Botswana Tours and Safaris

Botswana Game Trail / Botswana, Kalahari, Delta / Bushman Trail / Southern Circle / Canoe Trail

 

NAMIBIA & BOTSWANA "SOUTHERN CIRCLE"

Highlights
* Victoria Falls - A natural wonder of the world & adventure activities
* Caprivi - Game drives
* Etosha NP - game viewing
* Damaraland- rock paintings
* Swakopmund - dune boarding & quad biking
* Namib Desert - walk Sossusvlei dunes
* Kalahari - bush walk with San Bushman
* Okavango Delta - mokoro excursion and bush walks
* Chobe NP - sunset boat cruise on Chobe River

An accommodated adventure visiting the highlights of Namibia and Botswana. Visit the mighty Victoria Falls before entering Namibia. Enjoy wildlife of Etosha, the scenery of Damaraland, and the dunes of the Namib Desert. We take a bush walk with the San Bushman, and head deep into the Okavango Delta finishing off with a boat cruise in Chobe National Park. An all encompassing journey in Southern Africa

Day 1 - 2 LIVINGSTONE [permanent tents Bx1--]
(B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)
Tour departure meeting at 14:00pm. Victoria Falls is one of the natural wonders of the world and we take 2 days to explore this area. Adventure activities abound, elephant back safaris, white water rafting on the mighty Zambezi, or an 111m bungi jump (own expense).

Includes: Entrance to see the Victoria Falls
Overnight: Tented Camp - twin permanent tents with shared facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar
Optional Activities: White water rafting, sunset cruises, elephant back safaris, scenic flights & many more

Day 3 - 4 CAPRIVI [chalets BLD]
Crossing out of Zambia into the Caprivi strip, a narrow section of Namibian land that extends between Angola, Zambia and Botswana. We spend two days on game drives and traveling west through this game rich area.

Includes: Entrance fees & game drives
Overnight: Chalets - twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar
Distance/time: Day 3: 300km, ± 4 hours, excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch
Day 4: 200km, ± 3 hours, excluding stops for sightseeing

Day 5 RUNDU [chalet BLD]
After a morning enjoying the abundant birdlife that surrounds the camp, our road takes us along the Kavango River. Villages of grass huts and local wooden crafts and carvings a common sight. We stop for the night at our riverside lodge in Rundu with a spectacular sunset.

Overnight: Chalets - twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar Distance/time: 210kms, ± 3 hours, excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch

Day 6 - 7 ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK [lodge BLD]
We head deeper into Namibia to the Etosha National Park. The National Park surrounds the Etosha Pan, and is locally named "the great white place of dry water". Waterholes surround the pan and attract game, Etosha is known for great sightings of elephant, antelope and lions. Our lodge lies on the boundary of the park and we spend our mornings and afternoons on game drives.

Includes: Entrance fees to Etosha National Park, morning & afternoon game drives
Overnight: Guest Lodge or tented camp - twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar
Distance/time: 420kms, ± 5 hours excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch

Day 8 TWYFELFONTIEN [permanent tents BLD]
The world heritage site of Twyfelfontein is our next stop. Approximately 2000 rock engravings adorn the hills of this area. We explore the mountains on foot with our local guides.

Includes: Guided walk to view San Rock Art
Overnight: Tented camp - twin chalets with en-suite bathroom, swimming pool, restaurant & bar.
Distance/time: 600kms, ± 7½ hours excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch

Day 9 BRANDBERG [lodge BLD]
Our journey covers some beautiful desert landscapes as we move south towards the Brandberg Mountain. The dry Ugab River is home to the rare desert elephants. We visit the petrified forest, and the rock paintings in the area.

Includes: Entrance to petrified forest and San Rock Art
Overnight: Chalets - twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar
Distance/time: 170km, ± 2½ hours, excluding stops for sightseeing

Day 10 - 11 SWAKOPMUND [chalet Bx2 Lx1 -]
We cross flat open plains past the Spitzkoppe granite domes to the coast where we visit the Cape Cross seal colony. Further south is the coastal town of Swakopmund. Day free to explore the town or try quad biking / dune boarding (own expense). We enjoy evening restaurant meals (own expense).

