| 10 Night BEST OF BOTSWANA - DELUXE LODGE SAFARI FROM US$7 274.00 per person sharing |
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SAFARI SUMMARY / Includes Road & boat transfer from Livingstone Airport to Sindabezi Island - 2 Nights Sindabezi Island, Livingstone (Incl. Meals, Local Beverages, Activities, Victoria Falls Entry Fee & Laundry) Road and boat transfer from Sindabezi Island to Kasane for onward seat in charter to Selinda Camp - 3 Nights Selinda Camp, Linyanti (Fully Inclusive) Seat in charter from Selinda Camp to Little Vumbura - 2 Nights Little Vumbura, Private Concession in the Okavango Delta (Fully Inclusive) Seat in charter from Little Vumbura Camp to San Camp - *3 Nights San Camp, Makgadikgadi Pans (Fully Inclusive) Seat in charter from San Camp to Maun for onward travel arrangements
* San Camp is a seasonal camp open from 16 April to 31 October. Outside these months San Camp has been substituted with Jacks Camp. DETAILED ITINERARY Day 1 & 2: SINDABEZI ISLAND CAMP, LIVINGSTONE Upon the guest’s arrival into Livingstone Airport, they will be met and transferred to Sindabezi Island Camp by road and boat where they will stay for 2 nights. Sindabezi Island is a unique and idyllic camp situated on a very private island on the Zambezi River. It is the only luxury camp in the Victoria Falls region with views across the floodplains of the Zambezi and into the nearby National Park where game such as elephant, impala and wildebeest come to quench their thirst on the banks of the river. Sindabezi has only five open-sided thatched cottages, allowing guests to soak up the sights and sounds of the African bush in the perfect, pristine setting. Views across the flood plains of the Zambezi and into the nearby National Park complete the experience. They have heated showers, and distinctive ‘loos with a view’ set on a wooden walkway. Although the chalets are perfectly secluded, the island is also ideal for families or groups who would like to consider a private booking. Thanks to our solar panelling, hot water and ambient bedside lighting is assured. The entire Sindabezi Island is also romantically lit with traditional hurricane lamps. The activities offered at the camp are fully inclusive of an unforgettable visit to the Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and a boat ride to a nearby deserted island for a picnic lunch. Sunset and sunrise boat cruises on the Zambezi River and canoeing adventures with guides to explore waterways close to the island, guided walks to the Victoria Falls and gorges and fishing on the Zambezi River for a variety of species including the tiger fish are also possible. The lodge offers guided museum tours to Livingstone, spending time with the children of the Tongabezi Trust School as well as an opportunity to experience the people’s market at Marimba, the Zambian way of life or a bicycle tour of a local village with an experienced guide. AREA DESCRIPTION – LIVINGSTONE - Livingstone is a historic colonial town most famous for its proximity to the Victoria Falls. The town has experienced a revival in the last decade with the old colonial style buildings which line the shaded main avenue, being renovated and now housing shops, cafes and a variety of local businesses. Livingstone offers a wide range of activities from the challenge of white water rafting and bungy jumping, to the awe-inspiring elephant back safaris and sunset cruises. Livingstone has something for everyone. The Victoria Falls are one of the Seven Wonders of the World and is the largest sheet of falling water on earth - a spellbinding and mesmerising spectacle. The sheer mass of water cascading down the 100m drop across nearly 2km makes a thunderous roar and creates a magnificent spray of water that can be seen for miles - hence the local name 'mosi oa tunya' meaning 'the smoke that thunders'. Water flow over the Falls varies throughout the year. The river's annual flood season is February to May when the spray can reach a height of over 400m, this is spectacular from above but it makes it very difficult to see the Falls at ground level as it is under a heavy shower/mist. Water levels start dropping in August and are at their lowest October - December when much of the rocky face becomes dry. At times of low water, the falls are best viewed from the Zimbabwe side or from Livingstone Island.
