Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Wildlife
Botswana is home to anywhere between 160 and 500 different mammal species, 593 spe-
cies of birds, 150 different reptiles, over 8000 species of insects and spiders, and more
than 3100 types of plants and trees.
LIONS
Lions may be the easiest of the big cats to spot - leopards are notoriously secretive and
largely keep to the undergrowth, while cheetahs live in similarly low-density populations
and can also prove elusive. But don't let appearances fool you: the lion is the most en-
dangered of Africa's three big cats.
Fewer than 30,000 lions are thought to remain in Africa (there is a tiny, highly inbred
population of Asian lions in the Gir Forest in Gujarat state in India), although most con-
servationists agree that the number is most likely considerably below that figure. Only six
lion populations in Africa - the Okavango Delta is one of these - are sufficiently protec-
ted to hold at least 1000 lions, the conservation gold standard that the peak cat conserva-
tion body
Panthera
(
www.panthera.org
)
applies for guaranteeing the long-term survival
of the species. One of the most comprehensive surveys of Africa-wide lion populations
came up with an estimated population in Botswana of around 3000 lions (or roughly 10%
of all lions left in Africa). Of these, the most important populations were in the Okavango
Delta (1438 lions), the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (312), the Kgalagadi Transfrontier
Park (458) and the Chobe River area (213). As such, Botswana is one of the lion's most
important strongholds.
Like lions elsewhere, those in Botswana are facing threats from poisoning, in r etali-
ation for either killing livestock or encroaching onto farming lands.
WHICH FIELD GUIDE?
Field guides can be invaluable tools for identifying animals while on safari, apart from being damned interesting
to read. Our favourites:
A Field Guide to the Carnivores of the World
(Luke Hunter, 2011) Wonderfully illustrated, up to date and filled
with fascinating detail.
The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals
(Jonathon Kingdon, 2003) The latest edition of the classic field
guide covering over 1150 species.
