Moremi Wildlife Photography Safari & Photo Tour: Pre-Trip advice
2-3 months prior to travel you will receive a comprehensive document that provides packing advice. Along with plenty of other useful information for our Botswana wildlife photo safari. The below provides some key additional information that you may find useful ahead of booking your safari with us.
Tour language:
This is an English-speaking tour, with all guides fluent in English. Lodge and camp staff also speak English well.
Photography Hosts:
The 2027 tour dates will be hosted by two photography hosts, selected from Sarah Skinner, Chris Hodgson, and Andy Skinner.
Visas:
We recommend checking visa requirements with your own country’s foreign office, as rules vary by nationality. In most cases, travellers from the USA and many European countries, including the UK, do not require a visa in advance. Please also confirm whether a visa is required if you enter Botswana via South Africa.
It is your responsibility to ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your return date and contains a minimum of two blank pages. You must also obtain any required visas before travel. Visa regulations can change, so we strongly recommend checking the latest requirements prior to departure.
Vaccinations:
This information is provided as a general guide only. We strongly recommend visiting your doctor or a travel clinic at least six weeks before departure for the most up-to-date vaccination advice. Medical requirements can change, and as we are not medically qualified, we cannot provide personalised medical guidance.
General vaccinations commonly recommended for travel to Botswana include Typhoid, Tetanus, Hepatitis A, and Hepatitis B. As recommendations can change, please confirm current advice with your doctor or travel clinic.
There is no risk of yellow fever in Botswana. However, a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travellers over one year of age arriving from, or transiting through, countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission. This includes airport transits of more than 12 hours. The yellow fever vaccination certificate is now valid for life.
Other vaccinations to consider include Rabies and Meningococcal Meningitis. These are typically optional and should be discussed with your doctor or travel clinic.
malaria
Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for some areas of Botswana and can be obtained from a local pharmacy or by prescription from your doctor or travel clinic. Please consult your doctor or pharmacist to determine the most appropriate medication for the region you are visiting.
Our Botswana photographic safaris operate in the northern game areas, close to the Okavango Delta, where malaria prophylaxis is advised. When discussing anti-malarial medication with your healthcare provider, ensure you understand any potential side effects and choose the option best suited to the area, with minimal side effects.
Fitness Level Required:
This Moremi Wildlife Photography Safari does not require a high level of fitness. However, guests should expect very early starts and long days in the field, which can be in dry and dusty conditions.
Guests must be able to get in and out of a game vehicle with little or no assistance, including a step of approximately two feet. They should also be comfortable walking up to 150 metres to and from their tent at the lodges used at teh start and finish of this tour,
Game-viewing tracks can be bumpy, so this trip is not recommended for guests with chronic neck or chronic back conditions.
Weather & environmental conditions:
In July, early mornings and nights can be surprisingly cold, with temperatures typically around 4–7°C. Nighttime temperatures can very occasionally drop below freezing, especially in early July. By mid-morning, temperatures rise, with afternoons generally around 25°C (78°F) and rarely exceeding 28°C at the hottest point of the day.
Road Conditions:
While travelling through Botswana, you will encounter a mix of sealed roads, unsealed roads, and mostly bumpy sandy bush tracks. During the dry season, many roads in the game reserves and national parks become very dry and dusty, with deep sand that can make the tracks mildly to very bumpy.
Camera Equipment:
For game viewing, we recommend bringing a camera and lenses that cover a range of distances. A good starting point is a lens with a focal length of 100–400mm, or 300–600mm for prime lenses. Longer lenses are essential for photographing big cats, while bird photography generally requires 500mm or more. These recommendations assume the use of full-frame cameras.
A wider-angle lens (e.g., 18–55mm, 24–70mm, or 24–120mm) is useful for capturing larger scenes, such as elephants at waterholes.
Safari photography often takes place in low light during early mornings and evenings. Serious photographers may prefer faster lenses, F4 or below. For night or astrophotography, we suggest a wide-angle lens with an aperture between F1.8–F4.
Safari conditions can be dusty. Bring a dust bag or light cover for your camera—an old pillowcase works perfectly when your camera is on your lap or temporarily out of your bag. A basic lens wipe or duster is also recommended.
For personalized advice on cameras and lenses, please contact us directly
Gratuities:
Gratuities are not included in the cost of your safari. The amount you provide is entirely up to you, but the following guidelines are commonly recommended. All tips are collected by your hosts and distributed fairly among the team. We suggest budgeting in USD.
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Main Safari Guide: Approximately $20–25 USD per guest per day. This will be split between the two local Botswana guides (or one guide for groups of four or fewer). Budget for 9-days.
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Mobile Camping Support Team (cooks/camp assistants): Approximately $20–25 USD per guest per day. This is shared among our dedicated camp staff, usually 5–7 people, including the private chef, for a maximum group size of 6 guests plus 2 hosts. Please budget for 9-days.
Baggage porters: $2 – $5 USD for up to two bags
Airport transfers: $3-5 per person
Restaurant meals: For any group meals at lodges held as a group we would suggest allowing around $5 per person for waiting staff for good – excellent service per meal.
Guided photo safari hosts/tour leaders: Tipping of any hosts on your trip is optional and purely at the discretion of each guest.
International Flights:
Guests are responsible for arranging their own international flights. Airport transfers will be organised to match your flight arrivals and departures.
Guests should arrange international flights that arrive into Maun (MUB) and returning from Maun (MUB). We recommend Spouth African Airlink for flights to/from Johannesburg (or from Cape Town) or Air Botswana.
WiFi/Phone Network Access:
In Botswana’s towns, mobile phone coverage is generally good. Internet is available at the lodges at the start and end of your safari, though speeds may be slow and usually limited to public areas.
While in the game reserves and national parks, you will be in remote locations with no mobile signal or Wi-Fi. During the days that we are mobile camping, please be prepared to be completely offline. If you need to stay in touch, consider bringing a Garmin Messenger or hiring a satellite phone.
For your reassurance, your hosts and also our field guides carry a Garmin Messenger device AND we carry an Inmarsat satellite phone for emergency use only, ensuring access to the outside world for medical or other urgent situations.
Dietary:
We can cater for most dietary requirements if notified at least two months before your departure.
Travel Insurance:
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance at the time of booking to cover unforeseen cancellations, as both deposits and final payments are non-refundable. Guests travelling without insurance do so at their own risk. Flying Doctor’s medical assistance is included in the cost of your tour. Please note this covers only for medical evacuation to a hospital/town and DOES NOT cover the cost of medical treatment for which your travel insurance is needed.