Into Botswana’s Bush

You will fly to Maun airport in Botswana, via a European airport and Johannesburg

Meals and drinks will of course be included on your flight

On arrival at Maun you will be met at the airport and driven to Island Safari Lodge or Maun Lodge. On the way from the airport to the lodge, you will make a stop so you can buy beverages for the safari, which will start the next morning. The rest of the day is at your own disposal. 

Maun is a charming little safari town, and an exciting place to explore. Here you can buy any extra equipment you may need on your upcoming safari adventure.

After enjoying a good breakfast, you will be picked up from your lodge for a departure around 07:30. Your guide will have packed the safari vehicle with all the provisions you will need, so you are ready to leave civilisation and make your way deep into the bush. You will spend the next 10 nights sleeping in robust dome shaped safari tents, in the bush or sometimes at a campsite. This form of safari may seem simple, but it is an exciting way to experience Africa - you really get close to nature. 

You will drive around 60km from Maun to the southern part of the Okavango Delta. When you can drive no further, you will meet up with some of the local tribal people who will take you deeper into the delta in their mokoros (traditionally dug out tree trunk canoes, but today more environmental friendly fiberglass replicas).  Leaving the noise of engines behind, you sail almost silently through the narrow channels, which in some places are surrounded by dense papyrus reeds along their banks, while more open elsewhere. The bird life is very diverse, and the whole landscape fascinating. Many of the narrow channels were created long ago when hippos used them as pathways. You have truly come to one of the most fascinating wetlands on earth! We set up camp on a small island, lighting the camp fire as darkness falls and an incredible star filled heaven opens above us. Please note: For your first two nights in the Okavango Delta please pack a small overnight bag with the things you will need, as it is not possible to bring along all your luggage on the mokoro canoes. Your remaining luggage will be stored on the trailer in a secure location, and will be available again on Day 5 of the tour. 

Overnight in a tent on an island in the bush, all meals included.

Today we will explore the different islands of the delta on foot, and in the mokoros if the water levels are high enough. We will need to be as silent as possible, trying to become one with nature, so we don’t scare away the game. The guides are totally at home in the delta, taking care of you using their inherited knowledge of the area and of how to act when you encounter wild animals. They are armed with nothing but respect and common sense, and you should follow their example. 

You return to the camp for lunch and a siesta in the shade. Later in the afternoon we will go exploring again, and we are sure to see plenty of exciting animals. 

Overnight in a tent in the bush, all meals included.

We leave the wet part of the delta, at first on mokoros then after we have said our farewells to our local “canoe drivers” we rejoin our four wheel drive safari vehicle and drive to the Moremi Game Reserve (circa. 50km). We will experience a different landscape, but still enjoy plenty of great safari moments. Our camp for the night will be set up in a game concession situated just outside Moremi.

After an early breakfast we will strike camp, and pack the safari vehicle so we are ready to drive into the Moremi Game Reserve. Everybody lends a helping hand on the practical aspects of the tour. Moremi Game Reserve is renowned for being one of the most beautiful and game rich districts in this part of the world. Moremi has a rich plant life and a wide range of different habitats, which in turn support an impressive diversity and concentration of wild animals, both mammals, reptiles and birds. Your guide will be happy to share his passion and wide knowledge for the wildlife of his country. 

You will enjoy a game drive on your way to camp and again in the afternoon, before returning to the tents as darkness falls. 

Overnight in a bush camp, all meals included.

We will spend a full day in the reserve, going on a game drive early in the morning to follow the tracks of animals which you (or at least your guide) could hear during the night and in the early morning. We will return to the camp for lunch and to escape from the heat of the day. Later in the afternoon, when the sun is no longer so fierce, we will again go out on a game drive to look for animals. 

Overnight in a bush camp, all meals included.

After breakfast we will pack up our tents, and move further north to make camp in another part of the Moremi Khwai region, so we can explore a new area. We spend the day observing the wildlife, and our senses absorb the new impressions, the warm weather, the landscape, the sight, sounds and smells of the wildlife and the taste of our food prepared over the fire. Everything is so different from our life at home, which is perhaps one of the parts of the tour that makes the deepest impact. 

Overnight in a bush camp, all meals included.

Our tour takes us north to the area around the Savute Channel which makes up part of the Chobe National Park. Savute is home to many large wild animals that are attracted by the water in the channel. The birds here are also phenomenal. 

We will drive around 120 kilometers today, which can take 5 - 6 hours, depending on the weather and on how many times we stop along the way to take in the surroundings and the wildlife. 

Overnight in a bush camp, all meals included.

We drive north-east from Savute until we meet the River Chobe, from where we head east along its course. We will watch out for game along the way - especially for the many elephants, hippos and crocodiles on the river banks. 

We shall cover a distance of 170 kilometers, which will take around 5 hours as we will be enjoying slow game drives en-route. We are driving here to see the animals, not to arrive at the destination at a specific time. We will prepare lunch along the way, holding our lunch break under ta shady tree - hopefully with a good view of the wildlife! 

Overnight in a bush camp, all meals included.

We spend the day on safari around the Chobe River. 

Overnight in a bush camp, all meals included.

Today we leave Botswana and enjoy the short drive of around 100km from Kasane to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Here we will stay overnight in an attractive lodge, and have the rest of the day free to visit the impressive waterfalls, possibly take a sundowner cruise, or for the more adventurous try bunny jumping or white water rafting. 

Overnight in a lodge including breakfast. Other meals are at your own expense. 

If you wish to spend an extra day at Victoria Falls we can certainly arrange this.

Your tour officially come to an end after breakfast when we will say farewell to our fellow travellers and guide. There are still plenty of activities you can enjoy in the district around the Falls, so there is plenty of ways of ending your holiday with a unique manner. 

Late in the morning you will be collected from the lodge and driven to Victoria Falls Airport, from where you will fly first to Johannesburg, then on further back to Europe and home.

After catching connecting flights in Johannesburg and Europe you will arrive back in the early morning.