7 Days Okavango Wilderness Trail - Small Group Safaris

From Victoria Falls we travel the short distance to the Botswana border and cross into the small town of Kasane, and on to our lodge. This afternoon we head out onto a game drive and boat cruise in the Chobe National Park. Chobe is widely known for its populations of elephant, but the park also contains lion, leopard, hyena, giraffe and a host of antelope and birdlife. The Chobe floodplains and Chobe River provide a sensitive eco system which attracts much of the wildlife of the region especially in the dry season when it is not uncommon to see between 500 and 2000 elephants on the floodplains at one time. One highlight of Chobe is the combination of wildlife, birdlife and reptiles seen along the banks of the Chobe River. We take the afternoon cruise for a unique perspective of riverside wildlife. This evening we relax and overnight at the lodge.

Following breakfast, we depart for Gweta. Driving south we may be lucky to encounter elephant or buffalo alongside (or on) the road, often strays to the migratory herds which roam freely throughout the area in search of pasture and water. We stop in the small settlement of Nata for lunch or snack before continuing to Gweta where you have the opportunity to explore the Salt Pans in an optional 4x4 safari. Alternatively try the (also optional) Baobab Forest tour. The night is spent at the lodge.

After an early breakfast we join a guided walk through a local Tswana village to learn something of the life of the community, from schools and doctors to trading and traditions. We then depart and head west to Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. Maun has experienced rapid growth in recent years and is a bustling provincial centre. Options here include scenic flights but our first

priority is to prepare for our excursion into the Okavango Delta. The afternoon is at leisure to relax with a cool beverage and pack for the Delta excursion for the following day.

Heading out early after breakfast we begin our excursion into the Okavango Delta. The first part of the journey is by 4x4 over rough sandy paths to the ‘mokoro’ station, where the river level reaches. Here we are introduced to the local Tswana ‘polers’, our guides for the excursion and transfer our luggage and equipment to the mokoros (dug-out canoes). We travel by these shallow canoes amongst giant lily pads, tall grasses and labyrinthine channels to our camp on the edge of the Okavango. From our camp we venture out on guided walk in search of some of the prolific birdlife and larger mammals that inhabit the reserve. The whole area is a natural wetland spreading over some 1,600,000ha of northern Botswana offering a perfect habitat for the wildlife that roams here freely. The Okavango River rises in Angola (far to the north) and flows south dividing repeatedly to form an intricate floodplain of channels and swamps which then spreads out into a broad flat inland delta – the only one of its kind in the world. We enjoy the afternoon wilderness experience and for many people the feeling of being at camp overnight is an unforgettable experience.

This morning we explore the surrounds on a nature walk where you have the thrilling experience of being out in the natural wilderness. This is a great way to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the wilderness and enjoy nature as it wakes for the day. After the bush we enjoy breakfast and then pack up again onto our mokoros, leaving nothing behind but footprints. Returning to our 4x4 and bidding our polers farewell, we return to Maun. The afternoon offers the opportunity to join the guide for a trip into town for a little shopping. Another popular activity here is an optional scenic flight over the ‘Delta’ for a bird’s eye view of the wilderness you have just explored by mokoro and on foot. Prices depend on number of people interested but seeing the vastness of the Okavango from the air gives a further appreciation of the beauty of this part of Africa. We return to our lodge for dinner and overnight.

Another early rise for our long journey skirting the greater Kalahari, where we may glimpse in the distance the vast salt pans of central Botswana to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary which we normally reach by late afternoon. In 1989 a group of local people wished to convert the Serowe Pan, previously a hunting area, into a conservation region for the rhino that inhabited the area. The ‘Pan’ was chosen because of its rhino-friendly habitat (and for its proximity to the Botswana Defence Force base for 24 hour protection against poachers). Khama is a prime habitat for white rhino, zebra, wildebeest and giraffe and with its community based wildlife project, allows the local people to benefit from tourism. We take a game drive to catch sight of some of the rhino with guides often pointing up interesting facts about the local fauna and flora. Our last night on safari is spent at a nearby hotel for dinner and overnight.

Our last morning sees us joining the main route along Martin’s Drift border post. Crossing the mighty Limpopo River into South Africa, we take in the scenic views and notice changes to vegetation, infrastructure and populated areas. We arrive in Johannesburg where our tour ends normally by mid to late afternoon.