Classic Botswana

YOUR ULTIMATE LODGE-TO-LODGE SAFARI IN AFRICA

Areas of Interest

We strongly recommend reading a bit more about this fantastic place, an ecosystem unique in the World. The Okavango Delta is a vast inland river delta in northern Botswana. It’s known for its sprawling grassy plains, which flood seasonally, becoming a lush animal habitat. The Moremi Game Reserve occupies the east and central areas of the region. Here, dugout canoes (called mokoro) are used to navigate past hippos, elephants, and crocodiles. On dry land, wildlife includes lions, leopards, giraffes, and rhinos.

The Okavango Delta is a unique pulsing wetland. More correctly an alluvial fan, the delta covers between 6 and 15,000 square of the Kalahari Desert in northern Botswana and owes its existence to the Okavango (Kavango) River which flows from the Angolan highlands, across Namibia’s Caprivi Strip, and into the harsh Kalahari Desert.

The 1000th site to be inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2014, the Okavango Delta is an important wildlife area protected by both the Moremi Game Reserve, on its eastern edge, and the numerous wildlife concessions within Ngamiland.

Chobe National Park is in northern Botswana near the vast, inland Okavango Delta. It’s known for its large herds of elephants and Cape buffalo, which converge along the Chobe Riverfront in the dry months. Lions, antelopes, and hippos inhabit the woods and lagoons around Linyanti Marsh. The floodable grasslands of the Savuti Marsh attract numerous bird species, plus migrating zebras.

The main attraction is the Chobe River, and the game viewing from a boat when the wildlife congregates to drink. You are likely to see all the African iconic wildlife species. The Chobe National Park is also famous for bird watching. Variety includes open-billed-storks, kingfishers of all types, and the famous breeding colonies of carmine-bee-eaters (September to October).

It is the most diversified of all the parks in Botswana. Although just fewer than 5,000 square kilometers (1,900 square miles) in extent, Moremi Game Reserve is a surprisingly diverse game reserve, combining mopane woodland and acacia forests, floodplains, and lagoons. Only about 30% of the Reserve is mainland, with the bulk being within the Okavango Delta itself.

Chances of seeing all the Big 5 are high (May to November). By combining drier areas and waterways, the contrasts are astonishing. Imagine views of savannah game as well as birdlife around the rivers, or elephants and hippos splashing in the lagoons. Often referred to as a ‘Garden of Eden’, the Moremi Game Reserve offers excellent game viewing year-round and stunning landscapes of savannah, floodplains, lagoons, dense forests (where leopards and wild dogs hide) and winding rivers.

The Savute (also spelled Savuti) area borders the Delta to the west and Chobe National Park to the east and is one of Africa’s best known big game areas. Savuti is a place of enchantment, of beauty, and boasts one of the greatest concentrations of animals in Southern Africa.

Savuti is famous for its mysterious and fascinating channel. It runs a distance of 100 kilometers from the Chobe River, through a gap in the sand ridge, to the Mababe Depression. Falling only approximately 18 meters, this channel brings water from the Chobe to Mababe, creating a small marsh where it enters the Depression.

Predators are abundant, especially its resident lion and spotted hyena populations. Savuti areas are among the most beautiful in Botswana. The game-viewing can be exceptional, and the wide variety of activities make this an area not be missed. Savute hosts large herds of buffalo, zebra, and elephant. Because this area is a private game reserve, the vehicle concentrations are very low and the wilderness experience is one of the best in Africa.

Linyanti is situated north of Savuti in a corner of the Chobe National Park. Linyanti Swamp is one of the most attractive areas in the park. It boasts a great diversity of game and a restful atmosphere.

The north-western corner of Chobe meets the Linyanti River – this is a fragment of almost 900 square kilometers of the secluded Linyanti Swamp. This area is further expanded by the Selinda Reserve in the west and Namibia’s remote Mamili National Park on the northern bank of the Kwando River. The area’s relative remoteness makes it a favored safari destination.

Wildlife viewing in the Linyanti region is excellent. It boasts large concentrations of elephant, lion, sable, roan, hippos, and wild dog, building to a peak in the dry winter months. The area also offers spectacular bird watching year round and is best known for its enormous herds of Elephant which move down to the Linyanti River at the start of the winter months and only move back inland once the main rains arrive.

Sable and Roan Antelope occur, as well as lion, leopard, and wild dogs. The marshes are home to red lechwe, sitatunga, hippo, crocodiles and wonderful bird life. And moving along the waterways, we can see kudu, zebra, buffalo, waterbuck, and impala.

The Khwai River, the northern-most overflow of the Okavango Delta, pushes water far into the dry lands of Botswana during the dry season, attracting a multitude of wildlife and is known as one of the most dramatic wildlife experiences in the country:

    • Dry season concentration of wildlife along the channel (June to September)
    • Diversity in vegetation from open grass plains to riverine forest
    • Excellent birding during the summer months
    • Very strong predator population including lion, leopard and wild dog

Itinerary

  • Day 1, 2 & 3 – Arrive Kasane – Transfer to Chobe Safari Lodge

One of our members will be waiting for you at the airport for your transfer to Chobe Safari Lodge, where you will be staying for three nights. Situated in Kasane on the banks of Chobe River and sharing a border with Chobe National Park. Right on our doorstep 4 African countries meet, Chobe Safari Lodge and the newly built Chobe Bush Lodge offer an excellent getaway location to Chobe, Victoria Falls or the Caprivi. Chobe Safari Lodge consists of 80 spacious river view rooms, including family rooms. All rooms have en-suite bathrooms with bath and a shower, air conditioners, satellite TV, telephone, safe and fan. Chobe Bush Lodge offers 42 spacious luxury en-suite rooms with open plan bathrooms furnished in a modern-bush style. Either with a balcony with views of the Chobe River or a veranda with bush views. A wide range of different activities are on offer such as game drives, boat cruises, Victoria Falls day trips, Namibian village walks, scenic flights and more.

