DAY 1 - Arrive 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 location.
DAY 2 & 3 - Maun to Moremi Game Reserve - 2 nights' stay - Driving time approx. 5
hours and 138km 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, whilst taking home a new life skill with you!
Before heading to Moremi, you will have time to shop for provisions in Maun to last you for the next 6 days. Be sure to take enough Fuel, Food, Drinks, Snacks (and Firewood if camping), to last you until you reach Kasane.
Moremi Game Reserve is in the heart of the world-famous Okavango Delta. Here you will find an array of animals and bird life that depend on the life-giving waters of the Delta. Iconic species include Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Giraffe, Kudu, Impala, Baboon and possibly Rhino. The Reserve is exceptionally beautiful, particularly in times of high flood (June-September) and in the Summer (December-March).
Activities on the water, for those staying in lodges, include the traditional mokoro or in a motorboat, giving a contrasting experience focused on finding aquatic species including Red Lechwe Antelope, Hippo, Crocodile and a myriad of bird life. Helicopter scenic flights are highly recommended in this area, providing terrific aerial views of the Delta's waterways and inhabitant wildlife. These flights must be booked in advance with us
DAY 4 & 5 - Moremi Game Reserve to Khwai - 2 nights' stay - Driving time approx. 3 hours and 52km distance
An easy drive from Moremi or Maun, Khwai has become an increasingly popular safari destination. There are a number of different campsites and accommodation options here to suit every budget and comfort level. Combined with superb game-viewing opportunities with the Khwai River system snaking its way through the reserve, the experience here is fantastic for all. Lovers of wildlife and those wanting to find predators and plains game to amateur and keen birding enthusiasts as sightings are particularly good from August to March. In addition to a great range of raptors, migratory species return and woodlands are filled with the chatter of breeding pairs and the flashes of dazzling plumage.
DAY 6 & 7 - Khwai to Savute - 2 nights' stay - Driving time approx. 4 hours and 109km distance
Driving to Savute can be more of a challenge, but with training under your belt and some experience now in the 4x4 environment, 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, where the Chobe River flows. 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 (Dec-March), as vast numbers of Wildebeest and Zebra are attracted to the succulent, nutritious grasses.
DAY 8 & 9 - Savute to Chobe - 2 nights' stay - Driving time approx. 5 hours and 163km distance
Home to the world's largest Elephant population, Chobe is Botswana's most visited National Park for 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.
In addition, Chobe and Kasane (the town neighboring Chobe National Park and located on the Riverfront), offer a chance to reconnect with the outside world, with pretty reliable wifi and cellphone signals
DAY 10 & 11 - Chobe to Victoria Falls - 2 nights' stay - Driving time approx. 2 hours and 86km distance
Kasane in Botswana borders 3 countries: Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Each destination has its speciality and staying in Victoria Falls Town in Zimbabwe 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, 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 look-out 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 with us. 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
A scenic flight over the Falls in a light aircraft, helicopter or even microlight gives an awesome perspective of the sheer magnitude of the chasm and incredible spray, depending on the amount of water coursing down. High tea or a cocktail at the historical Victoria Falls Hotel, if not staying there, with views of the Fall's spray is a wonderful way to enjoy a touch of the colonial in an iconic setting. Adrenalin activities for those up for some real adventure include: Bungy, Gorge Swings and Rafting. Lunch at the Lookout Cafe for a more relaxed gorge experience. Stays at The Elephant Camp include many of these activities in a 2 night stay.
DAY 12 - Victoria Falls to Nata Lodge or Elephant Sands - 1 night stay - Driving time approx. 4-5 hours and 330-385km distance
Returning to Botswana, and looking ahead to the Makgadikgadi, it's necessary to overnight along the way to avoid a very long day of driving. This overnight stop is a chance to relax before heading out early tomorrow. At Elephant Sands you will most likely be treated to a sundowner drink whilst watching Elephant wandering down to the waterhole. In Nata, a trip to the Nata Bird Sanctuary if arriving early enough will give you your first glimpse of the salt pans.
DAY 13 & 14 - Nata Lodge or Elephant Sands to Makgadikgadi Salt Pans - 2 nights' stay - Driving time approx 2-3 hours and 105-160km distance
This final part of your Botswana adventure takes you to one of the country's less known, yet most incredible regions within the Kalahari ecosystem: the Salt Pans of the Makgadikgadi. The ancient super lakes, mainly dry, except in Summer rains (December-March), are unique. Whilst wildlife is mainly on the periphery, where lush grasses grow attracting Africa's second largest migration during the Summer and wetland bird species, during the dry Winter months, it's possible to track across the Pans on quadbikes and even camp overnight. However, a highlight available year-round is time spent with the Meerkats. These engaging and entertaining creatures happily scurry and forage whilst you walk with them. They may even use you as a look-out post! Other activities, depending on the itinerary chosen include: quadbikes (seasonally available), village tour of Gweta, interpretive walk with the Bushmen, Baobab walk and traditional cattle post tour. This destination is popular with everyone!
DAY 15 - Makgadikgadi Salt Pans to Maun - Driving time approx. 3 hours and 200km distance
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!
