Wilderness Safaris Explorations Botswana
Featured Lodge - Jack's Camp, Kalahari - Makgadikgadi
Jack's Camp is located deep in the Kalahari Desert on
the edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans, the largest saltpans in the world. Jack's
Camp is a classic desert safari camp accommodating 20 guests in ten large
walk-in tents, each with en-suite bathroom with flush toilet and shower.
Accommodation is comfortable and in keeping with the character of the
Makgadikgadi. Facilities include a mess tent for dining and a tea tent with
Persian carpet cushions for socialising. After the rains (December to April),
there can be enormous herds of Wildebeest, Zebra and Springbok - with the
accompanying predators - on the open grasslands. The summer rains also leave a
warm shallow layer of water that entices Waterfowl and Flamingos. Activities are
conducted in open 4x4 vehicles custom designed for this terrain and accompanied
by knowledgeable guides. In the dry winter months, all-purpose ATV vehicles (a
four wheeler motorcycle/Quad bikes) available, allowing guests to travel across
the saltpans. Walks with a Bushman tracker and a visit to Chapman's Baobab
- the historical baobab tree used by Livingstone, Selous and other early
explorers - are activities also on offer.
MIGRATION
ROUTES
An Adventurer Exploration - 8 nights / 9 days
Tour direction : Xigera Mokoro Trails to Zambia (also
operates in the reverse direction)
Combination serviced camping in private concession areas and exclusive campsites
in National Parks and a lodge overnight in Zambia.
Experience a nostalgic camping safari that recreates a sense of wildlife viewing
adventure reminiscent of the times of the early African explorers.
The style and essence of Wilderness Safaris' Adventurer Safaris takes you back
to the bygone days of Africa's exploration. Our 3m x3m dome tents, complete with
mini-verandas, allow you to feel more connected to nature, accentuating the
feeling of the wild and untamed. Pure cotton linen bedrolls (with duvets) on GI
stretchers, bedside table with silver lantern and mini luggage benches add to
the atmosphere. Shared separate toilet and shower `bathrooms' with old-style tin
bucket showers and basins create simple serviced comfort. Adventurer camping
aims to bring the guest closer to nature, by means of lively campfires,
hurricane lanterns, diverse activities and a warm atmosphere permeating the camp
(and its simple comforts). Adventurer camps are specifically outfitted to create
that camping feel with a clear emphasis on essential comforts and pristine
wilderness experience.
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 as much privacy and exclusivity
as possible, most areas in which we travel are private concessions in prime
locations. All Explorations camps are private and for the use of Adventurer
Exploration guests only, while Natural Mystic Lodge is shared with other guests.
Routes: The route takes the time to explore the contrasts,
extremes and continually moving wildlife of northern Botswana: from the
waterless Savute Marsh to the broad vistas of the Linyanti with its wooded
deciduous forests, the crystal-clear waterways and fertile green islands of the
Okavango Delta to the roaring cascades of the Victoria Falls.
Transfers: To maximise guests' travel time, a variety of
transport modes that bring out the best of each area is used: flying in private
charters and overland transfers provide both a bird's-eye view and an in-depth
experience of the contrasting landscapes of Botswana.
Seasonality: We adapt with the changing seasons so as to
provide the best possibilities of wildlife viewing on an annual basis.
Therefore, between 1 December and 31 May, to maximise the possibility of viewing
the zebra migration and other game that moves between Linyanti and Savute at
this time, the safari switches a night from Linyanti Trails Camp to Savute in
the Chobe National Park. Please note that the zebra are usually all back in the
Linyanti region by the end of May, which heralds the end of the migration. If
rains are poor, this migration usually does not occur.
Brief Itinerary
Winter (1 June to 30 November):
Days 1 & 2: Arrive in Maun & fly to Xigera Mokoro Trails,
Okavango Delta.
Days 3 & 4: Fly to Lechwe Island Camp, north eastern Okavango
Delta.
Day 5: Savute Marsh, Chobe National Park.
Days 6 & 7: Linyanti Trails Camp, Linyanti.
Day 8: Fly to Kasane for Chobe River boat cruise; drive to
Natural Mystic
Lodge, Livingstone.
Day 9: Guided tour of Victoria Falls, transfer to airport.
Summer (1 December to 31 May): As above, with 1 night removed
from Linyanti Trails Camp and added to Savute Marsh, Chobe
National Park.
Please note that this safari is also offered in the reverse direction.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 & 2: Xigera Mokoro Trails, Okavango Delta After arrival in Maun,
we fly by light aircraft to the water-filled paradise of the private Xigera
area, within the Moremi Game Reserve. Xigera is the ultimate Delta experience,
with serene waters flowing through innumerable channels around remote islands
and a profusion of plant and animal life. There is no better way to experience
the Okavango than to travel through it by mokoro, walking and camping out on a
vegetated island - all essential elements of the Xigera Mokoro Trails
experience. The experience is aimed at exposing the permanently flooded inner
Delta, in the serene waterways and on the islands of trees and bush. Our guest
tents are smaller here than the rest of the safari, with a gauze main frame,
thus enhancing the views. Key to the experience is mobility, therefore bedrolls
are on the ground (and not on a stretcher) and a battery-powered lamp provides
light.
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 of game species, some specially adapted to water, such as the rare
sitatunga and the familiar red lechwe. Walking activities vary in length and
duration through the seasons, especially in the months when the Okavango is at
peak flood where they become shorter (June, July and August) as more islands
become flooded.
