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The Great Wilderness Journey
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Livingstone to Maun - Price and departure:
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- Detailed Itinerary
Summary of Itinerary
Days 1 & 2
Arrive in Maun, fly to San Camp, Makgadikgadi Pans.
Days 3 & 4
Fly to Jacana Camp, Okavango Delta.
Days 5, 6 & 7
Combination of land and water activity to Ketumetse Trails Camp, north eastern Okavango Delta.
Days 8, 9 & 10
Fly to Linyanti Discoverer Camp, Linyanti.
Day 11
Fly to Kasane for Chobe River boat cruise; then drive to Sussi Lodge, Livingstone.
Day 12
Guided walk around Victoria Falls, transfer to airport.
(This safari also operates in the reverse direction)
Botswana Safaris
The Great Wilderness Journey
11 night / 12 Day Safari
Tour direction:Makgadikgadi Pans to Zambia
(also operates in the reverse direction)Combination Wilderness Safaris lodges and fully serviced camping in private concession areas.
Experience a nostalgic, turn-of-the-century camping / lodge safari that recreates the sense of a game-viewing adventure reminiscent of the times of the great African explorers.
At the turn of the century, explorers and adventurers made their way leisurely along the dusty paths of Africa, allowing the great continent to seep into their souls. This guided mobile safari takes the time to experience and explore Botswana's contrasts and extremes: from the waterless and strange landscape of the Kalahari Desert to the lushly vegetated wetlands of the Okavango Delta.
The spacious walk-in Meru tents create a sense of connectedness to the Earth and nature, enhancing the view and the feeling of the wild and untamed.
The style of accommodation in the privatecampsites takes you back to the era of Africa's exploration. Pure linens of heavy cottons, brass bucket showers and basins, separate flushing toilets and shower areas all add to the atmosphere, while luxury comforts and amenities are elegantly provided.
Experience thegreat outdors and a closenessto nature by means of a lively camp fire, hurricane lanterns, wide-ranging activities and a warm atmosphere complimenting the comfort and added luxury of the lodges visited. Discoverer camps are specifically outfitted to ensure that old-style camping feel with a clear emphasis on necessary and stylish comfortable interiors, creating a peerless wilderness experience.
Guides
The entire safari is guided and hosted by professional trained guides, who share their in-depth knowledge to present a seamless safari experience.
RouteTo maximise guests' travel time, a variety of travel modes that bring out the best of each area is used: flying in private charters and overland transfers provide both a bird's-eye view and an in-depth visual experience of the contrasting landscapes of Botswana.
Seasonality
We take advantage of the changing seasons so as to provide the best in wildlife viewing on an annual basis. Therefore, we enjoy three-night stays at both Ketumetse Trails Camp and Linyanti Discoverer Camp, to fully appreciate the diversity of area and activity.
Inclusions / Exclusions
Rates Include:
Game drives and activities as per itinerary
Non-alcoholic drinks
Breakfast, lunch & dinner throughout the tour.
Game or Park entrance fees and permits
Radio communication where communication lines are not available
Accommodation specified as per itinerary
Qualified professional guide
Single/double dome safari tents and safari ablution facilities.
Transport provided by tour company
Rates Exclude:
Visas and visa fees required
laundry
Anti-malarial and vaccinations
Any items bought prior and during the tour for personal use
Insurance for the full duration of the tour
Airport Tax, Departure Tax and / or Government Tax
Flight costs for specific routing
Gratuities/tips & porterage for tour guide and staff
Optional additional excursions to be paid whilst on tour
Surcharge of 10%
Itinerary
Day 1 & 2: San Camp, Makgadikgadi Pans [B, L, D]
Surprisingly for such a harsh, lunar-like environment, life abounds, and brown hyaena, gemsbok (oryx) and springbok are just a few of the desert-adapted species that can be seen. Activities include up-close encounters with meerkats (suricates), one of the most fascinating and endearing animals in the world. Experience phenomenal geology, quad biking, and authentic San (bushman) cultural walks, or simply enjoy the wide-open spaces of this ancient lakebed.
