Itinerary

DAY 1 ~ THURSDAY ~ FEBRUARY 23
CHICAGO/EN ROUTE
Your journey begins as you board your South African Airways overnight flight. (Meals Aloft)

DAY 2 ~ FRIDAY ~ FEBRUARY 24
JOHANNESBURG
Upon arrival at the Johannesburg International Airport this afternoon, you will be met and escorted to your hotel. Often
called Jo'burg, Johannesburg is the country's largest city and financial center with ultra modern skyscrapers and a
bustling way of life. It is the city of gold, as its claim to fame is the gold that was discovered close-by.
Located near the Tambo International Airport, the Metcourt Suites Hotel offers eighty suites furnished with all modern
amenities for your convenience. Enjoy access to the casino, dining and entertainment facilities of the Emperors Palace.
Marvel at the palatial buildings of the resort or explore its stunning gardens. Intricate mosaics, Roman columns and
magnificent stained-glass domes contribute to the Emperors Palace's elegant and lavish ambience. Imagine you are in
fashionable Rome when strolling through the spectacular Emporium shopping area. Enjoy breakfast the next morning at
the charming Primavera Restaurant.
Overnight at the METCOURT SUITES. (Meals Aloft)

DAYS 3/4 ~ SATURDAY/SUNDAY ~ FEBRUARY 25/26
MAUN/CENTRAL KALAHARI GAME RESERVE
Today you will fly to Maun, Botswana, where upon
arrival you will board your light aircraft for your flight to
the Central Kalahari Game Reserve – one of the most
remote and unspoiled experiences on the African
continent. At over 20,000 square miles this reserve is one
of the largest in the world. The abundance of herbivores
and their prey is perfectly complemented with lush green
landscapes, floral displays and beautiful skies. At this
time of year these verdant flatlands are alive with
aggregations of gemsbok, springbok and blue wildebeest.
As a result of these populations on the fossil riverbeds,
predator concentrations are also high and sightings of the
almost mythical black-maned Kalahari lions are
complemented with some of the best cheetah viewing in Africa. Wild dog and leopard are seen on occasion and blackbacked
jackal, bat-eared fox also occur. Other mammal possibilities include southern giraffe, steenbok, red hartebeest,
and the charismatic ground squirrels.

After sunset the Kalahari is alive with the sounds of roaring lions,
White-faced Scops-Owls and the garrulous calls of barking geckos.
The avifauna in the reserve is equally diverse with over 220 species
recorded to date. There are significant healthy populations of
regionally threatened species like Kori Bustard and Lappet-faced
Vulture, but birders will enjoy the opportunity to see a variety of
arid-west endemic species such as Burchell’s Sandgrouse, Greybacked
Sparrowlark, Kalahari Scrub-Robin and African Wren-
Warbler. The vivid colors of birds such as Crimson-breasted Shrike
and Violet-eared Waxbill provide a startling contrast to the
sometimes stark surroundings.

Prime wildlife viewing areas include places with evocative names such as Deception Valley and Sunday Pan, made
famous by Mark and Delia Owen in their book “Cry of the Kalahari.” The former is all that remains of an ancient riverbed
which today is a 50 miles-long gentle valley floor covered with
short palatable grasses interspersed with picturesque tree islands.
The name ‘Deception’ is derived from the mirage effect caused by
the dry surface of the pan halfway along its length which often
appears misleadingly full of water.
Your home for the next two nights will be in the rustic 12-tented
camp situated in a remote part of this productive and diverse
protected area. The camp is beautifully situated on a low sandy
ridge fringing a typical Kalahari pan. Guided wildlife drives and
walks will unlock the fascinating wildlife treasures found in this
wonderful area.
Overnights at the KALAHARI PLAINS CAMP. (All Meals Daily)