Day 3 & 4: Lechwe Island Camp, North-eastern Okavango Delta Fly
by light aircraft charter from Xigera Mokoro Trails directly to the
north-eastern corner of the Okavango Delta at the junction to the Selinda
Spillway, to our pre-erected Adventurer camp. Lechwe Island Camp is located in
the south-western sector of the Selinda private concession, in a seasonally
flooded portion of the Okavango Delta where it joins into the Selinda Spillway.
The campsite is situated on a wooded island overlooking a floodplain area, the
channel in front of camp alternately flooded or dry depending on the season.
Activities concentrate around the bushy and wooded islands, open plains and the
flooded and dry channels surrounding the camp. In this area seasonal
congregations of wildlife (especially in the late afternoons) make this a great
experience on game drives, night drives and nature walks on the private
concession.
Day 5: Savute Marsh, Chobe National Park Departing early from
camp, we travel north and east through the private concession and Chobe National
Park, stopping en route for game sightings through parts of the area and lunch.
This long but interesting drive gives the perfect introduction to the varying
habitats of a dry and flat northern Botswana, from the geographically
interesting Selinda Spillway (Great Rift Valley fault line) to the open savannah
of the Savute Marsh with its granite hillocks. We arrive at our Adventurer
campsite in the mid-afternoon, in time for a short sunset game drive on the open
and dry, scenic Savute Marsh.
Day 6 & 7: Linyanti Trails Camp, Linyanti Concession We leave
early, heading towards the Linyanti region. This can be an all-day game drive,
with lunch en route at a shady place in the Savuti Channel. This game/ transfer
drive is specifically designed to gain an intimate view of the "Stolen River".
If the guide believes the wildlife better in the vicinity of the trails camp as
the permanent waters are there, we will head directly there and embark on an
afternoon game drive to begin our search. 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 an area 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,
depending on whether there are hippo pods moving in and out of the areas in
which we canoe.)
Day 8: Chobe River boat cruise & Natural Mystic Lodge, Zambia
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 - even more so
in the dry season. Enjoy a lunch served during the boat cruise on the
catamaran-style shaded boat.
We 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 Natural Mystic Lodge, arriving in the late afternoon. Natural Mystic Lodge
is located 20km from Livingstone - the "Adventure Capital" of Zambia - 30km from
the spectacular Victoria Falls, and 50km from the Kazangula border between
Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. All 10 en-suite thatched chalets have a
view of the Zambezi River. The chalets are built into a natural setting, and
have a traditional African feel to them, while providing the necessary comfort,
privacy and safety guests require. The area surrounding the lodge is covered in
a dense Mopane forest combined with deciduous savannah grassland. Nature's
sounds of birdlife, frogs, baboons, monkeys and hippo create a mystical mood,
while free-roaming elephants are frequent visitors to the grounds.
Day 9: Guided tour of the Victoria Falls; 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.
After the Victoria Falls visit we transfer directly to Livingstone Airport and
bid farewell to the adventure.
NOTE: THIS ITINERARY IS AVAILABLE ON FLEXIBLE DATES AND ITINERARIES, FOR
TAILOR-MADE TRIPS FOR SMALL GROUPS.
PANS, SANDS AND RIVERS
An Adventurer Exploration - 6 nights / 7 days
Direction - San Camp to Xigera Mokoro Trails
Serviced camping in private concession areas and exclusive campsites in National
Parks.
The style and essence of Wilderness Safaris' Adventurer Safaris takes you back
to the bygone days of Africa's exploration - the ultimate safari. Our 3m x3m
dome tents, complete with verandas, allow you to feel more connected to nature,
accentuating the feeling of the wild and untamed. Pure cotton linen bedrolls
(with duvets) on GI stretchers, bedside table with silver lantern and mini
luggage benches add to the atmosphere. Shared separate toilet and shower
'bathrooms' with old-style tin bucket showers and basins create simple serviced
comfort.
Adventurer camping aims to bring the guest closer to nature, by means of lively
campfires, hurricane lanterns, diverse activities and a warm atmosphere
permeating the camp (and its simple comforts). Adventurer camps are specifically
outfitted to create that camping feel with a clear emphasis on essential
comforts and pristine wilderness experience.
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 privacy and exclusivity, most
areas in which we travel are situated in private concessions in pristine, prime
locations. All Explorations camps are private and for the use of Adventurer
Exploration guests only.
Routes: The route takes the time to explore the contrasts,
extremes and continually moving wildlife of northern Botswana: from the
waterless moonscape of the Makgadikgadi saltpans to the broad vistas of the
savannahs of the Nxai Pans, ending in the fertile green islands of the Okavango
Delta and its crystal-clear waterways.
Transfers: To maximise guests' travel time, a variety of
transport modes that bring out the best of each area is used: flying in private
charters and overland transfers provide both a bird's-eye view and an in-depth
experience of the contrasting landscapes of Botswana.
Brief Itinerary
Days 1 & 2: Arrive in Maun, fly to Camp Kalahari, Makgadikgadi Pans.
Days 3 & 4: Drive to Nxai Pan, Nxai Pan National Park.
Days 5 & 6: Drive to Maun, then fly to Xigera Mokoro Trails,
Okavango Delta.
