Botswana Safari Expeditions|Wilderness Safaris

The Wilderness Safaris Collection

MIGRATION ROUTES
An Adventurer Exploration - 9 nights/ 10 days
Tour direction - Zambia to Maun
Combination serviced camping in private concession areas and a small comfortable lodge in Zambia.

Safari bathrooms: At Xigera, Linyanti and Lechwe there are 2 bucket shower "bathrooms" and 2 short-drop toilet enclosures per 8 guests.
Guides: The entire safari is guided and hosted by a professional guide, who shares in-depth knowledge to present a seamless safari experience.
Exclusive experience: To ensure as much privacy and exclusivity as possible, most areas in which we travel are private concessions in prime locations. All Explorations camps are private and for the use of Adventurer Exploration guests only, while Shackletons is shared with other guests.
Routes: The route takes the time to explore the contrasts, extremes and continually moving wildlife of northern Botswana: from the broad vistas of the Linyanti with its wooded deciduous forests, the crystal-clear waterways and fertile green islands of the Okavango Delta, to the roaring cascades of the Victoria Falls.
Time: We have specifically allowed for a 3-night stay at Linyanti Trails Camp; in a journey of this nature, guests have the time to relax and unwind, at the same time fully appreciating an in-depth introduction to the diversity of the area as well as its activities.
Transfers: To maximise guests' travel time, a variety of transport modes that bring out the best of each area is used: flying in seat on charters and overland transfers provide both a bird's-eye view and an in-depth experience of the contrasting landscapes of Botswana.
4 x 4 tracks in wilderness areas are not maintained, take time to navigate and may be bumpy. As a result game / road transfers can take all day with lunch en route.
Seasonality: We adapt with the changing seasons so as to provide the best possibilities of wildlife viewing on an annual basis. For example, between 1 December and 31 May, to maximise the possibility of viewing the zebra migration and other game that moves between Linyanti and Savute at this time, guests can take a day to explore and experience the area at its most productive time,. (Note: If rains are poor, this migration usually does not occur and sighting of this game movement cannot be guaranteed.)

ITINERARY

Day 1: Shackletons, Zambia

After arrival in Livingstone you will be met by a representative and transferred directly for 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.

This evening, we will stay at Shackletons, situated in south-western Zambia on the Upper Zambezi River near the village of Mwandi (meaning 'a place of plenty fish'). Shackletons provides access to 130km of the Upper Zambezi River, named 'God's Highway' by David Livingstone. The lodge and its environs is home to approximately 300 bird species, offers an excellent cultural experience at Mwandi village and also is a prime fly, spin and lure fishing destination. Accommodating 12 guests in comfortable, thatched and en-suite chalets with private teak decks overlooking the Zambezi River; coupled with fabulous cuisine and friendly service this creates a relaxing and invigorating stay.

Each room is equipped with 2 three-quarter beds, ceiling fan, safe box, mosquito net, en-suite bathroom (with shower, hand basin and flushing toilet) and plug points. The main area features a swimming pool, lounge and open dining area, with the riverside bar and sundowner deck providing unparalleled vistas of the mighty Zambezi River. www.shackletons.co.za

Days 2, 3 & 4: Chobe River boat cruise & Linyanti Trails Camp, Linyanti/ Chobe

After a full breakfast, we leave Zambia and enter the Chobe National Park in Botswana by way of the Kazungula border, a point where the four countries of Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe meet.

The Chobe National Park is famous for its vast herds of elephants and unique species such as the elusive puku and Chobe bushbuck that move to the river during the hottest hours of the day - even more so in the dry season. Enjoy a light lunch served during the boat cruise on the catamaran-style shaded boat, after which we depart by aircraft in the late afternoon for the Linyanti region, from the airstrip game driving to our pre-erected Adventurer campsite. The north-eastern corner of the Linyanti is famed for its myriad of changing landscapes with sweeping views, from riverine to savannah and from forest to plains.

On one of our full days, we depart on an early morning activity. Lunch is enjoyed at a scenic spot with a sweeping view of the Linyanti waterways. After a siesta in hammocks, there is the possibility of an afternoon canoe trip, before returning to camp at dusk. (The canoe activity is not always possible, depending on local hippo movements within the area that we canoe.)