Day 3, 4 & 5: SELINDA CAMP, LINYANTI Following breakfast, the guests will be transferred by road to Kasane for a seat in charter to Selinda Camp in Linyanti (approximately a 2 hour transfer), where they will stay for 3 nights.
Selinda camp is an intimate camp offering understated luxury on the banks of the eastern Selinda Spillway - a waterway that links Botswana's Okavango Delta to the Linyanti and Kwando marshes, rivers and floodplains. The shaded camp is raised a metre or so off the ground and offers extraordinary views over the floodplains, waterways and wide-open savannas which are only broken by attractive palm islands. It is these views that are one of Selinda's most compelling features. The recently refurbished Selinda Camp has nine spacious guest tents under thatch, each with two comfortable three-quarter sized beds draped with flowing mosquito nets adding to the romantic atmosphere. The thatch roof combined with ceiling fans and roof vents cool the living space during the hot days. The rooms have spacious, en-suite bathrooms, with full sized stone baths and antique showers. Dual vanity basins complement the sense of luxury and sliding doors allow for privacy or create an open-air bathroom feel as well. Activities in the Selinda Reserve include both day and night game drives in open 4x4 vehicles and game viewing by boat on the Zibalianja Lagoon (subject to water levels). Game viewing is of a high standard, particularly in the drier months and typically seen in the Selinda area are giraffe, baboon, black-backed jackal, elephants, wildebeest, cheetah, crocodile, lion, wild dog, hippo, honey badger, reedbuck, roan, sable and a host of birds. For the more energetic, short guided walking trails are available on request within the vicinity of the camp as well as short mokoro sessions and fishing.
AREA DESCRIPTION – LINYANTI - The Linyanti area lies to the north-east of the Okavango Delta were the Kwando and Linyanti rivers meet at right angles, forming a swamp area within this triangle. The area's relative remoteness makes it a favoured safari destination. The wildlife in the Linyanti area is spectacular and the region is famous for its enormous herds of elephant and buffalo which move down to the Linyanti area at the start of the winter months and only move back inland once the summer rains arrive in November. The Linyanti is also known as one of the best wild dog areas in Africa. The dogs start denning anytime from June onwards after which they can usually be found with relative ease for 3-4 months afterwards as they hunt from their den. An abundance of cat species also frequent this area and the birdlife is rich with the best birding months being between October and January.
DAY 6 & 7: LITTLE VUMBURA, PRIVATE OKAVANGO CONCESION Following the morning activity (time permitting), guests will be transferred to Little Vumbura by light aircraft, where they will stay for 2 nights. Little Vumbura is situated on an island in a private concession in the northern part of the Okavango Delta, in the same region as its sister camp Vumbura Plains, in what is known locally as the Kwedi Reserve.
It is a beautiful six-roomed tented camp shaded by the canopy of an ancient Okavango forest. Each tent is large and roomy and has en-suite facilities. A plunge pool and reading area overlook the floodplains and a star deck leads off the dining and bar area which are set under a canvas canopy. An outdoor dining area on a wooden deck gives you the option of al fresco dinners on beautiful evenings. Due to the location of the camp, both water and land based activities are offered. Little Vumbura has deep-water motorboat trips into the permanent waterways and shallow water excursions by mokoro, as well as, day and night game drives in open landrovers allowing guests to see animals at close range. Guided walks (on request) and fishing excursions are also activity options throughout the year. Regular sightings include lion, leopard, elephant, sable and buffalo along with extensive plains game providing an excellent all-round wildlife experience in this remote corner of the Delta. Little Vumbura is part of a community participation plan bringing the communities that live around the Okavango Delta into the tourism mainstream.
