DAY 1 - Arrive in Maun and overnight
Arriving in Maun at around lunchtime if flying from overseas, our TAB team will meet you on arrival and give you a detailed briefing of the vehicle, all equipment, the route and current conditions and advice on how to drive in this unique environment. This will take 2-3 hours and you will then drive yourself to your overnight lodge.
DAY 2, 3 & 4 - Maun to Panhandle: Nxamaseri Lodge - 3 nights' stay - Driving time
approx. 4 hours and 344km distance
Today starts with your first adventure! Learning to drive the amazing Toyota Landcruiser 4x4 with our unique"Super Duper Driver Training". You will put the Cruiser through her paces just outside of Maun. You will get stuck (badly!) and learn how to get yourself out using the special gear supplied. Training takes about 2 hours and once finished, you will feel confident and be competent to drive in challenging terrain and you will take home a new life skill with you!
Before heading to Nxamaseri, you will have time to shop for provisions in Maun that you might want in between your drives from Lodge to Lodge. Be sure to take enough Fuel, Food, Drinks, Snacks, though on this first section of the itinerary. There are shops in Shakawe to restock.
Nxamaseri Island Lodge is a small, owner-operated lodge located on one of the channels of the Okavango River. From here, forays out to the main channel and other tributaries offer fantastic opportunities for fishing. The Barbel (Catfish) Run late in the season (September-November) is a particular highlight as the Barbel "run" upstream, ready for breeding season. AT THIS TIME EVERYONE IS FISHING! Birds, Barbel, Tigers and Us! Look out for the flocks of Egrets hovering above the papyrus reeds as a sign of Barbel activity. Where you find those
Barbel, you'll find the Tigers at the head of the run, taking their chance to feed on the writhing catfish as they race upstream! In 3 days, you will also have the chance to visit the World Heritage Site of Tsodilo Hills (additional cost) one of Botswana's most spiritual and culturally fascinating destinations.
DAY 5 & 6 - Nxamaseri Island Lodge to The Caprivi Strip, Namibia: Camp Kwando or Camp Mutoya - 2 nights' stay - Driving time approx. 4-5 hours and 415km distance
Crossing the border into Namibia with your Cruiser, you continue along tarred road into the Caprivi Strip. The route is generally in good condition but in some areas take care of potholes. Whether staying at Camp Kwando or Caprivi Mutoya, time spent here enjoying the fishing on
the Kwando River or the backwaters of the Zambezi River, you will enjoy the difference in location and the tips from the fishing guides as to how best to capture those Tigers! In addition to the Tiger Fish there are plenty of other species: Bream, Tilapia, Catfish and Pike. Fishing is at an additional cost and there are other guided activities also to choose from.
DAY 7 & 8 - The Caprivi Strip, Namibia to Chobe Safari lodge - 2 nights' stay - Driving time approx. 2-4 hours and 125-250km distance
Home to the world's largest Elephant population, Chobe is Botswana's most visited National Park for a good reason. Here, with the permanent and mighty Chobe River, animals seek refuge in the shoreline and outlying forests. Whilst Elephant in plentiful numbers are usually seen - particularly during drier months - the Park is home to great numbers of Buffalo, huge Crocodiles, the striking Sable Antelope, as well as the Chobe Bushbuck and Puku Antelope. Game drives in the Riverfront area offer great game viewing potential - it is not uncommon to see prides of Lion heading to the River to drink.
However, a visit to Chobe is not complete without time on the River itself. Beautiful and bountiful birds, Elephants cavorting in the River and great pods of Hippo are just some of the incredible sightings to be had here. A 3 hour private fishing excursion is included on the Chobe outside of the protected park area. As with all fishing destinations included, fishing is on a "catch and release" basis.
DAY 9 & 10 - Chobe Safari Lodge to The Elephant Camp, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - 2 nights' stay - Driving time approx. 2 hours and 86km distance
Kasane in Botswana borders 3 countries: Namibia (where you've come from), Zambia and Zimbabwe. Each destination has its speciality and staying in Victoria Falls Town is one of your trip's highlights. Visas for Zimbabwe are easily obtained at the border and it is an easy process to take your Cruiser across into Zimbabwe, with all the correct documentation and mandatory equipment needed, provided by us.