Day 7: Fly back to Maun.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 & 2: Camp Kalahari, Makgadikgadi
Pans After arrival in Maun, we drive 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 super-lake
fossilised 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 encounters with suricates (meerkats), one of the
most endearing animals in the world. Experience phenomenal geology, quad biking,
authentic San (bushman) cultural walks and fascinating Stone Age archaeological
artefacts - or simply enjoy the wide-open spaces of this ancient lakebed.
Day 3 & 4: Nxai Pan, Nxai Pan National Park After an early
breakfast, we depart overland to our pre-erected private Adventurer campsite in
the Nxai Pan National Park, stopping for lunch en route at the famous Baines
Baobabs, which Thomas Baines painted on his exploratory expedition in the late
19th century. These pans are fossilised, covered with short nutritious grasses
and stunted acacia trees, creating wildlife-rich areas surrounded by vegetated
dune savannahs. Extensive game drives explore the surrounding pans, with an
excellent chance of seeing spectacular dry-season predator-and-prey interaction
at the waterholes.
Day 5 & 6: Xigera Mokoro Trails, Okavango Delta After arrival
in Maun by road, we fly by light aircraft to the water-filled paradise of the
private Xigera area, within the Moremi Game Reserve. Xigera is the ultimate
Delta experience, with serene waters flowing through innumerable channels around
remote islands and a profusion of plant and animal life. There is no better way
to experience the Okavango than to travel through it by mokoro, walking and
camping out on a vegetated island - all essential elements of the Xigera Mokoro
Trails experience. The experience is aimed at exposing the permanently flooded
inner Delta, in the serene waterways and on the islands of trees and bush. Our
guest tents are smaller here than the rest of the safari, with a gauze main
frame, thus enhancing the views. Key to the experience is mobility, therefore
bedrolls are on the ground (and not on a stretcher) and a battery-powered lamp
provides light.
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 of game species, some specially adapted to water, such as the rare
sitatunga and the familiar red lechwe. Walking activities vary in length and
duration through the seasons, especially in the months when the Okavango is at
peak flood where they become shorter (June, July and August) as more islands
become flooded.
Day 7: Charter flight to Maun After an early game activity and
breakfast, we fly to Maun, where the safari ends.
NOTE: THIS SAFARI IS FLEXIBLE WITH REGARD TO DATES AND ITINERARIES FOR
TAILOR-MADE TRIPS FOR SMALL GROUPS.
THE GREAT BOTSWANA JOURNEY
A Discoverer Exploration - 7 nights /8 days
Tour direction: Ketumetse Trails Camp to Zambia Combination Wilderness lodges
and fully serviced camping in private concession areas
Experience a nostalgic, turn-of-the-century camping / lodge safari that
recreates the sense of a game-viewing adventure reminiscent of the times of the
great African explorers. At the turn of the century, explorers and adventurers
made their way leisurely along the dusty paths of Africa, allowing the great
continent to seep into their souls. Wilderness' guided mobile safaris takes time
to experience and explore Botswana's contrasts and extremes: from the seemingly
harsh Savannah of the Linyanti and its forests to the lushly vegetated wetlands
of the Okavango Delta.
Wilderness Safaris' newly designed, spacious walk-in meru tents create a sense
of connectedness to the Earth and nature, enhances both the view and the feeling
of the wild and untamed. The style of accommodation in the private Discoverer
campsites takes you back to the era of Africa?s exploration. Pure linens of
heavy cottons, brass bucket showers and basins, separate flushing toilets and
shower areas all add to the atmosphere, while luxury comforts and amenities are
elegantly provided.
Discoverer camping aims to bring the guest closer to nature, by means of a
lively camp fire, hurricane lanterns, wide-ranging activities and a warm
atmosphere complimenting the comfort and added luxury of the lodges visited.
Discoverer camps are specifically outfitted to ensure that old-style camping
feel with a clear emphasis on necessary and stylish comfortable interiors,
creating a peerless wilderness experience.
Guides: The entire safari is guided and hosted by professional
trained guides, who share their in-depth knowledge to present a seamless safari
experience.
Exclusive experience: Many areas in which we travel are private
concessions. All Discoverer camps are private and for the use of Exploration
travellers only, while our lodges are open to all Wilderness Safaris guests.
Routes: To maximise guests' travel time, a variety of travel
modes that bring out the best of each area is used: flying in private charters
and overland transfers which provide both a bird's-eye view and an in-depth
visual experience of the contrasting landscapes of Botswana.
Brief Itinerary
Days 1 & 2: Ketumetse Trails Camp, North-eastern Okavango Delta
Days 3 & 4: Xigera Camp, Okavango Delta
Days 5 & 6: Linyanti Discoverer Camp, Linyanti Concession
Day 7: Chobe River boat cruise, Chobe National Park and River
Club, Zambia
Day 8: Victoria Falls, Transfer to Livingstone Airport
Detailed Itinerary
Days 1 & 2: Ketumetse Trails Camp, North-eastern Okavango Delta After
arrival in Maun, fly by light aircraft to our superb Ketumetse Trails Camp,
situated in an exclusive concession. Ketumetse is located in the south-western
sector of the Selinda private concession, in the seasonally flooded portion of
the Okavango Delta where it joins into the Selinda Spillway.
Our Discoverer campsite has been erected prior to our arrival in the
wildlife-rich seasonal plains region under large shade trees, affording some
views of the floodplain in cool comfort.
