Day 1: Maun - D'kar
Your safari begins at 2pm at Maun Airport where you will be met by our representative. Once you are settled in the comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle you will begin your journey to Dqae Qare Farm.
Here you will be hosted and entertained by the San D’Kar community where you will enjoy a genuine experience of the open spaces and quiet peace of the Kalahari in the company of the wonderfully open and friendly San people.
During the evening, you will have the opportunity to enjoy traditional dancing with a variety of dances being demonstrated and the trance (healing) dance, while not guaranteed, is a definite possibility depending on your level of involvement. The trance dances are the backbone of San culture, binding the community, and are an exceptional and unique experience. The ladies keep the rhythm by clapping and singing their polyphonic chant to build the energy, while the healers (mostly men) dance with the rattles to enter trance and heal the participants.
Day 2: D'kar to Okavango Pan Handle
Enjoy an additional activity this morning such as a bush walk and tracking before we depart to Shakawe around 10am. Once arrived we will transfer by boat to our lodge, where you have time to orientate yourself before heading out for an afternoon boat cruise.
Day 3: Okavango Pan Handle
Enjoy an opportunity to spend the day exploring this UNESCO World Heritage area by boat and on foot.
Day 4: Okavango Pan Handle to Kwando River (border crossing)
Today we will exit Botswana and enter Namibia and the lush Caprivi strip.
Travelling east through the Caprivi we will arrive at Nambwa Tented Camp, our accommodation for the night. The only lodge situated inside the Bwabwata National Park and where you will have the opportunity to head out on a game drive in the afternoon.
*Please check if you require a pre-organised visa for Namibia prior to travel.
Day 5: Kwando River to Katima Mulilo
You will have some leisure time this morning where you can enjoy the peace of the lodge or head out on another activity (not included) before continuing further east almost to Katima Mulilo where we will stay overlooking the Zambezi River. Enjoy a sunset cruise before dinner.
Day 6: Katima Mulilo to Livingstone
The border crossing in to Zambia can be a true African experience as a multitude of permits are required for vehicles however, the drive itself between Katima Mulilo and Livingstone is relatively short at around 3 hours, but do expect some waiting at the border where you can people watch.
Once through, you will continue to Livingstone where you will stay for 2 nights enjoying the multitude of activities on offer from bungee jumping to microflights, birding along the river to game drives in the Mosi-ao-Tunya National Park and obviously a tour of the mighty Victoria Falls themselves.
Day 7: Livingstone
As we are staying at the Avani Hotel, entrance to the falls (within opening hours) is included. Due to the sheer choice of additional activities, these have not been included in the itinerary and you will have a full day to do as you wish.
Please contact us for optional activities in Livingstone.
Day 8: Livingstone to Kasane Immigration (border crossing)
Farewell to Zambia as we head across the mighty Zambezi on the ferry and back in to Botswana.
Head by boat to an island in the Chobe River in Namibia. Due to its location, Chobe Savanna Lodge is set apart from the hustle and crowds of Kasane and Chobe National Park whilst still offering you the chance to view the vast herds of elephants that visit the area, along with many other wildlife species.
Day 9: Chobe floodplains
Today will be spent exploring this area of the Chobe by boat and you will have the opportunity to stretch your legs and take a walk in to the local village for an interactive visit.
Day 10: Kasane to Nata
Back into Botswana we return to our vehicle for the drive from Kasane to Nata.
Situated at the edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans this area incorporates a multitude of salt pans and vast grass plains dotted by palm islands and forms the Great Makgadikgadi which comprise the largest area of salt pans in the world covering some 37 000 sq km in overall extent. It is the last vestiges of Africa’s largest inland sea and exudes an atmosphere of antiquity and mystery. We will swap our air-conditioned vehicle for an open 4x4 and head in to the Nata sanctuary where the Nata River feeds the Sua Pan and forms the breeding ground for a host of water birds.
*Please note that in years of heavy rain the Sanctuary remains impassible for several months, you will be notified should this be the case on your departure.
Day 11: Nata to Maun
After breakfast, you will depart for Maun where we will expect to arrive approximately 12 noon for those guests who are departing on any of the international flights.
For those who wish to extend their stay in Botswana, one fantastic option is for your guide to drop you along the way at Planet Baobab where you can experience a visit to the habituated meerkats (accommodation and activities need to be pre-booked) or quad biking on the Pans (dry season only).
Alternatively, treat yourself to a fly-in lodge stay at any of the numerous lodges in the Okavango Delta and surrounds.
