Great Adventure Trips

Botswana

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

Parks of Botswana - an excellent opportunity to see the country's fantastic wildlife.

A diverse itinerary ranging from the remarkable Makgadikgadi salt pans, the Kalahari wilderness areas, the Okavango Delta to three of Botswana's prime wildlife reserves, and a dramatic finale at Victoria Falls.

DAYS 1 & 2: MAKGADIGADI PANS NATIONAL PARK
Depart from Maun at 08h00 this morning to the unique and fascinating Makgadigadi saltpans. Palm trees and riverine woodlands make for some spectacular scenery, and the sunsets are breathtaking. Game is richly diverse due to the fertile grasslands, and the area is known for its excellent birding. Spend two overnights camping near the Khumaga area.

DAYS 3 & 4: CENTRAL KALAHARI GAME RESERVE
Continue to our campsite in Deception Valley - an ancient riverbed meandering between wooded dunes across the Central Kalahari Game Reserve - via Tsoe and Rakops. Deception Valley was the site for the research and experiences of Mark and Delia Owens, so vividly captured in their book Cry of the Kalahari. The riverbed supports a great diversity of fauna and flora, and you may explore this fragile ecosystem along a great length of its course. Numbers of oryx are found grazing along the way, and you could also encounter lion, leopard, brown hyena, giraffe, wildebeest, hartebeest, jackal, bat-eared fox and various other species in this intriguing environment. Raptors such as black-shouldered kites, kestrels and eagles abound while marsh owls are often seen after the rains. Many topics are discussed around the fire at night and comradeship forms an integral part of this unique experience.

DAY 5: DECEPTION VALLEY LODGE
Travel to Deception Valley Lodge -- set on the edge of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Enjoy an exciting night game-drive where you will have a good chance of encountering some fascinating nocturnal wildlife.

DAYS 6 & 7: OKAVANGO DELTA
Enjoy an early morning walk led by a San tracker before returning overland to Maun for a scenic flight into the Okavango Delta. Here you will camp at our campsite on a private concession, complete with camp staff. Explore the Okavango by mekoro (canoe) and powerboat, and enjoy a delicious evening meal under a canopy of trees. Rise with the dawn and explore the floodplains on foot and by mekoro. Depending on game concentrations, you could expect to find lechwe, kudu, buffalo, reedbuck and many other species. The flora, too, provides a fascinating glimpse into the intricate ecology of the Delta. During the hot hours of the day the possibility of a swim presents itself.

DAYS 8 & 9: MOREMI WILDLIFE RESERVE
Continue by light aircraft to Khwai - tucked into the northeastern sector of the Okavango. Set-aside in 1963 by the Batawana tribe, Moremi Wildlife Reserve is rated as Africa's most beautiful wildlife sanctuary. Spend your days enjoying extensive game-drives, and two overnights camping out in the Reserve.

DAYS 10, 11, 12 & 13: CHOBE NATIONAL PARK
Travel to Savute - excellent for lion and other predator viewing - where you will spend two nights camping next to the dry Savute Channel. Depending on the time of year, great concentrations of wildlife are attracted to this area. From Savute, continue to northern Chobe where you will camp in the Serondela area of the Park. This is the heart of elephant country and you will have the opportunity to spend many hours watching the huge herds in and around the waters of the Chobe River. Northern Chobe has beautiful scenery and magnificent sunsets, with a large variety of bird and animal life.

DAY 14: VICTORIA FALLS
It is a short drive from Chobe to Victoria Falls, one of the world's most awe-inspiring sights. Your stay here is always welcomed as a chance to wash off Botswana's dust, relax over a cold beer, and enjoy the varied entertainment and facilities at Victoria Falls. Your entrance fee to the Falls is included in your safari fare. Overnight accommodation is at The Kingdom Hotel in twin-bedded rooms with private facilities on a bed and breakfast basis (lunch and dinner today are for your own account).

DAY 15: END OF SAFARI
After breakfast at the Hotel the safari ends.

UNIQUE FEATURES OF THIS SAFARI:
" Pristine wilderness
" Diverse ecosystems
" Makgadigadi Pans, Kalahari Desert and Okavango Delta
" Guaranteed window seat

Serviced camping safari, suitable for reasonably fit people. Involves some hiking and rugged conditions. This safari travels with a maximum of seven guests, in a specially customised 4x4 safari vehicle, and accompanied by an expert safari guide throughout. All meals - from lunch on day one to breakfast on day fifteen - are included. A reasonable amount of bottled water, local wine, beer and soft drinks are included on camping days. Airport transfers at Victoria Falls are also included. Window seat guaranteed throughout. The upper age limit for this safari is 70 years, however, clients between the age of 70 and 75 years may be accepted provided that they produce a medical certificate stating that they are fit to travel. Minimum age limit is 12 years.

2007 DEPARTURE DATES: private departures available