Activities concentrate around the bushy and wooded islands, open plains and the
flooded and dry channels surrounding the camp. In this area seasonal
congregations of wildlife (especially in the late afternoons) make this the
perfect place for game drives, night drives and nature walks on the private
concession.Days 3 & 4: Xigera Camp, Okavango Delta We fly by
light aircraft to the abundant waters of the permanently flooded region of the
Okavango Delta, where sunlight and rich soil combine to produce a paradise
bursting with life and diversity. Xigera Camp is a luxury tented camp situated
in the Moremi Game Reserve in the heart of the Okavango Delta. Xigera has
something for everyone, in an area where there are no other camps and where
permanent water allows one to take part in a variety of activities. Enjoy a true
Delta experience while you sit back in a mokoro (dugout canoe) and silently
glide through the tranquil Okavango waterways or watch the sunset and birds
gliding home to roost from a motorboat on the Xigera Lagoon. When water levels
permit (usually September to May), game drives allow the opportunity to observe
wildlife and the unique Delta scenery from the comfort of a Land Rover. For the
more adventurous we can track animals on foot.
Nestled in a magnificent riverine forest, Xigera consists of 10 luxuriously
furnished tented rooms with en-suite facilities and outdoor shower. Each room is
raised off the ground on a wooden deck offering superb views of the seasonal
floodplain and waterhole. Meals and drinks are enjoyed under the thatch of the
raised lounge, pub and dining area overlooking a permanently flowing channel. A
traditional boma offers alternative dining under the African stars. Wooden
walkways wind through the forest connecting the rooms to the main area. There is
a plunge pool for cooling off and relaxation. The wooden footbridge, a feature
unique to Xigera, connects Xigera to the next island and is often used by lion
and leopard moving between the islands, providing guests with great viewing
opportunities. Birding in the area is excellent, with Pel's Fishing Owl, Slaty
Egret, Wattled Crane, African Skimmers and a host of eagles, vultures, raptors
and kingfishers to be found. The area has the highest density of the rare
sitatunga antelope found anywhere in the Okavango Delta.
Days 5 & 6: Linyanti Discoverer Camp, Linyanti Concession We
fly by light aircraft to the private Linyanti Concession, then game drive to our
private Discoverer camp. This campsite is elegantly set up under large shade
trees overlooking panoramic vistas of the Linyanti Swamps. The landscape varies
from the floodplains of the Linyanti to savannah habitat with sweeping views,
creating a paradise for a high diversity of wildlife and bird species.
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 wildlife en route to slake their thirst from the river. The
seldom-seen sitatunga can also be spotted in the waterways, as well as rare
plains game such as roan and sable antelope, and of course their predators, the
lion and leopard ? with the endangered wild dog as an incredible bonus.
There is also a game activity (either game walk or game drive) to a private area
for lunch, then a siesta in hammocks and the possibility of an afternoon canoe
trip, before returning to camp at dusk. (This activity is not always possible,
as it is dependent on whether there are hippo pods moving in and out of the
areas in which we canoe). To complete the experience, in the rainy season we can
possibly enjoy a full-day activity to the Savuti Channel, with lunch at a scenic
setting under a shade tree. The spectacular but seasonal (rain-dependent) zebra
migration moves between Linyanti and the Savute Marsh between end November and
March, the area also boasting an impressive diversity of mammals, including
large elephant herds. When undertaken and during the correct season, this day is
specifically tailored to enjoy the seasonal and migratory movements of wildlife,
although sighting the zebra migration is not guaranteed.
Day 7: Chobe River boat cruise, Chobe National Park and River Club, Zambia
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 lunch
on the 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 the River Club, in
Livingstone.
The River Club is situated on the Zambian side of the Zambezi River, 18
kilometres upstream from Victoria Falls. The camp has a distinct Edwardian
flavour and guests here have the opportunity to enjoy the sights and sounds of
Victoria Falls and the Zambezi River in a peaceful and tranquil setting away
from the crowds. Ten luxurious, thatched chalets overlook the Zambezi River, and
have en-suite facilities including a bath, shower, toilet and basin. All the
rooms have fans. The rooms are all completely open in the front giving guests
the best possible views of the Zambezi. The main dining room and lounge also has
an interesting library. Daily trips to the Victoria Falls are a highlight.
Boating to the Zambezi River?s islands provides relaxed afternoon activities,
and fishing and sundowner trips are offered. A rich bird life is found in the
area. Hippos are regularly sighted (and heard) along the river's edge.
Day 8: Victoria Falls, 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 after the guided tour of the Victoria Falls and
bid farewell to the adventure.
NOTE: THIS ITINERARY IS AVAILABLE ON FLEXIBLE DATES AND ITINERARIES, FOR
TAILOR-MADE SAFARIS FOR SMALL GROUPS UP TO EIGHT GUESTS.
THE GREAT WILDERNESS JOURNEY
A Discoverer Exploration - 11 nights /12 days
Tour direction: San Camp to Zambia (also operates in the reverse
direction) Combination Wilderness lodges and fully serviced camping in private
concession areas. Experience a nostalgic, turn-of-the-century camping / lodge
safari that recreates the sense of a game-viewing adventure reminiscent of the
times of the great African explorers.
At the turn of the century, explorers and adventurers made their way leisurely
along the dusty paths of Africa, allowing the great continent to seep into their
souls. Wilderness' guided mobile safaris 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.
Wilderness Safaris' newly designed, spacious walk-in meru tents create a sense
of connectedness to the Earth and nature, enhancing the view and the feeling of
the wild and untamed.
