Safari Essence: Pre Edu AE Livingstone - SE/2140 (1) by Melandia Campbell-Stone

Game drives reveal the rich wildlife of the area from predators to prey. These open 4x4 vehicles accommodate a maximum of seven guests allowing each a ‘window’ seat.

Afternoon to evening drives provide opportunities for you to see nocturnal mammals such as civet, genet and bushbabies, as well as owls and perhaps leopard.

Walking safaris (dependant on qualified guide availability) with skilled guides offers you the exciting opportunity of coming across big game on foot as well as observing the smaller things you miss when travelling by vehicle.

The birdlife is excellent and varies throughout the year, depending on water levels and season. They include African hawk-eagle, ground hornbill, scarlet-chested sunbird, red-billed hornbill, gabar goshawk and red-billed francolin.

A dinner in the bush is the ultimate safari experience – join us as we toast to the day under a magical star-studded sky while listening to the evocative sounds of an African night …

Here you experience the remoteness of the Okavango Delta and get a bird's eye view of the inaccessible lakes and islands. Your pilot’s voice is coming through on the headset. “Look to the right where a herd of buffalos is crossing the river. We’re going down for a close-up view.” Next, you’re soaring up again. “We’re heading to a higher altitude. See the formation of the channels and the way in which the water and land mass has evolved over centuries.” Helicopter flights over Botswana are one of life’s big adventures. Hunting has rarely been done from above and therefore animals are unperturbed by aircraft. Surprisingly, you may hover just a few feet over great herds of zebra as they continue to graze, completely unconcerned. Even more exciting, you may be able to touch down on an island far away from human habitation and stand in a spot that has not been touched by the modern world. A speed boat may appear bearing coffee or a celebratory glass of sparkling wine: sip at leisure as you gaze on lush, riverine scenery—one of the world’s last great wildernesses. (Additional rates apply)

We are thrilled to introduce the first helicopter and horseback safari combination in Botswana at the Belmond Eagle Island Lodge. Combining an aerial safari by private helicopter with a horse-ride through one of the world’s last true remaining wildernesses, the excursion offers a new way to explore the UNESCO world heritage site and its magnificent inhabitants.

This traditional dugout canoe takes you gliding over shallow, clear waters past brilliant water lilies and papyrus grasses to areas inaccessible by boat.

On a walking safari through the Delta you are totally enveloped in nature. You spot amazing things close-up: an insect, animal tracks, big game droppings, swarming termite mounds. These small, unexpected aspects of life often make the biggest impression. If a game drive is like reading a book: a walking safari is like actually becoming a character in that book.

Many people come to Belmond Eagle Island Lodge purely to experience its huge variety of birds. The 400 land and aquatic species drawn to the watery Okavango Delta make for unrivalled bird viewing.

Belmond Eagle Island Lodge is positioned close to Xaxaba village. On request you may visit the village and you may be invited into a private home to experience aspects of their way of life. This is no tourist attraction, but a community of people who have adapted ancient traditions to modern times.

Motorboat safaris up the Delta takes to closer to nature and far of areas not acceptable by foot or vehicle.

Take a slow gently cruise down the Delta for sundowners, you might just see a Fish Eagle taking flight or pods of hippos in the distance through an African sunset.

Morning and afternoon game drives are available in open land cruisers. Night game drives with spotlights and stargazing presentations are also available after dinner. As the lodge is located on a private concession, vehicles are allowed to drive before and after sunset, as well as off road.

Game drive through the vast concession to see the diverse wildlife of the area including wild dogs, sitatunga antelope, big cats and extensive birdlife. Their beautiful habitat changes with the season from seasonal floodplains, waterways and grassy savannah.

Jump on board our delta boats to cruise the Okavango waterways. Your experienced driver and guide will show you some of the best river sightings and sunsets. Keep a look out for birds, crocodiles, hippo and exciting game coming to quench their thirst, while you moor up along the river bank sipping a sundowner. This is what safari boat cruising is all about.

Fly over the vast landscape by helicopter to give a much broader perspective of the Delta. (This incurs an additional cost)

This is one of the most iconic Okavango Delta experiences. Wind your way around the crystalclear

waterways on mokoro. Your experienced guide, will pole you amongst the lily pads and weaving sandbanks, to show you the ebbs and flows of this incredible eco-system.

A fabulous activity for families with kids. We’re all about catch and release so ask your safari guide to hook you up with a couple of rods. Your experienced guide will pole you amongst the lily pads and weaving sandbanks, showing you the ebb and flow of this incredible eco-system.

Fishing is possible between 01 March and 31 December, subject to water levels. No fishing is permitted in January and February due to breeding season.

If you’re looking for the ultimate romantic adventure, then this activity will leave you totally starstruck. Spend an enchanting evening safely fly-camping on an island at Duke’s Camp. This activity will get you listening to the sounds of the African bush at night, while covered in a blanket of a billion stars.

• Children 6 years and older are welcome
• Weather permitting
• Duration: 1 night
• Bookable between June - September
• Can be booked when staying 2 or more nights at your main camp
• At an additional cost

Experience a trip to Tsodilo Hills, a World Heritage Site in the Northern Okavango Delta. The hills are home to more than 4,000 San Bushman paintings – probably the most important rock art in Africa! Several walking trails provide helpful routes around the painting sites. (Access only by helicopter)

Visit one of our conservation partners by helicopter (at an additional cost).

