Botswana

A fantastic safari to see birds and big game amidst gorgeous scenery

Friday 4 December – Wednesday 16 December 2009

Price:    £4695pp              Single supp:      £125pp                  Deposit:   £800pp

Price includes: return scheduled flight from London – South-West Africa, airport taxes, ground transportation, en-suite accommodation with all meals, picnic lunches, incidental tips, and the services of Leader Dave Pullan and expert local guides. Max 14 clients.

This is a fantastic safari, birding and big game watching through Botswana wilderness regions, featuring three nights at Victoria Falls in Zambia and high quality lodges and luxury tented camps.

Big game includes Lion, Elephant, Cheetah, Leopard and Wild Dog, and for a taster of the birdlife, African Fish Eagle, African Skimmer, Bat Hawk, Brown Firefinch, Carmine Bee-eater, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Long-crested Eagle, Madagascar Bee-eater, Narina Trogon, Pel's Fishing Owl, Pink-backed Pelican, Rosy-throated Longclaw, Purple-banded Sunbird, Pygmy Goose, Red-winged  and Rock Pratincole, Secretary Bird, Wattled Crane, Western Banded Snake-Eagle, Wood Owl and Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, amongst many, many more – ask for our Extra Pack to see the details!

4 AND 5 DECEMBER: CAMP OKAVANGO - WATER BASED
Fly London - Johannesburg and transfer to Maun in Botswana, before taking one final flight to Moremi Game Reserve .

Botswana’s magnificent Okavango Delta is a maze of lagoons, lakes and hidden channels covering an area of over 16,000 square km in flood and shrinking to less than 9,000 square km in the dry season. Trapped in the parched Kalahari sands the fresh water oasis attracts wildlife that depends on the permanent waters of this unique wilderness.

Camp Okavango is situated on the remote Nxaragha Island in the heart of the permanent Okavango Delta, assuring a year-round water wilderness experience. Camp Okavango’s unashamed luxury blends with the Africa of old in the elegant thatch and lethaka main lodge buildings. The dining room leads onto an expansive open-air patio for evenings around the open boma. Other lodge facilities include a cocktail bar, lounge, wildlife reference library, a secluded bird-viewing hide, a delightful sun deck and plunge pool for relaxing during the hot midday hours.

Camp Okavango accommodates only 24 guests in intimate exclusivity in East African-style safari tents individually situated on raised teak platforms with en-suite facilities and private sun decks. Each tent is furnished with an African teak wardrobe, luggage rack, dressing table, bedside pedestals and traditional director's chairs. Colourful woven rugs, designer linen and matching interior blinds complete your African hideaway. His and hers bath robes as well as tea and coffee making facilities are also provided to make your stay as comfortable as possible.

All game-viewing activities are conducted by experienced professional guides and include exploring the Okavango by canoe (mokoro) and motorboat. Guided nature walks on the various islands afford an opportunity to track some of the larger species that inhabit this water wilderness, and the adjacent floodplains and forests. Zebra, Elephant, Buffalo, Hippo, Crocodile, Birding opportunities are outstanding with African Paradise Flycatcher, Woodland and Malachite Kingfishers, Pel’s Fishing Owl, African Fish Eagle, Little Bee-eater, Black Rail, Plum-coloured Starling, Long-crested Eagle, Bateleur, Yellow-billed Stork, Greater and Lesser Jacanas, Swamp Boubou, Pygmy Goose amongst the species we could see. Fishing for bream and tiger fish is also offered as an activity at the lodge.

6 AND 7 December:
We transfer by boat through the waterways of the Okavango Delta to Camp Moremi.. 2 nights Camp Moremi (land and water based camp)

Camp Moremi is situated on the beautiful Xakanaxa Lagoon in the heart of the Okavango Delta, within the Moremi Game Reserve. Xakanaxa is renowned as one of the best game viewing areas in Botswana. Shaded by giant ebony trees, the magnificent Moremi tree lodge is an elegant elevated thatch and timber structure consisting of a main lounge, wildlife reference library, dining room and stylishly decorated cocktail bar cooled by overhead punkah-punkah fans. The large sun deck affords an unsurpassed view of Xakanaxa Lagoon. A raised deck swimming pool, covered boma and elevated observation platform assures Camp Moremi of its status as one of Botswana’s finest safari lodge. Camp Moremi accommodates only 22 guests in East African-style safari tents, individually situated on raised teak platforms. Each tent is exquisitely furnished with an African teak wardrobe, luggage rack, dressing table, bedside pedestals and traditional director's chairs. Colourful woven rugs, designer linen and matching interior blinds complete your African hideaway. His and hers towel robes as well as tea and coffee making facilities are also provided to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Each guest unit has its own private bathroom situated adjacent to the tent and located on the raised platform. Activities at Camp Moremi include tracking big game on morning and afternoon game drives by open 4x4 safari vehicle, excellent birding, possibly including Ostrich, Carmine and Swallow-tailed Bee-eaters, Red-billed and Yellow-billed Oxpeckers, Openbill Stork, Hamerkop and Wahlberg's Eagle. Endangered Wattled Cranes and endemic Slaty Egret can be found in the area, the surrounding mopani forest is home to Southern Black Tit and Giant Eagle Owl, and Black-collared and Crested Barbets are along the river. We explore the rivers, and the Xakanaka Lagoon and surrounding Okavango channels by powerboat. Mammals will include Red Lechwe and large herds of Elephant, Southern Impala, Wildebeest, Buffalo, Burchell's Zebra, Greater Kudu and Waterbuck. Sitatunga is also present, but is very shy and not encountered frequently. African Wild Dogs are endangered, but we have a chance of witnessing them alongside other predators, such as Cheetah, Leopard, Spotted Hyena, and our first prides of Lion.

