Botswana is arguably the greatest wildlife photography destination on the planet. From the flooded, lily-filled channels of the Okavango Delta to the harsh, predator-rich dust of Savuti, the landscapes here are as diverse as the animals that inhabit them.
However, taking a good safari photo requires more than just pointing a long lens out of a Toyota window. The light changes, there’s dust, and the animals rarely do what you ask them to.
If you are planning a Botswana photo safari or just looking for inspiration for your next trip, here is a photographic overview of what you can expect to capture in this incredible country, along with the camera settings and techniques I used to capture these shots.
African wild dogs hunting in the Okavango
The African Wild Dog (also known as the Painted Dog) is one of the most endangered and thrilling predators to photograph in Africa. They are incredibly social, constantly in motion, and when they hunt, it is pure, chaotic energy.
- The shot: Capturing wild dogs on the move is notoriously difficult because they blend into the dappled shade of the mopane forests and move at lightning speed.
- Photography best practice: A fast shutter speed is essential. The general rule of thumb is to stay at or above 1/1000th of a second when the pack is active to freeze their movement. Because they often hunt in the early morning or late evening (low light), photographers must be comfortable pushing the ISO high (often 3200 or 6400) to maintain that fast shutter speed without underexposing the image.
- Behavior to watch for: Keep the camera ready as the pack wakes up. They engage in a “rallying” behavior, making sneezing sounds and excitedly greeting each other before setting off on a hunt. This is the prime opportunity for interactive, emotive portraits.
Leopard sleeping in a tree (Savuti)
The Savuti region, located in the western corner of Chobe National Park, is famous for its high predator density. While lions get a lot of the glory here, finding a leopard draped over the branch of a tree is the ultimate safari photography prize.
- The shot: Leopards are notoriously elusive and spend the heat of the day sleeping in the tree canopy to avoid lions and hyenas. You will often find them straddling a branch with their legs dangling down.
- Photography best practice: Because the camera is usually pointed up into a tree, the bright sky behind the leopard will often blow out (overexpose) the image, turning the cat into a dark silhouette. To counter this, it is highly recommended to use Spot Metering (haha, get it? Meter on the leopard’s spots) and expose directly for the leopard’s fur. Alternatively, using Exposure Compensation (+1 or +2 stops) helps brighten the subject against the harsh sky.
- Lens Choice: A telephoto zoom in the 100-400mm range is ideal here, providing the flexibility to punch through distracting foreground branches and isolate the animal.
The hyena family
Hyenas get a bad reputation in popular culture, but spending time with a hyena clan, especially when there are cubs around, reveals incredibly complex and tender social structures.
- The shot: The best hyena photos happen around the den at sunset. The cubs are naturally curious and wander out.
Photography best practice: Getting as low as physically possible in the safari vehicle yields the strongest results. Shooting down on a hyena makes it look small and insignificant, whereas shooting at eye level (or slightly looking up) gives the animal dignity and visual impact. Using a wide aperture (f/2.8 or f/4) is standard practice to blur out the messy scrub brush in the background, drawing the viewer’s eye straight to the hyena’s face.
Photographing from a mokoro boat in the Okavango
The Okavango Delta is a unique environment where the desert meets a massive, inland river system. To truly experience it, you must leave the 4×4 behind and get into a Mokoro: a traditional dugout canoe navigated by a local “poler”.
- The shot: Gliding silently through the reeds allows for incredibly close encounters with waterbirds, tiny painted reed frogs, and even elephants crossing the channels. It provides a unique, water-level perspective that is impossible to get from a vehicle.
- Photography best practice: Water reflects light aggressively. A circular polarizer filter is considered essential equipment here; it cuts through surface glare, revealing submerged wildlife and saturating the greens of the lily pads.
Gear warning: It is strongly advised not to change lenses while on a Mokoro. The boats are tippy, and exposing the camera sensor to water or dropping a lens into the Delta is a costly mistake. Bringing a versatile zoom lens (like a 70-200mm) and leaving it securely attached is the safest approach.
The giants of Chobe: Elephants
Botswana is home to the world’s largest population of African elephants. Whether they are swimming across the Chobe River or dusting themselves in the dry pans, they offer endless photographic opportunities.
- The shot: To convey the massive scale of an elephant, photographers often look for “low-angle” shots where the elephant towers over the viewer.
- Photography best practice: Don’t just focus on the whole animal. Elephants are fantastic subjects for “macro-wildlife” photography. Use a long telephoto lens to zoom in on the textures of the trunk, the detail in the eyelashes, or the intricate patterns of the wrinkled skin. When photographing a herd, look for the “interactions”: a mother nudging a calf or two bulls locking tusks.
