Botswana Extremes - 10 days

Explore Makgadikgadi Pans, a fascinating part of the enormous Kalahari Desert, an open, seemingly endless stark but beautiful landscape. Visitors here experience a truly unique safari – isolated and surreal.  Enjoy accommodations on the banks of a river, which attracts a great variety of thirsty animals. Then, travel deep into the heart of the Okavango Delta, to the Moremi Wildlife Reserve, a less-crowded private concession area in this watery paradise which offers an incredible diversity of game viewing and birding opportunities.  Last but not least, a visit to Chobe National Park includes the spectacular Savute Marsh and close encounters with the parks many elephants. You may see hundreds of elephant at one time, as family herds make their way to the river to drink, bathe, and play.  Activities include game drives, walking safaris, river cruises, an excursion to see ancient San rock paintings and an optional cultural visit to a local village.

DAY 1, 2 & 3

VIP Meet & Greet: OR Tambo International Airport
 
Welcome to Johannesburg! You will be met at the door of your aircraft with your name on a paging board, and your documents will be handed over to you. You will be assisted through immigration, baggage collection and customs. You will then be shown to your onward flight. Please note: Should your arrival aircraft be directed to the apron and not the terminal, you will be transported to the terminal by bus. Your Meet and Greet will then be waiting for you as you step off the bus with the paging board.

VIP Document Pack /Excludes flight - Johannesburg to Maun 

Maun Airport to Leroo La Tau: Seat in Plane Please note: Luggage Restriction: 15kg hold luggage + 5kg hand luggage per person.

Welcome to the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park…
The Makgadikgadi Pans National Park is a lesser-known Park, situated roughly halfway between Maun and Nata on the Francistown road in northern Botswana. The Park covers some 4,900 square kilometres, and as its name implies, it is a vast, open, seemingly lifeless land.

The Makgadikgadi Pans are not always dry, they fill with water during the rainy season, from mid-November, and they retain their water into April or May. These “thirstlands” are then transformed into great sheets of water that attract a spectacular array of waterbirds and trigger dramatic migrations of wildebeest and zebra. This region becomes practically inaccessible by road during the rains, so those fortunate enough to fly over the area at this time are treated to a water wonderland of incredible scenic beauty.

Leroo La Tau is situated on the western bank of the Boteti River, which stretches across the western border of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park in Botswana. This camp is set on the cliffs, about 10 metres above the ever changing riverbed. The main guest area is a long curved building, with a warm wood and thatch finish, inviting you to sit back and relax. There is a bar near the main lounge, a social dining room, and a cosy reading room, all of which open out to expansive wooden decks, with the refreshing plunge pool beyond.

There are 12 free standing thatched chalets, which are privately set along the rivers edge. They are spacious units, with twin or king beds under draped mosquito netting and ceiling fans. The furnishings include comfy chairs, wicker woven ottomans and coffee and tea making facilities. The en-suite bathrooms are huge, with double vanities and large walk-in showers. Extra wide sliding doors open the rooms out to wooden deck verandas, pitched over the river, ideal settings for quiet moments of reflection and a chance to listen to the sounds of Africa.

This region is home to large concentrations of big game, which entices predator activity; you can watch all this interaction unfolding around you from the raised hide, which is well placed above the river. You can also go on guided day and night game drives, nature walks and boat activities depending on the water levels. The optional cultural excursion to the Khumaga Village is very interesting, or you can simply unwind and lounge around the swimming pool.
Includes: All meals, local brand drinks, scheduled activities, national park fees and laundry.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Leroo La Tau

DAY 4

Leroo La Tau to Camp Moremi: Seat in Plane Please note: Luggage Restriction: 15kg hold luggage + 5kg hand luggage per person.

Welcome to Botswana…

Botswana is a land-locked country, bordered by Zambia and Zimbabwe to the northeast, Namibia to the north and west, and South Africa to the south and east. Botswana has placed strong emphasis on its deliberate “high price – low impact” policy in order to successfully preserve its fragile eco-systems and rich wildlife. This makes the country a highly sought after, truly African wildlife experience, living up to its status as the “Gem of Africa”.

There are an incredible variety of great National Parks to visit, the most popular being the Moremi Wildlife Reserve and the Okavango Delta, which is the worlds largest inland delta, a seasonal wetland of channels, palm lined islands and wide grassy floodplains, visible from outer space.

The Chobe National Park is to the north of the country and is home to the largest elephant herds in the world. This Park boasts four distinctly different eco systems: Serondela with its lush plains and dense forests in the Chobe River area to the northeast, the Savute Marsh in the west and the Linyanti Swamps in the northwest, with the hot, dry hinterland in between.

