On arrival in Maun you head straight to the Makgadikgadi Pans in the Kalahari Basin, a huge expanse of pristine, sugary white pans home to unique desert-adapted wildlife. You then fly by light aircraft into the Okavango Delta. Spread out in a fan of flood plains, islands and palm-fringed lagoons, it is a natural paradise teeming with game and birds and is home to some of the largest concentration of wildlife.
After a stay in the Delta itself, where you will explore the web of waterways in native dug-out mokoros, you move onto the private Selinda Concession in the Linyanti Wetlands. This scenic reserve consists of huge floodplains and seasonal wetlands that offer superb sightings of both predators and plains games. It’s an excellent place to see cheetah, spotted hyena and a variety of antelope, as well as plethora of birds.
You’ll end with a trip to the sensational Victoria Falls – a member of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Staying in a luxury lodge on the Zambian side of the falls, you will be ideally based to explore and marvel at this dazzling World Heritage site.
London – Johannesburg
Check in to London Heathrow for your overnight flight to Johannesburg. Connect with your flight to Maun, and then take a light aircraft to your camp.
Your Botswana adventure kicks off with a stay on the mysterious Makgadikgadi Pans in the vast Kalahari Desert. In this seemingly inhospitable environment you will encounter an array of fascinating desert-adapted wildlife, from families of meerkats to one of Africa’s most elusive carnivores – the brown hyena. Mongoose, aardvark and aardwolf are present year round, whilst the rains bring pink flamingo, zebra and wildebeest.
A safari at Jack’s Camp is the complete desert experience. You’ll enjoy morning strolls through the desert and safaris led by bushman trackers. In the dry season you’ll have the fantastic opportunity to quad bike across the salt pans, exploring remote archaeological sites and discovering ancient fossil beds. An oasis of comfort in a harsh environment, the camp offers classic style tents with ensuites and outdoor showers.
Stay: Three nights in a double tent at Jack’s Camp – full board
Little Virumba Camp, Okavango Delta
Next is a completely different but equally fascinating wildlife experience in the Okavango Delta. Game viewing in this wetland paradise is consistently good all year round with wild dog, lion, leopard, elephant, sable and buffalo along with extensive plains game providing an excellent all-round wildlife experience. Bird watchers can also look out for more than 400 species of resident and migrant birds.
Your luxury camp sits on an island in a private concession in a remote corner of the delta. As the camp is surrounded by water and large rivers there are a range of water-based activities to choose from, with the opportunity to explore the floodplains and channels in mokoros (traditional canoes) and motor boats. Open 4x4s will take you to savannah areas, whilst walking safaris will show you the delta from a different perspective.
Stay: Two nights in a double tented room at Little Virumba – full board
Chief’s Camp, Okavango Delta
Now it’s time to explore the Moremi Game Reserve – a varied region of lagoons, shallow pans, woodland and plains – which protects nearly a third of the delta. A light aircraft will bring you to Chief’s Island, probably the richest area of Moremi, in the acclaimed Mombo Concession. This private area is renowned for its high density of game, and is aptly known as the “predator capital of Africa” thanks to large numbers of wild dog, lion, cheetah and leopard.
Your remote camp in the exclusive Mombo Concession offers a front row seat for this rich and rewarding African adventure. Enjoy daily excursions in open 4x4s and tranquil mokoro excursions along narrow delta channels.
Stay: Three nights in a pavilion suite at Chief’s Camp – full board
Zarafa Camp, Selinda Private Concession
Today board a light aircraft to Zafara. At the airstrip you’ll be met by a guide who will transfer you to your camp in the private Selinda Reserve. Abundant plains game can be found here including lechwe, kudu, buffalo, zebra and giraffe. It is also a predator-rich reserve including cheetah, wild dog, lion, and leopard. The massive herds of elephant are another highlight; while a wide variety of birds – some 300 or more – can also be seen.
Activities at Zarafa Camp, which overlooks the Zibadianja Lagoon, will depend on your particular interests. You could go on morning, afternoon and night game drives accompanied by experienced professional guides, enjoy guided nature walks, or relax in the camp’s sunken hide to watch wildlife drink at the water’s edge.
Two nights in a double room at Zafara Camp – full board
Tongabezi Lodge, Upper Zambezi
One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the legendary Victoria Falls is a fitting finale to your Botswana adventure. Crossing the border into Zambia, you will be transferred to your luxury river lodge.
Just 20km upstream from the falls, Tongabezi Lodge is a tranquil, romantic hideaway with attentive service and fabulous views over a sweeping bend of the Zambezi River. Days can be spent at your leisure, but a visit to the Falls is a must! The sight of one of largest curtains of falling water on earth – with columns of spray that are visible from miles away – will leave a lasting impression. Other activities include sunset river cruises, bird walks, white water rafting and astonishing flights over the falls.
Stay: Two nights in a River Cottage at Tongabezi Lodge – full board
Livingstone – Johannesburg – London
Today you will be driven to Livingstone Airport in time for your flight to Johannesburg. On arrival in Johannesburg you will connect with your return flight to London Heathrow.
