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ARRIVE IN MAUN BOTSWANA TRANSFER TO THE CRESTA MAUN HOTEL
Your local guide will meet you on arrival at Maun International Airport (MUB). Maun is a small town in Botswana's Okavango Delta that’s brimming with beauty and wildlife. After check-in into your accommodations, it will be time to acclimatize and adjust to the time change with a briefing on the countries you will be exploring and the wildlife you intend to encounter on the trip.
You will set out on a city tour – visiting the vibrant markets, and enjoy a traditional welcome dinner. Depending on the time of arrival you may also enjoy a flight over the Okavango delta (optional) in a helicopter or small fixed-wing plane.
Overnight at the Cresta Maun Hotel
A scenic flight over the Okavango Delta is the best way to gain an overall perspective of how this ecosystem works. The Okavango Delta is a region of great diversity with islands, tree lines, In the North West of the Delta some areas are permanently inundated with water and are characterized by virtual seas of papyrus.
In the Southern region, the floodwaters are seasonal and from the air, many of the islands appear to form meandering snake-like patterns. These are dried up rivers that became blocked by sediment deposited over the years from the slow-moving waters.
Many islands are created by termites whose mounds achieve sufficient height for them not to be flooded. Trees eventually take root on these mounds or newly formed islands, eventually becoming large enough for sufficient transpiration to cause chemical changes in the groundwater beneath the islands resulting in the precipitation of calcium carbonate, this process causing the islands to grow in size. The groundwater eventually becomes so saline that the trees in the centre of the islands die off which then gives the islands an atoll appearance.
The termite, therefore, is an important species of the Okavango Delta eco-system, the other major species being the hippopotamus which create copious new channels and clear blockages in existing channels as they traverse the Okavango Delta. These channels are very evident from the air, bloats of hippos can frequently be spotted in the various channels and lagoons. In addition to the features described above, game such as buffalo, giraffe, impala and elephant may also be spotted during the flight.
Airport transfer
Overnight accommodation on BB
Optional Tours
Dinner
OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA
After breakfast, it will be time to depart for the wilderness in our comfortable open-sided safari jeeps and embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
You will spend the next six days exploring the profound beauty of the Okavango Delta, Moremi, Savuti, and Chobe National Parks; scouring the parks for their abundant wildlife and immerse yourselves in the local culture of remote tribes. After busy days, gaze upon breathtaking, fiery sunsets before gathering around the campsite to share your adventures under a sky full of stars.
One of the best things to look forward to is a trip through the narrow waterways on board traditional canoes will take you to beautiful hidden islands, inaccessible during the rest of the year. Sit back and watch your Mokoro glide through the rivulets as eerie reed banks stand guard on either side. Once the only form of transport for the bushmen of Okavango, these canoes will take you into the heart of the wetlands.
All activities as stated
Camping equipment
All meals
Park fees
Optional Tours (flight over the delta)
Items of personal nature
The Okavango Delta is one of the most expansive wetland systems in Southern Africa and offers spectacular game viewing and a wide variety of birdlife. Come up close and personal with hippos, lions, herds of zebra, and extraordinary birdlife. Your chance to meet the locals – the bush people (the bushmen) in their semi-permanent homes in Moremi game reserve.
Today you will do a morning game drive in the Moremi game reserve - we call it the predators`` paradise, break for lunch at the camp and do another game viewing drive in the afternoon. You may also get a chance to visit the bushmen homes - semi-permanent homes in the Moremi game reserve. Moremi is just adjacent to the delta- for easier logistics, we will use the same camp.
Overnight camping in the delta with breakfast, lunch, dinner and refreshments
The Bushmen of Southern Africa are the oldest indigenous inhabitants of Southern Africa and have lived off the land in symbiosis for hundreds of years. They have much to offer our modern way of living in terms of a sustainable existence with nature. Bushmen tours give you the opportunity to interact with this fascinating culture and get a true understanding of how they have survived in the harsh environment through an understanding of nature.
Camping accommodation on Full Board basis
Refreshments
Park entry fees
Tips and gratuity
Items of personal nature
SAVUTI NATIONAL PARK
This morning we will head deep into the Savuti Marsh, The Savuti area borders the Delta to the west and Chobe National Park to the east and is one of Africa's best-known big game areas. It is famous for its predators, especially its resident lion and spotted hyena populations - one place where one has a realistic chance of seeing the cheetah, leopard wild dog and other predators. The upper Savuti areas are among the most beautiful in Botswana. The game-viewing can be exceptional, and the wide variety of activities make this an area not to be missed. Savuti hosts large herds of buffalo, zebra, elephants and loads of other plains game.
