Itinerary

DAY 1; (1 Night)
JOHANNESBURG to KHAMA RHINO SANCTUARY, Botswana  [Chalets - lunch & dinner]

Departing Johannesburg at 06:30am we head north into Botswana and the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. The Khama Rhino Sanctuary Trust is a community based wildlife project established in 1992 to assist in saving the vanishing rhino, restore an area formerly teeming with wildlife to its previous natural state and provide economic benefits to the local Botswana community through tourism and the sustainable use of natural resources. This reserve situated on the Kalahari sandveld, has several natural waterholes and provides prime habitat for white rhino, zebra and wildebeest.

 


Includes: Entrance fees to Khama Rhino Sanctuary & afternoon game drive.
Overnight: Chalets – Twin bedrooms, with 1 bathroom shared between 2 rooms.
Distance / Time: 630km, ± 7½ hours, excluding border formalities & stops for sightseeing & lunch.
Optional Activities: N/A

DAY 2; (1 Night)
MAUN, Botswana  [Lodge - breakfast & lunch]

We drive through the central Kalahari to Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. Since Maun's founding in 1915 as the tribal capital of the Batawana people, it has had a reputation as a hard-living 'Wild West' town helping the local cattle ranching and safari operations. The name Maun is derived from the San word 'maung', which translates to 'the place of short reeds.'

13-DAY OPTION: Fly into Maun on day 2 (Monday) and create a 12-night / 13-day Maun to Livingstone safari.  See pricing above. FLIGHT COST TO MAUN IS NOT INCLUDED.

Overnight: Lodge – Twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar.
Distance / Time: 450kms. ± 6½ hours, excluding stops for sightseeing.
Optional Activities: Scenic flight over the Okavango Delta (+/-USD100-115 pp depending on number of people in each aircraft).

DAYS 3 - 5; (3 Nights)
OKAVANGO DELTA, Botswana  [Delta Tented Camp x2, Maun Lodge x1 - breakfast x3, lunch x3, dinner x2]
FLY-IN DELTA OPTIONS:  [Delta Lodge (Gunn's Camp) x2, Maun Lodge x1 - breakfast x3, lunch x3, dinner x2]

We drive into the Okavango Delta to our remote tented camp in the heart of the largest inland delta in the world. This amazing environment has large numbers of red lechwe, buffalo, elephant and birds, particularly kingfishers! One of the best experiences in the Okavango Delta is to be poled along the reed lined channels in a Mokoro (dug out canoe). Sit back and relax as the water gurgles tranquilly under the mokoro while your skilled poler points out the fauna and flora. We return to Maun midday on day 5 for an evening restaurant meal (own expense).

FLY-IN DELTA OPTIONS (14-DAY and 13-DAY):  For the ultimate Okavango wilderness experience, you can fly into the Okavango Delta to an area of permanent water for a two night stay at a rustic, water-based lodge (Gunn's Camp). This option includes a flight over the southern Delta to Gunn's camp and the first 2 nights are in the lodge rather than wild camping.  Flying over the Okavango gives a different perspective of the Delta. Light aircraft flights from Maun to the lodge and back are included. (See specific dates below for the Fly-in Delta itinerary).   See pricing above.
The 14-day option includes all costs as the itinerary starts in Johannesburg and drives to Maun via Khama.
The 13-day option does not include the cost of transportation to Maun.


Includes: Entrance fees to the Okavango Delta, morning & afternoon game walks with local guides.
Overnight x2 Delta: Tented camp – basic ablutions with bucket shower.
Overnight x1 Maun: Lodge – Twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar.
Distance / Time: 2-hour 4WD transfer into the Delta, each way. When we reach the waters of the Okavango Delta, we transfer into Mekoros, for our transfer deeper into the Delta.
Distance / Time (Fly-in options): Road transfer to Maun airport, then light aircraft transfer to Gunn’s Camp; return to Maun via same route and transport.
Optional Activities: Scenic flight over the Okavango Delta (+/-USD100-115 pp depending on number of people in each aircraft).

