GREAT WILDERNESS JOURNEY OF BOTSWANA SAFARI

Introduction

At the turn of the century, explorers and adventurers made their way leisurely across the dusty paths of Africa, allowing the great continent to seep into their souls. This guided mobile safari takes time to experience and explore Botswana's contrasts and extremes: from the waterless and strange landscape of the Kalahari Desert to the lushly vegetated wetlands of the Okavango Delta. To maximise guests' travel time, a variety of transport modes that bring out the best of each area is used: flying in private charters, overland transfers and exclusive combination mokoro-boat-land transfers provide both a birds-eye view and an in-depth experience of the contrasting landscapes of Botswana.

Itinerary

DAYS 1 & 2 - San camp, Makgadikgadi Pans
After arrival in Maun, fly by light aircraft to San Camp, 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 fossilised super-lake that thrived aeons ago.

Surprisingly for such a harsh, lunar-like environment, life abounds, and brown hyaena, 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 and simply enjoying the wide-open spaces of this ancient lakebed.

DAYS 3 & 4 - Jacana Camp, Okavango Delta
The Okavango Delta represents survival at the other extreme: abundant water, sunlight and soil combine to form a paradise bursting with life. The contrast becomes amazingly clear as we move from desert to delta, from dry sand to water world.

We fly by light aircraft charter from the arid Kalahari Desert to lush Jacana Camp, situated in a permanently flooded region of the private Jao concession of the Okavango Delta. A true water camp, it represents the essence of the Delta, with year-round mokoro safaris as well as island bush walks and, water level permitting, motorboat cruises.

DAYS 5, 6 & 7- Ketumetse Trails Camp, Okavango Delta
Transfer from the water world of Jacana Camp to the game-rich plains of Abu's concession. This transfer itself becomes an adventure - depending on the Okavango's flood level, a combination of mokoro, motor boat and Land Rover create a unique extended game experience.

Activities concentrate on the open herd-filled plains surrounding "lechwe world," where the seasonal congregations of wildlife make the perfect setting for exclusive game drives, night drives and bush walks.

DAYS 8, 9 & 10- Linyanti Trails Camp, Linyanti Concession
After a light breakfast, we fly by light aircraft to the private Linyanti Concession; upon arrival driving to our private Explorer campsite, which is elegantly set up under massive African ebony and knobthorn acacia trees overlooking panoramic vistas of the Linyanti Swamps. The landscape changes from the Okavango's floodplains to savannah habitat with sweeping views, creating a paradise for a high diversity of wildlife and bird species. The first afternoon activity concentrates on exposure to different plains game, such as roan and sable antelope and their predators, the lion and leopard - with the endangered wild dog as an incredible bonus.

Activities include game drives in the private northern sector of the Concession, exploring a range of habitats, from riverbanks to scrub and forest, which reveal a myriad of game en route to slake their thirst from the river. The seldom seen sitatunga can also be spotted in the waterways. There's also a game drive to a private deck for lunch, then a siesta in hammocks and an afternoon canoe trip - all before taking an evening drive back to camp! We canoe on the Linyanti River for an amazing close-up view of the elephant herds. To complete the experience, on the third day we enjoy a full activity to the Savuti Channel, with lunch at a private hide overlooking a waterhole. The spectacular zebra migration moves between Linyanti and the Savuti Marsh through this area, as well as an impressive diversity of mammals, including large elephant herds. This day is specifically tailored to enjoy the seasonal and migratory movements of wildlife within the Linyanti and Savuti systems.

DAY 11 - Chobe boat cruise, Chobe National Park, Sussi & Chuma, Zambia
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 Adventurer campsite in the mid-afternoon, in time for a sunset game drive.

After a short morning drive and breakfast, we depart by light aircraft to the northern Chobe region of Chobe National Park. This area is famous for its vast herds of elephants and other unique species such as the elusive puku and Chobe bushbuck that move to the river in the hottest hours of the day. Enjoy a boat cruise in a catamaran-style shaded boat.

Leave Botswana and enter Zambia by way of the Kazangula border, a point where the four countries of Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia meet, to stay at Sussi & Chuma, in Livingstone.

DAY 12 - Transfer to Livingstone Airport
Enjoy a guided tour of 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. Transfer to Livingstone Airport to bid farewell to the adventure.

Seasonality: We take advantage of the changing seasons so as to provide the best in wildlife viewing on an annual basis. Therefore, at Ketumetse and Linyanti Trails Camp, we enjoy three night stays at each, to fully appreciate the massive diversity of area and activity.

Fully Serviced Camping

The newly designed, spacious walk-in hexagonal meru-style tents creates a sense of connectedness to the Earth and nature, enhancing the view and the feeling of the wild and the untamed. The style of accommodation takes you back to the long-gone era of Africa's exploration - on the ultimate Safari. Flowing linen of heavy, pure cottons, brass bucket showers and basins, separate flushing toilets and shower areas all add to the atmosphere, while luxury comforts and amenities are available, including a bush laundry service.

Guides

The entire safari is guided and hosted by professional guides, who share their in-depth knowledge to present a seamless safari experience.

Exclusive experience

To ensure total privacy and exclusivity, most areas in which we travel are private concessions in pristine, prime game locations. All camps are private and for the use of guests only.

Departure Dates 2009-2010

February to December

NOTE: This safari is also available on flexible dates and intinerary's for tailor-made trips for small groups. Please contact us for more information.

Notes and Inclusions and Exclusions

- We gladly arrange flexible tailor-made departures, subject to availability of space.

- Each departure is guaranteed from a minimum of 2 confirmed guests, with a maximum of 8 guests per safari.

- Included is accommodation on a sharing basis, all meals and drinks (except premium brands), national park fees, laundry (except Sussi Lodge), activities and all internal charters as specified in the detailed itinerary.

- Excluded are flights (other than specified in the safari itinerary), visas, compulsory insurance, all relevant entry and departure government taxes, all personal purchases (including curios, spirit liquors, telephone calls etc.), gratuities, optional extra activities, pre and post safari tours and meals or accommodation before or after the safari.

- Age Limits - Children from the age of 12 are welcome on all scheduled departures. For groups with children under 12, we will create a private tailor-made safari, on request. For guests over the age of 75, a certified medical certificate of full health must be provided.

- We reserve the right, due to situations beyond our control, to substitute a lodge or location with another of comparable quality. This will be advised timeously.

Please contact us for current rates: