Desert & Delta: Botswana & Victoria Falls
Summary
Special 2012 pricing:
$6100 per person based on double occupancy
Price valid Nov 1 2011 - Apr 15 2012; holiday premium charged between Dec 20 2011 - Jan 6 2012 and Apr 6-9 2012
10 nights in country included in price
(use the tabs above to see more details)
| Day 1 - 3 | Central Kalahari Game Reserve | KALAHARI PLAINS CAMP |
| Day 4 & 5 | Okavango Delta | TUBU TREE CAMP |
| Day 6 - 8 | Linyanti Reserve | LINYANTI BUSH CAMP |
| Day 9 & 10 | Livingstone | Victoria Falls Area | RIVER CLUB |
| Day 11 | Livingstone | Depart |
Botswana is a country of immense contrasts; from the parched land of the Kalahari to the lush waterways of the Okavango Delta. Our Desert and Delta itinerary offers an in-depth look at this diverse country.
- Visit the ancient lands of the San people (bushmen), where lessons of survival are passed down from generation to generation
- Track cheetah and the rare black-maned lions as they traverse the immense Kalahari
- Experience serenity on a mokoro ride through the Okavango Delta
- Witness the massive herds of zebra, elephant, and other plains game traverse the Linyanti region with the powerful predators following closely behind
- Experience the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls, the largest waterfall on earth
Accommodations throughout this itinerary are just as diverse as the country itself; ranging from a luxury lodge on the banks of the Zambezi to a remote tented camp in the Okavango Delta.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 - 3
CENTRAL KALAHARI GAME RESERVE
KALAHARI PLAINS CAMP
Upon arrival in Maun, Botswana, you are met and escorted to your charter flight to the Kalahari Plains Camp, located in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Kalahari Plains Camp is situated in a remote part of the diverse and productive Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) and offers some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in Africa. Located in the Kalahari Desert biome in the central part of Botswana, at 5 million hectares this reserve is the largest conservation area in the country and one of the largest in the world. The CKGR is home to the legendary Kalahari black-maned lion as well as some of the world's best cheetah viewing.
Kalahari Plains Camp is perfectly situated overlooking an immense pan with endless horizons and beautiful skies. It comprises 10 en-suite canvas units with a sleep-out above each from which to enjoy moonlit or star-studded nights. The main area consists of a lounge and dining area with an inviting swimming pool and deck area. The tents and main area are all raised off the ground to catch the breeze and take in the sweeping, spacious views across the Kalahari. Solar power provides all the electricity and hot water in the camp - making Kalahari Plains a 100% solar-powered camp - and innovative insulated canvas walls and roof keep the temperatures inside the units comfortable.
Activities at Kalahari Plains Camp include:
| ~ Game drives in the reserve |
| ~ Experience the rare opportunity to interact with the San (Bushmen). Various Bushmen clans have thrived in this area for centuries, and many of Kalahari Plains Camp's staff hail from this ancient people. The camp offers an interpretive "Bushman Walk" with a couple of our staff members, where guests gain life-changing insights into the unique culture of this fascinating people. |
Day 4 & 5
OKAVANGO DELTA
TRUBU TREE CAMP
After breakfast transfer to the airstrip where you board your scheduled charter flight to Tubu Tree Camp, set in the heart of Botswana’s famed Okavango Delta. Located on Hunda Island, the largest area of permanently dry land in this region of the Okavango Delta, Tubu Tree Camp is surrounded by the palatable grasses which lure many species of plains game. A range of diverse habitats, ranging from dry Kalahari sandveld to mopane and riverine forest on the edge of permanent waterways, also ensures diverse and spectacular game viewing.
Tubu Tree Camp is built in traditional style, with five tents on raised wooden platforms - each with picturesque vistas of the floodplains from a private front deck. En-suite bathroom facilities and an outdoor shower are standard. The main dining, lounge areas and pool are also on raised platforms and have panoramic views of the plains game. Tubu Tree Camp also has an outdoor pub area which lies under the canopy of a large marula tree.
Wildlife seen around Tubu Tree Camp includes elephant, lion, Burchell's zebra, red lechwe, southern giraffe, tsessebe, and blue wildebeest on the floodplains. Kudu, impala, leopard and bushbuck are also seen in the forested areas. The variety of bird life is impressive, with dry-land species seen on the large islands and all the wetland birds seen on the floodplains and waterways.
Activities at Tubu Tree Camp include:
| ~ Day and night game drives in open 4x4 vehicles | ~ Guided walks (which must be requested prior to travel) |
| ~ Observe animals from two platform hides in the concession offering incredible up-close viewing | ~ During winter, the water levels around Tubu Tree Camp rise and the floodplains become covered with water (normally May to late September). This allows for a wide range of water activities from boating and fishing to mokoro trips. |
Day 6 - 8
LINYANTI RESERVE
LINYANTI BUSH CAMP
You are flown by scheduled charter to the Saile airstrip in northern Botswana’s Linyanti Reserve. Upon arrival, you are met and transferred (1 hour) to the charming Linyanti Bush Camp. Linyanti Bush Camp is a small, intimate 12 bedded tented camp on the banks of the Linyanti marshes in a private reserve, which borders the western boundary of Chobe in the Chobe Enclave. The camp is limited to small exclusive groups who seek a personalized experience in a private concession away from the main tourists’ routes. This safari camps provides the perfect atmosphere for an authentic and wild safari experience.