DAYS 5/6/7 ~ MONDAY/TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY ~ FEBRUARY 27/28/29
OKAVANGO DELTA/BANOKA BUSH CAMP
Board your light aircraft once again for your flight to one of the world’s most distinctive regions, the Okavango Delta –
earth’s largest inland water systems. Its headwaters start in Angola’s western highlands, with numerous tributaries
joining to form the Cubango River, which then flows through Namibia (called the Kavango) and finally enters Botswana,
where it is then called the Okavango. Millions of years ago the Okavango River used to flow into a large inland lake
called Lake Makgadikgadi (now Makgadikgadi Pans). Tectonic activity and faulting interrupted the flow of the river
causing it to backup and form what is now the Okavango delta. This has created a unique system of water ways that now
supports a vast array of animal and plant life that would have otherwise been a dry Kalahari savannah.

The Banoka Bush Camp is situated in the Khwai Community
Concession in a private area in the north eastern parts of the
beautiful Okavango Delta. Accommodation consists of ten
tented units with en-suite facilities. The main camp area boasts a
lounge as well as a dining area offering beautiful views. The
camp is named in honor of the River San, or Banoka, ancestors
of the Khoi and the earliest settlers of the Okavango Delta. The
magnificent location of Banoka Bush Camp offers fantastic
wildlife viewing opportunities. The narrow Khwai Channel is
home to large mammals such as hippo and crocodile with
buffalo and red lechwe grazing along the fringe. Elusive roan
antelope often come to the river to drink. Mopane woodland and
permanent water attract large numbers of elephants to the area.
Larger predators include lion, wild dog and spotted hyena and birdlife found here is just as varied thanks to the wide
array of habitats. Some 450 bird species can be seen in the area.
Overnights at BANOKA BUSH CAMP. (All Meals Daily)

DAYS 8/9 ~ THURSDAY/FRIDAY ~ MARCH 1/2
OKAVANGO DELTA/MOREMI GAME RESERVE/XIGERA CAMP
This morning’s flight takes you to your home for the next two nights Xigera Camp (pronounced keejera), situated in the
heart of the Okavango on Paradise Island, within the Moremi Game Reserve. The camp consists of ten luxuriously
furnished walk-in tented rooms, each with en-suite facilities and outdoor showers. All rooms are raised off the ground
and are built within a shady grove offering superb views of the floodplain to the east of camp and its attractive waterhole
that is frequently visited by lechwe. Meals are taken in the dining room overlooking the main river, which along with the

pub and lounge is under a thatch roof. You may also choose to take a beautifully prepared picnic onto one of the nearby
islands for a more secluded and intimate experience.
Activities focus mainly on mokoro (small, dugout canoes) rides through the quiet waterways, as well as short walking
safaris. You may get lucky enough to get good views of the elusive sitatunga antelope along the way – with its webbed
feet, the sitatunga seems to walk on water. Drives are also offered (if water levels are low enough) as well as boat trips
on the river (if water levels are high enough). Game drives are best here in the summer months. Birding in the area is
excellent, with Pels Fishing Owl, Slaty Egret and Wattled Crane amongst the many species of birds regularly sighted.
One very unique feature that Xigera offers is the footbridge in front of the camp. It is the only way predators can cross
from island to island without having to swim. A "long-jump pit" has been built with soft sand, which each animal is
forced to walk over when they use the bridge. Every evening the sand is raked smooth. Each morning guests are able to
read the "newspaper" and see what animals have walked through camp. Almost every night lion, hyena and leopard
stroll through camp.
Overnights at XIGERA CAMP. (All Meals Daily) www.wilderness-safaris.com

DAY 10 ~ SATURDAY ~ MARCH 3
MAUN/JOHANNESBURG/EN ROUTE
Enjoy a last wildlife run this morning and a hearty breakfast before flying back to Johannesburg via Maun where you
connect with your South African Airways overnight flight to the U.S.A. (B, Meals Aloft)

DAY 11 ~ SUNDAY ~ MARCH 4
CHICAGO
This morning you land in the USA and connect with your flight home, bringing with you the memories of all the
wonderful sights of Southern Africa. (Meals Aloft)

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