Guests are accommodated in 6 large walk-in green canvas tents on slightly elevated wooden platforms with en-suite facilities (bucket shower and flush toilet). Camp amenities include a mess tent for dining and a tea tent with Persian carpet and cushions for socialising. After the rains (December to April), there can be large herds of wildebeest, zebra and springbok (with the accompanying predators) on the open grasslands. The summer rains also leave a warm shallow layer of water that entices waterfowl and flamingos. Activities are conducted in open 4x4 vehicles custom designed for this terrain and accompanied by knowledgeable guides. In the winter months only, all-purpose ATV vehicles (four wheeler motorcycles or quad bikes) are available, allowing guests to travel across the saltpans. A walk with a Bushman tracker is a highlight activity option.
Day 3 & 4: Jacana Camp, Okavango Delta [B, L, D]
The Okavango Delta represents survival at the other extreme: abundant water, sunlight and soil combine to form a paradise bursting with life. The contrast becomes amazingly clear as we move from desert to delta, from dry sand to water world, on a light aircraft charter from San to Jacana Camp.
Lush Jacana Camp is situated in a permanently flooded region of the private Jao concession of the Okavango Delta.
A true water camp, it represents the essence of the Delta, with year-round mokoro safaris as well as island bush walks and, water level permitting, motorboat cruises. In fact, when the flood levels are at their peak we are able to motorboat from the airstrip to the lodge, a truly surreal camp arrival!
Jacana Camp is set in one of the wetland areas most densely populated with sitatunga and red lechwe. Wildlife concentrations depend on the water flow and volume, thus changing from season to season, but all the large animals can be found in the area including elephant, lion, leopard and buffalo. Pel's Fishing Owl is a favourite amongst birders as well as Greater and Lesser Jacanas.
Jacana Camp has 5 Meru-style tents. Each tent is on a wooden deck overlooking the floodplains and has an en-suite bathroom with flush toilet and shower. The bathroom is enclosed but roofless, allowing for showers by starlight. The camp has a plunge pool for cooling off from the midday sun. The main dining area is on an elevated wooden deck between two magnificent sycamore fig trees and surrounded by dense wild date palms. Downstairs, there is a cosy pub and lounge with an area perfect for an open fire under the stars.
Day 5, 6 & 7: Ketumetse Trails Camp, North-eastern Okavango Delta [B, L, D]
We depart this morning by aircraft to our superb Ketumetse Trails Camp, situated in an exclusive concession. Ketumetse is located in the south-western sector of the Selinda private concession, in the seasonally flooded portion of the Okavango Delta where it joins into the Selinda Spillway.
Accommodation is in 6.3m x 3.5m walk-in hexagon Meru-style tents (maximum of two guests per tent). The tents are airy with the beds facing the best view and are beautifully designed to recreate the accommodation of the early explorers, with brass shower buckets and richly coloured teak director chairs. Separate bedside tables with 12v reading lamps, canvas and wood wardrobes, bathrobes, comfortable beds, flushing toilets and mirrors are provided. Camp amenities (conditioning shampoo, soap, shower gel and body lotion) are elegantly displayed for use and private, en-suite separate toilet and shower areas are part of the main structure.
The area in which the camp is located is scenic with generous shade provided by leadwood and russet bushwillow trees. Open floodplains and woodlands spread out in front of camp. Activities concentrate on nature walks and canoeing, providing a superb view from the canoe of big game coming to the water's edge to drink. Game drives (by day and night) are possible and often reveal sightings of the rare roan and stately sable antelopes, in addition to an array of other general game species. Seasonally, "catch and release" fishing is offered as an alternative activity.
Day 8, 9 & 10: Linyanti Discoverer Camp, Linyanti [B, L, D]
After a light breakfast, we fly north-eastwards to the private Linyanti Concession; after a short game drive we arrive at our private Discoverer camp, which is elegantly set up under African ebony and knobthorn acacia trees overlooking panoramic vistas of the Linyanti Swamps.
