OVC03 - 14 Day Botswana Wildside Camping Tour

Relish an exciting safari adventure in Botswana and travel through the wilderness of this exciting African country. Experience the vast Makgadikgadi Pans, the Okavango Delta by means of traditional dug-out canoes and of course, the abundant wildlife of the Moremi Game Reserve and Savuti area. Spend time exploring the Chobe National Park by boat and enjoy overwhelmingly spectacular views of the Victoria Falls. The route will take you from Johannesburg to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary, to Maun (gateway to the Okavango Delta), to the Moremi Game Reserve, the Savuti - Chobe National Park and finally Livingstone, home of Victoria Falls. This must be the best way to do a tour of Botswana.

Watching a heard of elephant while on safari in Botswana.

The Route
Johannesburg - Khama Rhino Sanctuary - Maun - Okavango Delta - Moremi Game Reserve - Savuti - Chobe National Park - Livingstone (Victoria Falls)

Departures
Tours depart Johannesburg on Sunday at 06:30. Tour ends in Livingstone on Saturday at 08:00. Scheduled departure dates can be found below.

Guests
Minimum 4 - Maximum 12

Day 1 of the tour
Departing Johannesburg at 06:30 we head north into Botswana. We pass Serowe, birthplace of Botswana’s first president, Sir Seretse Khama, on our way to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary. This 4300 hectare reserve situated on the Kalahari sandveld, has several natural waterholes and provides prime habitat for white rhino, zebra and wildebeest. We take our first game drive around the open grassland of Malema and Serwe pans.

Distance/ Time:     630km, +/- 7½ hours, excluding boder formalities and stops for sightseeing and lunch

Overnight:     Camping - Khama Rhino Sanctuary (Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)



Day 2 of the tour
We drive through the central Kalahari to Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. Situated on the banks of the Thamalakane River, Maun is a bustling frontier town where we prepare for the delta excursion. After setting up camp we have a relaxing afternoon at the swimming pool.  

Distance/ Time:     450km, +/- 6½ hours, excluding stops for sightseeing

Overnight:     Camping - Maun (Lunch, Bed & Breakfast)



Days 3-5 of the tour
Our local guides will take us deep into the heart of the Okavango Delta on Mokoros (dugout canoes). The delta forms as water flows from the Angolan highlands out over the Botswanan flat Kalahari Desert sands creating a delicate, green oasis for birds and wildlife. We will camp wild on remote islands in this amazingly dynamic environment and enjoy bush walks, bird watching and swimming in clear water. Camping with our local guides we can learn more about their lifestyle and culture. We return to Maun in the late afternoon of day 5 and have time for an optional (own expense) game flight over the Okavango, which will reveal a different aspect of the delta.

Distance/ Time:     2 Hour 4WD transfer into the Delta, each way

Overnight:     Camping - Okavango Delta (3 x Lunch, Bed & Breakfast, 2 x Dinners)

Days 6-9 of the tour
We have 4 nights in these conservation areas with time to explore the various habitats. We spend our time on game drives watching the plentiful wildlife including wild dog, elephant, hippo, buffalo, lion and other game. Moremi Game Reserve rates as one of the leading wildlife areas of the world and we take our open 4WD vehicle into Moremi for fantastic game viewing! Grasslands, floodplains, forests, lily lagoons and winding water channels combine to form a variety of game viewing habitats. Moving north over the sand ridge and into the Mabebe depression we arrive at the Savuti Marsh. This open grassland area attracts herds of zebra and wildebeest, which in turn draw the large lion prides for which Savuti is famous. The waterhole near camp is also a favourite drinking point for many elephant and the sunsets here are fantastic.   

Distance/ Time:     350km, +/- 8½ hours, excludes game drives and stops for wildlife viewing (Maun - Savuti)

Overnight:     Camping - Moremi & Savuti Game Reserves (Lunch, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)



Days 10-11 of the tour
The Chobe River flows lazily along the northern boundary of the Chobe National Park attracting some of the largest herds of elephant in Africa. In the early morning we search for game and return to camp for brunch. The late afternoon game viewing “sundowner” cruise is a highlight as we see the mighty elephant return to the Chobe River to quench their thirst. We camp at Kasane on the Chobe River for night 11.

Distance/ Time:     150km, +/- 5½ hours, excludes game drives and stops for wildlife viewing (Savuti - Chobe)

Overnight:     Camping - Chobe National Park (2 x Lunch, Bed & Breakfast, 1 x Dinner )



Days 12-13 of the tour
We camp for 2 nights in Zambia near Livingstone town on the banks of the Zambezi River. Enjoy a spectacular walk through tropical vegetation to the very edge of the “Mosi oa Tunya” or “the smoke that thunders” - Victoria Falls. There will also be opportunities to white water raft on the mighty Zambezi River, bungi jump, or take a “flight of angels” (own expense).

Distance/ Time:     85km, 1 hour, excludes border formalities (which can take 2-4+ hours)

Overnight:     Camping - Livingstone (Bed & Breakfast)



Day 14 of the tour
Tour ends at 08:00 after breakfast. Transfers to local airports are available.

Distance/ Time:     N/A 

Flights are available from Livingstone to Johannesburg or when available you can take a free transit return to Johannesburg with the tour vehicle (all meals and accommodation for own expense), 2 days, arrives Johannesburg at +/- 18:00 Thursday. Subject to availability.

Please Note

• This tour is operated as a Scheduled Tour. Departure dates can be found below.
• There are only two single tents available for this tour, which attracts the single supplement charge. On the nights that the camping tours stay in Guest Houses or Chalets the single travellers will be roomed with another same sex single traveller. Should there be no single tents available single guests will pay the sharing rate and then be accommodated in a twin share tent with another traveller of the same sex.
• Please feel free to add on to this tour with any of the other possible tours we offer in the area.
• The accommodation specified in the itinerary is a guide only and subject to availability. Alternatives will be of a similar standard if required.
• The Euro rate is just an indication of the price at the current exchange rate, it cannot be guaranteed until a confirmed booking is made.

Important Medical Note
In May 2011 the World Heath Organisation (WHO) revised the Yellow Fever vaccination recommendations for Africa. The South African Department of Health has subsequently issued a statement that as of 01 October 2011 all travellers from Zambia going to South Africa, and travellers that have recently visited Zambia, will now require proof of a yellow fever vaccination. Previously, this was not required. All in-transit passengers between the two destinations, irrespective of the time period in transit, will also require proof of yellow fever vaccination.

Scheduled Departure Dates 2012