Day notes
Arrive at Kasane Airport in Botswana (via Jo'burg)
We will stay tonight at Chobe River Lodge, situated on the banks of the Chobe River, only 5 minutes’ drive from the international airport. Rooms are comfortable, en-suite, with air-conditioning, WiFi and tea and coffee making facilities. There is a large inside and outside seating areasand a rim flow pool overlooking the river.
We will have a sunset cruise on the Chobe River and look out for elephants in the river and on the banks. They are habituated to the boats so if we stay quiet, we will be able to drift close to them feeding and drinking. Birds abound so watch out for waders such as egret, heron and Jacana, along with kingfishers and African Fish Eagle in the trees,
Transfer from Kasane Airport [BBK] to Chobe River Lodge
Transfer
Kasane Airport [BBK]
Chobe River Lodge
Check-in to Chobe River Lodge
Day notes
Depart for Nkasa Rupara National Park (5 hours drive with lunch stop)
We will stop along the way for a break and lunch at the Green Basket Cafe in Katima Mulila. After lunch, we continue our drive to Nkasa Rupara National Park where our camp will be set up for two nights.
Despite its modest size of 337 square kilometres, Nkasa Rupara National Park is Namibia’s largest formally protected wetland region. Comprising reed beds, lagoons, and islands, the majority of the park hosts diverse wildlife, including elephants and buffalo. Nkasa Rupara plays a crucial role as a transboundary corridor for wildlife migration between Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia. It facilitates seasonal movements to and from rivers due to its unfenced nature. The Kwando / Linyanti Marshes experience recurrent flooding and this is the key force that shapes the park’s ecology.
Dinner in camp will be prepared by our guide and then a night drive tonight to see what nocturnal animals we can discover. We will be looking out for Lion, Hyena, Genet, Civet.... on our last trip we found (but rarely seen) African Wild Cat and an Aardwolf!
Check-out from Chobe River Lodge
Transfer from Chobe River Lodge to Rupara RestCamp
Transfer
Chobe River Lodge
Rupara RestCamp
Check-in to Rupara RestCamp
Day notes
A guided walk this morning after breakfast.
Lunch in camp, followed by an afternoon drive in the park.
There are large herds of Buffalo here, along with elephant, many species of antelope, hippo and crocodile.
Dinner will again be prepared by our guide and, after dinner, a drink around the campfire before we head to bed and listen to the sounds of the bush from our tents.
Expert tips:
Nkasa Rupara National Park, also Nkasa Lupala National Park, formerly Mamili National Park, is centred on the Nkasa and Rupara islands on the Kwando/Linyanti River in the south-western corner of East Caprivi. Botswana lies to the west, south and east. It is Namibia's largest formally protected wetland area and the unfenced park forms a trans-boundary link for wildlife migration between Angola, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia
Nkasa Rupara forms a corridor for all large mammal species moving between Namibia and Botswana, particularly African elephant and buffalo. There are about 1 000 buffalo in Nkasa Rupara, the largest concentration in Namibia. Around 560 hippopotami and 500 crocodile occur in the park’s rivers and channels. Rare antelope species include Sitatunga, Red lechwe, Reedbuck and Oribi. Mammals of this park as well as reptiles feature elephants, lions, cheetahs, leopards, Spotted Hyenas, Roan antelopes, impala, kudus, warthogs, baboons, spotted-necked otters, Rock Monitor Lizards and Water Monitor Lizards
About 450 bird species have been counted.
Day notes
After breakfast, we depart for Bwabwata National Park (Kwando Core) and our stay for 3 nights at Nambwa Tented Lodge.
Honouring the elephants’ right of way, a timber walkway, towering above these gentle giants, meanders through the trees and joins the tented suites. Tastefully decorated with natural colours and evoking a gentle balance of serenity, the tents open completely for a feeling of immersion in the bush.
As dawn breaks your morning tea or coffee, together with homemade biscuits, are delivered to your tent by your guide. From the privacy of your treehouse deck, watch the sky illuminate with hues of purple and amber and prepare for the day’s adventure ahead.
The main feature, and the heart of the lodge, is the majestic viewing deck and “open to sky” dining with views of the floodplains below - more than often the playground for large herds of elephants, buffalo and plains game that later seek refuge and security under your tent for the night.
We will take a late afternoon sundowner drive through the park.
Dinner back at the lodge.
Check-out from Rupara RestCamp
Transfer from Rupara RestCamp to Nambwa Tented Lodge
Transfer
Rupara RestCamp
Nambwa Tented Lodge
Check-in to Nambwa Tented Lodge
Expert tips:
Bwabwata National Park is divided into three core areas for wildlife and nature conservation: the Mahango Core Area and the Buffalo Core Area in the west of the park, and the Kwando Core Area in the east. There is also a multi-use area for the coexistence of humans and nature. This is a unique arrangement in Namibia. Apart from strictly regulated concessions for accommodations, village-like settlements, agriculture and livestock farming are not allowed in Namibia’s national parks. They represent the highest level of nature and wildlife conservation in the country. In Bwabwata, however, the government and local communities jointly manage the 6 274 km² national park, which was declared in 2007. This means that people can continue to live in their traditional areas and even benefit from tourism in the park. The sustainable protection of the local flora and fauna helps to secure their livelihoods.
