Untamed
Lands - Botswana
Safari
Combination Vintage lodge and
serviced camping in private concession areas and campsites - 12
nights / 13 days
Makgadikgadi, Okavango Delta, Linyanti, Chobe and
Lower Zambezi
This is an old-style game camping
safari, which recreates a sense of pure adventure for the traveler
seeking an adventure safari. Experience the wild and untamed
lands of Botswana, whether in the desert, the waterlands of the
Okavango Delta, or the savannahs of Chobe. The journey
begins with the amazing desert-adapted animals of the other-world
landscape of the Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pans and then moves on
to the abundace of water, flora and fauna of the beautiful Okavango
Delta. Guests will witness the awesome, seasonal spectacle
of enormous elephant herds and other seasonal plains game in
the dry Savuti and the flowing Linyanti River. The safari
finishes with a visit to see the unforgettable Vistoria Falls,
one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
The visible contrasting prime
safari areas of Makgadikgadi Pans, Kalahari Desert, Okavango
Delta and savannah, primarily in exclusive, private safari
concessions make this one of our most popular safaris. Activities
include suricate walks, San (bushmen) cultural experience,
Baines' Baobab lunch, brown hyena viewing, quad biking (seasonal),
and island walks in Moremi Game Reserve.
This Classic Safari provides
fully serviced spacious tents, styled to provide elegant comfort
in the ultimate wild camping, game safari.
The style of accommodation
takes you to the era of exploration. Pure cotton linen bedrolls
(with feather duvets) on GI stretchers, teak bedside table with
silver lantern and mini luggage benches complement the atmosphere
in pure pristine wild camping areas. Shared separate toilet and
shower “bathrooms” with old style tin bucket showers
and basins and all amenities create simple serviced comfort.
Guides: The
entire safari is guided and hosted by professional and passionate
trained guides, who share their in-depth knowledge to present
a seamless, well-rounded experience. Detailed personal
guide information is available upon request.
Exclusive experience:
To ensure total privacy and exclusivity, most areas in which
we travel are private concessions in pristine, prime game locations.
All camps are private and for the use of this safari
only.
Routes: The
route takes the time to roam and explore the contrasts, extremes
and continually moving game of northern Botswana: from camping
on islands in the anomaly of the Okavango Delta and its crystal
clear waterways, to the game-rich plains of the dry Savuti
marsh and the seasonal elephant masses in the Linyanti Reserve.
We also take advantage of the viewing of the annual zebra migration
along the “Stolen River”, from its source.
Transfers: Guest
game viewing time is enhanced, minimizing the length of overland
transfers by flying in private charters where necessary. Overland
game transfers include lunch en-route at private game viewing
hides to provide both a birds-eye view and an in-depth experience
of the ever-changing landscapes of Botswana.
Seasonality:
We adapt our route with the changing seasons so as to provide
the best in wildlife viewing on an annual basis. Therefore,
between 01 December and 31 May, to maximize the experience
of the zebra migration, the safari switches a night from Linyanti
Trails Camp to Savuti in the Chobe National Park.
Safari Style: Adventurer |
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For
2008: This safari is no longer available. We suggest the Migration Routes exploration as an alternative.
There is a limitation
of 2 single tents per safari, and a maximum number of 5 tents
at any site while on safari. No single supplement is
payable. When there are more than 2 single guests on a safari, we will
attempt to match guests with another guest of the same gender.
No triple rooms are accepted.
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DAYS 1 - 2;
(2 Nights)
CAMP KALAHARI - Makgadikgadi
Pans, Botswana Jump
to San
Camp |
After
arrival in Maun, fly by light aircraft 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 fossilized super-lake that thrived
eons ago.
Surprisingly for such a harsh,
lunar-like environment, life abounds, and brown hyena, 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, authentic San (bushman) cultural walks or simply
enjoying the wide-open spaces of this ancient lake bed. |
DAYS 3 - 4;
(2 Nights)
NXAI PAN - Nxai Pan National
Park, Botswana (Fully
serviced camping)
Jump
to Makgadikgadi
Pans |
After
an early breakfast, we depart overland to our pre-erected private
Classic campsite in the Nxai Pan National park, stopping for
lunch en-route at the infamous Baines Baobabs, which Thomas
Baines painted on his exploratory expedition in the late 1800s.
These pans are fossilized
and vegetated with short nutritious grasses and acacia trees, creating
game rich areas surrounded by vegetated dune savannahs. Extensive
game drives explore the surrounding pans. Spectacular dry
season predator and prey action is viewable at the water holes! |
DAYS 5 - 6;
(2 Nights)
XIGERA MOKORO TRAILS - Okavango Delta,
Botswana Jump
to Xigera
Mokoro Trail |
After
arrival in Maun, fly by light aircraft to the water-filled paradise
of the private Xigera area, within the Moremi Game Reserve. Xigera
is one of the ultimate Delta experiences, with the serene waters
flowing through innumerable channels around remote islands and
a profusion of plants and animals.
There is no better way to experience
the Okavango than to travel through it by mokoro, walking and
camping out on some of its green islands – all essential
elements of the Xigera Mokoro Trails experience.
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 game species, some specially
adapted to water such as the rare sitatunga and the more
familiar red lechwe. |
DAYS 7 - 8;
(2 Nights)
LECHWE ISLAND CAMP - Northeastern
Okavango Delta, Botswana (Fully
serviced camping) |
Fly
by light aircraft charter from Xigera Mokoro Trails directly to
the north-eastern corner of the Okavango Delta, to our pre-erected
Adventurer camp set up on a wooded island under shade trees, situated
close to the game viewing areas.
