Botswana Safari Highlights

8 Nights Botswana Safari Highlights

Highlights:Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve, Kasane & Victoria Falls

Safari Includes:

Starts Maun / Ends Victoria Falls

Seat in a charter from Maun to Kanana Camp
2 Nights at Kanana, Okavango Delta (Fully Inclusive)

Seat in a charter from Kanana to Camp Okuti
2 Nights at Camp Okuti, Moremi Game Reserve (Fully Inclusive)

Seat in charter from Camp Okuti to Kasane, Road transfer to Muchenje
2 Nights at Muchenje Lodge, Kasane (Fully Inclusive)

Road transfer from Muchenje Lodge to Ilala Lodge
2 Nights at Ilala Lodge, Victoria Falls (incl. breakfast)

Road transfer from Ilala Lodge to Victoria Falls Airport

Safari Excludes:

• Visas & Vaccinations – Please check with your local embassy
• All activities whilst at Ilala Lodge
• Meals and Beverages unless otherwise specified.
• Premium imported wines, champagnes, spirits & liqueurs where drinks are included
• Errors and omissions

DETAILED ITINERARY

DAY 1 & 2: KANANA CAMP, OKAVANGO DELTA

Upon guest’s arrival into Maun Airport, they will be met by a representative of Safari Destinations followed by a seat in plane transfer to Kanana Camp where they will stay for 2 nights.

Kanana Camp is set in the south western delta amongst grass covered islands formed by fertile eroded termite hills dotted with fig, palm and jackal berry trees. The Kanana area encompasses a necklace of islands on the Xudum River, northeast of Pom Pom lagoon and is incredibly picturesque with winding waterways meandering through open lagoons.

This traditional camp has an intimate and personal atmosphere, built among spectacular shady trees of ebony, acacia and sausage tree. It offers eight large safari style tents equipped with tasteful furnishing and private en-suite bathrooms. The main lodge area is on raised decking encircling the trees and offers a dining and sitting area, a cocktail bar and a refreshing plunge pool.

Activities at Kanana include day and night game drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles, game viewing on mokoro excursions, guided walks, fishing, motor boating and sunset cruises. The waterways are lined with reeds and dotted with papyrus and tree islands in this picturesque and tranquil part of the delta, water levels vary throughout the year and therefore the focus of activities. The camp managers will advise guests on the best options during their stay. A wide variety of game frequent the islands around Kanana Camp including impala, lechwe, leopard, lion and elephant and you may be lucky to see sitatunga whilst boating.

Birding all year round is exceptional with regular sightings of Pels Fishing Owl amongst many others. Kanana Camp is one of the few camps in the Delta to have access to a private heronry where many migratory water birds come to nest from July onwards. Birds you will encounter at the heronry include marabou, yellow-bill and open-bill storks. The sight of thousands of nesting birds is mesmerising and an experience you will not forget.

AREA DESCRIPTION – OKAVANGO DELTA

The Okavango Delta is one of the world's largest inland deltas situated in the middle of the largest stretch of continuous sand in the world - the Kalahari basin. This oasis in the middle of the desert is a rich yet fragile ecosystem, providing a life source for an incredible variety of wildlife. A wealth of species have adapted to the contrasting conditions created by living in the harsh Kalahari desert which is transformed annually with the arrival of the delta flood waters originating in Angola.

The Okavango wetland encompasses Moremi Game Reserve and surrounding regions divided into areas known as Private Concessions. These concessions are wildlife management areas, carefully administrated to balance the growing community’s development and conservation, whilst empowering citizens through sustainable tourism. Many of the exclusive lodges in Botswana are situated within these concessions in the delta, providing an unparalleled wildlife experience - exclusive and remote, avoiding mass tourism and exploitation.

Flood levels fluctuate dramatically throughout the year, with high water levels peaking in the central Okavango during the dry winter months and water levels at their lowest during the later summer months, contrary to the seasonal rainfall.  The landscape, activities and game viewing vary considerably throughout the delta depending on your location, the season and flood levels. Some areas have larger tracts of permanent dry land which generally means there is more focus on land based activities (game drives) and big game viewing. Lodges situated on islands deep in the delta concentrate more on water activities such as mokoro excursions, walking, boating, fishing and bird watching. Those lodges situated on the outer fringes of the delta, referred to as the 'seasonal' delta, offer varied experiences at different times of the year - more water based during high flood levels and more land based as the flood recedes. 