The style of accommodation in the private Discoverer campsites takes you back to
the era of Africa's exploration. Pure linens of heavy cottons, brass bucket
showers and basins, separate flushing toilets and shower areas all add to the
atmosphere, while luxury comforts and amenities are elegantly provided.
Discoverer camping aims to bring the guest closer to nature, by means of a
lively camp fire, hurricane lanterns, wide-ranging activities and a warm
atmosphere complimenting the comfort and added luxury of the lodges visited.
Discoverer camps are specifically outfitted to ensure that old-style camping
feel with a clear emphasis on necessary and stylish comfortable interiors,
creating a peerless wilderness experience.
Guides: The entire safari is guided and hosted by professional
trained guides, who share their in-depth knowledge to present a seamless safari
experience.
Exclusive experience: Many areas in which we travel are private
concessions. All Discoverer camps are private and for the use of Exploration
travellers only, while our lodges are open to all Wilderness Safaris guests.
Routes: To maximise guests' travel time, a variety of travel
modes that bring out the best of each area is used: flying in private charters
and overland transfers which provide both a bird's-eye view and an in-depth
visual experience of the contrasting landscapes of Botswana.
Seasonality: We take advantage of the changing seasons so as to
provide the best in wildlife viewing on an annual basis. Therefore, we enjoy
three night stays at both Ketumetse Trails Camp and Linyanti Discoverer Camp, to
fully appreciate the diversity of area and activity.
Brief Itinerary
Days 1 & 2: Arrive in Maun, fly to San Camp, Makgadikgadi Pans.
Days 3 & 4: Fly to Jacana Camp, Okavango Delta.
Days 5, 6 & 7: Combination of land and water activity to
Ketumetse Trails Camp, north eastern Okavango Delta.
Days 8, 9 & 10: Fly to Linyanti Discoverer Camp, Linyanti.
Day 11: Fly to Kasane for Chobe River boat cruise; then drive
to Sussi Lodge, Livingstone.
Day 12: Guided walk around Victoria Falls, transfer to airport.
Please note that this safari also operates in the reverse direction.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 & 2: San Camp, Makgadikgadi Pans After arrival in Maun, you will
be met by your guide or our representative and 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, and authentic San (bushman) cultural walks, or
simply enjoy the wide-open spaces of this ancient lakebed. Guests are
accommodated in 6 large walk-in green canvas tents on slightly elevated wooden
platforms with en suite facilities (bucket shower and flush toilet). Camp
amenities include a mess tent for dining and a tea tent with Persian carpet
cushions for socialising. After the rains (December to April), there can be
enormous herds of Wildebeest, Zebra and Springbok (with the accompanying
predators) on the open grasslands. The summer rains also leave a warm shallow
layer of water that entices waterfowl and flamingos. Activities are conducted in
open 4x4 vehicles custom designed for this terrain and accompanied by
knowledgeable guides. In the winter months only, all-purpose ATV vehicles (four
wheeler motorcycles) are available, allowing guests to travel across the
saltpans. A walk with a Bushman tracker is a highlight activity option.
Day 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, on a light
aircraft charter from San to Jacana Camp. Lush Jacana Camp is 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. In fact, when the flood levels are at their peak we are able
to motorboat from the airstrip to the lodge, a truly surreal camp arrival!
Jacana Camp is set in one of the wetland areas most densely populated with
sitatunga and red lechwe. Wildlife concentrations depend on the water flow and
volume, thus changing from season to season, but all the large animals can be
found in the area including elephant, lion, leopard and buffalo. Pel's Fishing
Owl is a favourite amongst birders as well as Greater and Lesser Jacanas. Jacana
Camp has 5 meru-style tents. Each tent is on a wooden deck overlooking the
floodplains and has an en-suite bathroom with flush toilet and shower. The
bathroom is enclosed but roofless, allowing for showers by starlight. The camp
has a plunge pool for cooling off from the midday sun. The main dining area is
on an elevated wooden deck between two magnificent sycamore fig trees and
surrounded by dense wild date palms. Downstairs, there is a cosy pub and lounge
with an area perfect for an open fire under the stars.
Day 5, 6 & 7: Ketumetse Trails Camp, North-eastern Okavango Delta
We depart this morning by aircraft to our superb Ketumetse Trails Camp,
situated in an exclusive concession. Ketumetse is located in the south-western
sector of the Selinda private concession, in the seasonally flooded portion of
the Okavango Delta where it joins into the Selinda Spillway. Our exclusive
Discoverer campsite has been erected prior to our arrival in the wildlife-rich
seasonal plains region under large shade trees, affording some views of the
floodplain in cool comfort.
Activities concentrate around the bushy and wooded islands, open plains and the
flooded and dry channels surrounding the camp. In this area seasonal
congregations of wildlife (especially in the late afternoons) make for a great
experience on game drives, night drives and nature walks on the private
concession.
Day 8, 9 & 10: Linyanti Discoverer Camp, Linyanti Concession
After a light breakfast, we drive north eastwards to the private Linyanti
Concession; arriving at our private Discoverer camp, which is elegantly set up
under African ebony and knobthorn acacia trees overlooking panoramic vistas of
the Linyanti Swamps. This can be an all-day game drive/ transfer, with lunch en
route at a shady place en route. This game/ transfer drive is specifically
designed to gain an intimate view of the "Stolen River" as well as enjoying a
part of the Selinda Spillway and its rich floodplains. The landscape of the
Linyanti varies from floodplains to open dry land savannah and forested habitat
with sweeping views, creating a paradise for a high diversity of wildlife and
bird species. 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 wildlife en route to slake their thirst from
the river. The seldom-seen sitatunga can also be spotted in the waterways, as
well as rare plains game, such as roan and sable antelope and of course their
predators, the lion and leopard - with the endangered wild dog as an incredible
bonus.