The Linyanti region's life-giving perennial waters attract herds of wildlife that walk well-worn game paths to slake their thirst in the dry season. Predators follow in their footsteps and, coupled with the area's diversity of habitat, make for exciting game viewing.

Days 5, 6 & 7: Lechwe Island Camp, North-eastern Okavango Delta

We travel west into private concessions, stopping en route for game sightings through parts of the area. This long but interesting drive gives the perfect introduction to the varying habitats of a dry and flat northern Botswana, from the open savannah of the Savuti Channel, known as the "Stolen River", to lagoons with a plethora of wildlife to the geographically interesting Selinda Spillway (Great Rift Valley fault line). This can be a full-day game / transfer drive, with lunch en route at a shady place in the Savuti Channel.

We arrive at our pre-erected Adventurer campsite in the mid-afternoon, in time for a short sunset game drive.

Lechwe Island Camp is located in the south-western sector of the Selinda private concession, in a seasonally flooded portion of the Okavango Delta where it joins into the Selinda Spillway. The campsite is situated on a wooded island overlooking a floodplain area, the channel in front of camp alternately flooded or dry, depending on the season.

Activities concentrate around the bushy and wooded islands, open plains and the seasonally flooded channels surrounding the camp. In this area local populations of plains game allow for game drives by day and night. Experiences are magnified on nature walks, where the guide is able to delve into interesting topics such as tracking, medicinal (and traditional) uses of plants and a full array of smaller invertebrates and other species not usually noticed from a vehicle. Canoeing is also seasonally offered.

Days 8 & 9: Xigera Mokoro Trails, Okavango Delta

We fly by light aircraft to the water-filled paradise of the private Xigera area, within the Moremi Game Reserve. Xigera is the ultimate Delta experience, with serene waters flowing through innumerable channels around remote islands and a profusion of plant and animal life.

There is no better way to experience the Okavango than to travel through it by mokoro, walking and camping out on a vegetated island - all essential elements of the Xigera Mokoro Trails experience. The experience is aimed at exposing the permanently flooded inner Delta, in the serene waterways and on the islands of trees and bush. Our guest tents are lighter here than the rest of the safari, with a gauze main frame, thus enhancing the views. Due to its remote location on an island, equipment is aimed at necessary comforts with "disco" stretcher-styled beds.

Activities include mokoro and walking safaris on inner remote islands, which enable up-close encounters with an excellent diversity of birdlife (including Pel's Fishing Owl), frogs and a myriad of game species, some specially adapted to water, such as the rare sitatunga and the familiar red lechwe. Walking activities vary in length and duration through the seasons, especially in the months when the Okavango is at peak flood (June, July and August) where they become shorter as more islands become flooded.

Day 10: Transfer to Maun Airport

Bid farewell to the adventure as we transfer by light aircraft to Maun Airport.

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These are only sample itineraries.
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Back to Wilderness Safaris fly in Packages

PACKAGE PRICES INCLUDE
Included is accommodation on a per person sharing basis, all meals from lunch on Day 1 to the end of the scheduled safari, a reasonable amount of soft drinks, wine and beer at meal times, national park fees, activities, guided tour of the Victoria Falls and all internal charters on a seat rate basis.
PACKAGE PRICE EXCLUDES
Excluded are flights (other than specified in the detailed safari itinerary), visas, compulsory insurance, all relevant entry and departure government taxes, all personal purchases (including curios, spirit liquors, telephone calls etc.), gratuities, optional extra activities and all travel arrangements before or after the safari
We will gladly arrange tailor-made departures, subject to the availability of space.
Each departure is guaranteed for a minimum of 2 confirmed guests and operates with a maximum of 8 guests per safari.
Please note that all scheduled Exploration safaris operate with a minimum of two guests. Should all other bookings on an Exploration cancel or that there is only a single guest booked, we will convert the booking to an FIT package, which is in all likelihood subject to a higher price.
Age Limits - Children from the age of 12 are welcome on all scheduled departures. For groups with children under 12, we will create a private tailor-made safari, on request and based on a different cost. For guests over the age of 75, a certified medical certificate of full health must be provided.
Wilderness Safaris reserve the right, due to situations beyond our control, to substitute a lodge or location with another of comparable quality.
If a guest is willing to share and we can match with another guest of the same gender, the single supplement will not be charged. However, if there is no suitable match, the single supplement surcharge will apply. No triple rooms are accepted.

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