8 AND 9 DECEMBER: SAVUTE SAFARI LODGE - PLAINS, GAME & MARSHES
Scheduled charter flight to Savuti in the south western region of Chobe National Park.
, We spend two nights at Savute Safari Lodge, accommodation will be in twin bedded chalet with private en-suite facilities on a full board basis.

Savute Safari Lodge peers out from ancient camelthorn trees on the banks of the now dry Savute channel, part of the dynamic Savute ecosystem renowned for its large concentration of Elephant and large Lion prides. The lounge, library and cocktail bar are situated in the exquisite thatch and timber main building, while in front there is a viewing deck ideal for watching game at the water hole. The lodge houses the dining room in a separate building which can double up as a conference room sitting up to twenty delegates. The lodge also has a swimming pool on a raised wooden teak deck overlooking the channel, affording guests to watch game while swimming! Savute Safari Lodge accommodates just 24 people in contemporary furnished twin-bedded luxury wood, thatch and glass safari suites, ideal for the hot and dry conditions. Double volume suites with their spacious interior and large, glass sliding doors sets the lodge apart from typical safari accommodation. Large private viewing decks and en-suite facilities, with walk in showers combine to make Savute Safari Lodge an unforgettable experience. Safari sightings should include Giraffe, Lion, Zebra, Buffalo, Wild Dog, Wildebeest, Cheetah, Jackal, Kudu, Spotted Hyena, and possibly Leopard. The game drives are in open 4x4 safari vehicles around the whole Savute area, including the Savute Marsh and a visit to the ancient San rock paintings at Gubatsa Hills. We should come across Ostrich, Crimson-breasted Shrike, sunbirds, barbets, Long-tailed Shrike, Black-breasted Snake Eagle, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Tawny Eagle and various weavers and waxbills during our stay in this incredibly atmospheric place.

10 AND 11 DECEMBER: CHOBE GAME LODGE - LAND AND WATER BASED
Flight to Kasane and transfer to Chobe Game Lodge, where we spend two nights in a twin bedded rooms with private en-suite facilities on a full board basis.

The only permanent game lodge situated within the Chobe National Park, Chobe Game Lodge is Botswana's premier venue for guests looking for a perfect base to explore the Chobe National Park. The lodge can accommodate up to 100 people in total luxury, offering a choice of land or water activities and the most complete game experience in the Chobe area. Game drives are conducted in open sided 4X4 vehicles ensuring maximum visibility, while game viewing on the Chobe River is conducted by small, shallow draft and highly manoeuvrable boats piloted by expert boatmen. The resident professional guides even offer star gazing! Other facilities include a large swimming pool with terrace, a riverside boma area where traditional dancers perform, a business centre, a fully equipped conference room with seating for up to 90 people in cinema style, an internet office is available for those guests needing to keep in touch, a stylish bar with an outside terrace overlooking the Chobe River and a cigar bar with a champion sized billiard table. Chobe also has a reference library with lounge and terrace. Meals are catered for at the terrace restaurant overlooking the Chobe River. All 46 rooms at the lodge are river facing and are air conditioned with overhead fans, complimentary mini bar and en-suite bathrooms, each with tea and coffee making facilities. All rooms have their very own private terrace.

The area is renowned for its large herds of Elephant, and we may also see Hippo, Sable Antelope and Puku. Amongst the more popular birds are Lilac-breasted Roller, Carmine Bee-eater, Giant Kingfisher, African Skimmer, White-headed Vulture, Spur-winged Goose, Saddlebill Stork, Pink-backed Pelican, Pink-throated Longclaw, Wattled Plover and Goliath Heron.

12 AND 13 DECEMBER: CHOBE SAVANNA LODGE
We transfer to Kasane Immigration where we will be met on arrival for boat transfer to an island in the Chobe River (Namibia) 2 nights Chobe Savanna Lodge (best game viewing in this area is by boat!)

Chobe Savanna Lodge offers guests a hideaway for those looking for an exclusive Chobe River experience. The area is renowned for its diverse and prolific wildlife including the rare puku antelope. It is home to large herds of elephant, buffalo and hippo, as well as concentrations of other wildlife which come down to the rivers edge to drink, graze and hunt. Chobe Savanna Lodge is relaxed and informal, set in a classic African Savanna environment with sweeping vistas surrounding the lodge. The focal point of the lodge is a thatched open sided main building which features a 270 degree view over the Chobe River and beyond to the Chobe National Park.

14 AND 15 DECEMBER: TAITA FALCON LODGE
Taita Falcon Lodge is situated on the Zambian side of the Zambezi River a short distance from the Victoria Falls, 20km from Livingstone. The Lodge is perched on the very edge of the Batoka Gorge above Rapids 16 and 17, offering a spectacular view of the raging waters 200m below. The Lodge is situated in a natural bush environment with each chalet secluded amongst the native flora. The gardens around the Lodge are a colourful blend of indigenous plants with paths weaving from the chalets to the pool, restaurant and bar areas. Bird life is abundant around the Lodge grounds, with resident Verreaux (Black) Eagle, Peregrine, and the Taita Falcon from which the Lodge takes its name, Bateleur, and African Skimmer amongst the vast array of small passerines.

16 DECEMBER: DEPARTURE
Leisurely morning, and transfer to Livingstone Airport for flight to Johannesburg and onwards to London.

Please note: all itineraries are given as a guide only. Actual holiday content may vary according to the judgement of your guide, and elements beyond our control (eg weather).
Price includes return scheduled flight from London – Johannesburg, airport taxes, visas, all ground, sea and air transportation as outlined above, eight nights twin accommodation in beautiful and varied Desert & Delta Lodges, Botswana as detailed in itinerary.

Price excludes holiday insurance, and other personal expenses.

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