The Ultimate Conservation Safari

The Ultimate Conservation Safari

Duration: 8 Days | 7 Nights

Days: 1-3 Makgadikgadi Pans National Park & Boteti River | Days: 3-6 Khwai I Days 6-8 Okavango

Countries: Botswana                  

Camps: Meno A Kwena , Little Sable & Duke's Camp/Duke's East

Type of Safari

Explorer: Fully Inclusive Custom Itinerary for group size (2+)

Departure Date: All year round/Daily:

Summary:

Conservation on the move

This is an enriching 8 day safari experience where a portion of the amount you pay for this safari goes directly to the conservation projects you visit. Ideal for those of you who are interested in seeing first-hand how responsible tourism can positively impact conservation and communities, your trip will take you deep into the heart of our sustainable safari operation.

You’ll stay at three of our unique camps, gaining a greater insight into six projects we are involved in, and how through partnerships, the involvement of local communities and contribution from guests, we are able to protect some of Africa’s last great wild places.

This conservation immersion trip will reinforce the difference you can make.

Highlights of this safari:

• Game Drives
• Mokoro Safaris (seasonal)
• Walking safari (San Bushmen guided walk)
• Cultural visit
• Helicopter Trips
• Migration
• Conservation projects

Safari Itinerary

Days: 1-3

MAKAGADIKGADI PANS NATIONAL PARK & BOTETI RIVER

ROAD TRANSFER: Maun Airport to Meno a Kwena (return): On arrival in Maun, Botswana the guests will be met by a representative to assist them with their road transfer to Meno A Kwena.

This trip starts at Meno a Kwena, which overlooks the magnificent Makgadikgadi National Park. From your lofty position of your private verandah observe the animals as they drink from the Boteti River below. Activities include game drive day trips to the Makgadikgadi Pans, guided walks with the San bushmen, and up-close game viewing from the floating hide.

Elephants for Africa (EFA) is situated on the north western edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. This conservation project is dedicated to enhancing human-wildlife coexistence in rural farming communities, which we believe is crucial to protecting both the elephant and the communities in this wildlife area. The project focuses on mitigating human-wildlife conflict primarily through community workshopping and installing elephant proof fencing.

You will get to speak to local farmers in Moreomaoto on a ‘Community Elephant Coexistence’ cultural tour to get a better understanding and insight into some of the challenges faced when living alongside elephants and how they are deterred with the help of EFA and the importance of these vital partnerships. Followed by a visit to the EFA research base to see some of the EFA research activities.

Overnight at Meno A Kwena (2 Nights) – Fully inclusive

Days: 4-7

KHWAI

After breakfast, guests will be transferred to from Meno a Kwena to Maun (Road Transfer). Once in Maun airport where they now connect with a light aircraft to Little Sable in Khwai.

Little Sable is where you will spend the next three days of your trip. This intimate, tented safari camp is located amid the water channels and the game-rich grasslands of the Khwai Private Reserve. Up here, there’s something to see around every corner and a different activity to enjoy every day, from classic game drives to mokoro trips and boat safaris.

Botswana Predator Conservation Trust (BPC) run the Wild Dog Research Camp which sits in the Moremi Game Reserve, on the southeastern edge of the Okavango Delta. It is the most well-established research centre in the Okavango and has conducted over 30 years of research on wild dog packs, as well as members of the large carnivore guild, the lions, leopards and spotted hyenas. The various projects supported by this centre are dispersed across the Okavango landscape, in and around the Khwai Private Reserve. Here you will also get to meet the anti-poaching team. A group of dedicated rangers that perform crucial tasks within and outside the concession, including de-snaring sweeps, tracking and surveillance.

The Khwai community and village is situated on the eastern edge of the Khwai Private Reserve. It is here that we dedicate a lot of time and effort to implementing multiple community outreach initiatives in and around the settlement of Khwai village. This veritably reflects our goal of continuously improving the livelihoods of communities living alongside wildlife. You’ll get to see first-hand the community work that is being done here, including a visit to the preschool to plant a tree. With a stop outside the Kgotla to explain its role in the community. And like it is for us, your visit and interaction with the community, will truly be an insightful and humbling experience.

Back at camp enjoy a talk by a member of the conservation and community team about how Little Sable works hand-in-hand with the local community and how the KPR ranger team monitor wildlife and work closely with the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) on anti-poaching. You will also learn about the important wild dog and predator-focused research program being undertaken by Wild Entrust’s Botswana Predator Conservation programme.

Overnight at Little Sable (3 Nights)- Fully inclusive

Days: 4-7

OKAVANGO

From Khwai you’ll charter to Duke’s Camp (or Duke’s East right next door), both brought to life by Ralph Bousfield and the creators of Jack’s Camp. Enjoy the same yesteryear charm and understated luxury in the unspoilt wilderness of the northern Okavango Delta. Pitched on raised wooden decks beneath a canopy of ebony and leadwood trees, the luxurious safari tents offer an unforgettable under-canvas adventure in the midst of this remarkable World Heritage Site. With expert guides honed in the bushcraft and lore of the Delta, there are few better ways to explore this wild landscape rich in game and natural beauty, lying waiting to be discovered.