Endeavour Safaris vehicles are 4x4, allowing them to go off-road. They are comfortable and very spacious, partly open with the ability to close them during the rainy season. Our vehicles are open on the sides, allowing you to easily spot animals, and providing a complete and wild experience during your photographic safari.

All our vehicles have an energy converter for charging cameras, batteries, electric wheelchairs and any other electrical devices (inverter converts 12V to 110V or 220V). The vehicles are also equipped with refrigerators to keep drinks cool, especially during the hot summer season.

All our vehicles are equipped with a hydraulic lift to allow access to the vehicle, even for those who use wheelchairs or have mobility problems. Inside the vehicle, a security-mounting system is installed to secure wheelchairs to the floor in 4 different points during game drives or transfers.

The Sitatunga Private Island Suite is a predominantly water-based activity camp with wildlife and bird viewing from a powerboat.

Explore the Okavango Delta’s permanent channels by mekoro (when water levels allow). This is truly an invigorating, yet peaceful, experience allowing for wildlife and birding viewing from a unique perspective.

If stretching one’s legs and getting a feel for Africa by foot is the guest’s preference, then it’s possible to

arrange morning walks.

Tag and release fishing is available from March to December each year.

Custom-built boat offering swivel chairs specifically allowing for enhanced wildlife photographic

opportunities from the water channels; Because we focus on photographic safaris, the Sitatunga Private Island Suite has a professional camera set, including a camera body and lenses. Photos will be downloaded to a USB flash stick on guest’s departure.

The Suite comes with a pair of high-quality binoculars for guest use as well.

Enjoy an aerial viewing experience with great scenery across the northern part of the Okavango Delta. Add a 15-minute champagne stop on palm island en route. Must be booked in advance and is subject to extra cost and availability.

Sitatunga Private Island is a combination safari viewing activity-based camp. While wildlife viewing activities are centred around guests predominantly exploring the surrounding Okavango Delta’s permanent channels and islands by boat and on foot, wildlife viewing drives are also available. Only accessible by boat, the beautiful island nearby can be explored in an open-sided and canopied vehicle.

Wildlife viewing occurs during the most comfortable times of day, however it is possible to spend a full day out in the wilderness before heading back to camp via boat. Our schedule is extremely flexible, and guests are encouraged to create their own itinerary according to their interests with guidance and recommendations from our professional guides.

Elephants feature largely on any activity at Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero, as the largest population left in Africa occupies this northern corner between Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Game drives in open-sided 4 x 4 vehicles bring these grey giants into easy reach as they drink and frolic at the water's edge in their boisterous herds. Thrilling game drives lead by our qualified professional guides bring you close to hippos, buffalos, puku and other animals that gather on the banks of the Chobe River. The puku, a small rusty-brown antelope, alongside impala, kudu and red lechwe, are only a few of the common antelope found here. Naturally, lion and leopard are also found in the area.

The best way to end a day of safari here is sipping on a cocktail while watching an African sunset over the still waters of the Chobe River from the comfort of one of our specially designed riverboats. Sundowner cruises are also a great way of seeing buffalo up close as they come out of the shade to graze in the cooler evenings and elephants as they wade in the river. Chobe is renowned for its abundance of dramatic sable and roan antelopes with their impressive horns. Sitatungas - antelope with splayed feet to help them run in swamps - are often seen here, as are the wild dog and lion that prey upon them.

Our new safari boat available from Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero can seat up to 18 guests and has a lower and upper deck, both featuring 360 degree swivel seats. The upper deck offers a great vantage point of the Chobe River and wildlife while the lower deck boasts a bar area and the perfect spot to relax and enjoy a scrumptious river breakfast or lunch. The boat offers a great exclusive and intimate alternative to enjoying the Chobe area especially for photographic enthusiasts.

Guests will meet up with their guide at reception and drive through to the jetty for their fishing activity. The best time for fishing in the Chobe area is in winter, May, June, July and August. Type of fish guests can expect to catch is Bream and Tiger Fish. All fishing is done on a catch and release basis. Rates include: Use of the boat for maximum of 3 hours and fishing equipment. Maximum 3 people per boat and subject to availability.

Only an hour and a half's drive from the spectacular Victoria Falls, Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero is a great base from which to explore this great wonder of the world. The transfer time is approximately 1 ½ hours depending on border formalities. From here, the guide will escort guests around the Falls sharing some facts & history along the way. Sanctuary Retreats will supply raincoats during high water months when guests are likely to get wet from the spray of the Falls. The walk is approximately 1½ hours in duration (3km), through the rainforest, stopping at the various viewing points. Guests will also have the opportunity to do some curio shopping in the adjacent open-air markets before returning to Chobe Chilwero. Rates includes: Sanctuary Retreat Qualified Driver / Guide, Return Transfer from Chobe Chilwero to The Falls, Entrance Fees to Victoria Falls Rainforest, Guided Tour of The Falls and bottled water. Rate excludes Day Entry Visa Fee - Payable at the border upon entry, lunch, Any gratuity or items of a personal nature.