Wild destination: Botswana (page 3 of 4)

hi I still don’t know what "troller" means I just mean that everyone’s photo reports don’t bring anything practical

Hi there,

Thanks for this travel journal and the lovely photos that go with it. One day, I’ll go to Botswana ;)

Hello Jean-François,

I really appreciate your beautiful photos, taken with equipment that’s certainly expensive, but it’s all relative when you consider the cost of a safari. Personally, I think that beyond their aesthetic value, photos give friends an idea of what you can encounter, observe, and how you can make the most of it—whether through photography or just watching. And sharing them is a real gift for those of us who love seeing wildlife in its natural habitat, something zoos and animal parks just can’t offer. Your photos do exactly that. Your photos and the observations—good or bad—that you share about accommodations and game-drive conditions make for a travel journal that’s both enjoyable and informative. Thank you for that!

If you’ve got more to share, we’d all (well, 99.9% of us) love to see it.

Happy holidays!

BL

PS: I don’t know you, and I’m not Canadian, *tabernacle*! But I don’t usually use formal address on forums unless someone specifically asks for it.

Thanks for your messages—they’re really encouraging and make me want to keep sharing my experiences and photos.

We’re on the same page about photography and the appeal of travel journals, Bernard.

My next journal will be about the Yucatán, as soon as I find the time to put it together.

And I’m finalizing my upcoming trip to Sri Lanka, where I hope to bring back just as many great memories and beautiful photos as I did from Africa.

And here I was, naively asking originally what gear the photos were taken with... only to find a brawl that replays all the Facebook "codes"—insults, "autocorrect fails" like "d’aurtaugraffe," It’s really disappointing! Still, we’re planning a trip to Botswana and I’d love to hear about your experiences, itineraries, and... photos... that make my mouth water! Come on, let’s get back on track without any out-of-place criticism?

It's true you've got a big one (as Zezette would say), but you don't flaunt it with your lens. Plus, you've got a great eye, and if you gain some altitude, there's no hint of condescension when others fly low.

@Zezettedez, you don't like photo reports and think practical info is better? Do you know the difference between a travel journal and a guidebook? Since you've lived in Botswana for sixteen years and visited so many parks, why not share some of your great tips with us?

Based on some of the photos, it looks like you moved from one lodge to another in your 4x4 but did the game drives with the lodge staff?

The answer wasn’t given, it seems, but apparently that’s a yes.

This wasn’t a self-drive trip but a semi-organized one, which explains the high cost mentioned for the stay.

The rented vehicle replaces the fly-in option, which would have further increased the already substantial budget.

A photo intrigues me: your avatar. What is it???

Hey,

My bunny licking my head...

I was torn between getting dreadlocks and a shrunken Davy Crockett hat...🤪

😄 Nothing that exotic

And to add to the interest of photos, I’d love to know what this creature is!

hi this thread is for thoughts and reflections, not my latest extraordinary photos commented on by all those future tourists who just want to reassure themselves they’ll see the Big Five. I’m not a travel agency—I’ve got my own vehicle, I don’t stay in lodges, and I go when I want—so I’m no expert compared to you all. So I’ll probably get told to get lost, like it’s happened before. No, I’m just trying to follow some discussions in French in my English-speaking world and think along with some of you.

Hi there,

A huge thank you for this travel journal—it’s really making me want to visit Botswana after my little trip to Namibia last summer 🙂.

I appreciate it even more because, having written a few journals myself, I know how much time it takes!

hello airone

A jackal

Hello,

A big thank you for this travel journal that really makes me want to go to Botswana after a short trip to Namibia last summer 🙂.

I appreciate it even more because, having done a few travel journals myself, I know how time-consuming it is!

Hi Alix,

Yes, it takes time, but it’s a great resource for planning our trips and giving us ideas.

Namibia is on my list of destinations—I’ll definitely check out the travel journals for inspiration! 😊

hi airone

A jackal

It's strange—it doesn’t look anything like the standard jackal, which is grayer, with a shorter snout and smaller ears. I think it might be a different species; it’s definitely not a side-striped jackal, in any case.

I found it, it's this one The striped jackal is curious—I’d never seen one before. I used to just stick with the black-backed jackal and didn’t miss out on anything...

hi this section is for thoughts and reflections, not my latest extraordinary photos commented on by all those future tourists who need reassurance they’ll see the Big Five I’m not a travel agency, I have my own vehicle, I don’t stay in lodges, and I leave when I want—so I’m not an expert compared to you so people will tell me to get lost, as has already happened no, I’m trying to follow discussions in French in my English-speaking world and reflect with some of you

You’re not wrong, Zézette (funny username for someone who criticizes others for playing the "who’s got the biggest" game…😎), we don’t talk enough about the state of the roads, campsites, routes taken, and travel times in the different travel journals.

On the other hand, when we see your avatar, we’re a bit skeptical when we read you criticizing those who post photos of the animals they were lucky enough to encounter 😉.

Here, it’s about a guided trip—it’s pretty obvious that the person telling the story didn’t worry about the roads they took; they completely relied on the guides, and they were right to do so—they paid for that. Besides, you who live in Botswana, you must know what kind of tourist Batswana prefer: those who pay top dollar and stay in lodges employing lots of staff, or those like you or me who travel independently or rent a car to camp in the parks?

That’s it—the guide had told us it was rare to see one, but I didn’t remember the name he gave us.