The Elephant Express project is situated close by, on the north eastern edge of the Okavango. It is a wonderful solution to a complex human-wildlife conflict issue, made possible through a partnership between Okavango Community Trust, EcoExist Trust and Duke’s Camp and Duke’s East. The project transports vulnerable members of the community – children, elderly and the disabled – to school and clinics through dangerous elephant corridors. The Elephant Express helps to minimise human-wildlife conflict by reducing the likelihood of dangerous confrontations so elephants and people can co-exist more easily.

Communal Herding for Livestock and Wildlife Protection (CLAWS) plays an integral part in protecting both lions and livestock and has been set up in the north eastern edge of the Okavango Delta to support human-wildlife conflict (HWC) mitigation. By collaring and tracking lions and facilitating a return to traditional herding practices, whereby a herder accompanies livestock, lion livestock interaction is reduced and the perceived conflict between lions and farmers can be alleviated. This initiative combines herds to reduce the costs of herding per household and achieves two goals: reducing retaliatory killing of lions, and improving grazing land for livestock herders through rotational grazing.

You’ll visit  CLAWS to visit a cattle kraal or the herd of cattle in the bush. Followed by a Life with Elephants Tour, where you will learn about the community’s traditional way of life and what it is like to live in close proximity to elephants.

Overnight at Duke's Camp/ Duke's East (2 Nights)- Fully inclusive

Day 8: End of Safari

After a final morning activity, guests will depart the camp for Maun Airport where they will continue with onward travel arrangements.

We Love it here!

CONSERVATION & COMMUNITY PROJECTS

MENO A KWENA

PROJECT 1: ELEPHANTS FOR AFRICA (EFA)
Elephants for Africa is situated on the north western edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. This conservation project is dedicated to enhancing human-wildlife coexistence in rural farming communities, which we believe is crucial to protect both the elephant and the communities in this wildlife area. The project focuses on mitigating human-wildlife conflict primarily through community workshopping and installing elephant proof fencing.

LITTLE SABLE

PROJECT 2 & 3: WILD DOG RESEARCH AND ANTI-POACHING
Natural Selection supports Wild Entrust’s Botswana Predator Conservation (BPC) programme. Botswana Predator Conservation Trust (BPC) run the Wild Dog Research Camp which sits in the Moremi Game Reserve, on the southeastern edge of the Okavango Delta. It is the most well-established research centre in the Okavango and has conducted over 30 years of research on wild dog packs, as well as members of the large carnivore guild, the lions, leopards and spotted hyenas. The various projects supported by this centre are dispersed across the Okavango landscape, in and around the Khwai Private Reserve. At Khwai Private Reserve you will also get to meet the anti-poaching team. A group of dedicated rangers that perform crucial tasks within and outside the concession, including de-snaring sweeps, tracking and surveillance.

PROJECT 4: KHWAI COMMUNITY / VILLAGE
The Khwai community and village is situated on the eastern edge of the Khwai Private Reserve. It is here that we dedicate a lot of time and effort to implementing multiple community outreach initiatives in and around the settlement of Khwai village. This veritably reflects our goal of continuously improving the livelihoods of communities living alongside wildlife. And like it is for us, your visit and interaction with the community, will truly be an insightful and humbling experience.

DUKE’S CAMP / DUKE’S EAST

PROJECT 5: ELEPHANT EXPRESS
The Elephant Express project is situated on the north eastern edge of the Okavango and is a wonderful solution to a complex human-wildlife conflict issue, made possible through a partnership between Okavango Community Trust, Ecoexist Trust and Duke’s Camp/Duke’s East. The project transports vulnerable members of the community – children, elderly and the disabled – to school and clinics through dangerous elephant corridors. The Elephant Express helps to minimise human-wildlife conflict by reducing the likelihood of dangerous confrontations so elephants and people can co-exist more easily.

PROJECT 6: COMMUNAL HERDING FOR LIVESTOCK & WILDLIFE PROTECTION (CLAWS)
CLAWS has been set up in the north eastern edge of the Okavango Delta to support human-wildlife conflict (HWC) mitigation. This communal herding programme safeguards cattle, creates employment, reduces retaliatory killing of lions, and restores overgrazed landscapes. Here you will see first-hand how by facilitating a return to traditional herding practices, whereby a herder accompanies livestock, lion-livestock interactions are reduced and the perceived conflict between lions and farmers is alleviated. This initiative combines different herds, to reduce the costs of herding per household and achieves two incredible goals: it reduces retaliatory killing of lions, and it improves the grazing land for livestock herders through rotational grazing.

Can this package be customised?

This trip is fully customisable. For more information or to book and plan your trip contact  info@nxaitravel.com