The Leopards and Other Large Cats Safari

DAYS 4 - 6; (3 nights)
After the morning game activity and brunch you depart Selinda Camp and transfer by charter flight to Duba Plains Camp, where accommodation has been reserved for three nights.

DUBA PLAINS CAMP - OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA
Jump to Duba Plains Camp

Basis: Inclusive of all meals, game activities, laundry and local drinks.

Duba Plains is one of the Okavango Delta's most remote camps and is located in the furthermost reaches in a very private reserve of 30,000 hectares, north of the Moremi Wildlife Reserve. The camp is built on an island shaded by large ebony, fig and mangosteen trees and surrounded by expansive plains which are seasonally flooded - usually from about May to early October each year, depending on the rains. Since Duba has access to large islands, floodplains and marshes, the camp offers a diversity of experiences. Duba's real treat is its exclusivity and it is particularly suited to those who want to be in a truly remote reserve.

Duba Plains is small and intimate, accommodating only twelve people in its large exclusive concession. Guests here receive a highly personalized experience. Each of the six large tented rooms has an en suite bathroom with shower and flush toilet facilities , an outdoor shower, as well as a veranda overlooking the floodplain.

Do you want to see lions? Would you enjoy seeing lots of lions? Duba is probably one of the best places in all of Africa to see these cats. The lion concentrations here (along with the Ngorongoro crater in Tanzania) are probably the highest in the world. As the vast open grasslands are often isolated from the mainland by deep waterways, the variety of animals is not as high as in other areas within the Okavango. However, Duba Plains more than makes up for this as it is a high impact game viewing area. We highly recommend this camp for anyone interested in viewing lions and their behavior.

Thousands of buffalo take advantage of Duba's rich grasslands and they alone support the concentrations of Lions and Hyenas which prey upon them. These huge buffalo herds (some numbering several thousand animals) are hunted almost daily by up to four different prides of lions which live in and around Duba. Quite often the hunting is during the day - so one gets fantastic photo opportunities. The Lion-Hyena interactions are also worth the visit as both species compete for the same prey and most kills eventually result in the presence of both these super-predators.

DAYS 7 - 10; (4 nights)
After the morning game activity and brunch you depart Duba Plains and transfer by charter flight to Mombo Camp, where accommodation has been reserved for four nights.

MOMBO CAMP - OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA
Jump to Mombo Camp

Basis: Inclusive of all meals, game activities, laundry and local drinks.

Mombo Camp and Little Mombo are situated on Mombo Island, adjoining the northern tip of Chief's Island, and are within the Moremi Game Reserve in northern Botswana. The camp offers abundant big game, arguably the best in Botswana. The highlight here is the concentrations of plains game and all the predators - including the big cats! Leopard sightings are particularly good. Mombo Camp and Little Mombo have been completely rebuilt and the new camps opened in June 2000 on a new site 800m away from the old site.

Mombo is built under the shade of some large shady trees and overlooks a wonderful floodplain that teems with game. Both camps jointly accommodate a total of 24 guests, but they are divided into two smaller camps - a 6 bedded and an 18 bedded. Both camps are raised off the ground. The guest's rooms and the walkways that connect the rooms to the living areas are up to 2m off the ground, allowing game to wander freely through the camp - but at the same time allowing for guest safety.

Facilities at Mombo Camp and Little Mombo include 9 and 3 large guest rooms respectively. These are superbly furnished, large luxury tents. All rooms are built in the same style. The canvas rooms are spacious and well appointed and have en-suite facilities under canvas and an additional outdoor shower for those who enjoy a shower under the stars. The dining room, pub and living area overlook the open plain in front of the camp and there is a plunge pool for relaxing in the heat of the day.

Activities at Mombo include morning and afternoon game drives in open 4x4 Land Rovers. The game viewing in the area is excellent, and guests could see Lion, Leopard, large herds of Buffalo, Cheetah, Wild Dog, Elephant, Hyena, Giraffe, Wildebeest and Zebra. Access into this area is only by aircraft.