Great Adventure Trips

Botswana

Deluxe / Luxury Camping / Serviced Camping / Budget Camping / Victoria Falls

THE KALAHARI (BUSHMAN) TRAIL 7 NIGHT/8-DAY

This safari offers an insight into the culture and history of the Kalahari's oldest inhabitants. It is ideal for the adventure enthusiast offering breathtaking scenery, desert wildlife and the privilege of an introduction to the traditional lifestyle of the San Bushmen

HIGHLIGHTS:
* 2 nights Bushman Experience (Ghanzi)
* 4 nights Central Kalahari Game Reserve
* Overnight at a Lodge in Maun

Days 1 & 2. Ghanzi - Bushman Experience: The safari begins in Maun, where we meet by 10am, buy drinks in Maun and travel 300km to a cultural village on a farm in the Ghanzi area. We settle into camp and have a safari briefing. We are up early the next morning to enjoy a light breakfast before participating in a nature walk led by local Bushmen trackers. They will share their intricate bush knowledge and give us an insight into their unique and intriguing culture. There is time in the afternoon to enjoy a siesta, swim in the local dam and a village tour to meet the community. This evening we will be treated to a traditional Bushman meal and enjoy an evening of their song and dance around the campfire. (Day 1 L, D & Day 2 B,L,D)

Days 3-6. Central Kalahari Game Reserve: We enter the pristine wilderness of the largest game reserve in Botswana. We spend 4 nights exploring the undeveloped wilderness of the northern region of the Kalahari, moving from camp to camp. We will visit Pipers Pan, Tau Pan and Deception Valley in our exploration of the Kalahari. Savour the vast open spaces, clear night skies and uninterrupted beauty of the Kalahari on game drives and at camp. This is adventure camping in its purest form, water and communications are limited and we travel as a self-sufficient group. (B, L, D)

Day 7. Maun, lodge: After our final morning game drive, we break camp and return to Maun, where our last night will be enjoyed in the comfort of a lodge. Dinner is at your own expense in a local restaurant. The following day you will be transferred to Maun Airport for onward connections. (Day 7 B, L & Day 8 B only)

Optional extension: This is the ideal opportunity to extend the tour, and we have created an extension onto the Fish Eagle Safari, which is a grand 17 nights combination trail. If you book the two tours together you will receive a special price.

2007 Dates: 1 Feb - 7 Feb, 22 Feb - 28 Feb, 15 Mar - 21 Mar, 12 Apr - 18 Apr, 17 May - 23 May, 7 Jun - 13 Jun , 5 Jul - 11 Jul, 19 Jul - 25 Jul, 2 Aug - 8 Aug, 16 Aug - 22 Aug, 13 Sep - 19 Sep, 11 Oct - 17 Oct, 25 Oct - 31 Oct, 8 Nov - 14 Nov, 20 Dec - 26 Dec

Price: 1180 euros

Price includes: All accommodation (spacious bow tents with mattresses), chalets in Maun, all transfers and activities as per the itinerary, all meals that are indicated (B - breakfast, L -lunch, D - dinner) and tea/coffees, services of a Professional Guide and Camp Assistant, Botswana park entries for activities included on itinerary, transport in specialised safari vehicles.

Does not include: Restaurant meals (Maun), tips, curios, beverages (alcohol, soft drinks and bottled mineral water), Insurance to cover for cancellation and curtailment, medical, baggage, emergency evacuation, Sleeping Bag (and small pillow) on all camping sectors.

This tour starts early on Day 1 in Maun, so you must have a pre tour night in Maun. There are 3 options - to camp (40 euros per person with B,D), stay at Maun Lodge (102 euros single or 65 euros per person double with B), or at Motsentsela Luxury Tree Lodge (175 euros per person with B,D). This tour finishes with a night at the Maun Lodge and we can offer extra post tour accommodation for you if needed. Please note that the Bushman Trail can link onto the Fish Eagle Trail for an extended trail.

We are sure you will thoroughly enjoy every minute of your adventure holiday in our care. This is because we pride ourselves in offering small group tours with a difference. Our safari will take you into the heart of the natural wild lands of Botswana. You will experience overland routes that will reveal the vast beauty of our continent, overnight camps filled with song, camaraderie, story telling and exciting animal encounters that will take your breath away!

Our tour leaders are all qualified Botswana Professional Safari Guides that are joyfully enthusiastic about their tasks and keen to share with you their intense love for Africa's flora and fauna. You can be assured of personal attention from guides that are equipped with an intimate knowledge and understanding of their environment. They all travel with a camp assistant. All tours are equipped with the luxuries required for travel comfort and peaceful relaxation (new up-to-date safari vehicles, a mobile kitchen serving good food with an African flavour, ice cold drinks for that tropical sundowner) while still maintaining the exhilarating adventurous spirit of the pioneer. The camping style is semi-participation - you setup your own user-friendly tent, but all further participation in cooking and general camp chores is optional. The bow tents are 2.1m x 2.1m. and a comfortable thick sleeping pad is provided. You bring your own sleeping bag or you can rent one. A variety of ablution facilities are available.

Vehicles: Our fleet comprises custom-built game viewing vehicles, specially designed for our trails. Each vehicle takes a maximum of twelve passengers, which ensures excellent game viewing and mobility (Please note that on small group safaris we may use alternative vehicles). Each vehicle has a cigarette lighter fitting, at 12 V DC to recharge batteries for video cameras; you will need to bring your own charger. We have developed our own trailers, each containing a mobile kitchen and space for all camping equipment and luggage - a complete unit travels together at all times on the safari.

Typical Day on Safari: On a typical day we get up at first light for an awakening coffee/tea and light morning snack (rusks, fruit), we then head out on a morning activity (game drives in the National Parks and mokoro excursions in the Okavango). We return around 1100 (flexible with each day). During the heat of the day we enjoy a refreshing brunch/lunch, siesta and bush shower and time to relax, read a book or write postcards. In the afternoon we head off again for an afternoon activity, returning by sunset for our evening meal around the campfire.
Please note that on travel days this changes around travelling times from camp to camp. Also note that some of the distances travelled can be quite long and you will eat a picnic lunch en-route.