AREA DESCRIPTION - OKAVANGO DELTA - The Okavango Delta is one of the world's largest inland deltas situated in the middle of the largest stretch of continuous sand in the world - the Kalahari basin. This oasis in the middle of the desert is a rich yet fragile ecosystem, providing a life source for an incredible variety of wildlife. A wealth of species have adapted to the contrasting conditions created by living in the harsh Kalahari desert which is transformed annually with the arrival of the delta flood waters originating in Angola. The Okavango wetland encompasses Moremi Game Reserve and surrounding regions divided into areas known as Private Concessions. These concessions are wildlife management areas, carefully administrated to balance the growing community’s development and conservation, whilst empowering citizens through sustainable tourism. Many of the exclusive lodges in Botswana are situated within these concessions in the delta, providing an unparalleled wildlife experience - exclusive and remote, avoiding mass tourism and exploitation. Flood levels fluctuate dramatically throughout the year, with high water levels peaking in the central Okavango during the dry winter months and water levels at their lowest during the later summer months, contrary to the seasonal rainfall. The landscape, activities and game viewing vary considerably throughout the delta depending on your location, the season and flood levels. Some areas have larger tracts of permanent dry land which generally means there is more focus on land based activities (game drives) and big game viewing. Lodges situated on islands deep in the delta concentrate more on water activities such as mokoro excursions, walking, boating, fishing and bird watching. Those lodges situated on the outer fringes of the delta, referred to as the 'seasonal' delta, offer varied experiences at different times of the year - more water based during high flood levels and more land based as the flood recedes. Game is more concentrated around the permanent water during the dry season (Apr - Oct) with it becoming very hot in the later months. The heronries become active as the migrant birds return to Botswana from September through November, and general bird watching is excellent throughout the summer months. The rainy season (Nov - Apr) invigorates the lush scenery with wild flowers, dramatic thundershowers, spectacular sunsets and the birthing season brings great predator and prey interaction. DAY 8, 9 & 10: SAN CAMP, MAKGADIKGADI PANS (Applicable for guests travelling 16 April – 31 Oct) After an early morning activity and breakfast, guests will be transferred to San Camp by light aircraft, where they will stay for 3 nights. San Camp is situated on the edge of the vast Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. These spectacular pans are one of the most important wetland sites remaining in Africa. This traditional camp has a romantic essence complemented by the desolate beauty of the pans. San has six Meru-style tents, well-spaced ensuring privacy and facing the pan. The cream-coloured tents blend in harmoniously with the environment and each tent has an en-suite bathroom with an extensive range of toiletries, a vintage style bucket shower and a flush toilet. The rooms are comfortable with simple furnishings: the high beds that give a great view of the pans, a canvas set of shelves and two trunks at the end of each bed. Lighting is using traditional old spirit lamps which give a gentle glow. The main area of San is a simple white canvas tent, and inside you'll find a long table with chairs surrounded by bookcases. There's an interesting collection of tortoise shells, arrowheads and other artifacts on display. San has six Meru-style tents, well-spaced ensuring privacy and facing the pan. The cream-coloured tents blend in harmoniously with the environment and each tent has an en-suite bathroom with an extensive range of toiletries, a vintage style bucket shower and a flush toilet. The rooms are comfortable with simple furnishings: the high beds that give a great view of the pans, a canvas set of shelves and two trunks at the end of each bed. Lighting is using traditional old spirit lamps which give a gentle glow. The main area of San is a simple white canvas tent, and inside you'll find a long table with chairs surrounded by bookcases. There's an interesting collection of tortoise shells, arrowheads and other artifacts on display. During the dry months (April to October) four wheeled quad motorbikes are used to explore the vastness of the land. Guided walks are taken into the middle of the Pans to explore remote archaeological sites and discovering sites never before documented such as fossil beds containing the remains of extinct giant zebra and hippo. Many of the guides are fully qualified Zoologists/Geologists, often working on PhD research. As such, they are most able to convey all the nuances of the desert and the adaptations of its inhabitants which we consider to be one of the most interesting features of the environment. San Camp is a complete desert experience focusing on species unique to the area such as gemsbok, brown hyaena and springbok as well as the geology, archaeology and anthropology of the Kalahari and Makgadikgadi. Please note: All activities are subject to seasonal availability and weather conditions during the month of travel. Walking and quad bike activities may be limited in the wet season due to dense vegetation and limited visibility or sticky, muddy trails. Some activities will need to be pre-booked before travel.