There is also a game drive to a private area for lunch, then a siesta in
hammocks and the possibility of an afternoon canoe trip, before returning to
camp at dusk. (This activity is not always possible, as it is dependent on
whether there are hippo pods moving in and out of the areas in which we canoe.)
To complete the experience, in the rain season and on the third day we can
possibly enjoy a full-day activity to the Savute Channel, with lunch at a scenic
setting under a shade tree. The spectacular but seasonal (rain dependant) zebra
migration moves between Linyanti and the Savute Marsh between end November and
March, the area also boasting an impressive diversity of mammals, including
large elephant herds. When undertaken and during the correct season, this day is
specifically tailored to enjoy the seasonal and migratory movements of wildlife,
although sighting the zebra migration is not guaranteed.
Day 11: Chobe River boat cruise, Chobe National Park and Sussi Lodge,
Zambia 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 in the dry season 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 lunch on the boat cruise in a
catamaran-style shaded boat. We leave Botswana and enter Zambia by way of the
Kazangula border, a point where the four countries of Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe
and Namibia meet, arriving in the late afternoon at Sussi Lodge, in Livingstone.
Guest accommodation at Sussi Lodge consists of 10 luxury tree-houses built into
the living canopy of giant ebony trees lining the riverbank. Each unit has a
mini bar, en-suite bathroom, mosquito nets, overhead fan and a private view of
the Zambezi from its own deck among the branches. The main lodge building
features a raised bar/lounge deck, open-air dining area, swimming pool and lawns
down to the water's edge.
Day 12: Victoria Falls, Transfer to Livingstone Airport The
grand finale is 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 immediately after the tour of the Victoria Falls
and bid farewell to the adventure.
NOTE: THIS ITINERARY IS AVAILABLE ON FLEXIBLE DATES AND ITINERARIES, FOR
TAILOR-MADE SAFARIS FOR SMALL GROUPS UP TO EIGHT GUESTS.
UNTAMED LANDS
An Adventurer Exploration - 12 nights/13 days
Tour Direction - Camp Kalahari to Zambia
Combination serviced camping in private concession areas with exclusive
campsites in National Parks and a lodge overnight in Zambia.
Experience a nostalgic camping safari that recreates a sense of wildlife viewing
adventure reminiscent of the times of the early African explorers.
The style and essence of Wilderness Safaris' Adventurer Safaris takes you back
to the bygone days of Africa's exploration. Our 3m x3m dome tents, complete with
mini-verandas, allow you to feel more connected to nature, accentuating the
feeling of the wild and untamed. Pure cotton linen bedrolls (with duvets) on GI
stretchers, bedside table with silver lantern and mini luggage benches add to
the atmosphere. Shared separate toilet and shower 'bathrooms' with old-style tin
bucket showers and basins create simple serviced comfort.
Adventurer camping aims to bring the guest closer to nature, by means of lively
campfires, hurricane lanterns, diverse activities and a warm atmosphere
permeating the camp (and its simple comforts). Adventurer camps are specifically
outfitted to create that camping feel with a clear emphasis on essential
comforts and pristine wilderness experience.
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 privacy and exclusivity, most
areas in which we travel are private concessions in prime locations. All
Explorations camps are private and for the use of Adventurer Exploration guests
only.
Routes: The route takes the time to explore the contrasts,
extremes and continually moving wildlife of northern Botswana: from the
waterless Savute Marsh to the broad vistas of the Linyanti with its wooded
deciduous forests, the crystal-clear waterways and fertile green islands of the
Okavango Delta to the roaring, cascading waters of the Victoria Falls.
Transfers: To maximise guests' travel time, a variety of
transport modes that bring out the best of each area is used: flying in private
charters and overland transfers provide both a bird's-eye view and an in-depth
experience of the contrasting landscapes of Botswana.
Seasonality: We adapt with the changing seasons so as to
provide the best possibilities of wildlife viewing on an annual basis.
Therefore, between 1 December and 31 May, to maximise the possibility of viewing
the zebra migration and other game at this time that moves between Linyanti and
Savute, the safari switches a night from Linyanti Trails Camp to Savute, in
Chobe National Park. Please note that the zebra are usually back in the Linyanti
region by the end of May which heralds the end of the migration. If rains are
poor, this migration usually does not occur.
Brief Itinerary
Winter (1 June to 30 November).
Days 1 & 2: Arrive in Maun, fly to Camp Kalahari, Makgadikgadi
Pans.
Days 3 & 4: Drive to Nxai Pan, Nxai Pan National Park.
Days 5 & 6: Drive to Maun, fly to Xigera Mokoro Trails,
Okavango Delta.
Days 7 & 8: Fly to Lechwe Island Camp, north eastern Okavango
Delta.
Day 9: Drive to Savute Marsh, Chobe National Park.
Days 10 & 11: Drive to Linyanti Trails Camp, Chobe/Linyanti.
Day 12: Fly to Kasane for Chobe River boat cruise; drive to
Natural
Mystic Lodge, Livingstone.
Day 13: Guided walk of the Victoria Falls, transfer to airport.