Includes: Entrance to Cape Cross seal colony
Overnight: Chalets - twin rooms with en-suite facilities & restaurant.
Distance/time: 250km, ± 3½ hours, excluding stops for sightseeing
Optional Activities: Quad biking, Sand boarding, Skydiving, Ocean canoe safari, Scenic flights & many more

Day 12 - 13 NAMIB DESERT [permanent tents BLD]
The Lunar landscapes surround the town of Swakopmund and we visit these as we leave and head into the Namib Desert with it's towering red sand dunes. We will walk to Sossusvlei, explore Sesriem Canyon and watch dramatic sunsets / sunrises over the world's highest sand dunes.
Includes: Entrance fees to Sesriem Canyon and Naukluft National Park
Overnight: Lodge or Tented lodge - twin rooms with en-suite facilities, restaurant, swimming pool & bar
Distance/time: 350kms, ± 5 hours excluding stops for sightseeing

Day 14 WINDHOEK [guest house BL-]
Windhoek is the capital and largest city in Namibia, its charm lies in its harmonious blend of African and European cultures and the friendliness of its people and an interesting mix of modern and German colonial era influenced architecture. We explore the city and enjoy a restaurant meal (own expense).

Overnight: Guesthouse - twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar.
Distance/time: 345km, ± 4½ hours, excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch

Victoria Falls to Windhoek tour ends at +/-08:00am on morning of day 15, see www.sunway-safaris.com for itinerary & price (NBa15).

Day 15 KALAHARI [San Bushmen Huts BLD]
Crossing into Botswana we overnight in the heart of the Kalahari. We take a walk with the local San Bushmen to learn fascinating bush skills.

Includes: Nature walk with local San bushman and translator
Overnight: Grass huts - very simple twin huts, with shared ablutions, swimming in old quarry
Distance/time: 550kms, ± 7½ hours excluding border formalities & stops for sightseeing & lunch

Day 16, 17, 18 OKAVANGO DELTA [tented camp x2 BLD] [tented lodge BL-]
An annual flood of fresh water spreads into the Kalahari Desert creating the reed lined channels of the Okavango Delta. Our first night is spent in Maun in preparation before journeying deep into the Delta on Makoro (dugouts) - an experience not to be missed. We have 2 nights in our tented camp wild on remote islands and enjoy game walks, swimming and the birdlife in this pristine wilderness area.

Includes: Entrance to Okavango Delta, morning and afternoon game walks with local guides
Overnight: Maun: twin permanent tents with shared facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar
2 nights Okavango Delta: Tented Camp - basic facilities, with bucket showers
Distance/time: 300km, ± 4½ hours (Kalahari - Maun) Okavango transfer in 4WD ± 2 hour each way
Optional Activities: Scenic flight over the Okavango Delta (+/-USD70-90 pp depending on number of people in each aircraft)

Day 19 MAKGADIKGADI PANS [permanent tents BL-]
Feel the vastness of Africa under a big sky sunset. After the rains the pans fill with water and attract thousands of water birds and herds of zebra, wildebeest and springbok.

Includes: Entrance fees to Makgadikgadi Pans
Overnight: Tented Lodge - twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar
Distance/time: 320km, ± 4 hours, excluding stops for sightseeing

Day 20: CHOBE NATIONAL PARK [chalet BL-]
We turn north through the Chobe Forest Reserve to Kasane where we settle into our lodge. Chobe NP is famous for large herds of elephant and buffalo. Our afternoon is spent on an exciting wildlife boat cruise in the Chobe NP.

Includes: Sunset game viewing boat cruise on the Chobe River
Overnight: Chalets - twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar
Distance/time: 300kms, ± 3½ hours excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch

Day 21 ZAMBIA / VICTORIA FALLS [- B--]
This morning we transfer to Livingstone where tour ends at +/- 12:00 noon.

 

Please note:
The distance and travel times quoted above are an estimate only, and subject to local road conditions and photo stops!

Price: US$ 3 284 pps + local payment of ZAR 1900 (valid Jan 2011 - Dec 2011) Single supplement: US$ 793 pp (If you are travelling on your own, we will "room" you with another same gender client. You do not pay extra when booking as a single person. If however you request a single room, then you'll pay the single supplement.)

