Best of Botswana Scheduled Eight Nights / Nine Days.
Chobe National Park – Savuti – Moremi Game Reserve
This trip is designed as a budget trip, with semi participation required – i.e. putting up your tent and assisting with certain chores like collecting firewood and packing. There will be a cook on the trip and no cooking is required by guests. Meals will consist of typical hearty ‘bush cuisine‘, prepared on open fires. These trips are all conducted by skilled, licensed professional guides with your ultimate bush experience and safety at heart!
What to pack for your tented Safari:
Generally, casual comfortable clothing is suitable throughout the year, dull neutral colours are most suitable .
• The most practical items for Safari are:
• T shirts
• Jeans or safari trousers for the cool evenings and mornings
• A fleece or warm sweater for those early morning game drives.
• A good pair of Sunglasses
• Sun block, a hat and insect repellent are essential !
• Binoculars and a camera with lots of film! For digital ensure batteries are charged as there
is no electricity in the bush.
• A headlamp or torch are vital.
• If you enjoy a whisky or the like you are welcome to bring a bottle along.
• A towel and your own toiletries
• Any medication if necessary, we do have a medical aid box with the basics.
Highlights of the safari
• Camping Safari within the National Parks
• Unique camping experience in private sites
• Boating, Game Driving, Mokoros and Walks
• Open safari vehicles for superb photographic opportunities
Staff x 2
• Professional guide and cook/assistant
Short detailed itinerary as follows:
Day One: Meet and greet assistance at Kasane airport by a representative of Kubu Lodge who will transfer you to the Lodge.
Kubu Lodge is set on the banks of the Chobe River in the village of Kazangula in Northern Botswana, Tswana name that means ‘hippo’ which abound in the river. The Lodge has 11 Thatched Chalets set on stilts beneath Giant Ebony and Wild Fig Trees with with adjoining bathrooms, en-suite shower, toilet, handbasin, ceiling fan, tea/coffee machine, laundry available and fully serviced. The lodge also offers a wonderful restaurant set with a panoramic view of the Chobe River. There is also the swimming pool set down by the river, the reading lounge for the less active and the 2 km nature trail on the property and Curio Shop. Activites offered are game drives and boat cruises into Chobe National Park, fishing trips on the Chobe River, a visit to the crocodile farm or snake/reptile park, a scenic flight over the Chobe National Park as well as day trips to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. More than 400 different bird species can be seen in the area and the elusive Chobe bushbuck is regularly seen on the nature trail on the property. Kubu Lodge offers 5 Star service, without the 5 Star prices.
Spend 1 night at Kubu Lodge on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.
Day Two: The mobile safari starts at 09:30 with a 3hr boat cruise into the Chobe National Park, world renowned for its huge herds of Elephant and Buffalo. Enjoy the sightings on offer while en-route to a pickup point where you will be met by your guide and game drive vehicle and transferred to our wilderness campsite within the National Park. After lunch and settling into
your tents, an afternoon game drive on the riverfront is bound to impress with abundant bird life and diverse animal life. We then head back to camp for a bush dinner around the campfire.
Day Three: Rise to an early breakfast and break camp to head for Savuti, an area well known for its prolific predators including Lion and Leopard. There is also an opportunity to view Cheetah and Wild Dog, two of Africa’s most endangered predators. We game drive our way from the riverfront through the Chobe Enclave to re-enter the park at Ghoha Hills after doing battle with the notorious sand ridge and arriving at midday in time to set up camp and have lunch under the large camel thorn acacias. After settling in at camp we explore the area including the Bushman paintings and the Savuti Marsh—there are three artificial waterholes in the area attracting large amounts of game. Return to camp for dinner under the stars and listen to the sounds of the African night, including owls, Jackal, Hyena and often Lion nearby…
Day Four: Early departures are key to trying to find to find the culprits that were roaring or
calling at the first signs of dawn so after a quick coffee and a snack we head off for a
morning drive. Savuti is an area of vast contrasts – there are several rocky outcrops where Klipspringer and Leopard are common and vast open grasslands where Cheetah can be seen.
After a long leisurely drive we return to camp late morning for a big brunch/lunch and a rest.
Afternoon tea is followed by a trip to one of the waterholes and great sunsets are rewarded
with fantastic photo opportunities. Return to our camp for dinner around the campfire.
Day Five: After an early breakfast we break camp, heading south for Moremi. The entire route is one long game drive with plenty of game viewing opportunities en-route. We exit the Mababe depression and after battling across the sand ridge and passing through the Mopani tongue reach the Khwai river a welcome sight after the dry depression. We set up our camp in Moremi, for two nights, giving us a chance to explore the area at leisure. After a tailgate lunch, settling in and having set up camp we head out on a game exploring the many wonders Moremi has to offer.
Day Six: After coffee and a light breakfast we head off early on a game drive hoping to see the rare African Wild Dog and an abundance of other game, including Zebra, Giraffe, Tsessebe and a host of other plains game. After a hearty brunch and a siesta during the heat of the day, we have tea and head off for an afternoon drive exploring a different area for more amazing sightings. Return to camp for dinner under the stars.
Day Seven: After breakfast we break camp and head for Maun. En-route we pass through several traditional villages. Upon arrival in Maun you get a chance to shower and have lunch before travelling by motorboat to our exclusive campsite in the delta- an exciting trip of approx two hours of winding channels and papyrus lined banks. You arrive at camp in time to familiarize yourselves with the tranquil ambiance of our Bush camp. This section of your Safari is the only one on your trip where walking is allowed. The region is rich in bird life and there is a chance of seeing any, or all of Africa’s big five. There will be time for either a short walk or a mokoro trip before dinner- rounding off another great day in the African bush.
Day Eight: You no doubt will be woken early, by the francolins; the noisiest alarm clock in Botswana, this little bird is as loud as it is relentless. After coffee and a light breakfast of cereal and fruit, you head off on a guided walk, experiencing a more personal wildlife encounter, checking various spoor and the smaller fauna and flora, plus a myriad of interesting details missed when driving in a vehicle. Return for a big brunch and a siesta or just lounge about camp if you wish. The afternoon activity will be another mokoro trip and/or a walk. Return to camp for our final bush dinner.
Day Nine: After a lazy lie in and breakfast you will be collected again by motorboat and enjoy a cruise back to Maun where the trip ends.
END OF TOUR ARRANGEMENTS!!!
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TOTAL COST: USD 1490.00 per person sharing
(single supplement applies, if not prepared to share twin bedded accommodation, and
trips will run only with a minimum of three people)
Included are all park fees, food and camping equipment – including spacious walk- intents, and a ‘bed roll’, a mattress with a fitted sheet, duvet and a pillow. We will supply mineral water and limited house wine with dinner on nights one to seven.
Not included: Soft drinks and beers, items of a personal nature, like towels and toiletries. Any visas if required.
SCHEDULED DEPARTURE DATES: 2008
17 April – 25th April
15 May – 23 May
12 June – 20 June
10 July – 18 July
7 August – 15 August
4 September -12 September
2 October – 9 October
30 October – 6 November