The Kings: Lions
Lions in Botswana, particularly in the Okavango, are known for being larger and more powerful than their counterparts elsewhere, often because they have to swim and hunt in wet terrain.
- The shot: The most sought-after lion shot is the “direct eye-contact” portrait, ideally during the golden hour when their eyes glow amber.
- Photography best practice: Patience is the key to lion photography. They spend up to 20 hours a day sleeping. The best shots happen in the split seconds when they wake up: the massive yawn, the grooming, or the head-shake. Set your camera to Burst Mode (High-Speed Continuous) to capture the exact moment their eyes open, and they become alert.
Hippos: The river guardians
Hippos are ubiquitous in the Okavango Delta and Chobe River. While they appear sedentary, they are among Africa’s most dangerous animals.
- The shot: The “Hippo Yawn” is actually a threat display and makes for a dramatic, high-impact photo showing off their massive tusks.
- Photography best practice: If you are shooting from a boat, you are likely at a low angle, which is perfect. To capture the water droplets flying during a yawn or a splash, use a shutter speed of at least 1/1250th of a second. A Circular Polarizer is also vital here to cut the glare off the water surrounding the hippo.
Cape Buffalo
Buffalo are often found in massive herds in Botswana. They have a reputation for being grumpy, and their “stare” is legendary.
- The shot: A tight crop of a buffalo staring directly into the lens, with its “boss” (the horn base) prominently displayed.
- Photography best practice: Buffalo are very dark, which can trick your camera’s light meter into overexposing the scene. It is often best to underexpose by -0.3 or -0.7 stops to maintain the deep black tones of their hide without losing detail in the shadows. Focus specifically on the eyes, because the face is so dark, the eyes need to be sharp to give the photo life.
While everyone wants the “Big Five,” the “General Game” of Botswana provides the consistent action that fills a portfolio.
- Antelopes (Impala, Kudu, Sable): Impalas are the most common, but their “leaping” behavior is a great test of a photographer’s reaction time. The Sable Antelope, with its scimitar-shaped horns and jet-black coat, is a rare and prized subject.
- Tip: Use a shallow depth of field (f/4 or f/5.6) to make these animals pop against the busy thorn-bush background.
- Crocodiles: Usually found sunning on riverbanks.
- Tip: Focus on the yellow eye or the texture of the scales. They are perfectly still, so you can use a lower ISO and a slower shutter speed for maximum detail.
- Primates (Baboons and Vervet Monkeys): These are the most “human” subjects.
- Tip: Look for social interactions, such as mothers carrying babies or juveniles wrestling. Because they are often in the trees, watch your exposure to ensure they don’t become silhouettes.
Planning an Okavango Delta photography workshop
For those serious about improving their wildlife photography, booking a dedicated Okavango Delta photography workshop or a specialized photo safari is a good investment.
Standard tourist safaris are often focused on ticking boxes (“We saw a lion, let’s move on”). A photographic safari operates on an entirely different rhythm, prioritizing light, angles, and patience.
What to look for in a photo safari:
- Specialized vehicles: Look for operators that use modified 4x4s with fewer seats (ensuring everyone gets a “window” seat on both sides) and built-in beanbags or gimbal mounts for heavy lenses. Some lodges in Chobe even offer specialized photo boats with swivel seats and camera mounts for eye-level shots of elephants on the riverbanks.
- Off-road access: Ensure the workshop takes place in a private concession rather than a National Park. Private concessions allow guides to drive off-road to get the perfect angle on a kill and to conduct night drives to photograph nocturnal predators.
- The right guide: A photographic guide understands light. They won’t just park the car; they will position the vehicle so the sun hits the animal perfectly or line you up for a dramatic backlit silhouette at sunset.
Essential gear for a Botswana photo safari
- Two camera bodies: Dust is a photographer’s biggest enemy in Botswana. Changing lenses in the field should be avoided whenever possible. A common professional setup is to keep a long telephoto (100-400mm or more) on one body for wildlife, and a standard zoom (24-70mm) on the second body for landscapes and environmental portraits.
- Cleaning kit: A rocket blower and microfiber cloths are mandatory for dealing with the inevitable dust from dry-season game drives and the moisture from the Delta.
- Extra batteries: Many remote camps run entirely on solar power, so charging opportunities may be limited, slow, or available only in the main communal areas.
Botswana is a harsh, dynamic, and breathtaking environment. It will test your technical skills, but the images you capture will be worth every early morning wake-up call.