The area is best known for its large populations of Elephant and buffalo that congregate in vast numbers especially during the dry season. Lion, sable, roan, leopard, wild dog, and a number of the plains game can be enjoyed at Linyanti. The rare and elusive sitatunga antelope, red lechwe, hippo and crocodile can be found in the surrounding marshes. The Linyanti Swamps are one of the most attractive areas in the park as it is the only source of water in the dry months where a lot of the wildlife moves to, boasting a great diversity of game and a restful atmosphere. The area's relative remoteness makes it a favored wild safari destination and one of the most well sought after areas in Northern Botswana. The area also offers spectacular birding all year round and is best known for its enormous herds of elephants which move down to the Linyanti River at the start of the winter months and only move back inland once the main rains arrive.
Activities at Linyanti Bush Camp include:
| ~ Daily game drives | ~ Guided walking safari |
| ~ Animal viewing from hides | ~ Spectacular bird watching |
Day 9 & 10
LIVINGSTONE | VICTORIA FALLS AREA
RIVER CLUB
After breakfast and your morning game activity, you are flown by scheduled charter to the Kasane where you are met and transferred to Livingstone, Zambia and the Victoria Falls area. The transfer takes you to the confluence of the Chobe and Zambezi rivers, where you board a small boat for the 5 minute crossing to Zambia. On arrival in Zambia, you are again collected by vehicle and transferred by road (1.5 hours) to the River Club in Livingstone.
The River Club is situated on the Zambian side of the Zambezi River, a few miles upstream from Victoria Falls. The camp has a distinct Victorian flavor, and guests here enjoy the sights and sounds of Victoria Falls and the Zambezi River in a peaceful and tranquil setting away from the crowds. Ten beautiful, thatched chalets overlook the Zambezi River, and have attached facilities including a bath, shower, toilet and basin. All the rooms have fans. The rooms are all completely open in the front giving guests the best possible views of the Zambezi. Lion and hippo calls can often be heard at night and rich bird life is found in the area.
In the late afternoon take a sunset cruise downstream (with “sundowners”), watching the banks for many different species of game which utilize the river as a rich food and drinking source. Islands along the river are dotted with crocodiles and families of hippos. There is a possibility that you see herds of elephant drinking along the banks of the Zambezi.
Optional activities in the Livingstone/Victoria Falls area include (some at additional cost):
| ~ A must is to view the magnificent Victoria Falls. Victoria Falls is where the Zambezi River opens out into an extravaganza of roaring, spray-tumbled water, known to the locals as “mosi oa tunya” (the smoke that thunders). Few sights are as awe-inspiring and the ground shakes and rumbles with the force of the water. |
| ~ Spectacular bird watching |
| ~ Game viewing through Mosi oa Tunya National Park |
| ~ Visit historic Livingstone – the craft market and the Livingstone Museum noted for its artifacts that belonged to David Livingstone |
| ~ Visit a local village |
AT ADDITIONAL COST:
| ~ Guided canoeing down the Zambezi River | ~ Horseback riding along the Zambezi River |
| ~ Helicopter flight over the Victoria Falls | ~ Microlight flight over the Victoria Falls |
| ~ Grade 5 white water rafting | ~ Adrenaline activities: Bungee jump off the Victoria Falls bridge, abseil, or gorge swing (additional cost) |
Day 11
LIVINGSTONE
Depart
After a morning at leisure, you are transferred to the Livingstone airport for your international flight homeward.
General Information
Special 2012 pricing:
$6100 per person based on double occupancy
Price valid Nov 1 2011 - Apr 15 2012; holiday premium charged between Dec 20 2011 - Jan 6 2012 and Apr 6-9 2012
INCLUSIONS
All ground and air charter transportation upon landing in Africa; accommodation, guides and vehicle throughout; tourism taxes; meals, beverages, and activities stated below.
- Kalahari Plains Camp: All meals, local beverages, safari activities, and laundry
- Tubu Tree Camp: All meals, local beverages, safari activities, and laundry
- Linyanti Bush Camp: All meals, local beverages, safari activities, and laundry
- River Club: All meals, local beverages, some activities
EXCLUSIONS
U.S. domestic and international airfare; internal commercial flights; medical immunizations; passport fees; park fees; visa fees (Zambia visa required); accident/baggage/ medevac & cancellation insurance; individual transfers; excursions deviating from the scheduled tour; excess baggage charges; medical expenses; airport departure fees and taxes ($35 per person when departing Livingstone); spa treatments; telephone or fax charges; room service; gratuities to guides and staff; and other items of a purely personal nature.
- Kalahari Plains Camp: Premium wines and imported spirits
- Tubu Tree Camp: Premium wines and imported spirits
- Linyanti Bush Camp: Premium wines and imported spirits
- River Club: Premium wines and imported spirits, some activities
Contact Us
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Affordable Africa
Desert & Delta