Service: Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

 

  • Day 4 & 5 – Camp Linyanti – Chobe National Park

Camp Linyanti/Lenyanti is in a pristine wildlife area in most Northern corner of the Chobe National Park, on the banks of the Linyanti River. This undisturbed ‘newly’ explored area is truly different to the rest of Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta.The magnificent water camp offers 5 intimate and charming round shaped beige canvas tents. One of a kind in the country. The 10 bedded tents offer en-suite facilities, mosquito nets with bath and open sky showers, standard to all SKL Camps. Enjoy delightful sundowners on your own balcony overlooking the great Linynati River Lagoon and Namibia’s Caprive Strip in the horizon!

Service: Full Board

Driving time: 4 hours

 

  • Day 6, 7 & 8 – Camp Savuti – Chobe National Park

Camp Savuti has become famous for its exceptional game viewing opportunities, in particular it is famed for lions that prey and hunt on elephants, which are found in abundance in the area. Award-winning documentaries have been shot in the Savuti area, cementing its reputation as a prime wildlife destination. The Savuti channel was a dry channel that began flowing again in 2010. Minor earth tremors caused the unblocking of the Savuti channel which is linked to the Linyanti river system. Camp Savuti overlooks the dense Savuti marsh area and all 5 of the Meru-style tented rooms have elevated balconies taking advantage of these views. The large, spacious tents are located in such a way that they enjoy privacy and exclusivity. For the adventurous, there are outdoor showers where you can cleanse while enjoy the tranquillity of the African bush. Guests can enjoy a range of activities from game drives through the Chobe National Park and exploring the fringes of the channel and the marsh. The area is diverse and guests will delight in the superb game viewing on offer. From photography to bird watching and predator sightings, Camp Savuti is the authentic safari gem of the Chobe region.

Service: Full Board

Driving time: 2 hours

 

Day 9 & 10 – Saguni Safari Lodge – Khwai Area

Saguni Safari Lodge is situated in Moremi East in the Okavango Delta. It is nestled in an island of mature riparian trees, typical of the Okavango. The lodge overlooks the ‘Mbudi Lagoon’, in the beautiful game-rich area of Khwai. The lodge has 9 forest tents and 8 luxury river tents, custom-designed and built in harmony with the island environment. The river tents are on the riverfront with stunning views over the Sable River and the forest tents are nestled under the canopy of trees.

Watch the sunset while drifting along a lagoon and sipping on sundowners.

Service: Full Board

Driving time: 3 hours

 

  • Day 11 & 12 – Camp Moremi – Moremi Game Reserve

An elegant, elevated thatch structure serves as the main building, wildlife reference library, dining room and cocktail bar. Other facilities include a secluded swimming pool with sundeck and thatched boma where brunch and high tea are served. Accommodating just 24 guests in African-style safari tents, each individually sited on a raised teak platform with private en-suite facilities and viewing deck, most offering unsurpassed views of the Xakanaxa lagoon area.This area of Moremi Game Reserve, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful wildlife reserves in Africa, offers a variety of different eco-systems, these rich in plant, bird and animal life. The camp faces the Okavango Delta and access to activities include the mainland of Moremi Game Reserve. Experienced guides will introduce you to a whole new world of wildlife.

Service: Full Board

Driving time: 3 hours

 

  • Day 13 – Thamalakane River Lodge – Maun

Thamalakane is ideally located an easy 20 minute drive from Maun en-route to the famous Moremi Game Reserve. The en-suite stone chalets overlook the Thamalakane river offering spectacular views. There is also a widely acclaimed restaurant serving a la carte and buffet meals. Relaxing at the poolside, bird-spotting and reading are favourite activities around the lodge. there will be monkeys.

Service: Bed & Breakfast

Driving time: 3 hours

 

  • Day 14 – Depart Maun

Extensions

Nxai Pan National Park covers more than 810 square miles and is located in Northern Botswana. It is a fossil lake, and the landscape is famous for the baobabs. Wildlife varies from cheetah to gemsbok, eland, lions and the other predators. The highlight of the park is the Baines Baobabs, a group of five baobabs, recently painted by Prince Charles.

Makgadikgadi National Park is part of the Makgadikgadi Pans, a large area that of 4,600 square miles. The landscape is characterized by the salt pans, with a few land islands scattered in the area. The wildlife includes large herds of blue wildebeest, flamingoes, plain game and the famous meerkats. On the western side, thanks to the fact that the Boteti River is now flowing again, and wildlife viewing is very rewarding. Stargazing is also a famous highlight of the Makgadikgadi. The complete darkness produces the brightest stars you could ever imagine.

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve, also known as the CGKR, is one of the largest in the World, with its 20,000 square miles. Depending on the season, you will find the best cheetah population in Botswana, as well as all the other predators (December through May). The most famous part of the CKGR is Deception Valley. The area was home for the American researchers Mark and Delia Owens, who wrote the best seller The Cry of the Kalahari (a must-read).

You will find this park ideal to visit if you are planning to extend your holiday to South Africa. It is the land of the extremes, with summer temperatures exceeding 105 F (40 C). Animals have adapted to these conditions, and the areas around the Auob River and the Nossob River Valley are very rich in wildlife.

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