Monday, November 16, 2009

Overlanding Botswana




15 Day Circular Safari

This circular safari offers some of the countries most spectacular highlights, and includes: Makwenna, Tsodilo Hills, Okavango River, Caprivi, Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park, Savuti, Moremi Game Reserve
This Safari starts and ends in Maun

Rates:
US Dollar $5350-00 pp sharing, Single supplement US Dollar $795-00


Day 1
We will depart Maun mid morning and head north to Nguma Lagoon. We reach our campsite set under the towering Mangostein trees in time for a late lunch. Afternoon at leisure before relaxing around the campfire for sundowners and dinner.

Overnight Nguma Lagoon Campsite.

Day 2
A 45 minute motor boat ride transfers us through a maze of channels to the open floodplains of the Mokoro Island area. Here you meet the polers of the mokoros (dugout canoes), and spend the day in the tranquil waters of the Okavango, moving along papyrus-fringed channels with your poler. A game walk and picnic lunch is included during the day.

Return to our campsite for dinner.

Overnight Nguma Lagoon Campsite.

Day 3
We will depart Makwena on a day excursion to the Tsodillo Hills where hundreds of bushman paintings can be seen. We will depart further towards Shakawe to arrive at our campsite at Drotsky’s. The Okavango River is at its widest in this area. A walk down to the river from the campsite offers the opportunity of bird watching. An abundance of bird life nest in the high papyrus fringing the river’s edge and we look out for the shy Sitatunga, the antelope who live here, and feed off the papyrus.

Overnight Drotsky’s Campsite.

Day 4
Spend a leisurely, relaxed day along the Okavango River. Enjoy a morning’s boating excursion on the Okavango River. Sundowners back at our camp around the campfire before dinner is served.

Overnight Drotsky’s Campsite.

Day 5 & Day 6
Today we cross the border into Namibia at Mohembo and spend some time in Mahango National Park before continuing to Divundu. Refuel with enough time for a possible visit to Popa Falls (rapids). Lunch served en route to Kongola. We arrive at Susuwe National Park in the early afternoon, where we spend two nights exploring the area along the Kwando river.

Overnight Susuwe.

Day 7
We make an early start and travel via Katima Mulilo to Kasane to clear customs at the border before spending the rest of the day enjoying the magnificent Victoria Falls and surroundings.

Overnight Hotel in Victoria falls BB.

Day 8
You will have the opportunity to enjoy a number of optional excursions after breakfast.
- A full day or half day’s exhilarating white water rafting on the gorges below the falls.
- A full day or a half-day’s canoeing and walking trails on the upper Zambezi.
- Afternoon cruise on the Zambezi River
- A visit to a traditional village
- Micro lighting or a helicopter flight over the Zambezi

Clients preferring to explore the Falls again can do so at leisure. (Please note that all activities and additional meals are for own account)

Overnight Victoria Falls BB.

Day 9
After breakfast we leave Victoria Falls and clear customs at the Kasane Border. We will enter the Chobe National Park, and we should see the breeding herds of elephant and large herds of buffalo for which this park is famous. Set up camp and enjoy game drives along the length of the

Chobe River.
Overnight Chobe floodplains.

Day 10
Enjoy game drives in the Park where you can expect to see huge concentrations of elephants and possibly a big herd of buffalo. In the afternoon a boating excursion on the Chobe River offers a new dimension to game viewing.

Overnight Chobe floodplains.

Day 11
We leave the Chobe River Front and our route takes us on an interesting day’s drive Southwards to Savuti. We stop en route for lunch. Afternoon visit to Pump Pan famous for its Bull Elephants. Enjoy sundowners before returning to camp for dinner.

Overnight Savuti.

Day 12
Early morning game drive to the Savuti Marsh in search of predators, and well known for its bull elephants. We visit the Rhino Vlei and Marabou Pan waterholes. The Savuti waterhole offers an ever-changing spectacle of birds and wildlife. Return to camp for brunch after which we take and afternoon visit to the Bushman Paintings Hill.

Overnight Savuti.

Day 13
We leave Savuti and travel south past Mababe depression. We cross the famous sand ridge and drive along Khwai river where excellent bird and wild life can be found. The vegetation is mainly low, but has thick Mopane forest with a lot of elephant activity. With lunch en route we will arrive at North Gate in the late afternoon.

Overnight Khwai River area.

Day 14
Early morning and afternoon game drives exploring the Khwai River area should reveal a variety of game. Leisure time to relax at camp during the heat of the day.

Overnight Khwai River area.

Day 15
After early breakfast we will slowly make our way out of the Moremi Game Reserve.We will arrive in Maun to connect with your outbound flight.