Game is more concentrated around the permanent water during the dry season (Apr - Oct) with it becoming very hot in the later months. The heronries become active as the migrant birds return to Botswana from September through November, and general bird watching is excellent throughout the summer months. The rainy season (Nov - Apr) invigorates the lush scenery with wild flowers, dramatic thundershowers, spectacular sunsets and the birthing season brings great predator and prey interaction.

DAY 3 & 4: CAMP OKUTI, MOREMI GAME RESERVE

After an early morning activity and breakfast (time permitting), guests will be transferred from Kanana to Camp Okuti by seat in plane transfer, where they will stay for 2 nights.

 Okuti is located alongside the Maunachira River, as it flows into the Xakanaxa Lagoon in the heart of the Okavango delta, within the Moremi Wildlife Reserve. Moremi is a park rich in wildlife and game viewing is consistent year round so it is ideal for the first time visitor to Botswana.

This luxury camp has recently been rebuilt and is designed in the African village style, accommodating a maximum of eighteen guests.  Accommodation is in stylish and spacious units, each on raised platforms and containing en-suite bathrooms, featuring an outdoor shower with an incredible view. Camp Okuti is also extremely family friendly and boasts two family units with two rooms sharing a bathroom. Okuti Camp features an open dining area with stunning views across the lagoon, outdoor boma area and a swimming pool. Activities offered are game drives in open safari vehicles exploring the diverse range of habitats within the reserve – from open floodplains to belts of mopane woodland. Guests can also venture out onto the open waters of the Okavango by motorboat, visiting the Xakanaxa Lagoon and beyond up to the seasonal heronry at Gadikwe. Moremi Game Reserve offers some of the most spectacular game viewing in Botswana and guests may encounter breeding herds of elephant, a hunting lioness or a sleeping pride of lion, grazing impalas, kudus and much more.

AREA DESCRIPTION – MOREMI GAME RESERVE

Moremi Game Reserve is a rich and diverse wildlife sanctuary, encompassing the Okavango Delta. The reserve is unfenced and its boundaries are defined naturally by river systems. The vegetation is varied, with dry land complemented by permanent and seasonal swamplands, resulting in an excellent diversity of both wildlife and birdlife. There is a network of game drive routes through the reserve as well as access to the permanent delta waterways in Xakanaxa where boating can be enjoyed (not available from lodges in the Khwai area).

Moremi is amongst the best game reserves in Africa for viewing the endangered African wild dog. Xakanaxa is home to a resident herd of several hundred buffalo whose range covers the territories of at least 4 prides of lion which may often be seen flanking the ever moving herd. Breeding herds of elephant move between their browsing areas in the mopane forests and the fresh water of the Okavango. Red lechwe are one of the more unusual antelope species commonly found here. Game is more concentrated around the permanent water during the dry season (Apr - Oct) with it becoming very hot in the later months. The heronries become active as the migrant birds return to Botswana from September through November, and general bird watching is excellent throughout the summer months. The rainy season (Nov - Apr) invigorates the lush scenery with wild flowers, dramatic thundershowers, spectacular sunsets and the birthing season brings great predator and prey interaction.

Please note that activities are restricted within the national park in accordance with government rules and regulations. These include no driving off-road, no walking and no driving after dark.

DAY 5 & 6: MUCHENJE LODGE, KASANE

Following the morning activity (time permitting), guests will be transferred by road to Xakanaxa Airstrip followed by a seat in plane transfer to Kasane Airport followed by a road transfer to Muchenje Lodge where they will stay for 2 nights.

Muchenje is  an intimate and privately owned lodge situated at the western boundaries of the famous Chobe National Park. The lodge has stunning panoramic views overlooking the Chobe river and floodplains. It is only 45 minutes from Kasane and two hours from Victoria Falls.
The lodge accommodates a maximum of twenty guests in ten spacious twin-bedded thatched chalets overlooking the Chobe floodplains. Each en-suite room is exquisitely furnished with an African ambience and a private balcony affords stunning panoramic views. Guests may relax in the central lodge in the lounge, bar or lookout platform. The lodge also features a dining area, reception, curio shop, game viewing platform and library. The feature swimming pool is built amongst natural rock formations, taking advantage of the African vista.
Activities offered at Muchenje Lodge are walking safaris in the private reserve adjacent to Chobe National Park thus allowing guests to explore the intricacies of the bush, plants, insects and big game. Game drives, both in the reserve surrounding the lodge as well as into the Chobe National Park, are conducted in open 4x4 safari vehicles with qualified professional guides. Alternatively guests experience game viewing by motorboat on the Chobe River past bathing herds of elephant, hippos, crocodiles and amazing bird life. For those on longer stays, fishing and interior drives to the remotest parts of central Chobe can be arranged with the lodge.