The Makgadikgadi Pans National Park is situated between Maun and Nata, in northern Botswana. These great thirstlands cover some 4,900 square kilometres of lifeless land which transforms when the rains come in mid-November. They retain their water into April or May, attracting a spectacular array of water birds and stimulating dramatic migrations of wildebeest and zebra.

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is situated in the centre of Botswana.  This reserve is characterised by vast open plains, saltpans, ancient riverbeds and the world renowned Deception Valley. The Basarwa or San Bushmen have been resident in this region for thousands of years, remarkably surviving in a harsh climate of sporadic rainfall, varying from 170 to 700 ml per annum.

Camp Moremi
Camp Moremi is situated on the edge of the Xakanaxa Lagoon, in the Moremi Game Reserve, the heart of the Okavango Delta. The main thatch and timber structure with open sides and wide shady eves, is tucked away under giant Ebony trees and houses the friendly sitting area, the wildlife reference library, the dining room and cocktail bar, all surrounded by wide viewing decks overlooking the lagoon. Meals and high tea are served in the thatched boma and mesmerizing flames call guests to the open camp site area.

The 11 African-style safari tents are laid out in secluded settings away from the main building. The large canvas structures are set on raised teak wood platforms, with plenty of space for two double beds, minimalistic teak furnishings, en-suite bathrooms and open viewing decks.The ancient mopane forests, open grasslands and seasonal floodplains offer incredible diversity of game viewing and birding opportunities.

Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives, explore the lagoon and surrounding Okavango channels by motorboat, or relax at the secluded swimming pool and view passing game from the sun deck. Your stay at Camp Moremi includes all meals, local drinks, scheduled game viewing activities, laundry and park entry fees.
Includes: All meals, local brand drinks, scheduled activities, national park fees and laundry
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Camp Moremi

DAY 6

Camp Moremi to Savute: Seat in Plane Please note: Luggage Restriction: 15kg hold luggage + 5kg hand luggage per person.

Savute Safari Lodge
Savute Safari Lodge is situated in the south western part of the Chobe National Park, on the banks of the fascinating Savute channel, in northern Botswana. The main thatch and timber building houses the stylish bar and the friendly lounge has plenty of leather, wood or wicker armchairs and sofa’s. The al fresco dining area is shaded, but totally open sided, with unobstructed views of the waterholes within the channel.

The 12 exclusive suites are cool thatched, timber and glass units, filled with modern African décor. The en-suite bathrooms are rustic yet stylish and the combined bedroom and sitting areas have wide glass sliding doors, opening out to private decks.

Open vehicle game drives are conducted in the 5 000 km² Savute area, including the famous Savute Marsh and visits to the ancient San rock paintings at Gubatsa Hills. Relax at the pool or gather around the open camp fire area which is sunken into the wooden viewing deck.

Includes: All meals, local brand drinks, scheduled activities, national park fees and laundry
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Savute Safari Lodge

DAY 8

Savute to Kasane Airport: Seat in Plane Please note: Luggage Restriction: 15kg hold luggage + 5kg hand luggage per person.

Chobe Game Lodge
Chobe Game Lodge enjoys prime position, being the only Game Lodge within the North Eastern corner of Botswana's Chobe National Park. The unusual North African Moorish designed building is set on rolling gardens, under shady trees and directly on the edge of the Chobe River. The lobby, library and lounges are light and airy, with soft creamy fabrics, surrounded by a myriad of wide and narrow archways, barrel-vault ceilings and terracotta tiled floors. The social Tshwene Bar has full-sized Victorian pool tables and double doors open out to the Terrace Restaurant, overlooking the river. The outdoor dining boma is surrounded by reed poles and canopied by impressive Mahogany trees.

The 48 rooms are furnished with hand crafted Rhodesian teak pieces and the walls are decorated with original African carvings and paintings. There are also 4 luxury suites, each with its own private swimming pool set on a secluded terrace overlooking the open plains. All the rooms are fully air-conditioned and have ceiling fans, complimentary stocked mini-bars and coffee and tea stations. The en-suite bathrooms have shower into bath combos and all the rooms have their own private terrace or balcony facing the river.

The main activities are the game drives and the sunset cruises, all offering the chance of experiencing the Chobe Elephant at close quarters. Visit the gym and beauty spa, or relax on the terrace beside the large swimming pool. Enjoy interesting slide shows, star gazing, garden and river walks as well as walking safaris in the nearby Kasane forests. Your stay at Chobe Game Lodge includes all meals, local drinks, park fees, complimentary return transfers to and from Kasane Airport and scheduled daily activities.
Excludes flight – Kasane to Johannesburg 

Includes: All meals, local brand drinks, complimentary mini bar, scheduled activities, national park fees, return Kasane airport transfers to scheduled/charter flights and laundry.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Chobe Game Lodge