Dr Sallie Burrough knows the Makgadikgadi from the inside out by soil samples and mud. She  is Trapnell Fellow of African Environments at the University of Oxford, a Quaternary Scientist, National Geographic Explorer and leading expert on the prehistory of southern African saltpans. In this episode she shares why the pans matter academically, what makes them noteworthy and how their time scale is so vast it is hard to comprehend. The pans have been highlighted by many of my interviews and it...

Ncinci Motsemme is enthusiastic about all things and particularly food. She joins me from her new restaurant in the heart of Maun, Kwa ga Ncinci, to discuss different foods eaten in Botswana and their cultural meaning. We discuss foods that are readily accessible as snack foods from Tuckshops through to regional and seasonal foods and foods found predominantly at celebrations. Kwa ga Ncinci can be found on the corner of Sir Seretse Khama Road and Motshaba street in the centre of Maun across...

I headed off on a break in June and went exploring our neighboring country Zambia. It was my first time crossing a border with Covid-19 regulations and requirements so I am sharing my experience in this bonus episode. We crossed the new Kazangula Bridge between Botswana and Zambia and I share both tips on crossing into Botswana through any border post as well as the process required to enter Zambia. I share a lot of info so have a pen and paper handy! Covid-19 PCR testing in Botswana:...

Moa Monwela is a professional guide who grew up in Maun and has a shared history with the village. He joins me to discuss the history of Maun and he shares his experiences growing up here and the changes he has seen over the decades. in 2011 Moa founded Endurance travel and based himself out of one of the hotels offering experiences to people visiting Maun who are not able to get into the camps and lodges and wildlife areas for longer. He shares the activities available to people spending a...

Dr Mike Murray-Hudson returns to attempt to predict this year's flood. Making predictions of a natural occurrence is not easy but Mike shares his expectations based on his years of experience.  We discuss base floods in the Eastern Delta in the Gomoti region and the new data that are being collected there and at Divundu. He discusses the impacts of the low flood of 2019 and the peat fires that followed on the vegetation and water flow and how that impacted the 'fast flood' of 2020. Mike...

Our summer clouds  have disappeared and the stars are becoming more visible. I have asked Stephen O'Meara, author of the wonderful book Night skies of Botswana to join me for a bonus episode updating us on what to expect from the night skies in the next while. Steve also shares some info on when to look for the man in the moon and what a Supermoon really is and how to get the best view of the moon looking as large as possible. Steve's episode was the most listened to of last year and there...

Ecoexist  is a project in Northern Botswana established in Eretsa village in 2013. The project was established by Dr Anna Songhurst,  Dr Graham McCulloch and Dr Amanda Stronza to support communities living on the edges of wildlife areas who share their space with elephants. Graham joins me to share their work in the area and the realities of life in this area. As well as the story of how this work led them to develop and open Maun's Okavango Craft Brewery and associated brew pub. This...

Jason Kennaugh has deep family farming roots in Ghanzi, Botswana and after moving to Maun for his kids' schooling witnessed people needing help with recovery after getting stuck and so started 4x4 Bushwarrior recovery service. In this episode he shares...

Grant Nel of Last Chance Safaris is a private safari guide extraordinaire and includes guiding worldwide for the Smithsonian Museum as one of his roles. In this episode he shares his immense knowledge about his town and backyard in Kasane as well as...

Kaay and Kane Motswana grew up in neighbouring villages in the Northern Okavango but only met as adults working in the tourism industry. In this episode this wonderful couple share their insights into growing up surrounded by wildlife and discuss the...

Clare Doolan is the Safari Destinations Sales and Product Manager which allows her to travel around the world educating travel agents and tour operators about Botswana and its regions. Clare joins me in this episode (recorded in September 2020 but only...

Stephen James O'Meara, astronomer and author of a new book on Botswana's stars: Nights skies of Botswana joins me to discuss what makes Botswana's skies worth seeing, what is the best time of year to visit if you are an avid star gazer and we celebrate...

Grant Reed of Letaka Safaris and African Guide Academy shares his insights after years in the Mobile Safaris sector of Botswana tourism. Grant has guided, operated and sold mobile safaris in Botswana for over 2 decades and in this episode he takes us...

Koketso Mookodi of Wild Bird Trust Botswana discusses celebrating Indigenous knowledge through their work in the region. We look at her current project, the Educators expeditions, for which she has received a National Geographic grant. The Ngashi...

James Wilson, Marketing Director of Desert and Delta Safaris, lived for many years at their lodge Chobe Game Lodge in the Chobe National Park. James joins me today to talk about the park that was literally his back yard for years. We chat about Savuti...

Matthew Copham of Safari Footprints joins me to discuss his passion which is photographic safaris. We discuss why Botswana makes such a great destination for photographers (and any traveler) and what he recommends a photographer looks for when planning...

Bonty Botumile, Bessie Head Literary Award winner and story teller extraordinaire joins me to discuss cultural tourism in Botswana. We consider the limited cultural experiences that are available for visitors and the opportunity for product development...

Dr Mike Murray-Hudson is a Senior Research Fellow at the Okavango Research Institute of the University of Botswana in Maun as well as long time resident and Okavango Delta lover. As a wetland ecologist he is an expert on the hydrology of the Okavango...

Simon Byron of Beagle Expeditions joins me to discuss broadly the safari destinations of Northern Botswana. Simon walks us through a brief discussion of the geography of the areas, discusses the differences between the regions and gives a broad...