AREA DESCRIPTION - CHOBE

The Chobe River Front is a remarkable wildlife area due to the permanent water source of the Chobe River. However its accessibility from Kasane and neighbouring towns of Victoria Falls and Livingstone has created quite a busy tourist area with larger hotels and lodges than you find in the more remote Okavango Delta. The spectacle of all the animals coming to drink and frolic at the water's edge is one to behold, particularly in the dry season (May - Oct) where water is scarce away from the river. It is an area famous for its abundance of elephants, a variety of predators and, in addition, you are likely to see herds of buffalo and possibly even roan and sable antelope. In the rainy season (Nov - Apr) the game is much less concentrated at the river as the wildlife spread throughout the greater area of Chobe National Park due to availability of surface water from nearby pans. This assists the vegetation on the river banks in recovering from the massive herds that are attracted to the area in the dry months. The summer rains bring beautiful wild flowers, exquisite scenery, impressive bird life and an abundance of young animals usually born around November/December. The spectacular Chobe sunsets alone are worth a visit to the area. Please note that activities are restricted within the national park in accordance with government rules and regulations: these include no driving off-road, no walking and no driving after dark.

Day 7 & 8: ILALA, VICTORIA FALLS

After breakfast the guests will be transferred by road to Ilala Lodge in Victoria Falls (approximately 2 hour transfer) where they will stay for 2 nights.

Ilala Lodge is situated close to the Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe as well as to the town centre. Wild animals are often seen grazing the hotel lawns as the National Park borders the front of the property. The Lodge offers 32 rooms: 24 twins, 8 doubles and 2 suites. All rooms have an en-suite bathroom with a separate shower, air-conditioning, overhead fan and satellite TV. Guests are served early morning tea/coffee and fruit. The rooms are spacious with railway sleeper teak furnishings and patio doors leading onto either an open lawn or a balcony where you are afforded a view of the Victoria Falls. There is an à la carte restaurant which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers a comprehensive wine list and cocktails. Dining outside under the African night sky amidst the sound of the mighty waterfall makes for a very romantic evening.
Victoria Falls has become the premier adventure resort of Africa with a multitude of activities to suit every traveller. Some of the most popular are elephant back safaris, exploring the local craft market for African treasures and taking a helicopter flight over the mile-wide Victoria Falls, guided walking safaris and game drives are activities not to be missed and are arranged at the lodge. Game drives take place in 4x4 safari vehicles providing guests with the chance to see big game and enjoy a buffet meal on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River. Other activities are white water rafting in the river, walking with lions and horseback riding through areas with a high concentration of game and beautiful scenery. Day and overnight trips to Chobe (Botswana) and Hwange National Park are also possible.

AREA DESCRIPTION – VICTORIA FALLS

Victoria Falls town lies on the southern bank of the Zambezi River at the eastern end of the Victoria Falls. It is a lovely tourist town which is easy to explore on foot and which offers a wide range of activities from the challenge of white water rafting and bungi jumping, to the awe-inspiring elephant back safaris and sunset cruises. It has something for everyone

The Victoria Falls are one of the Seven Wonders of the World and is the largest sheet of falling water on earth - a spellbinding and mesmerising spectacle. The sheer mass of water cascading down the 100m drop across nearly 2km makes  a thunderous roar and creates a magnificent spray of water that can be seen for miles - hence the local name 'mosi oa tunya' meaning 'the smoke that thunders'.

Access to Victoria Falls is within easy walking distance from the town centre. Water flow over the falls varies throughout the year. The river's annual flood season is February to May when the spray can reach a height of over 400m, this is spectacular from above but it makes it very difficult to see the falls at ground level as it is under a heavy shower/mist. Water levels start dropping in August and are at their lowest October - December when much of the rocky face becomes dry. At times of low water, the falls are best viewed from the Zimbabwe side or from Livingstone Island.

DAY 9: SAFARI ENDS IN VICTORIA FALLS

After the breakfast the guests will be transferred to Victoria Falls Airport, for their onward travel arrangements.