Includes
* 18 nights in chalets, perman tents & guesthouses, 2 nights in tented camp
* Entrance fees
* Use of equipment (including sleeping bag & pillow)
* Transport in minibus / safari truck & 4WD
* Meals as per itinerary
* Professional guides
* Okavango Delta mokoro excursion

I want to book this!

* Bold dates are guaranteed departures, all other dates guaranteed from 4 clients. Guaranteed from 4 clients, maximum group size: 12 clients

DEPARTS: LIVINGSTONE on Sunday at 14:00pm ENDS: LIVINGSTONE on Saturday at ±12:00 noon

DETAILED TOUR INFO

In a nutshell
" A true exploration of Namibia, Botswana - see it all!
" All inclusive trip with cultural experience, adventure and wildlife.
" Victoria Falls, Caprivi, Etosha, Damaraland, Namib Desert, Kalahari, Okavango Delta & Chobe.
" Small groups - by travelling with a maximum of 12 people, you are able to witness Africa and have first hand contact with this amazing continent and it's people without being a negative influence. This has been a key factor in our continued success. Our trips appeal to a wide variety of ages. The average is 37 - with most being aged 25 to 60. The range of travellers gives a variety of perspectives which adds to the experience of each safari.
" 2 tour guides - you will travel with 2 qualified and registered field guides (FGASA). 2 guides as crew, not a guide and a driver, means maximum knowledge, informative and interesting trips. Our guides have a passion for Africa, her people and her wildlife, and they love nothing more than sharing their knowledge with our guests.
" All of the entrance fees are included and a wide range of activities, and most meals. We have included as many highlights in our tours, so that you will see and experience the highlights without having to pay extra when you get there. So when you decide on which safari company to book with, look carefully at what you're actually getting. You may only visit a place once, make sure you get the most out of it.
" Safety - All of our vehicles are custom built to ensure comfortable and safe touring. Each is constructed, by an authorised passenger vehicle builder, to the latest safety requirements, with a safety shell, and every seat has a lap belt. This gives you peace of mind when travelling with us on the often demanding African roads.
" Responsible travel - Our commitment to sustainable & responsible tourism is reflected in our low impact travel style where all we take is photographs and all we leave is our footprints. Being an African company we have the grassroots contacts to make a real difference in the lives of the people whose lands we visit.
" Experience - We have more than 16 years experience in planning tours throughout Southern Africa. As such, our itineraries and routes have been perfected over many years ensuring that your tour will run smoothly. We visit the highlights of Southern Africa, but ensure that you do not follow the well trodden tourist track.

Accommodation
" Livingstone, SAFPAR Waterfront Lodge - twin share tented camp with shared facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone. (or Maramba Lodge, twin share chalet with en suite facilities)
" Caprivi, Camp Kwando - twin share permanent tents with en suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone.
" Caprivi, Ngepi Camp - twin share permanent huts with shared facilities. Swimming pool, bar & restaurant.
" Etosha, Taleni Etosha Village, twin permanent luxury tents, with en-suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone. (5km/10min from Anderson Gate to Etosha) (or Tarentaal Guest Farm, 5 x twin share bedrooms. 2 x twin rooms with shared bathroom. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone. (35km/20min from Anderson Gate to Etosha)
" Twyfelfontein, Camp Xaragu - twin share permanent tents with en-suite facilities, bar, restaurant & swimming pool.
" Ugab, White Lady Lodge - twin share chalets with en-suite facilities, bar, restaurant & swimming pool.
" Swakopmund, Dunedin Star guest house - twin share rooms with en suite facilities. Telephone.
" Namib Desert, Taleni Desert Camp - twin share permanent tents with en-suite facilities.
" Windhoek, Klein Windhoek Guest House - 1 night in Windhoek we stay in a guest house. We may have twin or double rooms all with shared facilities. The guest house is central and convenient.
" Kalahari, Ghanzi Trail Blazers - basic grass huts with stretchers, mattresses, mosquito nets and bed side lamp. Sleeping bag supplied. Shared facilities.
" Maun, Audi Camp - twin permanent tents with shared facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone.
" Okavango Delta - wilderness tented camp - for 2 nights while in the Okavango Delta we overnight in a pre-erected tented camp. The facilities are very basic but we will provide a simple bucket bush shower and a toilet tent will be provided of the "sand and bury" variety. We need to take our own water and all equipment. Wild tented camping can be very enjoyable but please remember that we leave no trace of our stay and take all rubbish away with us. Sunway supplies all the camping equipment including use of a sleeping bag & camp pillow. The dome tents we use are 2.2 x 2.2 x 1.8 metres. Tents have built-in insect nets. We supply mattresses, which are about 5 cm thick, warm and comfortable. The camp chairs have a backrest.
" Makgadikgadi Pans, Nata Lodge -twin share luxury tents with en suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone. (or Planet Baobab,- twin share Bakalanga Huts with en suite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone)
" Chobe National Park, Thebe River Safaris - twin chalets with ensuite facilities. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant, telephone.