Activities concentrate on the open herbivore-inhabited plains
surrounding the camp, where seasonal congregations of wildlife
(especially in the late afternoons) make the perfect setting
for game drives, night drives and bush walks on the concession. |
DAY 9 [or DAYS
9 & 10; see schedule below]; (1
or 2 Nights)
SAVUTE MARSH - Chobe National Park,
Botswana (Fully
serviced camping)
Jump
to Chobe
National Park |
After
an early morning drive and departure from camp, we travel directly
north through the private concession, stopping en-route at
a private game viewing hide for lunch. We arrive at our pre-erected
Classic campsite in the mid-afternoon, in time for a sunset
game drive.
|
DAYS 10 - 11 [or
DAY 11; see schedule below]; (1 or
2 Nights)
LINYANTI TRAILS CAMP - Linyanti Wildlife
Reserve, Botswana (Fully
serviced camping) |
We
depart early this morning towards the Linyanti region. This is
an all day game drive, with lunch en-route at a private game
viewing hide in the Savuti Channel.
In addition, this game drive
is specifically created to provide the guest with an intimate
detailed view of the “Stolen River”, to ensure
the best zebra migration and reliable game viewing possible
throughout the year.
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 a spectacular
serviced lunch deck, 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, as it is dependent upon whether
there are hippo pods moving in and out of the areas in which we
canoe.) |
DAY 12;
(1 Night)
Chobe River boat cruise, Chobe National
Park and Shackletons Upper Zambezi Lodge, Zambia |
After
a short morning drive and breakfast, depart by light aircraft
to the northern Chobe region of Chobe National Park. This area
is famous for the vast herds of elephants and 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.
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 Shackletons Upper Zambezi Lodge, situated
on the Upper Zambezi River near the village of Mwandi (meaning
place of ‘plenty
fish’)
in southwestern Zambia. The Lodge is approximately 140km west
of Livingstone.
The Lodge accommodates
12 people in thatched, en-suite chalets with private teak
decks overlooking the Zambezi. The swimming pool, sun downer
deck, lounge, open dining area, and riverside bar provide
guests with unparalleled vistas of the mighty Upper Zambezi
River. Shackletons provides access to 130km of the Upper
Zambezi River, often called ‘God’s Highway’.
Besides the nearby Lozi village of Mwandi, there are no other
Zambian villages or lodges on this vast stretch of water.
Shackletons is flanked by sandy river banks, reed beds, water
lilies, riverine forests, woodlands and flooded grass plains. |
DAY 13
Guided tour of the Victoria Falls;
transfer to Livingstone Airport |
After
a full breakfast, we road transfer just beyond the town of Livingstone
to enjoy a guided tour at 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.
Winter itinerary: 01
June to 30 November
Summer itinerary: 01
January to 31 May (includes a one night switch from
Linyanti Trails Camp to Savuti Marsh - Chobe National
Park)
SAFARI
NOTES:
• Each departure is guaranteed from
a minimum of 2 confirmed guests, with a maximum of 8 guests per
safari.
• Age Limits – Children from the age of 12 are welcome
on all scheduled departures. For groups with children under 12,
we suggest creating a private tailor-made safari, subject to
a different cost. For guests over the age of 75, a certified
medical certificate of full health must be provided.
• Luggage limitation of 20 kgs per person in a soft bag. This limit includes camera equipment and hand luggage. Passengers weighing more than 100kg (220 lbs) must please advise us in advance, as an extra seat will then have to be costed into the package for safety purposes.
• We reserve the right, due to situations
beyond our control, to substitute a lodge or location with another
of comparable quality. This will be advised timeously.
• There is a limitation of 2 single tents per safari, and a maximum number
of 5 tents at any site while on safari. No single supplement is payable. When
there are more than 2 single guests on a safari, we will attempt to match guests
with another guest of the same gender. No triple rooms are accepted.
• Please note that all scheduled Exploration safaris operate with a minimum
of two guests. Should all other bookings on an Exploration cancel or that there
is only a single guest booked, we will convert the booking to an FIT package,
which is in all likelihood subject to a higher price.
• Flashlights/ torches: Please ensure that a minimum 2-D cell flashlight
is brought on safari, with spare batteries. Head lamps are also useful. flashlights
are not provided.
• Camera battery charging facilities: Please note that a 12V cigarette
lighter adaptor will be required (that is compatible with camera make) on this
safari for charging batteries while on game drive or transfer drives. No 110/
240V outlets are available, except at the lodge in Livingstone, Zambia.
• Dietary requirements and special occasions: Due to remote locality of
Adventurer camps, please ensure that full dietary requirements and special occasions
are advised at the time of your booking confirmation.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
Accommodation on a sharing basis, all meals
from lunch on Day 1 to the end of the scheduled safari, a reasonable
amount of soft drinks, wine and beer at meal times, national park
fees, activities, guided tour of the Victoria Falls and all internal
charters as specified in the itinerary.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Flights (other than specified in the detailed safari itinerary), visas, compulsory
insurance, all relevant entry and departure government taxes, all drinks
in Zambia, all personal purchases (including curios, spirit liquors, telephone
calls etc.), gratuities, laundry, optional extra activities, pre and post
safari tours, meals or accommodation before or after the safari.
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