense riverine woodlands form habitats that support an astonishing array of wildlife. Scenic flights provide ample opportunities for aerial photography, too.

Wildlife: Elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes, and hippos.

Best Time for “The Shot”: June-August for high-water patterns; September-October for concentrated game.

Photographic Extra: Book a doors-off helicopter slot at golden hour for shadow-and-water geometry.

Recommended Stay: Shinde – superb guiding with both water and land activities.

6. Savuti

Savuti’s combination of open plains, ancient channel beds, and dramatic predator-prey encounters has earned it legendary status among safari photographers. Here, lions hunt elephants, hyenas follow in their wake, and red dust glows in the late-afternoon light – a playground for those seeking untamed storytelling.

Watching big cats interact and hunt in this location offers rewarding encounters for wildlife photographers, while landscape photographers will love the area’s fascinating geological features.

Savuti is one of the rare places in Africa where lions hunt elephants – a spectacle so bizarre and riveting that cameras click relentlessly.

Wildlife: Elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, zebras, wildebeest, and buffalo.

Best Time for “The Shot”: Year-round predators; November-March adds electric skies and migrant birds.

Photographic Extra: Work the long lenses at first light for lions and hyenas; switch to wider glass when elephant herds file to water.

Recommended Stay: Savute Safari Lodge – unbeatable viewing decks over the channel.

7. Makgadikgadi Pans

In stark contrast to the lush delta, the Makgadikgadi Pans deliver surreal minimalism – a horizon so vast it feels endless. This is the spiritual home of landscape photography in Botswana, where silence and light become your subjects. During the dry months, cracked salt flats glow under pastel skies, while the rains bring flamingoes, wildebeest migrations, and reflections that blur the line between land and sky.

A major drawcard is the annual migration of zebra and wildebeest. This area in northeastern Botswana is made up of a number of individual salt pans, including Sua Pan, Nwetwe Pan, and Nxai Pan. In the rainy season, the pans are transformed into shallow lakes that attract a variety of wildlife. Birdwatchers will appreciate this part of the year in particular.

Wildlife: Flamingos, zebras, wildebeest, springboks, ostriches, and meerkats.

Best Time for “The Shot”: July-October for stark, dry-season minimalism; January-March for zebra/wildebeest movements and storm drama.

Photographic Extra: Slow-shutter experiments on quad-bike trails at dusk; lie flat for meerkat portraits.

Recommended Stay: Jack’s Camp – an icon of the desert with bucket-list activities.

8. Chief’s Island

At the heart of the Okavango Delta lies Chief’s Island – a microcosm of the delta’s beauty, known for its rich wildlife and striking contrasts. Vast floodplains meet dense forests, creating endless opportunities for both portrait and landscape work. It’s also one of Botswana’s most reliable places to capture predators, with golden light filtering through fig trees as lions or wild dogs move through the reeds.

Chief’s Island is the largest island in the Okavango Delta, offering visitors excellent opportunities for unmissable shots. These varied habitats are as rewarding for landscape photographers as they are for wildlife photographers. Highlights include immersive walking safaris, predator-prey interactions, and night drives.

Wildlife: Big Five, cheetahs, hippos, crocodiles, wild dogs, and a huge variety of birdlife.

Best Time for “The Shot”: June-October as water rises and concentrates wildlife.

Photographic Extra: Look for kingfishers hovering over channels; plan patient sits near fig trees for leopard.

Recommended Stay: Sanctuary Chief’s Camp – refined, perfectly placed, and productive.

9. Kubu Island

Kubu Island feels like a place suspended in time – a granite outcrop rising from the Makgadikgadi salt flats, crowned with ancient baobabs that have witnessed centuries of starlit nights. For landscape photographers, it’s pure magic: endless horizons by day and unpolluted skies by night. The solitude here allows for creative experimentation with long exposures, silhouettes, and shadow play.

Situated within the Makgadikgadi Pans, Kubu Island is renowned for its ancient baobabs and dramatic landscapes. A geological wonder, the island itself is an isolated rocky outcrop that seems to grow out of the salt flats. The baobabs on Kubu Island are some of the oldest in Africa and make for excellent subjects for landscape photography.

Wildlife: The occasional springbok or family of meerkats.

Best Time for “The Shot”: May-October for dry access and Milky Way arcs; moonless nights for star trails.

Photographic Extra: Scout compositions by day; at night, paint baobabs with brief, soft light for texture.

Recommended Stay: Planet Baobab – an excellent base for guided Kubu missions.

10. Central Kalahari Game Reserve

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is where Botswana’s wild heart beats in silence. This vast desert wilderness stretches across the horizon, offering opportunities for evocative storytelling – lions crossing open pans beneath stormy skies, gemsbok standing in isolation, or a single acacia framed by dawn light. It’s a place that demands patience and rewards those who chase atmosphere over abundance.

Situated in the central part of Botswana, the Central Kalahari Game Reserve is the second-largest reserve in the world. This vast and remote wilderness offers a one-of-a-kind photographic safari experience, with diverse habitats that are home to a surprising array of animals. The San people have lived here for thousands of years, and some lodges offer immersive cultural experiences.

Wildlife: Lions, giraffes, cheetahs, leopards, wildebeest, and desert-adapted species.

Best Time for “The Shot”: December-April for emerald grass, dramatic clouds, and cats on pans; May-June for crisp, clear air.

Photographic Extra: Wait out the heat for late-afternoon activity; track storms for lightning silhouettes.

Recommended Stay: Dinaka (private reserve on the CKGR’s northern edge) – superb for hides, birding, and night drives.

Quick Botswana Safari Photo Tips

Here’s how to make the most of safari photo tours in Botswana:

• Mix Lenses: 24-70 mm for context, 70-200 mm or 100-400 mm for action; a fast 50 mm for evenings.
• Stabilise Smartly: Beanbag on the vehicle rail; brace elbows on boat gunwales.
• Think in Sequences: Establishing shot → mid → close portrait. It speeds up editing and storytelling.
• Protect Gear: Dust covers and dry bags are your friends in both the Kalahari and the Okavango Delta.
• Tell the Full Story: Don’t forget camp life, guides, and travel details – the human layer elevates safari photo albums.

Hopefully, this list of incredible photographic safari destinations has inspired you to plan your own journey into Botswana’s wild heart. Whether you’re refining your Botswana landscape photography skills or capturing wildlife interactions, Botswana photography safari packages ensure you’re in the right place at the right time.

Ready to dream? Tell us what you want to capture, and we’ll curate an itinerary with the right light, the right hides, and the right boats – all built around your goals.