Days 1 and 2: Deception Valley Private Reserve - Camping
The safari begins in Maun where your guide will meet you at 07h30 at your lodge. You will travel 120km to a private reserve on the northern border of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Upon arrival you will set up camp and have a safari briefing. Wild camping. (Day 1 - L, D)
You will explore the area for the next two days, enjoying game drives and participate in a nature walk led by a local San tracker. They will share intricate bush knowledge and give you an insight into their unique and intriguing culture. You will also do game drives to explore the area, home to a fascinating variety of desert specialised wildlife such as oryx, springbok and eland as well as predators including lion, brown hyena and cheetah. Savour the vast open spaces, clear night skies and uninterrupted beauty. (Day 2 - B, L, D)
Days 3 to 5: Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Camping
You will wake up as the sun rises and head toward the pristine wilderness of the largest game reserve in Botswana. The next three days will be spent exploring the undeveloped wilderness of the northern region of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Camping is in a private designated campsite with bush ablutions. (B, L, D)
Kalahari Private Reserve – Central Kalahari Game Reserve: 80km, 3-4h (including game drive)
Day 6: Makgadikgadi, comfortable lodge
This is your last morning in the Kalahari, after breaking camp you will do a slow drive to the Makgadikgadi area. You will spend the night at a camp on the edge of the Makgadikgadi National Park, overlooking the Boteti River in Khumaga village. Enjoy an afternoon game drive into Makgadikgadi National Park. (B,L,D)
Central Kalahari Game Reserve – Boteti River Camp: 180km, 4-5h (including game drive)
Day 7: Okavango Delta, Camping
After an early morning breakfast you will pass by Maun town for drinks shopping essential for the remainder of your safari. Once you have reached the edge of the Delta, you will meet your polers from the local community with their mekoro (traditional dugout canoes). Quietly cruising along reed lined channels and floodplains, you will enjoy the spectacular landscape of this unique region during the tranquil transfer taking you deeper inside the Delta. You will spend two days exploring this beautiful area with mokoro excursions and guided nature walks on the islands and floodplains of the Okavango, camping wild with bush ablutions on a small island for two nights. (B, L, D)
Boteti River Camp – Okavango Delta: 210km, 5h
NOTE: You will leave your main luggage in the trailer and will need to pack a smaller bag (small backpack, hand luggage) with what you need for the 2 days on the island. Transfers from the mainland to the island where you will stay are done on traditional dugout canoes (mekoro) which cannot accommodate large bags. Your main luggage will safely remain in the vehicle that will be parked in a secured area while you are on the island.
Day 8: Okavango Delta, Camping
Mokoro excursions and nature walks to explore the islands and waterways of the Okavango Delta. (B, L, D)
Day 9: Campsite Outside Maun
Leaving the channels of the Okavango Delta, you will start making your way towards the drier regions of the delta where you will camp and refresh before proceeding into the reserve the next day. Enjoy lunch at the campsite. In the afternoon, you will have the option of taking a 45 minute scenic flight over the Delta – or a 30min flight in a helicopter with no windows and doors, allowing magnificent views from above. Rate TBA by your guide/agent. Both experiences have to be booked during the safari, and payment made in USD cash only. The flight over the Okavango gives you an eagle’s eye perspective of the area and it is even possible to spot large game animals such as Elephant, Giraffe and Hippopotami. You will spend the night at a campsite just in the outskirts of Maun with permanent ablution facilities
(B, L, D)
Okavango Delta – campsite outside Maun 50km, 1.5-2h
Day 10: Western Moremi Game Reserve (3rd Bridge / Xakanaxa Area), Camping
Morning of Day 10, you will enter the Moremi Game Reserve, one of the best wilderness areas of Botswana which covers swamp and dry areas. The next three days will be spent searching for the wide variety of wildlife and birds that this area is renowned for while absorbing the sounds and beauty of this region. Game drives in the early morning as the sun rises and in the late afternoon as the sun sets will be the norm. After your morning game drives, you will return to camp for lunch and a siesta. On Day 12 you will move campsites to explore a different area of this diverse park. Camping will be in private designated campsites with bush ablutions. (B, L, D)
Campsite outside Maun – Western Moremi: 100km, 5-7h (transfer and game drive)
Day 11: Western Moremi Game Reserve (3rd Bridge / Xakanaxa Area), Camping
Game drives to explore the Moremi Game Reserve around the 3rd Bridge / Xakanaxa areas. (B, L, D)
Day 12: North-East Moremi Game Reserve / Khwai Concession, Camping
Transfer / game drive from Western Moremi to the region surrounding the Khwai River (North-east Moremi / Khwai Concession). Game drives to explore the areas. (B, L, D)
Day 13: Southern Chobe National Park (Savuti / Zwei Zwei), Camping
Chobe National Park, with its diverse and striking landscapes, will be your next destination. As you continue your search for wildlife, you will traverse the drier region of Savuti where bull elephants dot the plains. You will then head northwards to the Chobe River where your game drives will meander along the banks of the river, followed by the call of the majestic African Fish Eagle. Camping will be in private designated areas with bush ablutions, first in the Savuti area (Day 13), then in the northern part of the park closer to the riverfront (Days 14 & 15). (B, L, D)
Eastern Moremi – Savuti: 120km, 7-8h (transfer and game drive)
Day 14: Northern Chobe National Park, Camping
Transfer / game drive from Southern Chobe National Park to the Chobe river floodplain. Game drives to explore Northern Chobe National Park. (B, L, D)
Savuti - Chobe River: 170km, 5-6h (transfer and game drive)
Day 15: Northern Chobe National Park, Camping
Game drives to explore Northern Chobe and floodplain. (B, L, D)
Day 16: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Comfortable Lodge
After a short morning game drive you will then drive to Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe side (Visa required), where you will spend the night at a comfortable lodge. In the afternoon there will be time to visit the thunderous Victoria Falls and shop for curios. Dinner will be at your own expense. (B)
Chobe River – Victoria Falls: 100km, 3h (excluding border crossing)
Day 17: End of the Safari
