Itinerary Type -Game drive
Destination - Botswana
Itinerary Summary
Adventure and luxury guided camping safaris in Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe with professionals African safaris and adventures
Day 1 - 2; (2 Nights) Camp Kalahari - Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana
After arrival in Maun, fly by light aircraft to Camp Kalahari, situated in a private concession on the edge of the great Makgadikgadi Pans in the Kalahari Desert. The saltpans are among the largest in the world, part of a fossilized super-lake that thrived eons ago.
Surprisingly for such a harsh, lunar-like environment, life abounds, and brown hyena, oryx and springbok are just a few of the desert-adapted species that can be seen. Activities include up-close encounters with suricates (meerkats), one of the most fascinating and endearing animals in the world. Experience phenomenal geology, quad biking, authentic San (bushman) cultural walks or simply enjoying the wide-open spaces of this ancient lake bed.
Day 3 - 4; (2 Nights) Nxai Pan National Park, Botswana
After an early breakfast, we depart overland to our pre-erected private Classic campsite in the Nxai Pan National park, stopping for lunch en-route at the infamous Baines Baobabs, which Thomas Baines painted on his exploratory expedition in the late 1800s.
These pans are fossilized and vegetated with short nutritious grasses and acacia trees, creating game rich areas surrounded by vegetated dune savannahs. Extensive game drives explore the surrounding pans. Spectacular dry season predator and prey action is viewable at the water holes!
Day 5 - 6; (2 Nights) Xigera Mokoto trails
After arrival in Maun, fly by light aircraft to the water-filled paradise of the private Xigera area, within the Moremi Game Reserve. Xigera is one of the ultimate Delta experiences, with the serene waters flowing through innumerable channels around remote islands and a profusion of plants and animals.
There is no better way to experience the Okavango than to travel through it by mokoro, walking and camping out on some of its green islands – all essential elements of the Xigera Mokoro Trails experience.
Activities include mokoro and walking safaris, which enable up-close encounters with the excellent diversity of birdlife (including Pel’s fishing owl), frogs and a myriad game species, some specially adapted to water such as the rare sitatunga and the more familiar red lechwe.
Day 7 - 8 :(2 Nights) Lechwe Island camp
Fly by light aircraft charter from Xigera Mokoro Trails directly to the north-eastern corner of the Okavango Delta, to our pre-erected Adventurer camp set up on a wooded island under shade trees, situated close to the game viewing areas.
Activities concentrate on the open herbivore-inhabited plains surrounding the camp, where seasonal congregations of wildlife (especially in the late afternoons) make the perfect setting for game drives, night drives and bush walks on the concession.
Day 9 & 10 : (1 or 2 Nights) Savute Marsh
After an early morning drive and departure from camp, we travel directly north through the private concession, stopping en-route at a private game viewing hide for lunch. We arrive at our pre-erected Classic campsite in the mid-afternoon, in time for a sunset game drive.
Day10 & 11 (1 or 2 Nights) Linyanti - Linyanti Wildlife Reserve
We depart early this morning towards the Linyanti region. This is an all day game drive, with lunch en-route at a private game viewing hide in the Savuti Channel.
In addition, this game drive is specifically created to provide the guest with an intimate detailed view of the “Stolen River”, to ensure the best zebra migration and reliable game viewing possible throughout the year.
On our second day, we depart on an early morning activity in the north eastern corner of the Linyanti, enjoying a myriad of changing landscapes, from riverine to savannah habitat with sweeping views. Lunch is at a spectacular serviced lunch deck, with a sweeping view of the Linyanti waterways. After a siesta in hammocks, there is the possibility of an afternoon canoe trip, before returning to camp at dusk. (This activity is not always possible, as it is dependent upon whether there are hippo pods moving in and out of the areas in which we canoe.)
Day12 : (1 Night) Chobe River boat cruise, Chobe National Park and Shackletons
After a short morning drive and breakfast, depart by light aircraft to the northern Chobe region of Chobe National Park. This area is famous for the vast herds of elephants and unique species such as the elusive puku and Chobe bushbuck that move to the river in the hottest hours of the day. Enjoy a lunch served during the boat cruise on the catamaran-style shaded boat.
Leave Botswana and enter Zambia by way of the Kazangula border, a point where the four countries of Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe meet, to stay at the Shackletons Upper Zambezi Lodge, situated on the Upper Zambezi River near the village of Mwandi (meaning place of ‘plenty fish’) in southwestern Zambia. The Lodge is approximately 140km west of Livingstone.
The Lodge accommodates 12 people in thatched, en-suite chalets with private teak decks overlooking the Zambezi. The swimming pool, sun downer deck, lounge, open dining area, and riverside bar provide guests with unparalleled vistas of the mighty Upper Zambezi River. Shackletons provides access to 130km of the Upper Zambezi River, often called ‘God’s Highway’. Besides the nearby Lozi village of Mwandi, there are no other Zambian villages or lodges on this vast stretch of water. Shackletons is flanked by sandy river banks, reed beds, water lilies, riverine forests, woodlands and flooded grass plains.
Day 13 : Guided tour of the Victoria Falls; transfer to Livingstone Airport
After a full breakfast, we road transfer just beyond the town of Livingstone to enjoy a guided tour at the Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. At 1708 metres wide, it is the largest curtain of water in the world and drops more than 100 metres into the sheer Zambezi Gorge.
After the Victoria Falls visit we transfer directly to Livingstone Airport and bid farewell to the adventure. |
