Page 17 - Meetings Botswana 2020

THE WOW FACTOR
All creatures great and SMALL ...
Secret of a successful incentive or other corporate events is the ‘wow’ factor ... something Botswana can deliver time and time again, according to award-winning photojournalist and photograph safari leader, James Gifford who has been captivated by the myriad attractions of Botswana in the wild for many years
“Can you see it...through there!” I trace an imaginary line from my guide’s outstretched finger through the watery forest of reeds, scouring the miniature
world for an elusive, fingernail-sized amphibian. Eventually, when just a few metres away, my eyes finally detect the tiny painted reed frog, clinging effortlessly to a stalk with an impressive set of scarlet webbed feet. Sensing our presence, or perhaps just showing off, he executed a magnificent leap – landing with considerable élan and
pinpoint accuracy on a neighbouring reed.
As a wildlife experience, the encounter is on a very
different scale to the big-five sightings that are the mainstays of a traditional safari, but there is more to Botswana than big cats, elephants and plains game. And perhaps surprisingly, often it is the more unusual and unexpected species that linger longest in the memory.
For many visitors, exploring the pristine waterways of the Okavango Delta is the quintessential activity that distinguishes Botswana from other wildlife destinations. Gliding a few inches above the water’s surface through
MEETINGS BOTSWANA 2020 17