DAYS 6 - 8; (3 Nights)
MOREMI GAME RESERVE, Botswana  [Lodge - breakfast x3, lunch x3, dinner x2]

After a relaxing evening we take open 4WD Land Rovers into Moremi Game Reserve for fantastic game viewing! Chief's Island is the largest landmass within Moremi and was the Batswana tribe's richest hunting grounds, before being declared a game reserve by the tribe. We spend 3 days on game drives watching the abundant wildlife including elephant, hippo, buffalo, lion & other game, both in Moremi Game Reserve and in private concession reserves surrounding the park. On the morning of day 8 we enter the Moremi again for another full morning game drive before we return to Maun in the early afternoon.

Moremi is known for its big game including frequent leopard sightings. This trip includes a night drive on a private concession adjoining Moremi game reserve in search of these beautiful, elusive creatures.

Santawani Lodge is a local community operated lodge, bordering Moremi. Your visit and use of the accommodation, meals and local guides supports the community and conservation. It also gives you an opportunity to meet members of the community through their work at the lodge.

10-DAY OPTION: Fly into Maun on day 5 (Thursday) and create a 9-night / 10-day Maun to Livingstone safari. See pricing above. TRANSPORTATION COST TO MAUN IS NOT INCLUDED.

Includes: Entrance fees to Moremi Game Reserve, morning & afternoon game drives in open 4WD vehicle.
Overnight: Chalets – basic twin rooms with en-suite facilities, restaurant & bar.
Distance / Time: 150kms ± 4 hours, excludes game drives & stops for wildlife viewing (Maun – Lodge).
Optional Activities: Night game drive in open 4WD vehicle.

DAY 9; (1 Night)
MAKGADIKGADI PANS, Botswana  [Tented Lodge or Chalets - breakfast & lunch]

The shimmering salt pans of Makgadikgadi appear as a glaring, white, endless plain. When the rain comes a dramatic change takes place as thousands of Wildebeest and Zebra migrate to the sweet nutritious grasslands and clouds of Flamingo feed in its algae rich waters. It is an area of low rainfall so this spectacle only lasts a short while. We have time for an optional game flight over the Okavango before we head towards Nata to watch a magnificent sunset over the Magadikgadi Pans.

Includes: Entrance fees into Makgadikgadi Pans.
Overnight: Tented Lodge – twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar.
Distance / Time: 320km, ± 3½ hours, excluding stops for sightseeing.
Optional Activities: N/A

DAYS 10 - 11; (2 Nights)
CHOBE NATIONAL PARK, Botswana  [Lodge - breakfast x2, lunch x2]

The Chobe River is a stunning feature of Botswana and will be the focus of our lodge stay. The Chobe River flows lazily along the northern boundary of the Chobe National Park attracting some of the largest herds of elephant in Africa. Early morning 4WD game drive in the Chobe National Park and an afternoon game viewing “sundowner” cruise to see the mighty elephant herds return to the Chobe River to quench their thirst.

Includes: Entrance fees to Chobe National Park, morning game drive, and sunset boat cruise.
Overnight: Lodge – twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar.
Distance / Time: 300kms, ± 4 hours, excluding stops for sightseeing + 1 x 3 hour game drive.
Optional Activities: Afternoon game drive in open 4WD vehicle.

DAYS 12 - 13; (2 Nights)
VICTORIA FALLS / LIVINGSTONE, Zambia  [Chalets - breakfast x2]

We visit “Mosi oa Tunya” or “the smoke that thunders” - Victoria Falls. These magnificent falls are one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The Victoria Falls Bridge was commissioned by Cecil John Rhodes in 1900, and was completed by 1905, although Rhodes never lived to see it. It spans the impressive gorge and the famous adrenalin pumping Victoria Falls bungi jump is done from this bridge, with a terrifying drop of 360ft (111m). Opportunities to white water raft on the mighty Zambezi River, bungi jump, or take a “flight of angels” (own expense).

Includes: Entrance to see the Victoria Falls.
Overnight: Chalets – twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar.
Distance / Time: 70kms – 1 hour, excluding border formalities.
Optional Activities: White water rafting, sunset cruises, elephant back safaris, scenic flights & many more.

DAY 14
LIVINGSTONE, Zambia  [Tour ends - breakfast]

Tour ends at 08:00 after breakfast. Transfers to local airports are available.

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