AREA DESCRIPTION – MAKGADIKGADI PANS - The network of salt pans found in Botswana's eastern regions are a striking physical feature and some of the largest of their kind in the world. The pans, huge, flat expanses of hot, sun-blasted terrain and fringed by vegetated islands and peninsulas, were once part of a great superlake that covered much of northern Botswana. This desolate landscape offers nothing but sand and sky yet its eerily silent fossil beaches and stunted red baobab trees leave an impression on every visitor. The beauty of the Makgadikgadi Salt pans lies in its stark nothingness: the sight of the vast, open pans is awe inspiring as the earth and sky blend into each other with nothing indicating the horizon but a hazy mirage. Sunset and sunrise hold a mystical quality. This area offers a unique wilderness experience full of adventure. Do not expect huge herds of animals but rather expect the unexpected, everything is interesting here especially when interpreted by the local Bushmen guides of the area. The night skies are breathtaking during the winter months with stars from horizon-to-horizon. Following the summer rains, the area is host to a spectacular migration of zebra and wildebeest. DAY 11: SAFARI ENDS IN MAUN Following the morning activity, the guests will be transferred to Maun by light aircraft for their onward travel arrangements. *ALTERNATIVE WITH JACK’S CAMP (Applicable for guests travelling between 1 Dec 2011 – 15 Apr & Nov 2012)
DAY 8, 9 & 10: JACK’S CAMP, MAKGADIKGADI PANS
Following the morning activity, the guests will be transferred to Jack’s Camp by a light aircraft where they will stay for 3 nights. Jack's Camp is located in the Kalahari Desert on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans, the largest saltpans in the world. Jack's Camp is a classic desert safari camp that offers a unique safari experience, providing guests with an insight into the areas geology, archaeology and anthropology on a range of activities. Accommodation is stylish and comfortable in ten large walk-in tents, each with en-suite bathrooms featuring indoor and outdoor showers. The camp is spread out on an island of palm trees, with an open dining tent and Persian style ‘tea tent’ and library. There is a beautiful collection of local artifacts, presented in an informal yet educational manner. Activities are conducted in open 4x4 vehicles custom-designed for the terrain and accompanied by knowledgeable guides. In the dry winter months, all-purpose ATV vehicles (a four-wheeled motorcycle/Quad bikes) are available, allowing guests to travel across the saltpans. Walks with a Bushman tracker and a visit to Chapman's Baobab - the historical baobab tree used by Livingstone, Selous and other early explorers - are activities also on offer. A special highlight of a visit to Jack’s Camp are the local meerkats, as a group has been habituated and is accustomed to human presence allowing incredible photographic opportunities as well as the privilege to see these lively characters up close.
The Makgadikgadi area changes greatly with the seasons and consequently the focus of activities varies throughout the year. The summer rains create a warm shallow layer of water that entices waterfowl and flamingos. After the rains (December to April), there can be enormous herds of wildebeest, zebra and springbok - with the accompanying predators - on the open grasslands. DAY 11: SAFARI ENDS IN MAUN Following the morning activity, the guests will be transferred to Maun by a light aircraft, for their onward travel arrangements.
***END OF ARRANGEMENTS*** 2012 Package Prices (Rates Based On A Minimum 2 Pax)
Notes Single supplement is for accommodation only, applicable when travelling with more than 2 guests and excludes a flying surcharge for guests travelling solo – rate available on request Please note that where a booking crosses over 2 different rate periods e.g. Oct & Nov, neither rate is applicable – please request a special quote The above rate is subject to change due to major currency fluctuations and fuel surcharges Rates subject to availability Excludes
GENERAL NOTES
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Victoria Falls (Livingstone), Linyanti, Okavango Delta & Makgadikgadi