Close cooperation is needed because the park is a corridor for elephants on their migration route between Angola and Botswana.
Day notes
Morning and afternoon game drives in the park today.
Expert tips:
Kwando Core Area
The diversified Kwando Core Area impresses with a combination of a large variety of wild animals and fascinating views onto the wetland areas, which are untypical for the Caprivi.
From the hills, where the Old Fort Doppies was erected, visitors can enjoy incredible perspectives of the flood plains, where Sitatunga, Reedbuck and Lechwe antelopes are frequent guests. Also Roan and Sable antelope, wWterbuck, Kudu, Impala, Giraffe and Wildebeest are common in the Kwando Game Park.
Further down south, the popular Horseshoe appears. This lagoon in the shape of a horseshoe attracts countless elephants which come here from midday to late afternoon to drink and bath in the water.
As well as the herbivores the park is home to Lions, Leopards, Cheetahs, African Wild Dogs and Hyenas.
Day notes
This morning we will visit the Sijwa Project. The project employs local people who re-purpose and re-invent all recyclable waste from the lodge and from the local community into exquisite craft and art. It has an organic permaculture nursery to supply food for local people and lodge guests (mitigating the air and road miles lodge food usually travels). This is a fantastic project that currently employes around 40 people and we can learn about the many different trades that people have learned here including woodworking, metalworking, gardening, growing mushrooms, making glass beads, sewing (the ladies make the uniforms for the lodge, as well as selling some lovely clothes)
This afternoon, a boat cruise on the Kwando River. We will watch the varied landscapes of Papyrus islands and reed floodplains and watch hippos, crocodiles, mammals and the varied bird species this area is known for.
Expert tips:
A holistic balance between conservation, community, culture and commerce exists at The Sijwa Project. African Monarch Lodges, as part of their continued endeavour for their brand to be sustainable and give back to the community and conservation, launched The Sijwa Project in November 2018. It is here where guests will be entertained and enriched with local culture and can interact with the local communities while they practise their artisan skills taught at the project.
Guests will be encouraged to walk through the permaculture plants, recycling workshops where waste such as plastic, glass and cans are turned into beautiful artefacts for sale.
The Sijwa Project has a broad vision of empowering the local community by creating jobs, preserving traditional knowledge, teaching skills and conserving the surrounding environment through a variety of proposed recycling and innovative activities.
With the highest rate of unemployment in Namibia found in the Zambezi Region, African Monarch Lodges carefully structured a project that will help address this problem through a holistic approach. This bold project is multi-faceted and will in the end be self-sufficient.
The Sijwa Project aims to employ 60 plus community members (each member supports up to 12 others in their village) and even more if funding allows, and educate close to 182 scholars per annum from the local secondary school through its Junior Ranger School and Junior Sewing School. 8% of all monthly revenue generated at the project (entrance fees, sale of all artefacts manufactured, sale of vegetables and eggs to the lodges and surrounds and sale of garments manufactured) will be paid to the Mayuni Conservancy.
Day notes
Depart for Ndhovu Lodge. A drive of around 200 km that will take us to the western side of the Caprivi Strip.
The camp is situated nearby the national parks of Mahango and the Buffalo Core Area. These parks are part of the Bwabwata National Park and the Transfrontier Park KAZA. The camp is on the Okavango River and overlooks Buffalo National Park.
The tents have en-suite bathroom with shower, mosquito nets, coffee-/ tea facilities, wooden terrace and fantastic view onto the Buffalo Park and Okavango River.
After lunch at the lodge, we will take an afternoon drive in the Buffalo core area of Bwabwata National Park.
Dinner at the lodge.
Check-out from Nambwa Tented Lodge
Transfer from Nambwa Tented Lodge to Ndhovu Safari Lodge
Transfer
Nambwa Tented Lodge
Ndhovu Safari Lodge
Check-in to Ndhovu Safari Lodge
Expert tips:
Buffalo Core Area
The park is home to numerous game species. Large concentrations of Elephants, Buffalos, herds of Roan and Sable antelope. Warthog, Kudu, Impala, Reedbuck, Red Lechwe and of course Hippos and Crocodiles are also seen quite often. Predators in the park are Lion and Leopard.
A part of the Buffalo park is situated in the ruins of an old South African army station. These ruins are often visited by Impalas and Kudus.
Opposite on the other side of the Okavango river lies the Mahango Game Reserve which we will also visit during our stay on this side of the Caprivi Strip.
Day notes
After breakfast, a morning drive in Mahango Game Park with a packed lunch.
And this afternoon, a boat cruise on the Okavango River.
Expert tips:
The Mahango Game Park (the official name is Mahango Core Area) is situated on the western side of the Okavango.
Mahango Game Park is home to numerous game. Large herds of elephant and buffalo can be seen, as well as hippos and very large crocodiles. Almost all the antelope species living in North-Eastern Namibia are here in the park, among them the rarer species of Roan and Sable antelope, Common Reedbuck, Bushbuck, Waterbuck and Tssessebe. This is also our best bet for Giraffe. The main predators are lion, leopard and hyena.
