14 days – Botswana Wildside

Departing Johannesburg at 06:30am we head north into Botswana. We pass Serowe, the birthplace of Botswana’s first president, Sir Seretse Khama, on our way to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. This 4300 hectare reserve situated on the Kalahari sandveld, has several natural waterholes and provides prime habitat for white rhino, zebra and wildebeest. We take our first game drive around the open grassland of Malema and Serowe Pans.

Day 1: Breakfast is not included
Day 1: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 1: Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes: Entrance to Khama Rhino Sanctuary.
Distance/time: ±650km, 7h30 actual driving time, so with a border crossing and lunch stop we expect a total travel day of ±9h30. This is a long travel day to us to a special overnight stop.
Overnight: Campsite – good ablution facilities with hot showers.

We drive through the Kalahari to Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. Situated on the banks of the Thamalakane River, Maun is a bustling frontier town where we prepare for the delta excursion. After setting up camp we have a relaxing afternoon at the swimming pool.

Day 2: Breakfast provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 2: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 2: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes: –
Distance/time: ±520km, 6h30 actual driving time. We leave Khama relatively early to arrive in Maun midday to shop for delta supplies, so an expected total travel day of ±8h00.
Overnight: Campsite – good ablution facilities with hot showers, swimming pool, restaurant & bar.

Our local guides will take us deep into the heart of the Okavango Delta on mekoro (dugout canoes). The delta forms as water flows from the Angolan highlands out over the Botswanan flat Kalahari Desert sands creating a delicate, green oasis for birds & wildlife. We will camp wild on remote islands in this amazingly dynamic environment & enjoy bush walks, bird watching & swimming in the clear water. Camping with our local guides we learn more about their lifestyle & culture. We return to Maun in the late afternoon of day 5 and have time for an optional (own expense) game flight over the Okavango, which will reveal a different aspect of the delta.

Day 3, 4: Breakfast provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 3, 4: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 3, 4: Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 5: Breakfast provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 5: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 5: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes: Entrance to Okavango Delta, mokoro excursion, morning and afternoon game walks with local guides.
Distance/time: Day 3 ±50km, 2h00 actual driving time to mekoro station. Mokoro ride to camp is dependent on campsite location so overall travel time for the day ±6h30.
Optional Activities: Scenic flight over the Okavango Delta (+/-USD95-120) pp depending on the number of people in each aircraft).
Overnight: Day 3 & 4: Wild camping – basic facilities with bucket shower. You will need to bring a towel.

We have 4 nights in these conservation areas with time to explore the various habitats. We spend our time on game drives watching the plentiful wildlife including wild dog, elephant, hippo, buffalo, lion & other game.
Moremi Game Reserve rates as one of the leading wildlife areas of the world and we take our open 4WD vehicle into Moremi for fantastic game viewing! Grasslands, floodplains, forests, lily lagoons and winding water channels combine to form a variety of game viewing habitats. Moving north over the sand ridge and into the Mababe depression we arrive at the Savuti Marsh. This
open grassland area attracts herds of zebra and wildebeest, which in turn draw the large lion prides for which Savuti is famous. We camp wild in the central Chobe National Park at either Savuti or ZweiZwei.

Day 6, 7, 8, 9: Breakfast provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 6, 7, 8, 9: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 6, 7, 8, 9: Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group

Includes: Entrance fees, morning and afternoon game drives in open 4WD game viewing vehicle.
Distance/time: 350kms ± 8½ hours, excludes game drives & stops for wildlife viewing (Maun – Savuti).
Overnight: Wild camping – basic ablutions with a bucket shower.

The Chobe River flows lazily along the northern boundary of the Chobe National Park attracting some of the largest herds of elephant in Africa. In the early morning we search for game on the flood plains of the Chobe River. The late afternoon game viewing “sundowner” cruise is a highlight as we see the mighty elephant herds returning to the Chobe River to quench their thirst. We camp at Kasane on the Chobe River for night 11.

Day 10: Breakfast provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 10: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 10: Dinner provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 11: Breakfast provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 11: Lunch provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 11: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes: Entrance fees, morning and afternoon game drives in open 4WD game viewing vehicle & sunset cruise on Chobe River.
Distance/time: ±150km, 5h30 actual driving time, excluding stops for sightseeing, expected total travel
time ±06h00.
Overnight: day 10 wild camping – basic ablutions with a bucket shower.
day 11 campsite – good ablution facilities, hot showers, swimming pool, bar & restaurant.

Overnight for 2 nights in Zambia near Livingstone town on the banks of the Zambezi River. Enjoy a spectacular walk through tropical vegetation to the very edge of the “Mosi oa Tunya” or “the smoke that thunders” – Victoria Falls. Opportunities to white water raft on the mighty Zambezi River, bungi jump, or take a “flight of angels” (own expense).

Day 12: Breakfast provided by tour leaders with the help of the group
Day 13: Breakfast provided by the lodge
Day 12, 13: Lunch will be an own expense meal
Day 12, 13: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

Includes: Entrance Fees to see the Victoria Falls.
Distance/time: ±70km, 1h00 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: White water rafting, sunset cruises, scenic flights & many more.
Overnight: Adventure Village Rooms – twin en-suite, hot showers, swimming pool, bar & restaurant.

Tour ends at 08:00 after breakfast. Transfers to local airports are available.

Day 14: Breakfast provided by the lodge
Day 14: Lunch not included
Day 14: Dinner not included

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

Please Note: The distance and travel times quoted above are an estimate only, and subject to local road conditions and animal sightings!
In the unlikely event that road conditions in the parks prevent us visiting Savuti, then the alternative route will be run via Nxai pan (It is possible that this may happen between January – April, but it is subject to rainfall, so only in special circumstances).

Sustainable Tourism:
The Khama Rhino Sanctuary Trust is a community-based wildlife project established in 1992 to assist in saving the vanishing rhino, restore an area formerly teeming with wildlife to its previous natural state and provide economic benefits to the local Motswana community through tourism and the sustainable use of natural resources.