Transport
" On foot - easy to moderate walks throughout the tour - Victoria Falls, Ugab Spitzkoppe, Sossusvlei, Kalahari & Okavango Delta. Duration from ½ - 4 hours.
" Mokoro - In the Okavango we use mokoros (dugout canoes), "poled" by our local guides, 2 people and their kit per mokoro.
" Open Game vehicles - The transfer into the delta is also with an open 4WD vehicle. This allows us the opportunity to really feel part of the bush, the smells, sounds and of course great views!
" Vehicle - for longer distance travel, place to place, we use custom-built Safari trucks with 12 forward facing seats. Comfortable touring and good for game viewing. Large, sliding windows and viewing hatches give everyone a good view; or Toyota Hiace minibuses with 10 forward facing seats (roof rack and trailer for equipment and baggage). There are a couple of long days of travelling but the vehicles have a comfortable cruising speed. The emphasis of the trip is "getting out and doing things".

Local Payment
" A local payment is required on this safari and this will be collected by your tour leader on departure. The local payment forms part of your overall tour cost, and must be taken into consideration when booking your safari. It will be used by your tour leaders to pay for some of the operational costs incurred on safari. For example entry fees to most national parks, some of the campsites and also local food markets (and even some shops) are only payable in cash. In addition, each vehicle has a garage card but these are only accepted in South Africa and parts of Namibia, therefore in all other countries, fuel must be paid for in cash. Due to the remoteness of some departure points, having a local payment system enables us to manage tour funds effectively. The efficiency of this system helps keep the overall tour prices down. For these reasons, it is necessary to charge a local payment. It also ensures that a portion of the tour costs goes directly into the country you are visiting, thereby benefiting local communities and contributing to the conservation of the areas we visit. This is all part of our ongoing effort to operate sustainable safaris that make a real difference.

Participation
" An essential part of your Safari is participation - from helping around the camp fire, to packing away in the morning, to helping with cleaning up - it's all part of your adventure and when everyone puts in a little effort the trip will run smoothly. Your tour leaders will do all the meal preparation but we do ask the clients to help with the washing up. Team spirit is part of the fun!

Recommended reading
Before you travel you might want to read any of the following books. While not specific to the Sunway tour you will join, they do provide some background understanding of the countries you will be visiting.
" Sands of Silence by Peter H Capstick
" Skeleton Coast by John H Marsh (Wreck of the Dunedin Star and its survivors)
" The Skeleton Coast by Benedict Allen (A journey through the Namib Desert)
" The Smell of Apples by Mark Behr (Story of boy in Cape Town by then army on Caprivi)
" Etosha by Daryl and Sharna Balfour (A coffee table book of photography)
" Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela (Autobiography - Nelson Mandela is one of the great moral and political leaders of our time.)
" #1 ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith (Fictional story of life in Botswana)
" Trees of the Okavango by Veronica Roodt (A reference book with traditional uses and myths)
" Okavango: Jewel of the Kalahari by Karen Ross (A comprehensive description of the Delta ecology)
" Don't run whatever You Do by Peter Allison (A guide's perspective of Botswana lodge life)
" Okavango: Africa's Last Eden by Frans Lanting (A coffee table book of photography)
" Newman's Birds of Southern Africa by Kenneth Newman
" Sasol Birds of Southern Africa by Ian Sinclair, Phil Hockey, and W.R. Tarboton
" The Safari Companion: A Guide to Watching African Mammals Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, and Primates by Richard D. Estes and Daniel Otte
" Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa (Field Guides) by Braam Van Wyk, Keith Coates Palgrav, and Piet Van Wyk