The large floodplains, reed islands and wetland areas make Mahango a wonderful birding area as well. During our trip in 2024, hundreds of White-faced Whistling Ducks gathered on the banks of the river, along with an equal number of Spur-winged Geese.
Day notes
Last day at Ndhovu is a more relaxed day, with the option to explore Buffalo or Mahango parks again
Day notes
After breakfast, we will drive across the border at Mahambo into Botswana and the Okavango Delta Panhandle.
Arrive at Askiesbos, our home in the Delta for the next two nights. Our camp is set in riverine forests under a beautiful canopy of indigenous trees on the banks of the Okavango. It overlooks the swamps of the Panhandle, where hippos come out at night to graze, bushbuck roam freely, and birds sing from dawn to dusk.
This is a small, intimate camp consisting of just five luxury tents on decks, a lounge overlooking the marshy swamps, a firepit next to the bar and a kitchen where homely meals are prepared.
We will take a sunset boat cruise this afternoon and back for dinner at the lodge
Check-out from Ndhovu Safari Lodge
Transfer from Ndhovu Safari Lodge to Askiesbos Camp Shakawe
Transfer
Ndhovu Safari Lodge
Askiesbos Camp Shakawe
Check-in to Askiesbos Camp Shakawe
Expert tips:
The Panhandle stretches between 70-100km in length and is critical to the Delta as it's the river source that carries the rainfall run-off from the Angolan Highlands, through the Kalahari basin and into the Okavango Delta.
The Panhandle region is much less-travelled by visitors, but it has the classic Okavango Delta scenery with deep blue river channels lined by tall, dense papyrus reed beds and floating islands.
There are a variety of animals and a great number of birds to be found here including hippo, elephant, crocodiles. The rarer and shy Sitatunga Antelope might be seen here and the birding is excellent, including Pel’s Fishing Owls that are regularly seen.
Day notes
After breakfast we will set off for Tsodilo Hills, taking a packed lunch with us.
Tsodilo Hills contains around 400 rock art sites with more than 4,000 individual paintings and was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001.
Exploring the three central Hills – Male, Female, and child – is a journey into antiquity. Archaeological research – ongoing for the past 30 years – estimates that Tsodilo has been inhabited for the past 100,000 years, making this one of the world's oldest historical sites. Pottery, iron, glass beads, shell beads, carved bone and stone tools date back over 90,000 years.
Rock paintings are nearly everywhere, representing thousands of years of human inhabitation. They are among the region's finest and most important. There are approximately 4,000 in all, comprising red finger paintings and geometrics. It is almost certain that most paintings were done by the San, and some were painted by the pastoral Khoe people who later settled in the area. The red paintings were done mainly in the first millennium AD.
Two of the most famous images are the rhino polychromes and the Eland panel, the latter situated on a soaring cliff overlooking the African wilderness. Indeed, the inaccessibility of many paintings may be linked to their religious significance.
After lunch we will head back to camp.
This afternoon we will have a guided bird walk around the grounds of our lodge.
Expert tips:
The paintings at Tsodilo are unique compared to other San|Bushmen rock art in both techniques and subject matter. San|Bushmen paintings are well-known throughout southern Africa for their fine-line detail because they were brush painted, but those at Tsodilo are finger painted. In addition, 160 depictions of cattle are portrayed in the same style as wild animals, and more geometric designs appear here than anywhere else. Tsodilo animal drawings are larger, and the geometric designs are more straightforward than those found elsewhere. Compared to human figures elsewhere in southern Africa, those at Tsodilo appear without bows and arrows, clothing or any forms of personal ornamentation. In addition, numerous cupules and grooves are incised and ground into rock surfaces, sometimes close to painted rock art sites and some on their own. For the residents of Tsodilo, the hills are a sacred place inhabited by the spirits of the ancestors
Day notes
We will leave for Maun after breakfast.
This afternoon, we will visit Shorobe, a craft collective that sells fantastic baskets. Botswana baskets are considered to be some of the best in the world, and each basket is unique with exquisite patterns that are an expression of life and the natural surroundings, such as ‘running ostrich’, ‘tears of the giraffe’ and the ‘rondavel’.
Dinner at Marc's Eatery. Set in lush gardens, The Eatery is simply that, an informal brasserie with no pretensions. Delicious, wholesome, home-cooked meals with fresh ingredients from the day's markets.
Overnight at Maun Waterfront Lodge, situated on the Thamalakane River. Here we have abundant birdlife and the occasional sighting of a hippo or crocodile cruising past our verandahs for the last sightings of our trip.
Check-out from Askiesbos Camp Shakawe
Transfer from Askiesbos Camp Shakawe to Maun Waterfront Guesthouse
Transfer
Askiesbos Camp Shakawe
Maun Waterfront Guesthouse
Check-in to Maun Waterfront Guesthouse
Day notes
International flights home via Jo'burg
Check-out from Maun Waterfront Guesthouse
Transfer from Maun Waterfront Guesthouse to Maun International Airport [MUB]
Transfer
Maun Waterfront Guesthouse
Maun International Airport [MUB]
