Thanks to innovative and intensive conservation efforts, Botswana is recognized as a global leader in wildlife protection and has offered a safe haven for African megafauna seeking refuge from human development and illegal poaching. Get an inside perspective on modern-day conservation challenges while working in the field alongside top researchers, including our own National Geographic grantees.
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Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Days 1-5
Begin your adventure in Zimbabwe with a visit to spectacular Victoria Falls, known locally as the “smoke that thunders” and considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Victoria Falls’ mile-wide curtain of water is nearly twice the width of Niagara Falls and plunges more than 350 feet into a narrow chasm, creating clouds of mist that sparkle in the sunlight. Get to know your trip leaders and fellow group members while exploring the nature paths that wind through lush forests overlooking these majestic cascades.
During your time in the area, learn about community outreach initiatives aimed at protecting resident wildlife. Venture to the Stanley & Livingstone lodge in Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve to meet National Geographic grantee Damien Mander, a former military serviceman who used the knowledge and skills he learned from armed forces training to establish the International Anti-Poaching Foundation. Hear from Damien about the important work done by his organization, and watch his rangers demonstrate the strategies they employ when patrolling the bush. Then set out into the reserve to track the endangered black rhinos that live here.
Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, Botswana
Days 6-12
Cross the border into Botswana and head to Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, a reserve harboring the largest network of salt pans on Earth, as well as zebras, wildebeests, elephants, and an array of other intriguing creatures. Camp at a research base just outside the park and spend a week working alongside conservationists with Elephants for Africa, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the vulnerable African elephant through research and education.
Meet the founders of Cameras for Conservation, and learn photography techniques for documenting elephant behavior and ecology, then create a digital photobook of the park’s resident herds. With the help of camera traps and satellite imagery, track elephant movement in the area, and learn how migration patterns are changing in response to human encroachment, habitat destruction, and climate change. Interview local community members to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of human-elephant conflict, and work alongside local teens to brainstorm new strategies for wildlife conservation in the region.
Okavango Delta
Days 13-18
Travel north to Botswana’s most iconic landscape, the Okavango Delta. A far-reaching network of inland lagoons and floodplains that is home to some of the world’s most endangered megafauna, including cheetahs, white and black rhinos, and African wild dogs. Settle into camp and meet your local ba’Yei guide, a member of National Geographic’s Okavango Wilderness Project who grew up in the delta and has intimate knowledge of this vast and remote landscape. Learn about the program’s efforts to collect data on the delta’s source waters, which are vital to the health of the region and the roughly one million people who source their water from the Okavango; and hear about collaborations with local stakeholders to develop conservation strategies for these important rivers.
Over the next several days, set out on safari across the floodplains alongside your National Geographic expert and explore the delta’s dynamic ecosystem, teeming with big cats, roaming giraffes, and wading buffalo. As you seek out incredible wildlife, document the intricacy of this habitat with your camera and learn wilderness skills from your knowledgeable guide. Conclude the program in the city of Maun, where we’ll present our On Assignment projects to the group and celebrate our journey across southern Africa.
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