11 days – Botswana Baobabs CLASSIC

This safari starts at the hotel in Maun where we have an evening meal at a local restaurant (own expense).

Day 1: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes: N/A
Overnight: Sedia Hotel – standard twin rooms with en suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone. Wifi available in public areas only.

The Okavango Delta is an extraordinary wilderness environment that needs no introduction. A vast wetland paradise in the center of the Kalahari Desert, fed by rivers from Angolan highlands and seasonal rains. It is an ever changing kaleidoscope of waterways, reed beds, islands and dry land that grows and shrinks each season like a living creature itself, supporting a breathtaking range of wildlife. Hippos, elephants, lions and buffalo, the shy Sitatunga antelope and the abundant birdlife – a truly amazing wildlife experience.

We drive around the Okavango through small villages, skirting the extremes of the flood to Etsha, where we follow thick sands tracks into the Okavango Delta panhandle. Your room overlooks a beautiful lagoon and you’ll enjoy a morning mokoro excursion and a sunset motorboat cruise.

Day 2-3: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge
Day 2-3: Lunch will be own expense at the lodge
Day 2-3: Dinner will be own expense at the lodge

Includes: Concession entry Okavango Delta and mokoro excursion.
Distance/time: ±310km, 5h00 actual driving time, as we skirt the Okavango the road can be very potholed, so we expect a travel day of ±6h00.
Optional Activities: Helicopter flight over the Delta (own expense).
Overnight: 2 nights Okavango Delta, Guma Lagoon – twin en-suite canvas chalets. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant. Wifi available.

Moremi Game Reserve is the jewel of Botswana and arguably one of the best wildlife viewing destinations in Africa. Moremi’s wide variety of habitats makes it a birdwatchers paradise.
Surrounding Moremi is a vast wilderness consisting of open grasslands and forest and abundant wildlife and our camp is set on a concession bordering the east of the reserve. Our days are spent on open 4WD game drives in Moremi GR and on the wildlife concession along the Mababe River watching the abundant wildlife including elephant, hippo, buffalo, lion & other game, both in Moremi Game Reserve and in the private concession reserves adjoining the park.

Day 4: Breakfast provided by the lodge
Day 4: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Day 5: Breakfast provided by the tented camp
Day 5: Lunch provided by the tented camp
Day 4-5: Dinner will be a set meal provided by the tented camp

Includes: Entrance fee to Moremi Game Reserve, morning & afternoon game drives in an open 4WD vehicle.
Distance/time: day 4: ±420km, 7h00 actual driving time but it’s a rough 4×4 route, and with a lunch stop we expect a full travel day of ±9h00 subject to sunset time.
Overnight: Serviced Camping, meru tents – twin camp beds with linen and en suite chemical toilet and bucket shower with hot water off the fire. A towel will be provided. No Wifi.

We head north from Moremi to the renowned Savuti section of the Chobe National Park. This is an excellent area for big predators with frequent sightings of lion and leopard, elephant and plains game. We spend our time on game drives through the dramatic open plains dotted with Acacia, and along the Savuti channel where we hope to see the lions and hyenas that make Savuti an outstanding wildlife destination. We overnight in our serviced tented camp. After dinner in our dining tent, fall asleep to the sounds of the African bush.

Day 6: Breakfast provided by the lodge
Day 6: Lunch provided by the mobile camp
Day 6: Dinner provided by tour mobile camp

Day 7: Breakfast provided by the mobile camp
Day 7: Lunch provided by the mobile camp
Day 7: Dinner provided by tour mobile camp

Includes: Entrance fees, morning and afternoon game drives in open 4WD game viewing vehicle.
Distance/time: ±150km, which involves game drive and transit so we expect a long travel day of ±08h00.
Overnight: Serviced Camping, meru tents – twin camp beds with linen and en suite chemical toilet and bucket shower with hot water off the fire. A towel will be provided. No Wifi.

Our next destination is Chobe National Park. We depart Savuti and head north through the remote wilderness of Botswana to the small town of Kasane and our lodge on the banks of the Chobe River. The following day we explore the national park on a morning game drive and spend the rest of the day on the river, enjoying lunch on our cruise boat with spectacular wildlife viewing. This is possibly the most satisfying and relaxing game viewing activity in Southern Africa. We get close to the herds of elephants, and have amazing sightings of crocodile, hippo, fish eagle and many more. As the sun sets we head out of the park with some amazing wildlife and sunset photographs.

Day 8: Breakfast provided by the mobile camp
Day 8: Lunch will be an own expense meal
Day 8: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Day 9: Breakfast provided by the lodge
Day 9: Lunch will be an own expense meal
Day 9: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes: Entrance Fees, game drive & Chobe River Boat Cruise.
Distance/time: ±220km, again it’s part game drive and part transit travel, so we expect a long travel day of ±06h30.
Overnight: Chobe Safari Lodge – twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar. Wifi available.

We leave Botswana behind and cross into Zimbabwe and make our way to Victoria Falls. The mighty Zambezi River thunders 100m over the gorge creating a magnificent spectacle. The spray from the waterfall sustains a rainforest surrounding the falls which is abundant with birdlife and protected in a National Park. We explore the Victoria Falls on foot with a local guide bringing the Falls to life with tales of the explorers of these ancient lands.

Day 10: Breakfast will be provided by the lodge
Day 10: Lunch is an own expense meal
Day 10: Dinner is an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes: Entrance fees to Victoria Falls.
Distance/time: ±85km, 1h30 actual driving time. It’s not a long way, but the border can be busy and slow so we anticipate a total travel day of ±3h00.
Optional Activities Sunset cruises, scenic flights & many more.
Overnight: PheZulu Guest Lodge, twin rooms with en-suite facilities. Swimming pool, restaurant, bar and telephone. Wifi available.

There is time for one of the many optional adventure activities (own expense) before the tour ends.

Day 11: Breakfast provided by the lodge
Day 11: Lunch will be an own expense meal
Day 11: Dinner own expense

Includes: N/A
Distance/time: N/A
Overnight: N/A

Please Note:
The distance and travel times quoted above are an estimate only, and subject to local road conditions and animal sightings!

Special Interest:
Botswana is considered Southern Africa’s premier game viewing destination. The remote wilderness, limited access for visitors and abundant game make for an exceptional wildlife safari.

Sustainable Tourism:
A Botswana guide travels with us through the National Parks. This ensures employment for local people and direct benefits for the community from tourism. The local guides are highly knowledgeable so please ask plenty of questions, you’ll be amazed at what you can learn.