Overview
A Safari through Botswana’s best wildlife reserves and Victoria Falls.
Take a journey into the wilds of Botswana. Glide along the Okavango Delta in
traditional makoros and admire a billion stars from the otherworldly and
eerily silent Makgadikgadi Pans. Search for Africas emblematic wildlife on
the Savuti Marsh and the Moremi reserve and take to the Chobe River, known
for having the highest concentration of elephants anywhere. Finally discover
why David Livingstone, upon seeing Victoria Falls, declared scenes so
lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight.
Highlights
* Gliding along the Okavango Delta waterways in Mokoro canoes and wild
camping in the wetlands
* The other-worldly silent beauty of the Makgadikgadi Pan
* Good chances of seeing both Africas emblematic wildlife as well as some
of its lesser species
* Game viewing by foot, by safari vehicle and by boat
* The mighty Victoria Falls
Itinerary
Day 1 Depart London.
Depart London
**
Day 2 Arrive Maun.
Those on the group flight arrive in Maun and transfer (30 mins) to our
campsite located on the banks of the Thamalakane River. The campsite has hot
showers, bar, swimming pool, and the restaurant is known for its good food
and ambience. Those not on the group flight can arrive any time.
*Audi Camp or similar*
Day 3
To Okavango Delta.
We pack minimal gear for 2 nights into a smaller bag (bag provided), before a
4×4 transfer into the Okavango Delta. At the ‘polers’ station’ we meet a new
team of local staff from a nearby village who will look after us during our
stay in the delta. With them we travel in mokoros deep into the Okavango
Delta. We have lunch at our campsite on the banks of the river, and in the
late afternoon we head out on our first game walk. We return to camp before
sunset and enjoy our first meal in the African bush.
*Okavango Delta Wild Camp*
Day 4
Morning game walk; sunset dug-out canoe trip on the Okavango Delta.
We get up early this morning for a game walk with a guide from the poling
team. There are never any guarantees whith wildlife, but there is the chance
of seeing elephant, buffalo, and other smaller game. We return to camp for a
well deserved brunch and some time to relax. In the afternoon we take a short
mokoro trip on the river to view the sunset before returning to camp.
*Okavango Delta Wild Camp*
Day 5 Return to Maun; free afternoon.
This morning we board our mokoros for the trip back to the polers’ station.
We meet our vehicle and transfer back into Maun for the night where we will
purchase supplies for the days ahead. The afternoon is free to relax by the
pool or take an optional scenic flight over the Delta.
*Audi Camp or similar*
Day 6 Visit Makgadikgadi Salt Pan.
After a relaxed breakfast we head east to the vast Makgadikgadi Salt Pan.
Depending on the season or if the pans are wet, we will camp wild on the pan
or one of the campsites nearby. The Makgadikgadi Salt Pan covers an area over
16,000 square kilometres and forms the bed of an ancient lake – now dried up.
The sunsets on the pan are truly spectacular.
*Makgadikgadi Pan wild camp or similar*
Day 7
To Zimbabwe and Victoria Falls.
A long drive north before crossing into Zimbabwe to the town of Victoria
Falls situated minutes from the waterfalls of the same name. At the Kasangula
border we complete the border formalities and continue to our accommodation
for the next two nights. The falls themselves are over 1,700m wide and 100m
tall making them the largest waterfalls in the world and are one of
Africas most famous highlights. We will have the opportunity to find out
more about the various activities on offer available for tomorrow.
*Mopani Lodgeor similar*
Day 8
Free day for optional activities at Victoria Falls.
Today is a free day to partake in one of the many optional activities on
offer ranging from white water rafting to flights over the falls and various
others.
*Mopani Lodgeor similar*
Day 9
Free morning to visit Victoria Falls; afternoon to Chobe; optional boat trip.
This morning there is an opportunity to view Victoria Falls themselves from
the Zimbabwean side. From here we drive back to Botswana. A short drive from
the border to the town of Kasane where we camp on the banks of the Thebe
River, a tributary of the mighty Zambezi. The afternoon is free, with an
option to view game on the famous Chobe Waterfront by taking an exciting
river cruise on the Chobe River. This is widely regarded as one of the best
game cruises in Africa with a very good chance of seeing the elephant herds
coming down to the river to drink before the sun sets.
*Thebe River Camp or similar*
Day 10 Discover Chobe N.P; visit Savuti.
We take an early morning game drive back to the Chobe Waterfront area. Chobe
is famous for its large population of elephants, but is also home to plenty
of other exciting game including lion and wild dog. After exploring the
Northern end of this huge park, we head south into remote and rugged terrain,
passing in and out of the national park, before finally reaching the Savuti
area at the southern edge of Chobe National Park.
The Savuti Marsh, often dry, is fed by the Savuti river channel which
alternately flows and then dries up for years at a time. Recent flooding has
given this area new life. This area is also home to plenty of game, but is
especially well known for its lions, and the large numbers of elephant that
walk enormous distances to find fodder.
*Zwei-Zwei or Savuti Wild Camp*
Day 11 Full day game drive on the Savuti Marsh.
We take morning and afternoon game drives on the Savuti Marsh. There is a
good chance to see lion, cheetah and hyena that follow the seasonal zebra
migration through this area. Large secretary birds and kori bustards are
often seen strutting around the Savuti marsh and small red-billed francolins
provide a noisy morning wake up call.
*Zwei-Zwei or Savuti Wild Camp*
Day 12 Game drive on the way to Moremi.
After breaking camp we drive all the way to Moremi Game Reserve. We pass
through a variety of habitats including the Mbabe depression, Mopani forest
and past great Acacia trees before arriving at Khwai village and the North
Gate entrance of Moremi Game Reserve. Moremi National Park is the jewel in
Botswana’s wildlife crown. Protecting much of the northern part of the
Okavango Delta, it is made up of waterways, marshes, islands and open
grasslands.
*Moremi Wild Camp*
Day 13 Full day safari in Moremi Game Reserve.
We’ll go on morning and afternoon game drives through this beautiful
protected area, trying to find the large variety of animals that live here.
Despite its wet reputation, there is plenty of dry land in Moremi, which
allows our game drives to cover significant distances while spotting game in
the sometimes dense vegetation. As well as elephant and lion, Moremi is a
good place to spot leopard and cheetah, and the red lechwe, a water dwelling
antelope, often seen grazing amongst the lilies.
*Moremi Wild Camp*
Day 14
Morning game drive in Moremi; to Maun.
We go on a final game drive through the park this morning before travelling
back to Maun, and back to our riverside campsite. We can enjoy the swimming
pool before our last dinner at the campsite restaurant.
*Audi Camp or similar*
Day 15
End Maun.
Those on the group flights will be taken to the airport in time for their
flight home. The trip officially ends after breakfast for those not on the
group flights.
Day 16 Arrive London.
Arrive London
**