You will game drive to Savuti soon after breakfast and we will be at the camp in Savuti game park in the afternoon. After lunch and siesta, you will do the sunset drive - the best time of the day to encounter the Savuti predators as they will be active and hunting again. You will be back at the camp after sunset.
Overnight camping in Savuti Game Reserve with breakfast, lunch, dinner and refreshments
The best time to visit the Savuti region is during the dry months between May and October - which is the precise time of your trip. Animals now come to the nourishing and refreshing water at the waterholes and riverbanks and can therefore be particularly well observed by guests.
In addition, through the ancient rock paintings of the San, Savute creates an exciting combination of pure nature and cultural insights.
Accommodation (camping on full board basis
All activities
This day you will depart Savuti (soon after breakfast) and game drive to the Chobe National Park where you will visit this part of the Chobe that is secretly located away from the peak season crowds at the Chobe riverfront. This is also an area where elephant and buffalo can be seen in their hundreds – an experience not to be missed.
You will be at the camp at around lunchtime and after some rest, you will do a sunset game drive in the upper Chobe area - looking for the Chobe predators.
Overnight camping in Chobe National Park with breakfast, lunch, dinner and refreshments
Chobe National Park is Botswana's first national park, and also the most biologically diverse. It is located in the north of the country and is Botswana's third-largest park, after Central Kalahari Game Reserve and Gemsbok National Park. It has one of the greatest concentrations of game in all of Africa. The park is noted for having a population of lions that prey on African elephants, mostly calves or juveniles, but even sub-adults.
Accommodation (camping) on full board basis
All activities
Items of personal nature
The combination of wildlife, birdlife, and reptiles along the river's edge is a photographer’s dream, and the day`s two game drives will give you plenty of time to explore it. You may also do an afternoon game drive on the Chobe river and witness some of the best sunsets. You will camp at any of the Boga camps in the Chobe National Park.
Overnight camping in Chobe National Park with breakfast, lunch, dinner and refreshments
Something to look forward to is the Boat cruise. This is a year-round destination for spotting wildlife; however, the scenery changes dramatically with the seasons so there are factors to consider.
The dry season, from April to October, is ideal for a first-time trip to Africa as this is when you are likely to see the most wildlife. As water holes dry up, animals move toward the Chobe in search of water, creating spectacular viewing opportunities. Temperatures soar from August onwards, and peak in October when it reaches 95 degrees Fahrenheit or above
Take binoculars. To get the best views of the multiple wildlife spotting opportunities, you have to bring something with a bit of zoom. Some boats supply binoculars, but you might be happier with your own if you have a particularly good pair.
Buy a spare memory card. Trust us; surrounded by hippos, elephants, crocodiles and birdlife, often at very close quarters, you will take more photos than you ever thought possible. The ships and lodges are in remote spots and there are no nearby shops, so be sure to stock up before you travel.
Accommodation (camping) on full board basis
Items of personal nature
After breakfast, it will be time to say your goodbyes to Botswana and set off to Zimbabwe, home to one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World – the Victoria Falls. You will depart for Victoria Falls soon after breakfast and expect to be in Victoria Falls at around lunchtime.
You will spend the afternoon visiting these splendid waterfalls and you may also do some optional tours which may include bungee jumping and gorge swinging from the famous Victoria Falls Bridge, Helicopter flights over the Victoria Falls, Visit the local African village for that encounter with the locals and lots more (at an extra cost).
Own dinner arrangements and you will spend the night at the Elephant Hills resort on a bed and breakfast basis.
Road transfers to Victoria Falls
Guided tour of the Victoria Falls
Overnight accommodation at the Elephant Hills resort on BB
All optional tours
Items of personal nature
All meals not stated
On this day you will have lots of free time to either just relax by the pool or join lots of other optional tours.
Our recommendation would be to take a dip in the Devil's pool and a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River but you can canoe on the upper Zambezi, visit the falls and the museum on the Zambia side and loads more that Victoria Falls has on offer or enjoy shopping from the local art markets.
Your last dinner of the tour will be at the Boma Restaurant.
Overnight at the Elephant Hills Resort with breakfast
Recommendation: Devil's Pool: Devil’s Pool is probably the most extreme infinity pool in the world. This natural rock pool sits at the very edge of Victoria Falls, only accessible when water levels are at their lowest, from about August to December. Given that a slippery rock barrier and your guide are the only things stopping you from going over the Falls, taking a dip here can turn into quite an adrenalin-filled experience. Steady yourself on the precipice, peeping down the 328ft / 100m gorge of water thundering down to the misty abyss below.
This day you say goodbye to Africa, its beautiful people and wildlife. You will be transferred to the Victoria Falls Airport
Airport transfers
Optional Tours
Items of personal nature