Summer (1 December to 31 May): As above, with 1 night removed
from Linyanti Trails Camp and added to Savute Marsh, Chobe National Park.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 & 2: Camp Kalahari, Makgadikgadi
Pans After arrival in Maun, we drive 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 super-lake
fossilised 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 encounters with suricates (meerkats), one of the
most endearing animals in the world. Experience phenomenal geology, quad biking,
authentic San (bushman) cultural walks and fascinating Stone Age archaeological
artefacts - or simply enjoy the wide-open spaces of this ancient lakebed.
Day 3 & 4: Nxai Pan, Nxai Pan National Park After an early
breakfast, we depart overland to our pre-erected private Adventurer campsite in
the Nxai Pan National Park, stopping for lunch en route at the famous Baines
Baobabs, which Thomas Baines painted on his exploratory expedition in the late
19th century. These pans are fossilised, covered with short nutritious grasses
and stunted acacia trees, creating wildlife-rich areas surrounded by vegetated
dune savannahs. Extensive game drives explore the surrounding pans, with an
excellent chance of seeing spectacular dry-season predator-and-prey interaction
at the waterholes.
Day 5 & 6: Xigera Mokoro Trails, Okavango Delta After arrival
in Maun by road, we fly by light aircraft to the water-filled paradise of the
private Xigera area, within the Moremi Game Reserve. Xigera is the ultimate
Delta experience, with serene waters flowing through innumerable channels around
remote islands and a profusion of plant and animal life. There is no better way
to experience the Okavango than to travel through it by mokoro, walking and
camping out on a vegetated island - all essential elements of the Xigera Mokoro
Trails experience. The experience is aimed at exposing the permanently flooded
inner delta, in the serene waterways and on the islands of trees and bush. Our
guest tents are smaller here than the rest of the safari, with a gauze main
frame, thus enhancing the views. Key to the experience is mobility, therefore
bedrolls are on the ground (and not on a stretcher) and a battery-powered lamp
provides light.
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 of game species, some specially adapted to water, such as the rare
sitatunga and the familiar red lechwe. Walking activities vary in length and
duration through the seasons, especially in the months when the Okavango is at
peak flood where they become shorter (June, July and August) as more islands
become flooded.
Day 7 & 8: Lechwe Island Camp, North-eastern Okavango Delta Fly
by light aircraft charter from Xigera Mokoro Trails directly to the
north-eastern corner of the Okavango Delta at the junction to the Selinda
Spillway, to our pre-erected Adventurer camp. Lechwe Island Camp is located in
the south-western sector of the Selinda private concession, in a seasonally
flooded portion of the Okavango Delta where it joins into the Selinda Spillway.
The campsite is situated on a wooded island overlooking a floodplain area, the
channel in front of camp alternately flooded or dry depending on the season.
Activities concentrate around the bushy and wooded islands, open plains and the
flooded and dry channels surrounding the camp. In this area seasonal
congregations of wildlife (especially in the late afternoons) make this a great
experience on game drives, night drives and nature walks on the private
concession.
Day 9: Savute Marsh, Chobe National Park Departing early from
camp, we travel north and east through the private concession and Chobe National
Park, stopping en route for game sightings through parts of the area and lunch.
This long but interesting drive gives the perfect introduction to the varying
habitats of a dry and flat northern Botswana, from the geographically
interesting Selinda Spillway (Great Rift Valley fault line) to the open savannah
of the Savute Marsh with its granite hillocks.
We arrive at our Adventurer campsite in the mid-afternoon, in time for a short
sunset game drive on the open and dry, scenic Savute Marsh.
Day 10 & 11: Linyanti Trails Camp, Linyanti Concession We leave
early, heading towards the Linyanti region. This can be an all-day game drive,
with lunch en route at a shady place in the Savuti Channel. This game/ transfer
drive is specifically designed to gain an intimate view of the "Stolen River".
If the guide believes the wildlife better in the vicinity of the trails camp as
the permanent waters are there, we will head directly there and embark on an
afternoon game drive to begin our search.
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 an area, 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, depending on whether there are hippo pods
moving in and out of the areas in which we canoe.)
Day 12: Chobe River boat cruise & Natural Mystic Lodge, Zambia
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 lunch
served during the boat cruise on the catamaran-style shaded boat.
We 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 Natural Mystic Lodge, arriving in the late afternoon. Natural Mystic Lodge
is located 20km from Livingstone - the "Adventure Capital" of Zambia ? 30km from
the spectacular Victoria Falls, and 50km from the Kazangula border between
Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. All 10 en-suite thatched chalets have a
view of the Zambezi River. The chalets are built into a natural setting, and
have a traditional African feel to them, while providing the necessary comfort,
privacy and safety guests require. The area surrounding the lodge is covered in
a dense Mopane forest combined with deciduous savannah grassland. Nature's
sounds of birdlife, frogs, baboons, monkeys and hippo create a mystical mood,
while free-roaming elephants are frequent visitors to the grounds.
Day 13: Guided tour of the Victoria Falls; 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.
After the Victoria Falls visit we transfer directly to Livingstone Airport and
bid farewell to the adventure.
NOTE: THIS ITINERARY IS AVAILABLE ON FLEXIBLE DATES AND ITINERARIES, FOR
TAILOR-MADE TRIPS FOR SMALL GROUPS.