Shopping
" Craft shopping for carvings, batiks, paintings and clothing are best in Livingstone, Zambia which has a wide variety of curios. Botswana has beautiful grass weavings. Namibia also has unusual and interesting curios and crafts. If you see something you like, it is best to buy it because it is unlikely that you will see something similar further along. Crafts from change from region to region.

Food
" We pride ourselves on giving very good healthy meals to our clients and will provide three meals per day, except where shown in itinerary, when we try out local restaurants.
" The tour leaders do the shopping and meal planning and meal preparation for each group. He/she will always try to obtain fresh produce wherever possible. A rough idea of what these will consist of is: Breakfast - cereals or coffee and toast or the occasional fried breakfast, Lunch - cheese, cold meats, salads on bread or rolls, Dinner - braais (local barbecue), potjies (stews), stir fries etc. We use regular plates, cups and cutlery. All cooking and eating utensils will also be provided.
" We do cater for special dietary requirements (e.g. vegetarian or allergies.)
" We will supply fruit squash served with breakfast and tea or coffee served with breakfast and dinner. All other beverages will be for your own expense. We will not supply bottled drinking water although it is available at many shops on tour.

Difficulty
" Anyone who is generally active and in good health should enjoy this trip. The accommodation used is simple but clean and this trip will appeal to anyone interested in getting the real wilderness of Botswana.
" Full itinerary with a couple of long driving days. The road conditions through the wilderness areas a very poor and our progress can at times be slow and dusty. Remember to hold on at all times and enjoy the ride!
" Everyone is asked to help out with the running of camp on tour. In other words if everyone spends a little time setting up camp, preparing meals and cleaning up then the tour will run smoothly and everyone will have a good time. Participation is the name of the game.

Common questions about this trip
1. Can I buy camera film & memory cards? Film, memory cards and other photographic accessories will be available several times on tour. A camera with a zoom lens from wide angle to telephoto, 35-200mm, is advisable to capture both scenic and wildlife shots. Each vehicle is fitted with a 12/24V cigarette lighter - this should not be relied on for charging camera batteries and we recommend you bring a 2nd battery. Remember you can also charge your camera on those nights we use accommodation (SA 220V)
2. Is it safe? South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia are relatively safe and your guide knows the countries intimately and will endeavour to show you the best parts while looking after you. In the wild areas your guide will brief you on the necessary precautions, follow this advice and you will be fine. Be aware of your personal belongings and you will have a great trip! Every precaution is taking to ensure a happy holiday.
3. Do I need malaria tablets? Yes, the trip passes through malaria areas and prophylactics are recommended.
4. What do I need to bring? All details are covered in our general tour briefing but the basics are: - a warm sleeping bag, comfortable clothes for warm days and cool evenings, walking shoes, a raincoat, hat and sunglasses, swimsuit, a small pair of binoculars also comes in very handy and most importantly - a sense of adventure!

Things you should know
" Includes park entrances, game drives and the Okavango Delta excursion.
" You will need a valid passport and visas for entry into South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia.
" Luggage, please pack to a limit of 12kgs in a soft sports tog bag. Bring a daypack for walks.
" We recommend that you bring Euro, US$ or South African Rand for personal expenses on this trip but please note that in South Africa and Namibia Euro and US$ will need to changed into Namibian $ or South African Rand as shops, restaurants and market vendors only accept N$ and ZAR. In Botswana please note that foreign currency will need to changed into Botswna Pula as shops, restaurants and market vendors only accept BWP. Expenses in Livingstone can be paid in US$ or Euro and major credit cards can also be used for optional activities throughout this tour. Travellers cheques can be changed in Cape Town, Swakopmund, Windhoek, Maun and Livingstone. See the Sunway tour dossier for approximate costs of drinks and meals etc.