The Kasane/Victoria Falls route is part of a wildlife corridor and Victoria Falls Town itself is within a national park. Animals can and do wander freely about town, particularly Elephant, so it's important to be on the lookout for them! A tour of the Falls themselves is a "must", of course, and we would recommend the following as some of the additional activities to do, which are best booked in advance and some of which are free! Our top picks are: a visit to the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, whose work with community/wildlife conflict, research, sanctuary, laboratory and veterinary facilities is inspiring. For those keen to volunteer, we can arrange placements, but these must be booked well in advance.
The Canopy Tour is a fun activity through the Gorge and lunch at the Lookout Cafe offers a more relaxed gorge experience. If time permits, additional activities, best booked in advance include: A scenic flight over the Falls in a light aircraft, helicopter or microlight which give an awesome perspective of the sheer magnitude of the chasm or incredible spray, depending on the amount of water. High Tea or a cocktail at the historical Victoria Falls Hotel, with views of the Fall's spray is a wonderful way to enjoy a touch of the colonial in an iconic setting. An adrenalin activity for those up for a real adventure including: Bungy, Gorge Swings and Rafting.
DAY 11 - Victoria Falls to Muchenje Lodge, near Ngoma Gate, Chobe - 1 night - Driving time approx. 2 hours and 86km distance
Returning to Botswana, you will retrace your way a little, staying in the Chobe Forest Reserve area near Ngoma Gate. You'll have a chance to relax, before preparing for your off-road adventure to Savute tomorrow.
DAY 12 & 13 - Muchenje Lodge to Savute Safari Lodge - 2 nights' stay - Driving time approx. 5 hours and 163km distance
Driving to Savute can be more of a challenge, but with training under your belt and, this is exciting rather than daunting! Savute is part of the greater Chobe National Park, but differs considerably from the Chobe Riverfront area to the north. The mercurial and unpredictable Savute Channel flows infrequently and is currently dry. Remaining water holes and pools attract a great variety of animals and birds including less common species such as The Crowned Crane, and along with a great number of predators including Lion, Leopard, Wild Dog and Hyena, you may find Bat-Eared Foxes and even Ostrich, normally associated with more arid areas. Savute's huge monolithic rock formations feature ancient Bushman paintings and cast an impressive shadow over the open marshland. This area springs to life during Summer rains (December-March), as vast numbers of Wildebeest and Zebra are attracted to the succulent, nutritious grasses. On arrival at the Lodge, the welcoming hosts and guides will treat you to a wonderfully luxurious all-inclusive experience.
DAY 14 & 15 - Savute Safari Lodge to Camp Moremi for onward light aircraft flight to Camp Okavango / Xugana Island Lodge - 2 nights' stay - Driving time approx. 6 hours and 161km distance - Flight time approx. 30 minutes
Driving through the wildlife area of Savute and into the Moremi Game Reserve, you will no doubt see plenty of animals along the way. The going can be quite slow in parts so this journey might take longer than expected, so an early start is recommended. Arriving at Camp Moremi, sister camp to Savute Safari Lodge and Camp Okavango and Xugana, you leave your Cruiser and take flight in a light aircraft (or helicopter if preferred!) into one of the Okavango's most beautiful private areas. Here, the focus is on water activities that the Okavango is famed for: Mokoro (dug-out canoes), Boating and Fishing. You will enjoy exclusive and highly personalised service with only your fellow guests and guides in these intimate camps. Private activities are always available in lodges on request, for a truly private experience. These last 2 nights in the Delta will be a wonderful way to round off your Trail.
DAY 16 - Camp Okavango / Xugana Island Lodge to Maun via Camp Moremi - Flight time approx. 30 minutes - Driving time approx. 5 hours and 154km distance
Due to the driving time to Maun, you will have an early start from camp if connecting to an international flight. However, we would recommend an overnight in Maun, if possible, to allow a bit more time to get from the Reserve and to enjoy a more relaxed day of driving, allowing for time to stop for wildlife along the way, as this will be your final opportunity to see animals in the Okavango.
We hope you had a fantastic time in Botswana, enjoying one of the most active and adventurous safaris possible. We are sure we will see you again to show you other parts of this wonderful region!