Classic Wilderness Camps Packages – Okavango, Moremi and Linyanti
1. The package prices are based on Classic camp combinations which include the
following choices (the Premier camps, Duba Plains and Selinda
attract a surcharge on the standard package prices - see below): Okavango &
Moremi Camps: Chitabe, Chitabe Lediba, Duba Plains
(surcharged), Jacana, Kwetsani, Little Vumbura, Seba Camp, Tubu Tree, Xigera.
Linyanti Camps: DumaTau, Savuti, Selinda (surcharged) &
Walking Safari & Trails Camps.
2. The package rates have daily departures for minimum 2 guests (unless single
traveller surcharges are applied as below) and include
accommodation, all meals, drinks (except premium imported wines, champagnes,
spirits and liqueurs), scheduled lodge activities, light aircraft
transfers and the applicable landing fees and departure taxes.
3. Luggage on Sefofane air transfers in Botswana is restricted to 20 kg per
person in a soft bag including camera equipment and hand luggage.
4. Please note that if any Wilderness Safaris Botswana camps are used on an
itinerary excluding our Sefofane flying, then the extra night rates
below do NOT apply and you need to refer to our nightly Recommended Selling
Prices (R.S.P.) which are then commissionable to you at
15%. Similarly the Mombo & Little Mombo nightly rates below can be used only
when these camps have been booked with our flying as well as
other Wilderness Safaris Botswana camps. Itineraries staying at Mombo or Little
Mombo only will be charged at R.S.P. less 10%
commission.
5. All Botswana packages starting and/or ending in Kasane are based on air
transfers connecting to/from our scheduled transfer times which are
ex Victoria Falls at 09h30 and 11h30 or ex Kasane at 11h30 and 13h30. Private
charter costs will have to be used (prices on request) if guests
are not flying into/out of Kasane in accordance with these transfer times.
6. Bookings (or flight details for bookings) arriving within one week of the
safari start date, will only be confirmed on the package rates, subject to
our being able to fit the guests onto the existing flight schedule. If not,
private charter services will have to be used for your guests and then the
standard package rates will be adjusted accordingly.
7. Costs quoted for the B2A – B3 itineraries have been based on the routings
Maun/Moremi and/or Okavango/Linyanti/ Kasane. Should availability
result in a backtracking on the route, eg Maun/Moremi/Linyanti/Okavango/Kasane
then the extra flying costs will be added to your quotation.
Discounted Classic Wilderness Camps Safari Circuit Prices
1. A minimum of 7 nights must be booked at any of the Wilderness Safaris camps
(the same classic camps are included as per the previous page)
in Botswana to qualify for the discounted package rates.
2. The package rates have daily departures for minimum 2 guests (unless single
traveller surcharges are applied as below) and include
accommodation, all meals, drinks (except premium imported wines, champagnes,
spirits and liqueurs), scheduled lodge activities, light aircraft
transfers and the applicable landing fees and departure taxes.
3. Luggage on Sefofane air transfers in Botswana is restricted to 20 kg per
person in a soft bag including camera equipment and hand luggage.
4. Please note that if any Wilderness Safaris Botswana camps are used on an
itinerary excluding our Sefofane flying, then the extra night rates
below do NOT apply and you need to refer to our nightly Recommended Selling
Prices (R.S.P.) which are then commissionable to you at
15%. Similarly the Mombo & Little Mombo nightly rates below can be used only
when these camps have been booked with our flying as well as
other Wilderness Safaris Botswana camps. Itineraries staying at Mombo or Little
Mombo only will be charged at R.S.P. less 10%
commission.
5. All Botswana packages starting and/or ending in Kasane are based on air
transfers connecting to/from stipulated transfer times which are ex
Victoria Falls at 09h30 and 11h30 or ex Kasane at 11h30 and 13h30. Private
charter costs will have to be used (prices on request) if guests are
not flying into/out of Kasane in accordance with these transfer times.
6. Bookings (or flight details for bookings) arriving within one week of the
safari start date, will only be confirmed on the package rates subject to
our being able to fit the guests onto the existing flight schedule. If not,
private charter services will have to be used for your guests and then the
standard package rates will be adjusted accordingly.
7. Costs quoted for the CCB3A – CCB4 itineraries have been based on the routings
Maun/Moremi and/or Okavango/Linyanti/ Kasane. Should
availability result in a backtracking on the route, eg Maun/Moremi/Linyanti/Okavango/Kasane
then extra flying costs will be added to your
quotation.
Notes: Rates are subject to change without prior notice should tax be increased or Government levies introduced. Rates include Value Added Tax.
6
nights or longer in any of Wilderness Safaris' camps & lodges (except Skeleton
Coast):
3% discount!
Full list of camps and lodges is here
Reservations & information agent:
Elena Travel Services &
Car Hire CC
P.O. Box 3127 Windhoek, Namibia
Fax: +264 61 244558
E-mail: info@namibweb.com
To book:
1) you can e-mail us requesting information and/or rates
Reservations are only accepted in writing: by fax or via e-mail.
Final availability confirmation: in writing: by fax or via e-mail.
See also: Terms & conditions, Payment options and Cancellation policy
Page created and serviced by

www.namibweb.com
Copyright © 1998-2010 NamibWeb.com - The online guide
to Namibia
All rights reserved
![]()
Disclaimer: no matter how often this page is updated and its accuracy is checked
www.namibweb.com and ETS will not be held
responsible for any change in opinion, information, facilities, services,
conditions, etc. offered by
establishment/operator/service/information provider or any third party
Copyright © Wilderness Safaris