The landscape of the Linyanti varies from floodplains to open dry land savannah and forest with sweeping views, creating a paradise for a high diversity of wildlife and bird species. Activities include game drives in the private northern sector of the concession, exploring a range of habitats, from riverbanks to scrub and forest, which reveal a myriad of wildlife en route to slake their thirst from the river. The seldom-seen sitatunga can also be spotted in the waterways, as well as rare plains game, such as roan and sable antelope and of course their predators, the lion and leopard - with the endangered wild dog as an incredible bonus.
There's also a game drive to a private area for lunch, then a siesta in hammocks and the possibility of an afternoon canoe trip, before returning to camp at dusk. (This activity is not always possible, as it is dependent on whether there are hippo pods moving in and out of the areas in which we canoe.) Another possible activity is an all-day game drive to the Savuti Channel, with lunch en route at a shady place. This game drive is specifically designed to gain an introduction to the "Stolen River" as well as enjoying a part of the Selinda Spillway with its rich floodplains.
To complete the experience, in the rainy season and on the third day, it is possible to enjoy another full-day activity to the Savute Channel, with lunch at a scenic setting under a shade tree. The spectacular, but seasonal (rain dependant) zebra migration, moves between Linyanti and the Savute Marsh between end November and March, the area also boasting an impressive diversity of mammals, including large elephant herds. When undertaken and during the correct season, this day is specifically tailored to enjoy the seasonal and migratory movements of wildlife, although sighting the zebra migration is not guaranteed.
Day 11: Chobe River boat cruise, Chobe National Park and Sussi Lodge, Zambia [B, L, D]
After a short morning drive and breakfast, we depart by light aircraft to the northern Chobe region of Chobe National Park. This area is famous for its vast herds of elephants in the dry season and other unique species such as the elusive puku and Chobe bushbuck that move to the river in the hottest hours of the day. Enjoy a light lunch on the boat cruise in a catamaran-style shaded boat.
We leave Botswana and enter Zambia by way of the Kazangula border, a point where the four countries of Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia meet, arriving in the late afternoon at Sussi Lodge, in Livingstone.
Guest accommodation at Sussi Lodge consists of 10 luxury tree-houses built into the living canopy of giant ebony trees lining the riverbank. Each unit has a mini bar, en-suite bathroom, mosquito nets, overhead fan and a private view of the Zambezi from its own deck among the branches. The main lodge building features a raised bar/lounge deck, open-air dining area, swimming pool and lawns down to the water's edge.
Day 12: Victoria Falls, transfer to Livingstone Airport [B]
The grand finale is a guided tour of the Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. At 1708 metres wide, it is the largest curtain of water in the world and drops more than 100 metres into the sheer Zambezi Gorge.
Transfer to Livingstone Airport immediately after the tour of the Victoria Falls and bid farewell to the adventure.
Extra information
International air connection onto the safari
If arrival is planned for the day of the safari's departure, please ensure that this arrival is with the earliest possible flight from Johannesburg. Arrival on a later flight may necessitate additional road or air transfers (as departure for the first camp/lodge will already have taken place), subject to extra cost.
International air connections leaving the safari
Please ensure that your departure flight is booked for after 12h30 from Livingstone. For earlier international departure flights, an additional transfer will be required to arrive for this connection. Extra transfers and flights are subject to extra cost.
Flashlights/ torches
Please ensure that a minimum 2-D cell flashlight is brought on safari, with spare batteries. Head lamps are also useful. Flashlights are not supplied.
Camera battery charging facilities
Please note that a 12V cigarette lighter adaptor will be required (that is compatible with camera make) on this safari for charging batteries while on game drive or transfer drives. 110/ 240V outlets are available at the permanent lodges; however Linyanti Discoverer and Ketumetse Trails Camp only have 12V electricity.
Dietary requirements and special occasions: Due to remote locality of Discoverer camps, please ensure that full dietary requirements and special occasions are advised at the time of your booking confirmation.
